The Washington Nationals were penciled in as heavy preseason favorites to run away with the National League East title, but that hardly has been the case a little more than halfway into the campaign. Losers of a season high-tying five in a row and 17 of their last 22, the Nationals hope to get back on track Thursday, when they open a four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins.

After ending their 4-4 homestand with three consecutive losses, the Texas Rangers hope to right the ship on the road as they begin a 10-game trek that leads into the All-Star break on Thursday with the opener of a four-game series against the reeling Detroit Tigers. Texas squandered an early four-run lead Wednesday and dropped its eighth straight meeting with Houston, a 5-4 setback in 10 innings.

Two of the best teams in the National League square off Thursday when the Milwaukee Brewers – the first team in the league to reach 50 wins – open a four-game home series against the Atlanta Braves, who are one victory away from 50 on the season. The Brewers finished a three-game sweep of Minnesota on Wednesday and have won five of their past seven, while the Braves dropped two in a row to the Yankees after winning the first four games of a 10-game road trip.

The Minnesota Twins returned to Target Field with their tails between their legs after concluding a disastrous 1-8 road trip with six straight losses. The Twins look to get back on track Thursday, when they begin an 11-game homestand heading into the All-Star break with the opener of a four-game series against the beleaguered Baltimore Orioles, who have dropped nine of 10.

Justin Verlander looks to break out of a mini-funk when the Houston Astros host the Chicago White Sox on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. Houston's ace has dropped back-to-back starts, surrendering nine runs and 16 hits over 11 2/3 innings during the stretch.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are suffering through an unsuccessful homestand and hope to change their fortunes when they open a four-game series against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. The Diamondbacks are just 1-5 on the 10-game stretch after losing 8-4 to St. Louis on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Angels halted Seattle's eight-game winning streak and aim to hand the host Mariners another setback on Thursday in the finale of their three-game series. Kole Calhoun went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs in Wednesday's 7-4 triumph as the Angels won for only the third time in their last 11 contests.

The San Francisco Giants hope to duplicate the success they enjoyed during their last homestand when they begin another 10-game stretch at AT&T Park with the opener of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The Giants went 7-3 on their last string of home contests but followed with a 3-3 road trip that concluded with three straight losses in Colorado, including a 1-0 setback on Wednesday.