Diamond nuggets:

MLB series to watch, weekly schedules, standings, transactions. uMinor leagues, Page 10 uMLB team notes, pages 22-27

RED SOX AT YANKEES (Aug. 11-13)

The rivalry revived, Boston and New York will face off 10 times in a span of a little more than three weeks with the American League East title likely at stake. The Yankees have won six of the teams’ first nine games this season, outscoring Boston 38-16 with three shutout wins.

Chris Sale, the AL’s leading Cy Young candidate, is on track to start in each of the three remaining series. He is 0-1 with a 1.15 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season and 4-2 with a 1.17 ERA in 12 career games (nine starts). In 34 career games against the Red Sox,

Starlin Castro is batting .321, his second-highest average against any opponent.

ASTROS AT RANGERS (Aug. 11-13)

Even with its injuries, Houston is cruising toward the AL West title with little motivation to give Texas its best shot. Yeah, right. These teams have one of the most spirited rivalries in the majors, and there will be no letup on either side. The Astros have won two of the three series in going 7-3 this year against the Rangers, who want revenge for the three-game sweep Houston inflicted on them in June in Arlington. But the Astros, still without shortstop

Carlos Correa, would relish deflating the Rangers’ precarious playoff hopes.

CUBS AT D-BACKS (Aug. 11-13)

Rough stretch for the D-backs. They get the reigning World Series champs after a visit from the majorsleading Los Angeles Dodgers and before four games against the ALleading Houston Astros. Arizona won two of three at Wrigley Field to open this month. Paul Goldsch

midt hit three home runs in the series finale. For the three games,

Jake Lamb was 4-for-8 with two doubles, J.D. Martinez drew four walks and A.J. Pollock scored four runs. A day after the Cubs scored 16 runs against his team, Arizona’s

Zack Godley threw six scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory.

METS VS. YANKEES (Aug. 14-17)

When they met last August, the Yankees had just finished their deadline sell-off and the Mets were figuring out how to get to the postseason for the second year in a row (they did). Everything’s reversed as the Subway Series resumes with two games in the Bronx followed by two in Queens. The Yankees are aiming at October, while the Mets are looking ahead to next year. Meanwhile, the whole city will watch Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Amed Rosario and Michael Conforto, all in the same ballpark for four days.

PIRATES AT BREWERS (Aug. 15-16)

When the teams last met, July 17-20 at Pittsburgh, the Pirates swept a four-game series to begin the losing stretch that knocked Milwaukee out of first place in the National League Central. The Brewers get a chance for revenge at home in a rare two-game series between divisional opponents. The Pirates’ 8-3 lead in the season series has been built on performances like those of catcher Francisco Cervelli (.500 average), right fielder

Gregory Polanco (.425, five doubles, two homers) and closer Fe

lipe Rivero (three saves in last month’s sweep). Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw has homered four times against the Pirates this season.

INDIANS AT TWINS (Aug. 15-17)

The Indians have gone 7-0 against the Twins at Target Field this season, sweeping a three-game series in April and then a fourgame set in June that included a doubleheader. Overall, Cleveland has won eight of 13 games from Minnesota in 2017 as third baseman Jose Ramirez has hit .380 with seven doubles, four home runs and three stolen bases and designated hitter Edwin Encar

nacion also has homered four times. Twins left fielder Eddie

Rosario is batting .410 against the Indians this season with a double and two homers.