To use a boxing analogy the World Champion Red Sox are against the ropes. They dropped their last seven games to fall six games under .500; five games back of Toronto in the American League East.

Tonight the Sox are sending John Lackey to the mound in the attempt to snap the skid. They are playing the Rays on Tampa's home turf. The American League Central champion Tigers have fallen on hard times as well as they are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The Tigers are once again playing host to the Rangers tonight with Anibal (AH'-nih-bahl) Sanchez getting the ball for the home team.

After losing three straight to the Athletics last weekend the Indians have won four in a row. They look for a fifth straight with another game in Baltimore tonight. The Tribe beat the Orioles in 13 last night 8-7.

The rest of the American League games tonight feature the Yankees playing the White Sox in Chicago, the Angels home to the Royals, Houston at Seattle and Oakland, which has the best record in baseball at 30-16, at Toronto.

Your National League card has the Dodgers playing the Phillies in Philadelphia, the Pirates home to the Nationals, Arizona in New York for a game with the Mets, the Marlins entertaining the Brewers, St. Louis in Cincinnati, the Braves hosting the Rockies and the Cubs in San Diego.

More From ESPN Western Colorado