Preview Roundups
May 17, 2014
Atlanta at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves knew May presented a daunting schedule, with six games each against the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants plus four against defending World Series champion Boston. The first half of the month has proven to be a struggle for the Braves, who play the second contest of a three-game set at St. Louis on Saturday looking to improve on their 5-9 May record. The Cardinals took the series opener 5-2 to win for the fourth time in five games.
Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
Matt Garza makes his return to Wrigley Field on Saturday when he leads the Milwaukee Brewers into the second of three straight matchups at the Chicago Cubs. Garza won 21 games over two-plus years with the Cubs before being traded to Texas last summer. His return to the National League Central this season afforded him an early chance to face his former teammates last month, and the right-hander responded by allowing two runs in seven innings of a 5-2 victory at home.
NY Mets at Washington 4:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals attempt to post their longest winning streak against one opponent since arriving in the nation’s capital on Saturday when they continue their three-game home set against the New York Mets. The Nationals maintained their mastery with a 5-2 triumph versus their National League East rival in Friday’s series opener. The victory was Washington’s ninth straight against New York, matching its winning streak against the Seattle Mariners (June 10, 2005-present).
Pittsburgh at NY Yankees 4:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees have relied on strong pitching to get back on track following a four-game losing streak, which may come as bad news to the Pittsburgh Pirates when they visit the Bronx for Saturday's opener of a rain-delayed, three-game interleague set. Masahiro Tanaka ended New York’s slide in which it surrendered 32 runs by tossing a four-hit shutout against the New York Mets on Wednesday. Friday's rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday.
Chi. White Sox at Houston 4:10 PM ET
Houston is home for Adam Dunn, so it's no wonder the Chicago White Sox slugger feels at home at Minute Maid Park. Dunn's three-run blast powered the White Sox to a series-opening victory and they'll try to make it two straight against the Houston Astros on Saturday. Chicago has won two straight following a four-game skid to get back within one game of .500.
Oakland at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
Josh Reddick has turned a whisper into a loud statement and looks to continue his recent tear when he leads the visiting Oakland Athletics into the second of a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night. Since adopting George Michael's "Careless Whisper" as his walk-up song, Reddick has three multiple-hit games, including two homers and six RBIs in Oakland's 11-1 series-opening rout.
Cincinnati at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Six days ago, Cole Hamels threw a career-high 133 pitches before watching the bullpen squander his 100th career victory. On Saturday, the Philadelphia Phillies' left-hander will take his seventh crack at win No. 100 when the Cincinnati Reds visit for the second game of their weekend set. Hamels went a season-high eight innings Sunday against the New York Mets, allowing one run with a season-best 10 strikeouts before the bullpen gave up three runs in the ninth and one in the 11th.
Baltimore at Kansas City 7:10 PM ET
Nelson Cruz continues to be a very valuable late free-agent signing for the Baltimore Orioles while recording team highs in homers (12), RBIs (37) and runs (25). Cruz has knocked in seven of those runs in the last three games and looks to remain hot when the Orioles visit the Kansas City Royals on Saturday after winning the first two in the series. Cruz boasts four of his team’s six RBIs the last two nights and Baltimore’s pitching has limited the Royals to one run and 12 hits.
Detroit at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers are trying to get some revenge for a loss in the American League Championship Series and are off to a good start. The Tigers will try to clinch the three-game series when they visit the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Detroit, which suffered a 4-2 loss to the Red Sox in the ALCS, took Friday’s opener 1-0 as Max Scherzer outdueled Jon Lester in a game that was played through rain. Boston has dropped three of its last four games to drop below .500.
Seattle at Minnesota 7:10 PM ET
Robinson Cano entered 2014 as the top second baseman in the majors and was rewarded with a $240 million deal in the offseason by the Seattle Mariners, but he has been outclassed by Brian Dozier thus far. Dozier looks to continue his breakout season Saturday when his Minnesota Twins eye their fifth win in six games against the visiting Mariners. Dozier became the first player at any position to reach double figures in home runs (10) and steals (12) this season after homering in Friday’s 5-4 win.
Toronto at Texas 8:05 PM ET
After being shut out for the second time in their last three games, the Texas Rangers look to jump-start their offense Saturday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo is 5-for-36 over the last nine games for the Rangers, who have lost eight of their last 10 at home. Texas managed just three hits in Friday’s series opener against Drew Hutchison, who recorded his first career complete game in the Blue Jays’ 2-0 victory.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
Yasiel Puig is showing no signs of slowing down, and neither are the Los Angeles Dodgers - at least when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks, that is. After belting a solo homer to extend his career-best hitting streak to 15 games, Puig looks to continue his hot hand as Los Angeles vies to win the three-game series when it visits Arizona on Saturday. Puig, who collected three hits in Friday's 7-0 rout, also is riding seven-game streaks for RBIs and extra-base hits.
San Diego at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies look to remain hot at home when they host the San Diego Padres on Saturday in the second contest of their three-game series. Following a 2-5 road trip, the Rockies returned to Coors Field on Friday to pick up a 3-1 victory in the series opener. The win was Colorado's third straight at home and sixth in seven games, bumping the club's record in Denver to 14-5 - the second-best home mark in the majors.
Miami at San Francisco 9:05 PM ET
The Miami Marlins still have work to do in order to salvage a lackluster road trip, but they enter Saturday’s contest against the San Francisco Giants reasonably optimistic. Jarrod Saltalamacchia snapped a career-worst 0-for-26 slump with four hits in Friday’s 6-4 win, and manager Mike Redmond hopes his catcher can finish the Marlins’ 11-game trek on a high note. “It’s been a rough go this road trip for him," Redmond told the Sun Sentinel.
Tampa Bay at LA Angels 9:05 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays’ patchwork starting rotation has turned things around the last four games, allowing an earned run in only one of its last 35 innings. Cesar Ramos looks to keep that going when he takes the mound in the third contest of a four-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The Rays got off the mat after giving up four runs in the ninth inning of a demoralizing 6-5 loss Thursday to even the series with a 3-0 victory – their second shutout in three contests.