Preview Roundups
May 11, 2014
LA Angels at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels, who have seen their starting pitchers turn in consecutive strong outings, send Jered Weaver to the mound Sunday to extend that streak in the third contest of their four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays. The Angels have had their way with the Blue Jays of late, winning nine of 10 overall and six straight matchups in Toronto.
Minnesota at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers busted out of an offensive slump, with Miguel Cabrera leading the charge, and have won nine of their last 11 games. The Tigers try to make it 10 of 12 when they host the Minnesota Twins on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Detroit managed a total of three runs in back-to-back losses but got twice that amount in the second inning alone in Saturday’s 9-3 triumph as Cabrera slugged a three-run homer to cap a rally.
Colorado at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies try to continue their newfound success on the road when they go for a series victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the finale of their three-game set. Colorado (23-16), which leads the major leagues in runs scored at 5.8 per game, averages a respectable 4.3 on the road after its 11-2 victory Saturday and is 10-11 away from home - 5-3 in its last eight games - after going 29-52 in each of the last two seasons on the road.
Philadelphia at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
In a series that began featuring two struggling teams where something had to give, it's the Philadelphia Phillies who have rebounded this weekend. The Phillies look to sweep their three-game set at Citi Field when they take on the rapidly fading New York Mets on Sunday afternoon. The Phillies had lost six of eight entering this weekend while the Mets now have lost eight of their last nine games, including five defeats in their opponent's final at-bat.
Houston at Baltimore 1:35 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles will try to win six in a row for the first time since September 2012 when they host the Houston Astros on Sunday in the finale of their three-game series. The Orioles rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the ninth inning Saturday to win 5-4 in 10 innings. Baltimore has been tough in close games lately, winning the last six decided by one run.
Chi. Cubs at Atlanta 1:35 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves are batting only .234 as a team this season, and may take the field for Sunday’s series finale at home against the Chicago Cubs without one of their few consistent hitters. Left fielder Justin Upton, batting .296 on the season with a team-high nine homers, left Saturday’s 2-0 victory after being hit in the back by a pitch in the sixth inning. The Cubs have scored two runs in 19 innings in the series, dropping to 3-14 in games decided by two runs or less.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay 1:40 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays finally broke out of their offensive malaise and snapped a pair of losing streaks as a result - a four-game slide overall and a six-game skid at home. Tampa Bay routed Cleveland 7-1 on Saturday night and will look to take the series from the visiting Indians on Sunday. "We have some great players here," Rays outfielder Matt Joyce said. "Obviously, this year hasn't gone the way we wanted so far and it was a rough week for us, but we've still got a little ways to go."
Arizona at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks have clinched a winning road excursion and look to complete it with another victory when they face the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Arizona posted a 4-3 victory on Saturday to improve to 5-3 on the nine-game trip as closer Addison Reed survived a shaky ninth inning while pitching against his former club for the first time. Chicago shortstop Alexei Ramirez is 8-for-16 with six RBIs over the past four games and leads the American League with a .340 average.
NY Yankees at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
The New York Yankees look to complete a two-city road trip with two series wins when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game set. After taking two of three at the Los Angeles Angels and claiming the opener against the Brewers, the Yankees dropped a 5-4 decision in Milwaukee on Saturday. Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez homered for the Brewers while Mark Teixeira went deep for the fifth time in 11 games for New York.
Boston at Texas 3:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox quickly turned the page after nearly being no-hit and try to make it two straight over Texas when they visit the Rangers on Sunday in the finale of their three-game and season series. Boston produced 11 hits in Saturday's 8-3 victory - one day after Texas' Yu Darvish lost his no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning - and secured at least a tie of the season series with the Rangers for the first time since 2008 after winning two of three from Texas last month in Boston.
Washington at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics John Jaso is getting a chance to bat leadoff while Coco Crisp recovers from a neck strain and the veteran catcher is taking advantage this weekend against the visiting Washington Nationals. He has collected four hits, including two home runs, as well as the walk-off game-winner Saturday, putting the Athletics in position to go for the three-game sweep Sunday.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 4:10 PM ET
Yasiel Puig takes a career-high 10-game hitting streak into the Los Angeles Dodgers' series finale on Sunday against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who still are dealing with the loss of their leading power hitter. Michael Morse will move from left field to first base for the Giants in place of Brandon Belt, who is expected to miss the next six weeks after suffering a broken left thumb in Friday’s contest.
Kansas City at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
Justin Smoak was part of the package Seattle secured from Texas in the Cliff Lee deal in 2010 and he’s finally showing signs of becoming a vaunted run producer. Smoak hit a two-run homer that put the Mariners ahead to stay in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Kansas City and will look for another solid performance when Seattle and the visiting Royals close the series on Sunday. The Mariners won two of the first three games despite scoring five total runs.
Miami at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres entered their four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins as the lowest-scoring team in the majors, but their bats have come alive during the middle two games of the series. The Padres have amassed 19 runs in back-to-back wins over Miami and a victory Sunday will secure their first series win since taking two of three from San Francisco from April 18-20. Seth Smith has sparked the offensive revival with six hits and six RBIs in the past two games.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 8:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are running out of outfielders, but it is not stopping them from winning. The Pirates hope to have at least one of their injured starters back when they attempt to push their winning streak to five straight games and sweep the series from visiting St. Louis on Sunday night. Andrew McCutchen was already out when Starling Marte hurt his back sprinting out a grounder on Saturday, forcing Gaby Sanchez to make his first outfield appearance.