All-Star break is over and it’s time for teams to get back to business. That means winning the World Series. Several acquisitions have been made by teams that will help them make a stronger run towards the World Series. These include the Phillies acquiring former CY Young winner Pedro Martinez. The Phillies have a weak bullpen and figure that Martinez can help.

Here are several series’ that will separate the contenders for the pretenders.

Boston Red Sox (55-35) against the Toronto Blue Jays (45-47)

The Jays and Sox will play the final game of their three game series. The Red Sox beat the Blue Jays in the first game but the Jays won the second. In the first game, the Red Sox were led by 1st baseman Kevin Youkilis, who hit a two run homer. In the second game, Toronto’s Adam Lind hit a two run homer and rookie pitcher Marc Rzepcynski allowed only four hits.

The Blue Jays are now 3-5 against the Red Sox this year.

For the final game of the series, the Red Sox will start Jon Lester (8-3, 3.87 ERA). Lester has lost only once in his previous eight starts. He has been pitching with a 1.48 ERA in those eight games. Lester will go head-to-head against former AL CY Young Award winner Roy Halladay (10-3, 2.85 ERA). Halladay is winless in his previous four starts but is 4-1 against the Red Sox when playing in Toronto.

The two teams are equally matched-up on the mound but Lester is 2-0 against the Jays this season.

San Francisco Giants (49-41) against the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-50)

The Pirates aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard this season. They are currently ranked 23rd in terms of scoring runs but that didn’t stop them from beating the Giants in their first game of the series. It took 14 innings but the Pirates squeaked out the victory 2-1.

What is more impressive about their win in the first game is that the Pirates did it against reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum. Right fielder/1st baseman Garrett Jones hit a homer against Lincecum in the 1st inning.

Jones again led the Pirates in the second game. He hit a double and the Pirates beat the Giants 2-0.

San Francisco will start Matt Cain (10-2, 2.38 ERA) and the Pirates will send Zach Duke (8-8, 3.29 ERA) to the mound.

The Pirates will seek a sweep against the Giants. Matt Cain has to prove that he is a winner on the mound just as his record precedes him.

New York Yankees (53-37) against Detroit Tigers (48-41)

The Yankees won the first two games of their three game series. In the second game, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia pitched seven shutout innings and Alex Rodriguez scored on a solo home run blast.

For the third game, the Yankees will send Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.25 ERA) to the mound. Chamberlain is winless in his previous nine starts at the new Yankees Stadium. The Tigers will match-up Chamberlain against their All-Star pitcher Edwin Jackson (7-4, 2.52 ERA). In Jackson’s last game against the Yankees, he pitched six shutout innings but the Tigers lost 11-0.

The Yankees will be seeking to sweep the Tigers but if All-Star Edwin Jackson gets support from Detroit’s hitters, the Tigers will avoid being swept.