Preview Roundups
May 31, 2014
Texas at Washington 12:05 PM ET
With their bats finally emerging from a slumber, the Washington Nationals look to register back-to-back wins for the first time since May 14-16 when they host the Texas Rangers in the second of a three-game interleague set. The Nationals beat up on the Rangers 9-2 in the series opener behind their second straight 15-hit game, a welcome respite after scoring 14 runs in a six-game stretch. Jayson Werth drove in his fifth run this month and is 8-for-20 in his last four games.
Minnesota at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
Masahiro Tanaka makes his first start at home in nearly a month when he leads the New York Yankees into the second of three games against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon. Tanaka went 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in the span of four straight road starts after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays on May 3 at Yankee Stadium. The standout right-hander has 36 recorded strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings while pitching in New York.
Kansas City at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals’ slumbering offense has awakened the last two days, recording 14 runs and 23 hits combined in a pair of victories against the streaking Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals, who are second-to-last in the American League in runs, look to stay hot when they visit Toronto for the third of a four-game series Saturday afternoon. Aaron Brooks will take the spot of injured Yordano Ventura (elbow) in the rotation and face Blue Jays highly regarded rookie right-hander Marcus Stroman.
San Diego at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres have a chance to record only their second road series victory of the season when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game set. San Diego, which is 1-6-1 in its eight away series this season, won Friday's opener 4-1 and continues to get strong work from its bullpen, which is second in the majors with a 2.34 ERA behind Washington (2.21). "In this day and age the bullpen is so important," Padres manager Bud Black told reporters.
San Francisco at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
The player tabbed as the best St. Louis prospect since Albert Pujols makes his major league debut on Saturday when Oscar Taveras joins the Cardinals for the contest against the visiting San Francisco Giants. St. Louis announced the promotion of the 21-year-old outfielder from Triple-A Memphis after Friday’s loss to the Giants and placed first baseman Matt Adams (calf) on the 15-day disabled list. San Francisco has won eight of its last nine after winning the first two of the four-game series.
Colorado at Cleveland 3:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians will try to make it two straight over Colorado when they host the Rockies on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series. Cleveland recorded 15 strikeouts - 12 by starter Corey Kluber - when it snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory on Friday. "To do it against that lineup tonight - that's a very difficult lineup to strike out," Francona told reporters about Colorado, which strikes out 6.9 times per game - fewest in the National League.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 3:05 PM ET
A five-game series figured to tax the host Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, a notion that was assured when the teams locked up in a 14-inning marathon on Friday night. The Phillies finally halted a six-game home losing streak to the Mets with a 6-5 victory to improve to 4-4 on their 11-game homestand. Slugger Ryan Howard entered the series with a 12-game hitting streak against New York but is 0-for-11 with six strikeouts in the first two games.
Baltimore at Houston 4:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros proved they could win without a big game from George Springer and are showing that their hot streak might in fact be a turning point in the season. The Astros will try to post their eighth consecutive victory when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the third contest of a four-game set Saturday. Springer had an 11-game hitting streak come to an end Friday but fellow building blocks Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar shouldered the load.
Atlanta at Miami 4:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves rank 28th in the major leagues in runs scored, but steady production from two key lineup cogs could help bolster the team's numbers. The Braves visit the Miami Marlins on Saturday looking for continued results from leadoff hitter Jason Heyward – who has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games – and cleanup hitter Justin Upton, who is batting .400 in his last 13 contests. The Marlins dropped Friday’s series opener 3-2 but are 20-9 at home.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 4:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers are hitting the ball at a franchise record-setting clip, and they'll try to keep it up against the visiting Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The Brewers smacked 16 hits in an 11-5 rout in the series opener and have reached double digits in hits in nine straight contests, tying the club record established in 1983 and matched in 2011. Milwaukee has won three straight while the Cubs have lost three in a row.
Tampa Bay at Boston 7:15 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays do not like each other very much and have taken to renewing acquaintances on the field via angry pushing and shoving during games. The teams will try to get through one game without a benches-clearing incident when the Red Sox host the Rays in the second contest of a three-game set on Saturday. Boston was down to its fourth manager by the time it earned a 3-2 walk-off victory in the 10th inning of Friday’s series opener.
Pittsburgh at LA Dodgers 7:15 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to avoid a season-long four-game losing streak Saturday against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, who are reaping the benefits of a healthy bullpen. Los Angeles stands a season-high 7 1/2 games behind first-place San Francisco in the National League West, and left fielder Matt Kemp enters Saturday’s contest mired in a 0-for-20 slump. Pittsburgh’s bullpen has allowed one run over six innings in the first two games of the series.
LA Angels at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics look to continue their power surge when they host the Los Angeles Angels for the second contest of their three-game series Saturday. Losers of six of their previous eight contests, the Athletics belted three home runs en route to a 9-5 triumph in the opener Friday. Brandon Moss hit a first-inning grand slam and Josh Donaldson added a pair of blasts to raise his team-leading total to 15, putting him four behind Baltimore's Nelson Cruz for first in the majors.
Cincinnati at Arizona 10:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds look to build off a solid offensive effort when they continue their four-game series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. After scoring only 12 runs over their previous six games, the Reds crossed the plate six times in Friday's triumph to even the set at one win apiece. Devin Mesoraco was the hitting star for Cincinnati as he belted his second career grand slam in the second inning before adding a solo shot in the ninth.
Detroit at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
When you bat behind Miguel Cabrera, you can expect to see the two-time MVP walked to get to you – even if you lead the American League in batting. Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez doesn’t like it but is getting accustomed to it and will look to be a difference-maker again when the Tigers face the host Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Martinez, who is batting .347, hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in Saturday’s 6-3 win after the Mariners walked Cabrera to face him.