Preview Roundups
April 05, 2014
Minnesota at Cleveland 1:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians have carried over the fighting spirit they displayed all last season to the first four games of 2014 with two come-from-behind wins and another in the ninth. The Indians, who made the playoffs for the first time in six years in 2013, will look to start making things easier on themselves more often when they host the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Cleveland won 51 of 81 games at home last season and beat the visiting Twins 7-2 on Friday to start 2014 the right way.
NY Yankees at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
Michael Pineda is ready to make his long-awaited Yankees debut when New York visits the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. The Seattle Mariners traded Pineda to New York on Jan. 13, 2012, but he was placed on disabled list in spring training with tendinitis in his right shoulder and suffered a torn labrum during rehab. “I’m very excited,” Pineda told reporters in Spanish. “I’m pitching in the major leagues again with a new team, with the Yankees.”
Baltimore at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
Miguel Cabrera’s relatively slow start is already a thing of the past as the Detroit Tigers busted out offensively to run their season-opening winning streak to three straight. The Tigers will attempt to make it four in a row while clinching the three-game series when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. Cabrera went 1-for-7 through the first two games of the season before busting out with four hits, including a home run, in Friday’s series opener.
Cincinnati at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
New York Mets manager Terry Collins promised to give Lucas Duda “an extended look” at first base and the slugger carried them to their first win. The Mets look to build off that success on Saturday when they continue their three-game home series against the Cincinnati Reds. Duda, Ike Davis and Josh Satin went a combined 0-for-10 at first base as the team dropped its first three games, but Duda’s two two-run homers in Friday’s 4-3 victory likely bought him some time to keep the job long-term.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 2:10 PM ET
John Danks puts his unbeaten record against Kansas City on the line when the Chicago White Sox visit the Royals in Saturday’s second contest of a three-game series. Danks is 6-0 all-time against the Royals and will try to get Chicago back on the winning track after the White Sox suffered a 7-5 defeat in Friday’s opener. Alex Gordon had a three-run double and Norichika Aoki and Omar Infante each had three hits in Kansas City’s first win of the season.
Philadelphia at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies are off to a strong start on offense after a rough 2013 campaign and look to keep it going when they visit the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Only three teams in the majors scored less runs than the Phillies last season and they have put up 26 in the first four games with Chase Utley taking the lead, recording seven hits and 11 total bases. The Cubs have managed only eight runs in four games after dropping the opener of the series 7-2 on Friday.
Seattle at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
Felix Hernandez struck out 11 in his season debut and attempts to follow it up with another strong outing when the Seattle Mariners visit the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Hernandez allowed two earned runs and four hits in six innings to claim the victory as he strives to improve on last season’s 12-10 record. Friday’s game between the two teams was postponed when the field was unplayable due to the grounds crew not putting the tarp on the field after Thursday’s game.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 4:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers can take some positives into Saturday’s game against the visiting San Francisco Giants after their bullpen held San Francisco's hitters scoreless over the final seven innings of an 8-4 loss Friday at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers faced some unexpected distractions before the game when center fielder Matt Kemp expressed frustration that he wasn’t in the starting lineup, but was then thrust into a starting role when Yasiel Puig showed up late for warm-ups and was benched.
Atlanta at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals couldn’t catch much of a break against the Atlanta Braves last season and are off to a bad start in that regard in 2014. The Nationals, who continue their three-game set versus the Braves on Saturday, dropped their home opener in part when Ian Desmond’s potential inside-the-park homer was ruled a double after a replay challenge by Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez. Desmond was picked off moments later, one of a few baserunning gaffes committed by Washington in a 2-1 loss
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Coming off a terrific season debut in which he did not record a decision, Francisco Liriano will look to get into the win column Saturday when the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their home series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Liriano did not allow a run in six innings and struck out 10 Cubs in Pittsburgh's season opener - a strong start to 2014 after the veteran lefty won a career-high 16 games in 2013.
Milwaukee at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers exploded late to spoil the Boston Red Sox’s World Series ceremony in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. The Red Sox will look for some revenge when they send Clay Buchholz to the mound on Saturday. The Brewers managed a total of four runs in dropping two of three to the Atlanta Braves to begin the season but matched that run total in the ninth inning alone in taking a 6-2 decision from Boston.
LA Angels at Houston 7:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels will try to build off the momentum of their first victory of the season when they visit the Houston Astros on Saturday in the second contest of a four-game series. After being outscored 26-8 during a three-game sweep by Seattle, Los Angeles rebounded with an 11-1 victory over Houston on Friday. The Angels flexed their muscles with home runs by Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun, but Albert Pujols continues to struggle during a 3-for-17 start.
San Diego at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres look to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday against the host Miami Marlins, who have used a surprisingly potent offense to win four of their first five games. The Marlins ranked last in the majors in batting average and runs scored last season, but have totaled 35 runs with 15 extra-base hits through five games. While Miami has been one of the majors’ top stories during the first week, injury-plagued San Diego is off to another slow start.
Texas at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Texas Rangers turn to rookie Nick Martinez next in their makeshift rotation Saturday as they visit the Tampa Bay Rays, who cruised to an 8-1 victory in Friday’s series opener. Martinez, who has never pitched above the Double-A level, figures to make only one start with Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis and Matt Harrison each close to returning. “Whatever happens, I’m taking it as a learning experience,” Martinez told mlb.com. “Enjoy the ride and learn as much as I can while I’m here.”
Arizona at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa vows he'll be on the same page with catcher Wilin Rosario when the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. De La Rosa had issues with Rosario over switching signs in spring training, and it spilled into Monday when he lost his temper during Colorado's 10-1 loss at Miami. A mound meeting got so contentious, pitching coach Jim Wright had to defuse the situation as De La Rosa motioned for Rosario to get back behind the plate.