Preview Roundups
April 09, 2016
Boston at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox figure to have two of the best offenses in the American League this season, and it certainly looked like they were rounding into form in Friday’s series opener. Both clubs will try to get a little more from their starting pitchers when the Blue Jays host the Red Sox in the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday.
NY Yankees at Detroit 1:10 PM ET
CC Sabathia makes his return to the mound when he leads the New York Yankees into the second of three straight at the Detroit Tigers on Saturday. Sabathia left the Yankees late last season to enter alcohol rehab, putting a stamp on another tough year for the veteran left-hander, who was given the last spot in the 2016 rotation despite posting a 5.51 ERA during spring training.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Gerrit Cole is eager for his season debut, but the opponent is one he hasn’t enjoyed facing in his young career. Cole searches for his first career win against the Cincinnati Reds when the Pirates continue a three-game series against their National League Central rivals Saturday.

Cleveland at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
Chicago ace Chris Sale won his first start of the season and the left-hander looks to make it two straight victories when the White Sox host the Cleveland Indians on Saturday. Sale gave up three runs in seven innings while defeating the Oakland Athletics on Monday as he begins a run at his fifth straight season of double-digit victories.
LA Dodgers at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
One day after watching 26-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Ross Stripling take a no-hitter into the eighth inning, fans at AT&T Park figure to enjoy another impressive pitching display Saturday as three-time Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw faces off against the San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner. The Giants improved to 4-1 with Friday’s 3-2 victory when Brandon Crawford homered off Joe Blanton to start the 10th inning.
Miami at Washington 4:05 PM ET

Bryce Harper is sure to pass plenty of milestones in his career, and the reigning National League Most Valuable Player has a good shot at hitting one Saturday. Harper takes aim at his 100th career home run when the Washington Nationals continue their three-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins.

Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles flaunted their power in the series opener and can match the franchise record for consecutive victories to open the season when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. The Orioles, who belted three homers in the three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, registered four solo blasts in a 6-1 victory over the Rays on Friday to start with four wins for the eighth time.
Houston at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
After a down year in Washington, Doug Fister makes his debut for the Houston Astros when they continue a three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Fister was 51-38 with a 3.11 ERA from 2011-14 with Seattle, Detroit and Washington, but suffered a downturn with the Nationals last year and finished the season out of the bullpen.
St. Louis at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals finally found a way into the win column Friday and look to make it two in a row against the winless Atlanta Braves in the second game of a weekend set Saturday in Atlanta. The Cardinals, who came into the series 0-3, showed plenty of moxie in rallying from an early 4-0 deficit in Friday’s 7-4 victory, getting three pinch-hit homers – the first time ever a team has hit three pinch-hit homers in the same game – to earn their first victory of 2016.
Philadelphia at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
Vince Velasquez will make his Philadelphia Phillies debut Saturday on the mound at Citi Field, where he'll attempt to help the Phillies avoid an 0-5 start for the first time since 1934. The New York Mets opened the weekend series at home with a 7-2 triumph on Friday, shortly after they raised their National League championship banner.
Minnesota at Kansas City 7:15 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins remain in search of their first win of the season as they visit the reigning world champion Kansas City Royals on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Minnesota was swept by Baltimore in its season-opening three-game set and dropped the opener versus Kansas City, allowing two runs in the eighth inning en route to a 4-3 loss.
Chi. Cubs at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs appeared unstoppable with three straight wins to open the season, but a major injury to one of their young stars has tempered that early optimism. The Cubs, who continue their four-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, will be without left fielder Kyle Schwarber for the rest of the season after the 23-year-old suffered full tears to the ACL and LCL in his left knee during a collision in Thursday’s contest.
San Diego at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
Playing in Coors Field helped San Diego ended a dismal scoreless streak, and the Padres look for another round of solid offense when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. San Diego extended its record of consecutive scoreless innings to start a season to 30 on Friday before breaking through with six fourth-inning runs en route to a 13-6 victory.
Texas at LA Angels 9:05 PM ET
Cole Hamels traditionally struggles in April and the Texas left-hander can match his first-month victory count of the last three years when the Rangers visit the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. Hamels went 2-7 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 April starts from 2013-15 but won his season debut when he defeated the Seattle Mariners on Monday.
Oakland at Seattle 9:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics could be turning the corner when it comes to close contests as they continue their three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Oakland prevailed 3-2 on Friday for its second one-run victory of the season after dropping two such games to start the campaign, showing signs that it might be capable of reversing a franchise-worst 19-35 mark in one-run contests in 2015.