Preview Roundups
April 26, 2014
LA Angels at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
Coming off a disappointing 2013 season, Albert Pujols has been anything but a letdown so far in 2014. The Los Angeles Angels' slugger aims to become the first player to reach double-digit home runs on the season when he takes on the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon. Pujols' ninth homer was one of four hit by Los Angeles in Friday's 13-1 triumph in the opener of the three-game series.
San Diego at Washington 1:05 PM ET
Bryce Harper’s status for Saturday’s game will be firmed up prior to the start as the Washington Nationals host the San Diego Padres in the third contest of a four-game series. Harper collected a career-high four RBIs in Friday’s 11-1 victory but left with a jammed left thumb, and postgame X-rays were negative. Nationals manager Matt Williams said Harper will be re-evaluated, but Washington would like to have him in the lineup after racking up 33 hits over the first two games of the series.
Boston at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox waited nearly a month to get the lineup on the field together that they envisioned before the season, and early results were strong. The Red Sox will try to ride that lineup to a series-clinching win when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. Boston right-fielder Shane Victorino made his first start of the season on Thursday and Will Middlebrooks returned from a calf injury on Friday to complete lineup.
Detroit at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers seek another productive contest with the bats when they visit the Minnesota Twins on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. The Tigers racked up 15 hits while recording a 10-6 victory in the series opener and have scored 29 runs over their last four games while opening up a two-game lead in the American League Central. Minnesota’s Chris Colabello drove in his 27th run in the opener, setting a club mark for RBIs in April.
Cleveland at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants served notice their recent woes in interleague play may be a thing of the past in their last time out. The Giants eye their third straight victory Saturday when they continue their three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. San Francisco posted a 6-14 record against the American League in 2013 – tied for the worst mark in the majors – and went 13-22 over the past two seasons, but halted those struggles with Friday’s 5-1 win thanks in part to a pair of hot bats.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis 4:05 PM ET
Nearly one month into the season, Francisco Liriano still is looking for his first victory. Then again, the Pittsburgh Pirates just need wins at this point, no matter who they come from. Liriano and the slumping Pirates continue their three-game set with the host St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, one day after suffering a 1-0 defeat - their 12th loss in 15 games - in the series opener.
Kansas City at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals split their first 22 games of the season and try to continue a unique trend when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. Kansas City is 11-0 when scoring four or more runs following Friday's 5-0 victory and 0-11 when held to three or fewer runs. Baltimore lost more than a game as first baseman Chris Davis, who led the American League with 53 home runs in 2013, left in obvious discomfort with a strained left oblique.
Cincinnati at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
B.J. Upton sits one hit away from 1,000 for his career and the much-maligned Atlanta Braves center fielder generated plenty of buzz when he donned prescription glasses for Friday’s series opener with the Cincinnati Reds. The Braves host the Reds for the middle game of a weekend series Saturday and Upton – who is hitting .207 after batting a career-worst .184 in 2013, his first season with Atlanta – is hoping to build on the past 14 games, in which he is hitting .245 after starting 0-for-11.
Tampa Bay at Chi. White Sox 7:10 PM ET
Jose Abreu continues to provide evidence that he is one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball despite making his maiden voyage in the major leagues. Abreu looks to follow up a thrilling walk-off grand slam when his Chicago White Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday in the second contest of a four-game series.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
Even the most optimistic Milwaukee Brewers fans probably didn't see this coming. The Brewers are 11 games above .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season and look to add to the majors' best record when they host the Chicago Cubs in the middle contest of a three-game series Saturday. The Cubs occupy the National League Central cellar and have lost three straight following their first back-to-back wins of the season.
Oakland at Houston 7:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics hope to pick up where they left off Saturday when they visit the Houston Astros for the third game of their four-game series. The Athletics scored seven runs in the ninth inning Friday night to break a 5-5 tie and cruise to a 12-5 victory. Oakland improved to 9-2 on the road, its best start since 1990.
Miami at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The walk-off single in the New York Mets’ ninth comeback victory of the season Friday may just be the spark to jump-start Curtis Granderson’s season. Granderson looks to build off his heroics and snap out of a season-long slump when the Mets host the Miami Marlins in the second of a three-game series Saturday. Granderson, who signed a four-year, $60 million contract in the offseason, has a hit in each of the last three games with two RBIs after his batting average dipped to .116.
Philadelphia at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks were fielding questions about the job security of their manager and general manager this week but are quieting the critics with a three-game winnings streak. The Diamondbacks will try to push their season-long streak to four games and clinch just their second series win when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. Arizona snapped an eight-game home slide by holding on to take the series opener Friday.
Colorado at LA Dodgers 9:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies try for their first three-game winning streak on the road in more than a year when they meet the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. Colorado prevailed 5-4 in 11 innings Friday in the opener of its six-game trip and is 5-7 away from home this year after going 29-52 in each of the last two seasons. Los Angeles' Paul Maholm is 1-8 with a 6.63 ERA in 10 starts against the Rockies and opposes Juan Nicasio, who like Maholm was roughed up by Philadelphia in his last turn.
Texas at Seattle 9:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners will try to win three in a row for the first time since starting the season 3-0 when they host the Texas Rangers on Saturday in the middle game of their three-game series. The teams hooked up for a wild one Friday night, when the Mariners scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to move ahead 6-3, only to have the Rangers score twice off closer Fernando Rodney and load the bases with one out before Adrian Beltre lined into a game-ending double play.