Hector Noesi struggled in place of Felix Hernandez, but the suddenly offensive Mariners flexed their muscles en route to an 8-6 win over the Angels in Wednesday's rubber game at Angel Stadium.

Aramis Ramirez has been out since the middle of Saturday's game with a left quad strain and remains day to day. The Brewers will decide Thursday morning whether he plays the afternoon rubber game against his former team, the Cubs.

Each day, MLB.com selects one player from each game whose performance stands out.

Bartolo Colon beat the Rangers for the 18th time in his career Wednesday night, holding them to five hits over eight innings in a 2-0 A's victory.

The Reds and Pirates enter Thursday's rubber match separated by three games in the National League Central.

Wade Miley continued his outstanding rookie season, tossing eight superb innings to help lead the D-backs past the Rockies, 6-1, on Wednesday night at Chase Field.

Right-hander Felipe Paulino, who had given the Royals' rotation a big lift, was taken out of Wednesday night's game in the first inning with a groin injury.

The Cardinals plated three first-inning runs and held off the rallying Astros Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, 4-3, to even the series. Starter Adam Wainwright, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, won to remain unbeaten in the Astros' home park.

It's June, and the Blue Jays are contenders in the tough American League East. The White Sox have surged into the top spot in the AL Central. That means Thursday's matchup between the two clubs at U.S. Cellular Field, with Toronto right-hander Henderson Alvarez going up against White Sox veteran Jake Peavy, will have a certain sparkle to it.

The A's and Brandon McCarthy vie for a series victory over the first-place Rangers and Yu Darvish in Thursday's finale in Oakland.

Looking for their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia, the Dodgers send out Aaron Harang. He'll be opposed by Cole Hamels, who will try to end the Phillies' five-game skid.

Brandon Morrow tossed the fourth shutout of his career, while Jose Bautista and Rajai Davis each homered to give the Blue Jays a 4-0 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

For seven innings, Johnny Cueto and the Reds were in complete command of the Pirates. The eighth inning brought some drama, but a 5-4 victory on Wednesday enabled both Cincinnati and its No. 1 pitcher to end two-game losing streaks and even the three-game series with second-place Pittsburgh.

Lance Lynn will take the mound for the Cardinals against J.A. Happ and the Astros Thursday at Minute Maid Park in the decisive game of the series. The Cardinals are closing a 10-game, 11-day road trip.

With his team sputtering to start a crucial homestand, Zack Greinke remained perfect at home, buoyed by the Brewers' four-run fourth and Taylor Green's first Major League home run on the way to an 8-0 win over the Cubs.

Veteran right-hander Derek Lowe heads to the hill as the Indians look to sweep Casey Crosby and the Tigers on Thursday at Comerica Park.

Series finales during the regular season don't get billed much better than Thursday's contest between the Rays and Yankees, who will start David Price and CC Sabathia, respectively, with each left-hander looking to become the American League's first eight-game winner.