The Major League Baseball season continues its march towards the World Series. Here is a preview of 3 series’ featuring the A’s, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Pirates and Giants.

Oakland A’s (41-57) against the Boston Red Sox (58-40)

The Boston Red Sox were knocked off the top of the East American League by bitter rivals, the New York Yankees. Boston has been struggling lately; they are only 4-6 in their last 10 games. Good news though, they did beat the A’s 8-3 in their first game of this 4 game series.

The second game of their series is scheduled on July 28. The Oakland A’s will send Vin Mazzaro (2-7, 4.74 ERA) to the mound against the Red Sox. Mazzaro has been in a funk lately; in his last seven pitched innings he has allowed 14 runs and 18 hits. It has been over a month since he last won a game.

Oakland is only 3-7 in their last 10 games.

Boston Red Sox Clay Buchholz (1-1, 3.72 ERA) gets the start against the A’s. He will be motivated to bring his A-game because apparently this is his last game in the majors before being sent back to the minors. In his last game, he gave up three runs in four innings. But Buchholz does boast a winning record of 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox should be able to win 3 games in this series and build momentum deep into the season.

New York Yankees (61-38) against the Tampa Bay Rays (54-46)

The Yankees have been on fire lately. New York has only lost once in their past 11 games but they will embark on a grueling 9 game road trip. The Yankees destroyed the Rays offensively in their first game of the series. Right fielder Nick Swisher hit 2 homers, Derek Jeter had three hits and Johnny Damon recorded three RBI’s.

CC Sabathia (10-6, 3.67 ERA) will start for the Yankees in the second game. He has dominated the Rays in his 12 career starts against them. He boasts a record of 7-1, 2.63 ERA against the Rays.

The Rays will call on Scott Kazmir (4-6, 6.69 ERA) to lead them on the mound. In his last seven starts against the Yankees, Kazmir is 4-1 with an ERA of 1.49. Against Kazmir, Jeter is only hitting .129 and Alex Rodriguez is batting a mere .095. But catcher Jorge Posada is .455 against Kazmir with a homer and three doubles.

The Rays are capable of winning the second game against the Yankees but New York will win two out of three in this series.

Pittsburgh Pirates (43-56) against the San Francisco Giants (53-46)

The Pirates and Giants are both 4-6 in their last ten games. The Giants did beat the Pirates in their first meeting of the series 4-2.

Former Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito (6-10, 4.68 ERA) will start for the Giants. Zito is winless in his last three starts against the Pirates despite a 3.63 ERA. Zito hasn’t gotten support from the Giants hitters. Zito will be going up against Charlie Morton (2-2, 3.86 ERA).

In their last head-to-head match-up, Morton allowed only three hits in seven innings against Zito and the Giants.

Expect the Giants to win two out of three games in the series.