On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

Chicago Cubs (52-35) at St. Louis Cardinals (49-39) - 3:55 PM ET

It's sad to see a friendship go south as apparently the one between Tony La Russa and Jim Edmonds has now that Edmonds is with the Cubs and La Russa is playing ultra-sensitive. But in reality, La Russa and Edmonds are mere players in the larger war that is Cubs vs. Cardinals, with first place on the line and growing ever so further away from the Cardinals. Today, Kyle Lohse is going to have to continue his 2008 magic (remember when nobody wanted Lohse? Yeah, well now he's 10-2) against Ted Lilly.

Boston Red Sox (52-37) at New York Yankees (45-42) - 3:55 PM ET

The Yankees held a team meeting after losing 7-0 to the Sox on Thursday. Afterward, Joe Girardi held the Yankees' feet to the fire in a team meeting. So what happens the next day? Sure, they lose again. Guess that whole team meeting thing didn't really work out. And they now have to answer to Hank Steinbrenner, who came out and said that the players have to "buck up".

Wait, that's it? No irrational statements or threats of death? Just a piece of intangible advice? Hank! It's like I don't even know you anymore.

Toronto Blue Jays (41-46) at L.A. Angels of Anaheim (52-34) - 9:05 PM ET

As the Blue Jays dangle one starter to acquire their third shortstop, another starter is about to hook up in a classic pitching duel. Roy Halladay pitched a shutout his last time out, and the man who leads all of baseball in innings pitched goes against John Lackey, who has an obscene ERA of 1.44 this season after going 5-0 in June. Lackey himself almost had a shutout on Sunday against Dodgers, going 8 and 2/3's of shutout ball.

Everyone else:

• Pirates at Brewers 7:05 ET
• Rangers at Orioles 7:05 ET
• Mets at Phillies 7:05 ET
• Athletics at White Sox 7:05 ET
• Nationals at Reds 7:10 ET
• Indians at Twins 7:10 ET
• Astros at Braves 7:10 ET
• Royals at Rays 7:10 ET
• Marlins at Rockies 8:05 ET
• Padres at Diamondbacks 8:10 ET
• Dodgers at Giants 9:05 ET
• Tigers at Mariners 10:10 ET