Preview Roundups
April 12, 2014
Boston at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox didn't know what to expect from reclamation project Grady Sizemore, but the outfielder is making their gamble look like a winning move. Boston tries for its second straight victory when it visits the New York Yankees on Saturday after Sizemore's three-run homer gave Boston a 4-2 victory Friday to even the series. Sizemore, who did not play in 2012 and 2013 because of injuries, has two homers among his 10 hits in 30 at-bats with four RBIs while playing solid defense.
Cleveland at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
Last season, the Chicago White Sox won only two of 19 matchups with the Cleveland Indians. The White Sox have a chance to surpass their 2013 win total against the Indians on Saturday when they host Cleveland in the third game of their four-game set. Chicago entered Friday's matchup with the league's best offense and put up nine runs, four of which were driven in by Conor Gillaspie, in defeating the Indians for the second straight night.
Kansas City at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins took out a lot of frustration on Kansas City in the series opener and will look for a second straight victory when they host the Royals on Saturday. Minnesota went just 4-15 against Kansas City in 2013 but racked up 13 hits and rolled to a 10-1 romp in Friday’s contest. Chris Colabello continued his strong start with three RBIs and is tied for the major-league lead (14) with Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox.
Chi. Cubs at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
No one expects the Chicago Cubs to seriously contend in the tough Central Division, but it doesn't appear they'll be anywhere near the pushover that lost 197 games over the past two seasons. Chicago looks to make it two straight over the Cardinals when they visit St. Louis on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. The Cubs on Friday let a two-run lead slip away in the ninth inning before Welington Castillo's three-run homer gave Chicago a 6-3 victory in 11 innings.
Colorado at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies have a hard time winning on the road, and playing without two of its biggest offensive threats makes it that much more difficult. Colorado hopes to have shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and catcher Wilin Rosario back in the starting lineup when it visits the San Francisco Giants on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. Colorado, which was 29-52 away from home in 2013, is 1-4 this season and has lost 14 of its last 16 in San Francisco after Friday's 6-5 setback.
Toronto at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays haven’t been a particularly dominant in any area in 2014, but timely pitching has helped them sport a winning record through 11 games. The Blue Jays, who rank 28th in the majors in average (.212) as they enter the second of a three-game road set against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, posted their major league-best third shutout in Friday’s 2-0 win. Both of Toronto’s runs were unearned, allowing the Blue Jays to prevail despite managing three singles and a walk.
Miami at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
In a series where something had to give, the Philadelphia Phillies won the race to end their losing streak first. After snapping a four-game skid with a 6-3 triumph in Friday's series opener, the Phillies look to extend the Miami Marlins' current skid to six games when the teams match up Saturday. Miami received a disappointing start from ace Jose Fernandez in the series opener and turns to Nathan Eovaldi to face Jonathan Pettibone, who will be making his season debut for Philadelphia.
Washington at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Taylor Jordan and Alex Wood combined to produce a fantastic pitchers’ duel Sunday in Washington, and the pair will look to replicate their strong outings Saturday when the Nationals play in Atlanta in the middle contest of a three-game series. Jordan did not get the victory but held Atlanta to one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, while Wood allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings but served up Ian Desmond’s homer – the difference in the Nationals’ 2-1 victory.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
Yovani Gallardo is off to a great start in his quest to record double-digit victories for the sixth consecutive season. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander takes the mound Saturday as baseball’s hottest team hosts Pittsburgh in the middle contest of a three-game set, seeking to improve to 3-0 after two superb outings to begin 2014. The Brewers come in riding a seven-game winning streak after taking Friday’s series opener 4-2, and at 8-2 are off to their best start in 27 years.
Houston at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers have won consecutive games only once through 10 contests, but putting together their second winning streak of the season may not prove to be all that difficult given their success against the Houston Astros. Texas took the last two games of its opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but lost two of three on the road over its next two series. However, the Rangers appear poised to change their recent luck following Friday’s 1-0, 12-inning win over Houston.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
Wade Miley looks to stabilize the Arizona Diamondbacks starting rotation Saturday when he faces the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Miley has been the lone bright spot in the rotation, which will get a new look Monday when Josh Collmenter moves from the bullpen to replace struggling Randall Delgado. The Diamondbacks fell to a disappointing 4-9 on Friday when Adrian Gonzalez homered and drove in five runs and Hyun-Jin Ryu tossed seven shutout innings in the Dodgers’ 6-0 win.
Detroit at San Diego 8:40 PM ET
The San Diego Padres are hoping their slow start at the plate is a thing of the past as they head into Saturday’s matchup against the visiting Detroit Tigers. After being held to a total of 20 runs in their first nine games, the Padres showed signs of life in Friday’s series-opening 6-0 win over the Tigers, with Chase Headley breaking out of a 4-for-32 season-opening slump by delivering an RBI double and a two-run homer.
NY Mets at LA Angels 9:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels have turned things around since getting swept in three games at home to start the season, winning five of their last seven. The Angels send ace Jered Weaver to the mound to try and keep moving forward as the New York Mets visit for the second of a three-game inter league series Saturday. Los Angeles left 17 on base before pushing across the winning run in the 11th for a 5-4 victory Friday in its second game without injured slugger Josh Hamilton.
Oakland at Seattle 9:10 PM ET
The offseason addition of free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano was supposed to bolster Seattle’s sagging offense and lead to more victories. The Mariners are doing fine on the victory front with an American League West-leading 6-3 mark entering Saturday’s game against the visiting Oakland Athletics, but Cano has just three RBIs and has yet to homer. Seattle posted a 6-4 victory in Friday’s series opener to halt Oakland’s four-game winning streak.