What happened: MLB's July 4th weekend gets underway with a 13-game slate on Friday, with first pitches beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET. The full holiday schedule stretches across the afternoon and into the evening.

Why it matters: The Independence Day weekend traditionally draws one of the heaviest viewing windows of the regular season, with a stacked slate giving fans a full day of baseball as clubs jockey for position before the second half.

What to watch: Watch for early-afternoon results to shape the evening slate as division races tighten heading toward the All-Star break.