— Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale tries to set a major league record by striking out at least 10 batters in his ninth straight start. The White Sox ace pitches at home against Toronto, the top-scoring team in the majors. Sale has fanned 97 in his last eight starts. In 1999, Boston’s Pedro Martinez also reached double digits in strikeouts eight times in a row. That’s one of 11 major league games on the schedule — all night games.

— Houston’s Dallas Keuchel goes for his 11th win in 14 decisions as he takes the mound for the AL West-leading Astros against the Cleveland Indians. Carlos Carrasco starts for the Indians. In his last start, he lost his no-hit bid with two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth inning at Tampa Bay.

— Elsewhere in the AL, Baltimore is at Minnesota where Twins starter Phil Hughes goes for his eighth victory. AL Central-leading Kansas City, which has a four and a-half game division lead over the Twins, is home against Tampa Bay. The Rays have dropped eight of their last 10 but start the day just two games back of the idle New York Yankees in the AL East. Seattle pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma is set to come off the disabled list and start against the Tigers at Safeco Field. He’s been sidelined since April 24 because of a strained right lat muscle.

— In the NL, Cincinnati visits NL East-leading Washington. Nats starter Doug Fister is trying to even his record at 4-4 with a victory to start the three-game series against the Reds.

— San Diego visits Pittsburgh where James Shields opposes A.J. Burnett of the Pirates. Both pitchers come in with 7-3 records.

— The NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals visit the Cubs in a night game at Wrigley Field. The Cards own a six-game lead over the Pirates and eight and a-half games over the Cubs, who enter play with a 44-36 record in the tough NL Central.

— Milwaukee hosts Atlanta and the L.A. Dodgers host Philadelphia. Phillies center fielder Ben Revere has missed three straight starts because of an ailing right hamstring. He could return to the lineup in the series opener at Dodger Stadium. The Brewers are trying for their ninth straight victory even though they still reside in last place in the NL Central at 36-48.

–San Francisco rookie Chris Heston faces the visiting Mets for the first time since pitching a no-hitter against them last month at Citi Field. The Giants can be excused if they’re a little woozy. They lost last night 3-1 in Washington, slept overnight in the Nation’s Capital and caught an early cross-country charter to San Francisco this morning.