Preview Roundups
July 06, 2014
Kansas City at Cleveland 1:05 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals' luck away from home hit a snag, but they'll try to wrap up their fifth consecutive road series win when they conclude a three-game set with the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. The Indians registered 14 hits in Saturday's 7-3 win to even the series after being blown out 7-1 in the opener. Kansas City has won 11 of its last 14 on the road.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET
Right field hasn’t been a question in Milwaukee or Cincinnati for the most part in recent years as the Brewers’ Ryan Braun and Reds’ Jay Bruce have filled that position capably. Both players are very much in question for different reasons on Sunday as the Reds host the Brewers in the rubber match of a three-game set. With the exception of last season’s 65-game suspension for his role in baseball's Biogenesis doping scandal, Braun has consistently delivered 30-homer and 100-RBI seasons.
Texas at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
The Texas Rangers hope their road struggles are behind them as they visit the New York Mets for the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday. The Rangers halted their string of 10 straight losses away from home Saturday as Robinson Chirinos belted a three-run homer and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot. The 5-3 victory, Texas' first on the road since June 16 at Oakland, also ended the club's six-game overall skid.
Arizona at Atlanta 1:35 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves’ offense for most of the first half of the season relied heavily on hitting home runs, but the major league’s hottest team has found other ways to score during a nine-game winning streak. The Braves vie for 10 in a row Sunday when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game series, and Atlanta enters the contest having hit just three homers during their winning streak. The reeling Diamondbacks have dropped five of six.
Baltimore at Boston 1:35 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox will try to clean up their act and secure a much-needed series win when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the rubber game of a three-game series on Sunday. Although they managed to split Saturday's day-night doubleheader, the Red Sox committed five errors in the twinbill while falling to 1-4 on their 10-game homestand. Boston is 5-10 over its last 15 contests and again on the verge of falling 10 games below .500 for the first time this year.
Chi. Cubs at Washington 1:35 PM ET
Jake Arrieta attempts to follow up a strong performance and continue a torrid stretch of pitching when the Chicago Cubs complete a three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Arrieta no-hit Boston for 7 2/3 innings on Monday before allowing his lone hit and has given just three runs and 14 hits over his last five outings. Slowing Washington will be a challenge after the Nationals produced a season best for both runs and hits (19) in Saturday’s 13-0 victory.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 1:35 PM ET
After falling a homer shy of the cycle in the series opener, Andrew McCutchen belted a two-run shot to pace the Pittsburgh Pirates to their 12th victory in 16 outings. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player looks to continue his torrid stretch as the Pirates vie for their first series sweep of the season against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
Seattle at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners put a stop to their recent woes in Chicago with a rare victory against the White Sox in their last time out. The Mariners look to pull off another uncommon feat on Sunday when they attempt to win their first series in the Windy City since 2007 when they meet the White Sox in the rubber match of a three-game set. Seattle improved 14-5 over its last 19 contests with Saturday’s 14-inning win, giving the Mariners only their fourth victory in Chicago in their last 21 tries.
NY Yankees at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
New York’s Brian McCann will likely sit out the series finale with the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, a case of bad timing for the veteran catcher. McCann sat out the last two games with a foot injury and X-rays taken Saturday didn’t reveal any extensive damage. Twins starter Ricky Nolasco clearly won’t be shedding any tears as McCann is batting .344 with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 61 career at-bats against the right-hander.
Miami at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
Casey McGehee continues to come through with the timely hit to keep the Miami Marlins within shouting distance in the National League East. McGehee looks to extend his career-high hitting streak to 13 games on Sunday when the Marlins vie for a series victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals.
Houston at LA Angels 3:35 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels aren’t about to concede the American League West to the Oakland Athletics, who bolstered their starting rotation with Friday’s blockbuster trade. The Athletics will likely need the extra support to stave off the Angels, who have won 20 of their last 23 games entering Sunday’s series finale against the visiting Houston Astros. The Angels stand 3 1/2 games back of division-leading Oakland and appear primed for a strong second half as long as they remain healthy.
Toronto at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
The league-leading Oakland Athletics turn to their new ace as they attempt to complete a sweep when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of their four-game series Sunday. Jeff Samardzija makes his debut for Oakland after being acquired along with Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. "I'm chomping at the bit," Samardzjia said of making his first start for the Athletics.
LA Dodgers at Colorado 4:10 PM ET
Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki is in jeopardy of missing his third consecutive contest when the Rockies close a four-game set against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Tulowitzki is bothered by a groin injury and Colorado manager Walt Weiss suggested there was a 50 percent chance the National League’s leading hitter (.350) would be available. “He’s pretty in tune with his body and some of the history he’s had,” Weiss told reporters. “I try to be in tune with it also.”
San Francisco at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants are hoping they’ve rediscovered the secret of their early-season success as they head into Sunday’s series finale against the host San Diego Padres. The Giants played loose and displayed plenty of emotion for the first time in weeks in Saturday’s 5-3, 10-inning victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak and marked the team’s first multi-homer effort since June 15. Hunter Pence enters Sunday’s rubber match riding a 10-game hitting streak.
Tampa Bay at Detroit 8:00 PM ET
Logan Forsythe was struggling much like his Tampa Bay Rays in mid-June, batting .178 and spending plenty of time watching from the bench. Forsythe has batted .431 since then to help ignite the Rays, who look to finish their 11-game road trip with nine victories when they visit the Detroit Tigers on Sunday night. Runs will be hard to come by as Detroit’s Rick Porcello, coming off the first two shutouts of his career, takes the mound against David Price -- the major-league strikeout leader.