Editor’s note: The stats used in this article reflect numbers that were accurate before Friday’s games concluded.

Before we examine some of Saturday’s matchups, let’s quickly update you on the division races. You know, just another June with Tampa Bay and Boston slugging it out for first-place honors in the American League East.

The Rays remain at home this weekend, where they are downright nasty and off a mid-week sweep of the Cubs. The Red Sox are back at home, where they have an MLB-best 28-7 record. Tampa Bay is taking on Houston, while Boston has the slumping Cardinals in town.

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Speaking of St. Louis, it is trying to keep things together with Albert Pujols and Adam Wainright on the disabled list. Tony Larussa’s squad got swept at home by woeful Kansas City this week, yet the Cards remain on the Cubs’ heels in the NL Central. Remember, they are still hoping to get Chris Carpenter back in the not-too-distant future.

Arizona is enduring a horrific June, allowing the Dodgers to remain in striking distance. Nevertheless, this division remains the Diamondbacks’ to lose.

Philadelphia is atop the NL East standings, but Florida isn’t showing any signs of going away. The Marlins also have pitching help on the way, as they hope to get Anibal Sanchez and/or Josh Johnson back at some point after the All-Star break.

The White Sox are in first place in the AL Central, but Minnesota is hanging in there. And let’s not put the Tigers to bed yet. Although they have been the most disappointing team in baseball all year, Jim Leyland’s squad has shown some life in recent weeks.

The Angels are in control of the AL West, but Oakland is well within reach. In addition, Texas is within striking distance thanks to the MVP-type season of Josh Hamilton.

To Saturday’s games…

Cardinals at Red Sox**

--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Boston (46-29, +1,363) as a minus 210 favorite with a total of 9 ½ ‘over’ (minus 125). Bettors can dodge the chalky straight price and take the Red Sox on the run line at minus 115.

--St. Louis (42-32, +803) took a five-game losing streak into Friday’s series lid-lifter at Fenway Park. The Cardinals, who are 19-15 on the road, are obviously struggling without the services of perennial All-Star Albert Pujols.

--Daisuke Matsuzuka (8-0, 2.53 ERA) returns from the disabled list in this spot, taking the ball for the first time since May 27. Dice-K owns a 5-0 record and 2.48 ERA at home this season. The right-hander is facing St. Louis for the first time in his career.

--Boston has a 10-1 record in Dice-K's 11 starts this year, leading backers to a plus 829 money tally.

--St. Louis RHP Mitchell Boggs (1-0, 5.56) will toe the rubber for the visitors. The rookie got roughed up in his last assignments, giving up six hits and four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work against the Phillies.

--The ‘under’ is 38-34 overall for the Cars, 17-15 in their road games.

--The ‘over’ is 36-34 overall for the Red Sox, but the ‘under’ is 18-17 in their home games.

--FOX will provide regional television coverage at 3:55 p.m. Eastern.

**Marlins at A’s**

--LVSC opened Oakland (39-33, +744) as a minus 140 ‘chalk’ with a total of eight flat (minus 110 either way). The A’s are plus 150 on the run line (risk $100 to win $150).

--Florida (39-33, +1,313) takes the field here for the eighth time in this nine-game road trip. Fredi Gonzalez’s squad had won three of its last four games before Friday’s series opener.

--Florida RHP Ricky Nolasco (7-4, 4.35) is 5-2 with a 4.44 ERA in nine road starts in 2008.

--Oakland will counter Nolasco with LHP Dana Eveland, who is 5-5 with a 3.56 ERA. The southpaw is 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA in seven home starts.

--The Marlins are 9-11 against left-handed pitching.

--The A’s are 22-17 at home, while the Fish are 17-18 on the road.

--The ‘over’ is an MLB-best 47-27 overall for the Marlins, 23-12 in their road outings. The ‘over’ is 17-6-3 in Florida’s last 26 games.

--Oakland has watched the ‘under’ go 38-29 overall, 20-16 in its home games.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--The ‘under’ is an MLB-best 47-28 overall for the Braves.

--Gamblers need to get their bets in early for a pair of one o’clock starts – Reds at Yankees and White Sox at Cubs. WGN will have the telecast for the Windy City rivalry.

--The Yankees and Reds have both called up pitchers from the minors to oppose each other Saturday. Cincy’s Daryl Thompson had a 3-0 record and 3.25 ERA in four games at Triple-A Louisville. Meanwhile, New York’s Dan Giese had a 4-2 record and 1.98 ERA in 13 games (10 starts) at Triple-A Scranton.