Preview Roundups
July 12, 2014
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland 3:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are back to .500 and are using their offense to take some momentum into the All-Star break. The Indians will attempt to post at least seven runs in their third straight game when they host the Chicago White Sox in the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday. Cleveland earned a 7-4 victory in Friday’s opener and improved to 7-3 this month after scuffling over the last 10 days of June.
Arizona at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants look like the best team in the National League over the last month whenever Tim Lincecum pitches. They will attempt to show that form with someone else on the mound when they try to clinch the three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants are 9-21 over their last 30 games but three of those wins have come over the Diamondbacks, who managed five hits in Friday’s 5-0 setback.
NY Yankees at Baltimore 4:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles look to clinch another series win and maintain their solid play before the All-Star break when they host the New York Yankees on Saturday. A 3-2 victory in the 10th inning on Nick Hundley's RBI single Friday night gave Baltimore nine wins in 11 games overall and five victories in seven encounters with New York. With a victory in either of the last two games of the set, the Orioles would improve to 8-1-2 in their last 11 series.
Atlanta at Chi. Cubs 4:05 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves are not acting like a major player in the National League East these days, but they'll try to rectify the situation when they visit the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. Atlanta, which is tied with Washington for first place, fell 5-4 on Friday for its fifth loss in six games after winning nine straight and 11 of its previous 12. Chicago prevailed on Justin Ruggiano's walk-off single and has won two straight after losing six in a row.
Boston at Houston 4:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox are starting to come through in the clutch offensively and are hoping a good run into the All-Star break can get management to hold off on becoming trade-deadline sellers. The Red Sox attempt to post their fourth straight win when they visit the Houston Astros for the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday. Boston earned a pair of walk-off victories before hitting the road and carried that momentum into an 8-3 series-opening win on Friday.
Minnesota at Colorado 4:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies are getting healthier - especially on offense - as they host the Minnesota Twins on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game series. Colorado welcomed Carlos Gonzalez back to the lineup Friday after the star outfielder missed 35 games because of a benign tumor in his left index finger, leaving Michael Cuddyer (broken left shoulder) as the only every player from the Opening Day lineup on the disabled list.
Miami at NY Mets 4:10 PM ET
The New York Mets appear to be getting comfortable at home following a rough start to the season and can thank their pitching staff for much of that success. The Mets, who continue their three-game weekend series with the Miami Marlins on Saturday, improved to 12-6 over their last 18 contests at Citi Field with a series-opening 7-1 victory to reach the .500 mark at home (23-23). The win was the fifth in the last six games for New York, a stretch during which the rotation has posted a 1.29 ERA.
St. Louis at Milwaukee 4:10 PM ET
After erasing a six-run deficit for a signature victory, the visiting St. Louis Cardinals look to pull even with the reeling Milwaukee Brewers atop the National League Central when the rivals reconvene at Miller Park on Saturday. Matt Holliday has been riding quite the hot stretch, capped by his go-ahead solo homer in the ninth inning in St. Louis' stirring 7-6 triumph Friday. The slugger is 7-for-14 with five runs scored and four driven in during his last four games.
Toronto at Tampa Bay 4:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays look to rebound against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, but they will have to do it without All-Star David Price on the mound. The 2012 American League Cy Young winner, who leads the majors in strikeouts, was scratched from his scheduled start due to illness and Jake Odorizzi takes his place. The Rays hope Price can return Sunday against the Blue Jays in the finale of the three-game series, which began with Toronto’s 8-5 victory Friday.
Detroit at Kansas City 7:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals entered this weekend’s four-game series against visiting Detroit looking to cut into the Tigers’ lead in the American League Central, but things haven’t gone as planned. Detroit won the first two games to increase its division lead to 6 1/2 games over Kansas City, which has dropped five of its last seven. The Royals are also winless in five games against the Tigers in Kansas City this season.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7:15 PM ET
Ramon Santiago has put his best foot forward as he attempts to pick up the slack of three-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips, who is sidelined for at least six weeks with a thumb injury. Santiago looks to continue his solid play as the Cincinnati Reds vie for their ninth win in 12 meetings with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
LA Angels at Texas 7:15 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels attempt to continue their torrid pace when they visit the Texas Rangers for the third contest of their four-game series on Saturday. Los Angeles trounced Texas 15-6 in the opener but posted a tamer 3-0 victory a day later behind a stellar effort from Garrett Richards, who extended his winning streak to seven games by allowing five hits in seven innings.
Washington at Philadelphia 7:15 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies look to record a season-high sixth straight victory when they host the Washington Nationals in the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday. After sweeping a four-game set at Milwaukee to salvage a split of their 10-game road trip, the Phillies rolled to a 6-2 triumph over the Nationals in Friday's opener. Jimmy Rollins homered twice and A.J. Burnett tossed 7 2/3 strong innings for Philadelphia, which has scored 31 runs during its winning streak.
San Diego at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to break out of their offensive slump Saturday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres, who have struggled to score runs all season. While it’s no surprise San Diego owns the majors’ worst offense, Los Angeles is due for a big game after being held to six runs over its last 34 innings. It will have to do it without shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who will likely miss the final two games before the All-Star break with a sore shoulder.
Oakland at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
With eight hits in his last three games, Robinson Cano is on quite the tear as he heads into the All-Star break. The Dominican looks to extend both his hitting streak to six games overall and 20 contests against the Oakland Athletics when the Seattle Mariners play host on Saturday. Cano, who ripped the go-ahead RBI double in Friday's 3-2 win, has raised his batting average 10 points in the last five games.