The Rays belong in the conversation, just as they have since 2008. After they shed considerable payroll before the 2011 season but still qualified for the postseason, there can be no doubting the strength of the organization.

Each day, MLB.com selects one player from each game whose performance stands out. Here are April 27's Mane Men of the Day.

Carl Pavano wasn't able to turn the Minnesota starters' fortunes Friday night against the Royals. So now, it's up to Jason Marquis to break the trend, who will face off against Kansas City's Bruce Chen on Saturday.

Saturday in Los Angeles, the future becomes the present for the Washington Nationals, as baseball's No. 2 prospect, Bryce Harper, is slated to make his much-anticipated big league debut.

Scott Hairston hit for the 10th cycle in Mets history Friday, needing only four at-bats to do it. He completed the cycle with a double in the sixth inning against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Wade Davis earned his bones Friday night when the Rays' starter-turned-reliever thwarted an eighth-inning Rangers rally to preserve an 8-4 Rays win at Rangers Ballpark.

Indians manager Manny Acta has no doubt that Albert Pujols will get back to form, but he's hoping the Angels slugger waits until he leaves Cleveland following the three-game series that continues Saturday at Progressive Field.

On Saturday, right-hander Kyle Lohse gets the chance to join teammate Lance Lynn atop the wins leaderboard when the first-place Cardinals take on Marco Estrada and the Brewers at Busch Stadium.

Chicago's Jake Peavy has been dominant early this season, and he'll have to once again be at the top of his game on Saturday if the White Sox are going to stop their four-game losing streak and Boston's five-game winning winning streak.

Right-hander Randall Delgado will try to keep the Braves' hot streak going against Erik Bedard and the Pirates at Turner Field on Saturday.

These are better times for the Royals, who bumped off the Minnesota Twins, 7-6, and bumped them into last place alone on Friday night as 33,315 hardy fans sat in at chilly Target Field. It's almost enough to make the Royals forget that dreary 12-game skid.

Tigers outfielder Delmon Young was arrested early Friday morning after he allegedly assaulted a man in front of a New York City hotel. He will be charged with aggravated harassment, a charge that could be escalated to a hate crime, a New York Police Department spokesman told MLB.com.

Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto will square off against fellow righty Lucas Harrell in Saturday afternoon's 3:10 p.m. CT contest at Great American Ball Park. The Astros took the first game of the series and are trying to match a season high of three straight victories.

Derek Jeter dashed from third base and slid home with the winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday as the Yankees defeated the Tigers, 7-6, at Yankee Stadium, marking New York's first walk-off victory of the young season.

Now as hot as any team in the Major Leagues, the Braves defeated the Pirates, 6-1, in the opener of a four-game series at Turner Field and have won 13 of their past 16 games.

Michael Saunders hit a 10th-inning grand slam after blasting a ninth-inning solo shot to lead the Mariners to a 9-5 victory in extra innings over the Blue Jays on Friday.

The Cardinals stayed tough on Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo, exploding for an eight-run third inning en route to a 13-1 victory on Friday in the series opener at Busch Stadium.