Preview Roundups
July 18, 2014
Cincinnati at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
After reveling in the spotlight of his final All-Star Game appearance, Derek Jeter looks to get the New York Yankees back on track when they open a 10-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Yankee Stadium hasn't been kind to the home club, which has won just 18 of the 41 contests in the Bronx - with a majors-best 40 more games on tap in the second half. New York dropped four of its last six contests overall heading into the break.
Colorado at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Not much went right for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first half of the season, but they can take solace in the fact that they are only 3 1/2 games out in the National League Central Division. Pittsburgh gets a nice matchup coming out of the All-Star break when it hopes the skidding Colorado Rockies on Friday in the opener of a three-game series. Left-hander Francisco Liriano, one of the main culprits for the first-half struggles, seeks his second win of the year.
Milwaukee at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers limped into the All-Star break, but they’re hoping for a fresh start Friday when they visit the Washington Nationals for the start of a three-game series. The Brewers have lost nine of their last 11 games but still lead the National League Central by one game over St. Louis, while Washington sits tied for first with Atlanta in the NL East.
Texas at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
Although injuries have wrecked the Texas Rangers’ season, manager Ron Washington chose to question his team’s level of commitment last week. Washington will look for signs of improvement in that regard as the Rangers try to avoid their first nine-game skid since 2003 and win for only the fourth time in 26 games Monday when they begin a three-game set at the Toronto Blue Jays. Texas leads the majors in disabled list uses (21, eight shy of the club record) and current players on the DL (15).
Cleveland at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers cruised into the All-Star break with a 6 1/2-game lead in the American League Central, well on their way to a fourth straight division title. The Cleveland Indians, who open the second half by visiting the Tigers on Friday, made their run to the playoffs in 2013 with a strong second half and are hoping for more of the same. The Indians are 7 1/2 games behind Detroit after going into the 2013 break 1 1/2 back.
Kansas City at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox did not look much like the team that cruised through the American League in 2013 for most of the first half but finally appeared to be picking up the pace just before the All-Star break. The Red Sox attempt to carry some of that momentum over when they host the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Boston was 58-39 at the break last season but needed to win four of five to get its 2014 mark up to 43-52.
San Francisco at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants snapped out of a downward spiral before the All-Star break and look to continue the turnaround when they begin a seven-game road trip at the Miami Marlins on Friday. The Giants, who have scored fewer than two runs nine times over their last 20 contests (7-13), triumphed in five of their last nine and stand one game behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Miami comes in with four straight losses and is 10-20 in its last 30 contests.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves reside near the bottom of the major leagues in runs scored at the All-Star break, but pitching is the reason the Braves are in a virtual tie for the National League East lead while the Phillies sit in last place. Philadelphia opens a three-game series in Atlanta on Friday looking for stability from a pitching staff that ranks 19th in the majors in ERA at 3.90, while Atlanta brings the sixth-best staff ERA (3.36) into the contest.
Houston at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros head back out on the road as they begin the second half of the season with a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox on Friday. Houston ended the first half by dropping two of three at home to Boston after a seven-game trek that saw it get swept in a four-game set by the Los Angeles Angels before outscoring Texas 28-14 during a three-game sweep of its own. Chicago wrapped up the first half with a seven-game road trip during which it finished 3-4.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
After their city played host to the All-Star Game, the Minnesota Twins look to make the most of a season-high 10-game homestand when they open a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. With series against American League Central rivals Chicago and Cleveland lining their immediate schedule, the Twins have an opportunity to improve their standing as they sit 10 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit. Like Minnesota, Tampa Bay also won its last two games - and 20 of 31.
LA Dodgers at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers and host St. Louis Cardinals continue their pursuit of division crowns when they emerge from the All-Star break Friday for a big three-game series. The Dodgers won their final two games before the break and have gone 19-10 since June 13 to seize the top spot in the National League West, which they have won three of the last six years. They made their move largely on the strength of some phenomenal play on the road, where they are an NL-best 29-19.
Chi. Cubs at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
Although the Arizona Diamondbacks only split a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs the last time they faced each other, they left quite the impression with their two victories. The Cubs look for payback Monday in Arizona when they begin a three-game set with the Diamondbacks. Chicago, which was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first game ever played at Wrigley Field on April 23, watched Arizona overcome a three-run deficit in the ninth inning to spoil the festivities.
Baltimore at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
Already owning the best record in the majors and bolstered by the addition of a pair of starting pitchers in a pre-All Star break trade, the Oakland Athletics kick off the second half of the season by hosting the Baltimore Orioles on Friday in a potential playoff preview. One of the new additions, right-hander Jeff Samardzija, will make his third start for Oakland. The Athletics won eight of 11 before the break but lead the Los Angeles Angels by only 1 1/2 games in the AL West.
Seattle at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
Seattle’s bid for its first playoff berth in 12 years resumes Friday when the Mariners visit the Los Angeles Angels for the start of a three-game series. The Mariners stand eight games behind American League West-leading Oakland, but they hold a 2 1/2-game lead in the race for the second wild card. Los Angeles sits 1 1/2 games behind Oakland after posting a major league-best 26-9 record since June 6.
NY Mets at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The New York Mets attempt to pick up where they left off as they kick off the second half with a 10-game road trip that begins with a three-game series at the San Diego Padres that starts Friday. New York wrapped up the first half with a 10-game homestand during which it went 8-2, taking two of three from both Texas and Atlanta before sweeping a three-game set from Miami.