Preview Roundups
May 20, 2014
Baltimore at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Even as the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to win when he takes the mound, the record of Francisco Liriano remains unchanged. The Pirates eye their sixth straight victory in games in which the left-hander pitches on Tuesday when they host the first of two interleague contests against the Baltimore Orioles. Liriano posted a career-high 16 victories and Pittsburgh went 19-9 in his 28 starts (including playoffs) in 2013, but he is winless through nine turns this season.
Detroit at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians will recall top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer for the second time this season to start against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. Bauer is taking over the rotation spot of the recently demoted Danny Salazar as the Indians look for the right mix to keep up with the high-powered Tigers. Cleveland managed to slow down Detroit for a day in the series opener. picking up a 5-4 win in 10 innings on Monday thanks to Michael Brantley's solo homer.
Cincinnati at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Johnny Cueto can become only the second pitcher in 105 years to go seven innings and allow two runs or fewer in each of his first 10 starts on Tuesday when the Cincinnati Reds continue their road series against the Washington Nationals. The major league's ERA leader cruised to his fourth straight win after tossing a three-hit shutout against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. The outing left Cueto one game shy of tying Harry Krause’s historic 10-game run with the 1909 Philadelphia Athletics.
Toronto at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox got the day off on Monday and are hoping the extra rest between home games can help them hit the reset button. The Red Sox will try to snap a four-game slide when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday. The Blue Jays had a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 6-2 loss at Texas on Sunday but have won five of their last seven to climb a game above .500 at 23-22.
Milwaukee at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Yovani Gallardo and Julio Teheran faced off on Opening Day, and the two hurlers meet again Tuesday as the Milwaukee Brewers and host Atlanta Braves play the second contest of their four-game series. The Braves failed to generate any offense against Gallardo in the first meeting, losing 2-0, and have struggled to score runs most of the season before plating 15 in their last two games. Atlanta scored its most runs since April 13 in Monday’s 9-3 victory.
LA Dodgers at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers are among the biggest disappointments in the majors, barely sitting above .500 entering a six-game road trip that begins Tuesday with three games against the New York Mets. The Dodgers have dropped nine of their last 14 games to fall to 23-22 on the season, but they can take comfort in the fact that they were 12 games below .500 last year before a sizzling 53-13 finish. Los Angeles has feasted on the Mets, winning nine of the last 10 meetings.
Philadelphia at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies certainly catch a break by not having to face Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, although his replacement enjoyed a pretty impressive debut last week. Anthony DeSclafini hopes to build off his first major-league outing Tuesday, when he faces the visiting Phillies in the opener of their three-game series. The 24-year-old will be making his first home start in place of Fernandez, who is out for the season with an elbow injury.
Oakland at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics lead the American League in several offensive categories and have been at their best in the last nine games while scoring 69 runs. The Athletics look for their 10th victory in 11 contests when they begin a three-game series at the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, after reaching double digits in runs in three of their last five outings. Brandon Moss was 6-for-10 with six RBIs in Oakland’s three-game sweep at Cleveland over the weekend.
NY Yankees at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
Masahiro Tanaka dominated the Chicago Cubs earlier this season and looks to subdue their hitters again when the New York Yankees visit the Windy City on Tuesday for the opener of a two-game set. Tanaka struck out 10 and allowed two hits in eight shutout innings while beating Chicago on April 16 at Yankee Stadium. The Cubs were one of the offseason bidders for Tanaka’s services but the Japanese star opted to accept a seven-year, $155 million deal from New York.
Seattle at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers may have Prince Fielder back in the lineup when they try to solve the red-hot Hisashi Iwakuma in the opener of a two-game set against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Fielder has missed the last two games due to a disk issue in his neck, and manager Ron Washington said the decision will be made after the slugger reports to the ballpark. Iwakuma has excelled since returning from a finger injury that delayed his season debut until May 3.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
With Chicago White Sox’s powerful rookie slugger Jose Abreu on the 15-day disabled list, Paul Konerko reminded them that the franchise’s second-best home run hitter is not a bad replacement. After Konerko hit one of the three White Sox homers in the opener, Chicago looks to lock up its first series win against an American League foe on the road on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. The White Sox lost Abreu – the major-league leader in homers – over the weekend to ankle tendonitis.
Arizona at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Adam Wainwright looks to become the second seven-game winner in the National League when he takes the hill to face the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series. Wainwright was denied his seventh victory in his last outing when St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal blew a save in the ninth inning. Rosenthal also squandered a ninth-inning save in Sunday's 6-5 setback to the Atlanta Braves, snapping the Cardinals' four-game winning streak.
San Francisco at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Carlos Gonzalez will be in the lineup Tuesday when the Colorado Rockies visit the San Francisco Giants for the opener of a three-game series, but don’t expect many stolen bases. The dynamic left fielder is batting .275 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, but tendinitis in his left knee has limited him to just two stolen bases. “I feel a little better; still fighting with that knee,” Gonzalez told reporters.
Houston at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros are still the American League’s lowest scoring team, but they appear ready to leave that title behind. Houston has recorded at least nine hits in nine straight games heading into Tuesday’s contest against the host Los Angeles Angels, who have been shut out twice in their last four games. Second baseman Jose Altuve is hitting .400 (20-for-50) during his 11-game hitting streak for the Astros, who are looking to extend their season-long three-game winning streak.
Minnesota at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
San Diego starter Ian Kennedy still is searching for his first home win of the season as the Padres begin a two-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Kennedy, who is 0-4 with a 4.20 ERA in five starts at pitcher-friendly Petco Park, will try to cool down a Minnesota squad that has won five of its last seven games. The Padres lost to Colorado on Sunday but still have won six of their last nine contests.