ANALYSIS: Cleveland designated Franmil Reyes, who hit 30 homers last season, for assignment Saturday and immediately responded with a 4-1 win. The message is, If you’re not playing well, maybe you’re next to go. The Astros have lost four of RHP Cristian Javier’s last five starts and are only 8-8 behind him this season. I look for Cleveland RHP Triston McKenzie to be the star of this game. The Guardians are 5-2 behind him at home and 12-7 overall. Cleveland is only two games back in the AL Central. Take the Guardians to win.

ANALYSIS: The Mets can increase their lead in the NL East to 6 1/2 games. Taking four of five from Atlanta in this series would send a major message. New York RHP Jacob deGrom will be strong for five or six innings. Braves RHP Spencer Strider is solid, but I’ve seen him allow five or more runs three times, and Atlanta is only 7-5 behind him. Seize the moment. The Mets look sharp, take them to win.

ANALYSIS: It’s go time for the White Sox, who are sitting two games out in the AL Central. They have been stagnant all season, with the bats performing when the pitching wasn’t, and now we have the pitching getting there with the bats quietly waking up. They have won three of their past four and five of seven. Michael Kopech has been a huge part of Chicago's improved play, allowing only six runs over his last four starts (all four stayed under the total). The Rangers had lost 11 in a row behind Dane Dunning until he beat the Angels in his last start. White Sox to win.

ANALYSIS: The Astros have won their last three but have lost their last two started by Luis Garcia. Cleveland has lost two in a row but has won five straight behind Cal Quantrill. The Astros are the best under team in MLB, but they’ve gone over in four of Garcia’s last five starts. Quantrill’s last 12 starts have all gone over the total. The Cleveland bats always show up for him. Over is the best bet here.

ANALYSIS: The Yankees have lost three straight and 11 of their last 19. The starting rotation was the backbone when they were winning at a .725 clip. All five starters were strong, healthy, and successful through mid-July, but then Luis Severino got hurt and they traded Jordan Montgomery to the Cardinals. No Anthony Rizzo or Giancarlo Stanton today. This is the third time the Yankees have lost three in a row this season. The first two times, the streak was halted there. Montgomery will get hit against his former team. Yankees to win.