TIME: 1:05 P.M. EST
VENUE: Yankee Stadium
While Alex Rodriguez's home run drought has kept him from making history, it's his hitless streak that's helped cost the New York Yankees their spot atop the AL East.
Jose Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays, meanwhile, haven't experienced too many problems at the plate lately.
While trying to keep the Blue Jays' power surge going, Bautista will attempt to lead his team to its first series sweep in seven years over the Yankees, who hope to get the long-awaited 600th home run from Rodriguez and avoid a season-high fourth straight defeat Wednesday.
Rodriguez went 0 for 3 in Tuesday night's 8-2 loss and hasn't gotten a hit since the seventh inning Thursday in Cleveland, a span of 17 at-bats. The Yankees (66-40) have batted .169 while dropping four of those five games and their latest defeat pushed them into second place for the first time since June 12.
Rodriguez, who is trying to become the youngest player to reach 600 homers, is also 9 for 46 in 12 games since hitting No. 599 on July 22 against Kansas City. His longest home run drought of the season is 61 at-bats April 20-May 9.
"It's hard to tell if a guy is pressing," manager Joe Girardi said. "Right now, he's in a little funk. Like I've said, sometimes these milestones are hard."
Whether the Yankees can rejoin the Rays atop the devision could depend on how well Phil Hughes (12-4, 4.07 ERA) can cool off Bautista and the Blue Jays. New York hasn't dropped four in a row since a five-game skid May 2-7, 2009.
The Toronto outfielder hit his seventh home run in nine games and major league-best 33rd in the ninth inning Tuesday. Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill and Travis Snider also went deep for the Blue Jays (56-51), who have hit 23 of their major league-leading 167 homers during an 8-3 stretch.
"We're doing a good job offensively," Bautista said. "We're coming up with big hits when we need them and solo shots here and there. That's been the recipe for success lately."
The Blue Jays, however, haven't swept a series with the Yankees since taking a four-game road set May 22-25, 2003. It's been even longer since their previous three-game sweep in New York - July 31-Aug. 2, 1992.
Given his recent efforts, Hughes could have a difficult time preventing Toronto from accomplishing that feat. He's 2-3 with a 6.17 ERA in his last six starts and has given up 12 homers in his last eight outings after yielding four in his first 11 this season.
DeWayne Wise, Lyle Overbay and Adam Lind went deep off Hughes on July 4, but the right-hander didn't receive a decision in the Yankees' 7-6 comeback victory in 10 innings. He gave up five runs and six hits over six innings in that game, and is 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against Toronto.
The Blue Jays will send out right-hander Shaun Marcum (10-4, 3.24), who has won all three starts and posted a 2.04 ERA since returning from an inflamed pitching elbow July 18.
Marcum, who won four consecutive outings May 12-28, hasn't faced the Yankees since Sept. 22, 2007. He's 1-3 with a 6.29 ERA in eight career starts against them.
Rodriguez is 4 for 17 (.235) with one home run all-time versus Marcum.
TIME: 3:35 P.M. EST
VENUE: Oakland Coliseum
The Oakland Athletics can head into a pivotal series with some momentum, but they'll likely need an improved effort from left-hander Brett Anderson.
In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Anderson will try to put a difficult outing behind him in Wednesday's finale of a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals.
The A's (53-53) had a three-game home win streak - their longest in five weeks - snapped with Tuesday night's 3-2 loss, their first in five matchups this season with the Royals.
Kansas City's Alex Gordon homered for the third time in five games and scored the go-ahead run following a leadoff double in the ninth inning. The win was the Royals' second in nine road contests since July 8.
"I'm not really trying to (hit home runs)," said Gordon, who was recalled from the minors July 23. "(Hitting coach Kevin) Seitzer's just got my approach right and has me doing the things I need to be doing, and it's showing. I was hitting the ball hard but I wasn't as comfortable as I am now."
Despite that loss, Oakland has a chance to match a season high by winning its fourth consecutive home series before welcoming AL West-leading Texas to town for three games this weekend.
The A's, who also won four straight series at home April 23-May 18, enter Wednesday eight games back of the Rangers and tied with the Angels for second place.
An improved outing from Anderson (2-2, 3.25 ERA) could give Oakland the boost it needs heading into that matchup. The left-hander, though, didn't have an inspiring return from inflammation in his pitching elbow Friday against the White Sox.
During a 6-1 loss, he gave up five runs and a career high-tying 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings. The start was only his third since April 24.
"I felt a little rusty," he said. "It's a little different ammo being up here rather than facing the Tacoma Rainiers or whoever I was facing before. It's good to get back, get my feet wet again under these circumstances."
Anderson won his only start against the Royals on Aug. 9, allowing three runs and six hits over six innings of a 6-3 road victory.
Having won four of five, the Royals (46-61) will counter with Sean O'Sullivan (1-1, 4.13), who is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA since being acquired from the Angels on July 22.
The right-hander gave up three runs and four hits over six innings Friday against visiting Baltimore but did not get a decision in a 7-5 victory. In his Royals debut on July 25, he allowed five runs and seven hits over five innings of a 12-6 loss at Yankee Stadium.
O'Sullivan has never started against Oakland but pitched three scoreless innings against them in two relief appearances last season.
The A's have won 10 of 13 against the Royals since the beginning of last season.
CBSSPORTSLINE VIA STATS LLC
VENUE: Yankee Stadium
While Alex Rodriguez's home run drought has kept him from making history, it's his hitless streak that's helped cost the New York Yankees their spot atop the AL East.
Jose Bautista and the Toronto Blue Jays, meanwhile, haven't experienced too many problems at the plate lately.
While trying to keep the Blue Jays' power surge going, Bautista will attempt to lead his team to its first series sweep in seven years over the Yankees, who hope to get the long-awaited 600th home run from Rodriguez and avoid a season-high fourth straight defeat Wednesday.
Rodriguez went 0 for 3 in Tuesday night's 8-2 loss and hasn't gotten a hit since the seventh inning Thursday in Cleveland, a span of 17 at-bats. The Yankees (66-40) have batted .169 while dropping four of those five games and their latest defeat pushed them into second place for the first time since June 12.
Rodriguez, who is trying to become the youngest player to reach 600 homers, is also 9 for 46 in 12 games since hitting No. 599 on July 22 against Kansas City. His longest home run drought of the season is 61 at-bats April 20-May 9.
"It's hard to tell if a guy is pressing," manager Joe Girardi said. "Right now, he's in a little funk. Like I've said, sometimes these milestones are hard."
Whether the Yankees can rejoin the Rays atop the devision could depend on how well Phil Hughes (12-4, 4.07 ERA) can cool off Bautista and the Blue Jays. New York hasn't dropped four in a row since a five-game skid May 2-7, 2009.
The Toronto outfielder hit his seventh home run in nine games and major league-best 33rd in the ninth inning Tuesday. Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill and Travis Snider also went deep for the Blue Jays (56-51), who have hit 23 of their major league-leading 167 homers during an 8-3 stretch.
"We're doing a good job offensively," Bautista said. "We're coming up with big hits when we need them and solo shots here and there. That's been the recipe for success lately."
The Blue Jays, however, haven't swept a series with the Yankees since taking a four-game road set May 22-25, 2003. It's been even longer since their previous three-game sweep in New York - July 31-Aug. 2, 1992.
Given his recent efforts, Hughes could have a difficult time preventing Toronto from accomplishing that feat. He's 2-3 with a 6.17 ERA in his last six starts and has given up 12 homers in his last eight outings after yielding four in his first 11 this season.
DeWayne Wise, Lyle Overbay and Adam Lind went deep off Hughes on July 4, but the right-hander didn't receive a decision in the Yankees' 7-6 comeback victory in 10 innings. He gave up five runs and six hits over six innings in that game, and is 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against Toronto.
The Blue Jays will send out right-hander Shaun Marcum (10-4, 3.24), who has won all three starts and posted a 2.04 ERA since returning from an inflamed pitching elbow July 18.
Marcum, who won four consecutive outings May 12-28, hasn't faced the Yankees since Sept. 22, 2007. He's 1-3 with a 6.29 ERA in eight career starts against them.
Rodriguez is 4 for 17 (.235) with one home run all-time versus Marcum.
TIME: 3:35 P.M. EST
VENUE: Oakland Coliseum
The Oakland Athletics can head into a pivotal series with some momentum, but they'll likely need an improved effort from left-hander Brett Anderson.
In his second start since coming off the disabled list, Anderson will try to put a difficult outing behind him in Wednesday's finale of a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals.
The A's (53-53) had a three-game home win streak - their longest in five weeks - snapped with Tuesday night's 3-2 loss, their first in five matchups this season with the Royals.
Kansas City's Alex Gordon homered for the third time in five games and scored the go-ahead run following a leadoff double in the ninth inning. The win was the Royals' second in nine road contests since July 8.
"I'm not really trying to (hit home runs)," said Gordon, who was recalled from the minors July 23. "(Hitting coach Kevin) Seitzer's just got my approach right and has me doing the things I need to be doing, and it's showing. I was hitting the ball hard but I wasn't as comfortable as I am now."
Despite that loss, Oakland has a chance to match a season high by winning its fourth consecutive home series before welcoming AL West-leading Texas to town for three games this weekend.
The A's, who also won four straight series at home April 23-May 18, enter Wednesday eight games back of the Rangers and tied with the Angels for second place.
An improved outing from Anderson (2-2, 3.25 ERA) could give Oakland the boost it needs heading into that matchup. The left-hander, though, didn't have an inspiring return from inflammation in his pitching elbow Friday against the White Sox.
During a 6-1 loss, he gave up five runs and a career high-tying 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings. The start was only his third since April 24.
"I felt a little rusty," he said. "It's a little different ammo being up here rather than facing the Tacoma Rainiers or whoever I was facing before. It's good to get back, get my feet wet again under these circumstances."
Anderson won his only start against the Royals on Aug. 9, allowing three runs and six hits over six innings of a 6-3 road victory.
Having won four of five, the Royals (46-61) will counter with Sean O'Sullivan (1-1, 4.13), who is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA since being acquired from the Angels on July 22.
The right-hander gave up three runs and four hits over six innings Friday against visiting Baltimore but did not get a decision in a 7-5 victory. In his Royals debut on July 25, he allowed five runs and seven hits over five innings of a 12-6 loss at Yankee Stadium.
O'Sullivan has never started against Oakland but pitched three scoreless innings against them in two relief appearances last season.
The A's have won 10 of 13 against the Royals since the beginning of last season.
CBSSPORTSLINE VIA STATS LLC