Preview Roundups
May 14, 2014
Detroit at Baltimore 12:35 PM ET
Kevin Gausman makes his first start of the season Wednesday as the Baltimore Orioles look to avoid a three-game sweep at home against the Detroit Tigers. Gausman, the organization's second-ranked prospect, will be pitching after just three days of rest as the Orioles shuffle their rotation in advance of a six-game road trip. The 23-year-old went 3-5 with a 5.66 ERA in 20 games (five starts) for Baltimore in 2013.
LA Angels at Philadelphia 1:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are playing their best baseball of the season despite little production from their best player. Mike Trout hopes to break out of his funk Wednesday when the Angels wrap up a two-game road series with a matinee against the Philadelphia Phillies. Trout went 1-for-5 on Tuesday in front of his hometown fans - he grew up in nearby Vineland, N.J. - and has not recorded multiple hits in a game since April 28.
Colorado at Kansas City 2:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are doing their best impersonation of the Rockies as they try for a two-game sweep when against visiting Colorado on Wednesday. Kansas City has 18 home runs - the fewest in the major leagues - but has belted four in its last two games, including blasts by Lorenzo Cain and Salvador Perez in Tuesday's 5-1 victory. Colorado, which leads the majors with 57 homers, has dropped four of its last five contests and will try to avoid losing three in a row.
Chi. White Sox at Oakland 3:35 PM ET
Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick is drawing raves for switching his walk-up music to the soothing ballad “Careless Whisper” by Wham!, but there’s been nothing mellow about the Athletics’ six-game winning streak. The Athletics have outscored their opponents 39-8 during the streak, and they’ll look to continue their impressive run Wednesday in the series finale against the visiting Chicago White Sox, who have lost four straight and five of their last six.
Washington at Arizona 3:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks try for their fourth straight series victory - and first at home this season - when they meet the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in the finale of their three-game series. Arizona (16-26) won for the eighth time in its last 12 games and improved to 4-14 at Chase Field as Bronson Arroyo pitched his 16th complete game in the Diamondbacks' 3-1 victory Tuesday. "You just want to get it done at home to show there's not some sort of jinx going on," Arroyo told reporters.
Tampa Bay at Seattle 3:40 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays aim to build momentum off an electric victory and claim the three-game series from the host Seattle Mariners on Wednesday afternoon. Tampa Bay was blanked for eight innings by Hisashi Iwakuma on Tuesday before scoring twice in the ninth off former Rays closer Fernando Rodney to land a much-needed victory. The win was only the second in eight games for a squad that resides in last place in the American League East.
Atlanta at San Francisco 3:45 PM ET
Good things usually happen for the Atlanta Braves when Julio Teheran takes the mound, and the Braves will look for another strong performance from their developing ace when they wrap up a three-game series Wednesday at San Francisco. Atlanta beat the Giants 5-0 on Tuesday for the first time in five tries this season and, despite going 5-9 since April 28, still lead the National League East by 2 1/2 games.
Cleveland at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
Holding leads has been no easy task for the Toronto Blue Jays, but the return of closer Casey Janssen seems to have stabilized the struggling bullpen. Janssen and the Blue Jays made a one-run lead hold up late in Tuesday's win over the visiting Cleveland Indians, and they'll try to clinch a series victory when the teams square off Wednesday. Toronto has won two straight following a three-game skid to get back to .500 while Cleveland has won five of its last seven.
San Diego at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
A second consecutive strong pitching duel is on tap when San Diego’s Ian Kennedy and Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto square off in Wednesday’s contest, the second of three games between the Padres and host Reds. Kennedy struck out a season-best 12 in seven innings in a no-decision in his last turn while Cueto hasn’t allowed more than two runs or five hits in any of his eight starts and leads the majors in ERA. San Diego prevailed 2-1 in the opener on Chase Headley’s ninth-inning homer.
NY Yankees at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
In the midst of their longest losing streak of the season, the New York Yankees turn to a pitcher who hasn't tasted defeat in a regular-season start since August 2012. Masahiro Tanaka will take the mound Wednesday as the Yankees look to halt a four-game skid when the Subway Series shifts to Citi Field for two games against the New York Mets. Tanaka has won his first five decisions in the majors and is 33-0 in his last 41 regular-season starts dating to his time in Japan.
Boston at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
While the Boston Red Sox were unable to pull off their first three-game winning streak of the season, the Minnesota Twins put themselves in position for three straight victories. The Twins go for that third win in a row when they host the Red Sox in the middle contest of their three-game series on Wednesday. David Ortiz went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs in Tuesday’s opener, but Minnesota got the key blast when Chris Parmelee delivered a walk-off shot to right-center.
Texas at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros took out a lot of their frustrations on the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, ending a 10-game losing streak to their in-state rivals with an 8-0 thumping. The Astros are 2-14 in their last 16 meetings with the Rangers and can halt a string of 15 consecutive series losses against them with a victory in Wednesday's rubber match.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers aim to keep alive a pair of winning streaks when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in the middle contest of their three-game series. By posting a 5-2 victory in the opener on Tuesday, Milwaukee has won three straight games overall and improved to 4-0 at home against Pittsburgh this season. The Brewers are 52-12 versus the Pirates since 2007.
Chi. Cubs at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
From an offensive explosion by the Chicago Cubs to a game-ending hit-by-pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals, the first half of the National League Central rivals' four-game series has showcased the unlikely. Right-handers Jason Hammel and Michael Wacha square off in the third act Wednesday at Busch Stadium. The season series is tied at four games apiece and three of the games have been decided by a run.
Miami at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ talented offense is starting to warm up and Yasiel Puig is taking a lead role with 22 hits and 16 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak. Puig looks to stay hot as the Dodgers go for their first home series sweep of the season when they face the struggling Miami Marlins on Wednesday. Los Angeles has produced 23 runs the last four games -- including three wins -- while the Marlins will try to break a five-game losing streak and improve their 3-15 road record.