While Minnesota's homer-happy ways have sparked spirited conversation throughout the season, the team's stellar starting pitching during the first six contests of its seven-game road trip is worthy of discussion as well. The Twins aim to finish their trek with a flourish on Thursday afternoon as they bid for a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins.

The Philadelphia Phillies had flustered the San Francisco Giants in their previous seven outings at Citizens Bank Park before the visitors returned the favor on Wednesday to even their series at one victory apiece. After snapping a seven-game skid in Philadelphia, the Giants vie for a series victory on Thursday afternoon when the clubs wrap up their three-game set.

The New York Mets were expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, with right-hander Zack Wheeler considered the surest player to change uniforms. Instead, the Mets decided not to part with closer Edwin Diaz or Wheeler, who will take the mound Thursday afternoon when New York wraps up a three-game interleague series at the Chicago White Sox.

The Milwaukee Brewers received a solid performance from the newest member of their starting rotation and hope to get another from one of their top prospects when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Thursday afternoon for the rubber match of their three-game interleague series. Trent Grisham, an outfielder who made a big splash in Triple A, is expected to be recalled and make his major league debut for Milwaukee.

Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio will always be linked as sons of former major leaguers who made their debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019. Guerrero and Biggio experienced modest starts en route to becoming every day players but Bichette has exploded on the scene and hopes to stay hot when Toronto visits the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday to start a four-game series.

While the Boston Red Sox elected to stand pat and failed to add an arm to their beleaguered bullpen at Wednesday's trade deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays made a flurry of moves to bolster their chances for a wild-card spot. After extending their recent mastery of the Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Rays look to complete a three-game sweep on Thursday night.

The Cleveland Indians traded for two power bats but certainly weren't lacking for punch while pounding the visiting Houston Astros on Wednesday. Now the anticipation revolves around whether or not Franmil Reyes (27 homers for San Diego) and Yasiel Puig (23 for Cincinnati) make their team debuts when Cleveland hosts Houston on Thursday for the finale of their three-game series.

Nicholas Castellanos is expected to make his team debut on Thursday as the Chicago Cubs visit the St. Louis Cardinals for the finale of their three-game series. Chicago acquired Castellanos from Detroit for two minor-leaguers prior to Wednesday's trade deadline.

The Atlanta Braves return home to open a four-game series Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds following a successful week that included two series victories over National League East rivals and a bolstered relief corps. The Braves shaky bullpen blew a late three-run lead Wednesday at Washington before Josh Donaldson homered in the 10th inning for a 5-4 triumph, and Atlanta acquired relievers Shane Greene from Detroit along with Mark Melancon from San Francisco at the trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were relatively quiet at the trade deadline but with a huge lead in the National League West and the best record in baseball, there wasn't much urgency. Los Angeles begins the final two months of the regular season Thursday with a four-game set against the visiting San Diego Padres, who took three of four in their last trip to Dodger Stadium.