Preview Roundups
April 01, 2014
LA Dodgers at San Diego 6:40 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers may only be three games into their season, but their bullpen has already given them cause for concern. The Dodgers, who continue their three-game road series with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, made relief pitching a focus of their offseason – highlighted by the re-signing of Brian Wilson. Los Angeles gave up five runs in relief in its final game in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 22, and watched Wilson implode Sunday.
NY Yankees at Houston 7:10 PM ET
Derek Jeter begins his final season when he and the revamped New York Yankees begin play at the Houston Astros on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. The future Hall of Famer, who announced this spring that his franchise-record 20th season with the Yankees will also be his last, opens three hits shy of tying Paul Molitor for eighth on the all-time list.
Philadelphia at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies struggled to find offense for most of 2013, but they may have provided a glimpse of what they are capable of on Opening Day. The Phillies, who continue their three-game interleague road series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, saw their once-vaunted offense score 610 runs last season – tied with the Houston Astros for the fourth-lowest output in the majors. In Monday’s 14-10 victory, however, they pounded out 17 hits - including six for extra bases.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves spent a lot of money over the winter to lock up the core of their team for the future and are hoping for better returns in the second game of the season. The Braves look to even the series after being shut out on Opening Day as they visit the Milwaukee Brewers again on Tuesday. Atlanta managed only five hits - four singles - in the opener and needs the offense to cover some of the rough spots at the back of the rotation.
San Francisco at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to regroup Tuesday after blowing a four-run lead with seven outs remaining in Monday’s series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants. The Diamondbacks were sailing along but their bullpen couldn’t get the final out of the seventh and they eventually lost 9-8 after Buster Posey clubbed a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Arizona is off to an 0-3 start and is still reeling from news that ace pitcher Patrick Corbin will miss the season.
Cleveland at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
Scott Kazmir faces his former team Tuesday when Cleveland Indians visit the Oakland Athletics, who are looking to bounce back from their Major League-record 10th straight Opening Day loss. Kazmir, who joined the Athletics as a free agent after resurrecting his career in Cleveland last year, said he’s looking forward to facing his former teammates. “It’s going to be fun out there, for sure,” Kazmir told mlb.com. “I can’t even stare at them because they’re a bunch of jokesters over there."
Seattle at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
Scoring has been a problem for the Seattle Mariners in recent seasons but touching home plate certainly wasn’t an issue on Opening Day. Seattle attempts to defeat the host Los Angeles Angels for the second straight night Tuesday after compiling seven extra-base hits and posting a 10-3 victory Monday. Justin Smoak drilled a three-run homer, Dustin Ackley had a three-run triple and Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 in his highly anticipated Seattle debut.