LEADING OFF: Astros vs Yanks, Musgrove returns to face Phils

By The Associated Press

American League powerhouses square off when Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees host Yordan Álvarez and the Houston Astros in the opener of a highly anticipated four-game series Thursday night. New York boasts the best record in the majors, and Houston is second to the Yankees in the AL standings. Both clubs already hold comfortable division leads, so this matchup could certainly serve as a playoff preview come October. Elsewhere, unbeaten Joe Musgrove comes off the COVID-19 injured list to start for San Diego against Bryce Harper and the Phillies. And the red-hot Cleveland Guardians go for a three-game sweep at Minnesota that would give them a two-game lead in the AL Central over the Twins.