Preview Roundups
April 29, 2014
Pittsburgh at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Thanks in part to their major league-best 15-5 record in interleague play, the Pittsburgh Pirates ended 20 years of futility last season. The Pirates look to recapture that same magic to end their recent struggles Tuesday as they begin a two-game road set against the Baltimore Orioles. Pittsburgh is the only team in the majors that has yet to play outside of its division (the National League Central) but has fallen on hard times after a 6-3 start, dropping 13 of its last 17 contests.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Coming off a solid season debut, Cole Hamels makes his first home start of 2014 when the Philadelphia Phillies meet the New York Mets on Tuesday. Hamels, who began the season on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, allowed two runs in six innings of Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Dodger Stadium. The former World Series MVP went 3-7 at home a season ago despite a respectable 3.79 ERA in front of the home fans.
Seattle at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
Robinson Cano visits Yankee Stadium in an opposing jersey for the first time when the Seattle Mariners open a three-game series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Cano played nine seasons with the Yankees and was a five-time All-Star before jumping to Seattle as a free agent in the offseason, landing a 10-year, $240 million contract. New York is faring well without Cano as it has won five of its last seven games and leads the American League East.
Tampa Bay at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox have yet to find the form that carried them to the World Series title a year ago and will finish April without more than a two-game win streak. The Red Sox look to get things going when they begin an eight-game homestand against the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Boston is only 5-8 on its home field and stands fourth in the American League East – one game ahead of Tampa Bay, which has dropped five of its last six contests.
Atlanta at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Jose Fernandez and Alex Wood combined for one of the best pitching duels in years last Tuesday in Atlanta, and the two young hurlers again will meet when the Braves visit Miami to open a three-game series Tuesday. Fernandez struck out a career-high tying 14 in eight innings as the Marlins beat the Braves 1-0 in last week’s matchup, and Wood added a career-best 11 strikeouts with one run allowed in eight frames. Neither team issued a walk in the contest and combined for 28 strikeouts.
Chi. Cubs at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Jeff Samardzija already has waited long enough for his first win of the season, but he had to hang on one more day for his next crack at it. Samardzija will take the ball Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs open an abbreviated two-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds after Monday's scheduled opener was rained out. Like Samardzija, the Reds are growing accustomed to heartbreak with 10 one-run losses already this season.
Oakland at Texas 8:05 PM ET
Texas' Martin Perez won't change a thing as he tries to become the American League's first five-game winner when the Rangers host the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Perez hasn't allowed a run in 26 innings over his last three starts and is coming off back-to-back three-hitters - including a 3-0 victory at Oakland on Wednesday. “Throw the ball down and attack the hitters. That’s all,'' Perez told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "Using all my pitches and throw quality pitches.”
Detroit at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox have shown through the first month of the season they are a much more difficult team to deal with than the 2013 version. The White Sox top the majors in runs scored as they open a quick two-game set against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Tuesday after winning six of their last nine to move over .500 at 14-13. Chicago’s rookie first baseman Jose Abreu leads the majors in homers (10) and RBIs (32) – knocking in four when the teams split four games last week.
Washington at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros seek their first three-game winning streak of the season when they open a brief two-game series at home against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. Houston, which dropped its final 15 games in 2013, has won two in a row just three times during an otherwise difficult start, including a pair against first-place Oakland over the weekend. Jose Altuve stayed hot with a home run and a single in four at-bats during a 5-1 win over the Athletics on Sunday.
LA Dodgers at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins hope to play their first game in three days when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in the opener of their three-game series. Minnesota’s contest Sunday against the visiting Detroit Tigers was rained out and the Twins had an off day Monday. Weather reports call for additional rain the next three days in Minneapolis, which could complicate matters because it's an interleague series and Los Angeles is not scheduled to come to town again.
Toronto at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays haven't had much luck against left-handed pitching in 2014 - and that doesn't bode well for them as they open a three-game set Tuesday night against the host Kansas City Royals. Toronto comes into the set batting just .225 for the season in 204 at-bats against southpaws. The Royals will look to lower that mark even further in the opener as they trot out veteran lefty Jason Vargas, who is off to a surprisingly strong start.
Milwaukee at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Just over two weeks after dominating Milwaukee, Lance Lynn takes on the Brewers again Tuesday as the St. Louis Cardinals continue their three-game home series against the major leagues' best team. Lynn and Milwaukee starter Kyle Lohse both are aiming for their fifth win on the young season. Lohse is facing his former team for the first time in 2014, while the Brewers - owners of the majors' best record at 19-7 - hope to fare better than they did against Lynn on April 14.
Colorado at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies attempt to win three straight road games for the first time in more than a year when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the second contest of a three-game series. Colorado added to Arizona's miserable start with an 8-5 victory Monday as Troy Tulowitzki recorded three hits and three RBIs, including the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning. The Diamondbacks have lost three straight and own the worst record in baseball at 8-21.
Cleveland at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians have scored a total of eight runs over their last four games, but slugger Carlos Santana heads into Tuesday’s contest against the host Los Angeles Angels with reason for optimism. The third baseman entered Monday’s contest hitting just .122 with one home run and three RBIs before crushing a three-run homer into the left-field seats in a 6-3 loss to the Angels.
San Diego at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
San Diego continues to rate as the lowest-scoring team in the majors but the Padres can reach the .500 mark by defeating the host San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. San Diego scored six runs while winning the series opener – matching a season-best output – and stands 3-1 against the Giants this season. Light-hitting reserve catcher Rene Rivera had the best game of his career with a homer and five RBIs in Monday’s 6-4 victory.