(Undated) -- The unofficial second half of the MLB season begins Thursday, as the Yankees and Red Sox meet in New York. The Red Sox lead the AL East at 55-and-36. The Yankees are eight-games back at 46-and-43. The rest of the league resumes action this weekend, with the Dodgers in Denver to take on the Rockies, and Astros and White Sox having a pivotal battle in Chicago. The Giants will visit the Cardinals in St. Louis.