Preview Roundups
June 08, 2014
St. Louis at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals have done a good job keeping Toronto's potent offense in check and are in position to win the series when they visit the Blue Jays on Sunday in the rubber match of the three-game set. St. Louis prevailed 5-0 on Saturday - its third victory in 11 games - on the strength of a three-hitter by Shelby Miller, who told reporters: "Hopefully we get the ball rolling." It was a season low in hits for first-place Toronto, which was shut out for only the second time this season.
Philadelphia at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET
Although he is still working out the kinks at first base, Todd Frazier feels right at home at the plate. Frazier looks to continue his torrid display as the Cincinnati Reds vie for the series victory when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the rubber match of their three-game set. A converted third baseman who is filling in for the injured Joey Votto, Frazier homered for the fourth time in six contests as the Reds slugged their way to a 6-5 triumph on Saturday.
Oakland at Baltimore 1:35 PM ET
Although winning at home has proven to be elusive lately, the Baltimore Orioles’ offense appears to be in a groove. The Orioles, who look to take the rubber match of a three-game home set from the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, managed only their third victory in their last 10 tries at Camden Yards on Saturday. However, Baltimore has come alive at the plate over the last seven games in particular, batting .308 with 13 homers while averaging six runs during a 5-2 stretch.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh 1:35 PM ET
Yovani Gallardo has won only once in the past two months but still has reason to feel confident when he takes the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers in Sunday's finale of a three-game series against the host Pittsburgh Pirates. Gallardo owns an 11-4 record and 2.71 ERA against the Pirates, including a pair of no-decisions against them in April when he went six innings and allowed two innings in each. Milwaukee has won nine of 12 versus Pittsburgh this season.
Seattle at Tampa Bay 1:40 PM ET
Red-hot Felix Hernandez attempts to win his sixth consecutive start when the Seattle Mariners visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Hernandez has given up two or fewer runs four times during the five-start winning streak to improve his record to an impressive 8-1. The Mariners posted a 7-4 victory Saturday for their sixth win in seven games while the struggling Rays have lost 11 of 12 and posses the worst record in the majors at 24-39.
Houston at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
Minnesota rookie Danny Santana is swinging a hot bat and attempts to torment Houston again Sunday when the host Twins close a three-game set against the Astros. The 23-year-old Santana hit his first major-league homer Friday and had the best outing of his 21-game stint in the majors Saturday by going 4-for-5 with five RBIs in Minnesota’s 8-0 victory. Saturday’s loss snapped the Astros’ six-game road winning streak.
NY Yankees at Kansas City 2:10 PM ET
Kansas City Royals ace James Shields carries the nickname of "Big Game James," but that moniker hasn't exactly suited him when going up against the New York Yankees. Shields is 8-15 lifetime versus the Yankees - his most losses against any team in the majors - but gets another crack at visiting New York on Sunday in the third of a four-game series. He split a pair of decisions against the Yankees in 2013, giving up a total of three earned runs in 15 innings.
Miami at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The suddenly surging Chicago Cubs look to complete a sweep of a six-game homestand when they finish a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. The Cubs, behind two home runs from Junior Lake and another solid outing by Jeff Samardzija, picked up a 5-2 win Saturday afternoon for their fifth win in a row, matching their longest run over the last two seasons. Chicago, which has also taken eight of nine at home, last won six straight games in 2011.
Cleveland at Texas 3:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are starting to warm up and will go for their eighth win in nine games when they visit the Texas Rangers again on Sunday. The Indians dropped the series opener on Friday but evened the four-game set with an 8-3 drubbing on Saturday as the bottom of the order produced the bulk of the power. The Rangers have lost three of their last five and the pitching staff is surrendering an average of 6.4 runs in that span.
Chi. White Sox at LA Angels 3:35 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are making a habit of coming from behind, although they may have a hard time topping their most recent effort anytime soon. The Angels eye their 10th victory in the last 13 home games Sunday when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Trailing 5-0 in the eighth inning Saturday, Los Angeles used Mike Trout’s second career grand slam during a six-run outburst to rally for a win for the eighth time in its last 17 victories.
NY Mets at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants are showing that they are never out of a game as they continue to run away with the best record in baseball. The Giants will try to polish off a three-game sweep when they host the New York Mets on Sunday. San Francisco earned a come-from-behind victory with a stunning walk-off win Saturday to move 20 games over .500 at 41-21 while the slumping Mets suffered their fifth straight setback.
Atlanta at Arizona 4:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks started the season by losing 22 of their first 30 games, but Chase Anderson is one reason why the Diamondbacks have fared far better the past month. The rookie right-hander looks to win for the fifth time in five major-league starts when Arizona hosts Atlanta in the finale of a three-game series Sunday. Anderson has benefited from strong run support, but has allowed only one earned run in three of his first four starts since making his big-league debut May 11.
LA Dodgers at Colorado 4:10 PM ET
With an eight-game losing streak behind them, the Colorado Rockies' psyche will be much-improved when they face two-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in the finale of their three-game series. Colorado defeated Los Angeles 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday for its third victory in the last 15 games after it was outscored 63-34 during a slide which dropped it out of contention in the National League West.
Washington at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres have struggled most of the season on offense, but a clutch night with the bats Saturday could be the spark they needed. The Padres look to build on their comeback victory when they host the Washington Nationals on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series. Yonder Alonso homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie it and San Diego constructed the winning rally in the 11th inning with none on and two outs for a 4-3 triumph Saturday.
Boston at Detroit 8:07 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox can’t stop streaking. The Red Sox lost 10, won seven and will try to end their latest skid at five and avoid a sweep when they visit the Detroit Tigers for the finale of a three-game series on Sunday. The Tigers came into the set in a rough patch but are taking advantage of Boston’s starting pitching slump while gaining some small revenge against the Red Sox after falling to them in the American League Championship Series last fall.