Preview Roundups
May 30, 2014
Colorado at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
Both teams need to change their course when the Colorado Rockies visit the Cleveland Indians on Friday to begin a three-game interleague series. The Rockies are 6-11 in 17 games and the major-league leaders in scoring most of the season have produced only 15 runs in the last seven contests while winning only twice. Cleveland had won five of six before dropping the last four games - totaling only seven runs - and are without Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana, both on the disabled list.
Minnesota at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees look to follow up a winning road trip when they host the Minnesota Twins in the first of three games Friday night. The Yankees won four of their last five games on their nine-game voyage, capped by Wednesday's 7-4 win at St. Louis. New York has struggled of late to produce similar success at home, going 3-7 in its last 10 games at Yankee Stadium.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The New York Mets are 3-0 since changing hitting coaches, but they showed off their future hopes with an inspiring display of power pitching in Thursday's 4-1 win at the Philadelphia Phillies. Zack Wheeler and youngsters Vic Black and Jenrry Mejía - new additions to the bullpen - combined for 15 strikeouts in the opener of the five-game series.
Texas at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Stephen Strasburg attempts to break a three-start winless streak and faces Texas for the first time when the Washington Nationals host the Rangers on Friday in the opener a three-game set. Strasburg is 0-2 over his last three outings despite going seven innings in each start and allowing a total of eight runs. The Rangers have won five of six games as they play in the city the franchise called home from 1961-71.
Kansas City at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals named Dale Sveum their new hitting coach Thursday and got instant results, recording eight runs in a comeback victory over the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals look to build off their 14-hit effort when they visit the Blue Jays for the second contest of their four-game series on Friday after snapping a four-game losing streak. Kansas City must find a way to contain Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who has 16 homers in May after belting a pair in the series opener.
Tampa Bay at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox last played the Tampa Bay Rays five days ago, but the Red Sox look more like the defending World Series champions than they did last weekend. Boston hosts the series opener Friday having won four in a row after being swept by the Rays to extend their losing streak to 10 games - their longest in 20 years. Tampa Bay sends ace David Price to the mound, who looks to rebound after allowing five earned runs in each of his past two starts.
Atlanta at Miami 7:10 PM ET
It is not surprising to find the Atlanta Braves involved in a series matching the top two teams in the National League East, but their opponent definitely is shocking. The Miami Marlins, boosted by a strong home record, host defending division champion Atlanta on Friday tied with the Braves for first place. The Marlins are the only major-league team to reach 20 victories at home, winning 20 of 28 games at Marlins Park, and have won seven of 11 overall to move three games above .500.
Baltimore at Houston 8:10 PM ET
Rookie right fielder George Springer looked overmatched during a 2-for-25 slump last month, but he's showing the Houston Astros there's no doubt he belongs in the major leagues. Springer launched his seventh homer in as many games to lift the Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Springer, riding an 11-game hitting streak, looks to lead Houston to a season-high seventh consecutive victory Friday.
San Diego at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox, coming off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians, continue their 10-contest homestand Friday when they meet the San Diego Padres. Chicago improved to 7-3 in its last 10 games - 5-2 at home - after defeating Cleveland 3-2 on Wednesday, moving above .500 at 28-27 for the first time since May 9. The White Sox average 4.7 runs - fifth in the majors - while the Padres are last at 3.2, but first baseman Tommy Medica has provided a jolt lately.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Coming off one of their best stretches so far this season, the Chicago Cubs have returned to their woeful ways at the plate. The Cubs look to avoid a third straight shutout when they open a three-game road series Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have won two straight to maintain their National League Central lead. The teams have split six games this season with each winning two of three at home.
San Francisco at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Adam Wainwright has put together exceptional back-to-back starts and looks to continue his spectacular season when the St. Louis Cardinals host the San Francisco Giants on Friday. Wainwright has allowed just six hits over 17 scoreless innings while winning his last two outings and hasn’t given up a run in five of his 11 starts. He opposes Madison Bumgarner, who is 4-0 with a 2.53 ERA in five May starts, last losing on April 28 to San Diego.
Cincinnati at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
Bronson Arroyo won a World Series championship in Boston but he enjoyed most of his success in Cincinnati and will make his first start in nearly nine years against his former club when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Reds on Friday in the second of a four-game series. Arroyo was a workhorse during his tenure in Cincinnati, making at least 32 starts in each of his eight seasons. Arroyo left his last start with a tender elbow but insists he is fine.
LA Angels at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are trying to chase down Oakland in the American League West and get a chance to narrow the gap or pass the host Athletics in a three-game set that begins Friday. Los Angeles moved within 1 1/2 games of the Athletics after beating Seattle on Thursday and has been playing solid baseball with 14 wins over its last 20 games. Oakland has lost six of its last eight contests after falling to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
Detroit at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
Detroit ace Justin Verlander attempts to bounce back from a horrid performance and Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma seeks to rebound from his first loss of the season when the Tigers open a three-game series Friday at the Mariners. Verlander was roughed up for nine runs (six earned) and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 12-4 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday and has yet to settle into a groove. Iwakuma lost to Houston in his last turn.
Pittsburgh at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Josh Beckett looks to build on his first career no-hitter Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their four-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Beckett threw the 21st no-hitter in Dodger history and won his third consecutive game last Sunday against Philadelphia while throwing a career-high 128 pitches. The Dodgers’ nine-game winning streak against Pittsburgh in Los Angeles came to an end with Thursday’s 6-3 loss after Brandon League allowed three runs in the seventh.