Preview Roundups
July 23, 2014
Cleveland at Minnesota 1:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are starting to flex their muscle as they attempt to gain ground in the American League Central. The Indians vie for their fifth win in seven outings after the All-Star break when they play the rubber match of the three-game series versus the host Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon. Carlos Santana, who homered among his season high-tying four hits in Tuesday's 8-2 triumph, has seven hits and five RBIs since the Midsummer Classic.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are hoping a one-night offensive surge leads the way to a sustained stretch of decent play. The Royals attempt to string two wins together when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday. Kansas City managed six runs while losing its first four games after the All-Star break but broke out in a 7-1 triumph on Tuesday as Mike Moustakas inched his batting average toward .200.
Cincinnati at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds will attempt to avoid a winless road trip upon resuming play after the All-Star break when they close a three-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers on Wednesday. The Reds have lost five straight games – scoring 11 total runs – as they have staggered coming out of the break. Milwaukee has put a stretch in which it lost 11 of 12 in the rear-view mirror as Tuesday’s 4-3 walk-off victory was its fourth in six games.
Washington at Colorado 3:10 PM ET
The first-place Washington Nationals try for a three-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday afternoon, but will almost certainly do so without Ryan Zimmerman. The third baseman suffered a right hamstring strain during Washington's 7-4 victory Tuesday and could be headed for the disabled list. That is bad news for the Nationals, who are 33-19 and average 4.9 runs with Zimmerman in the starting lineup this season, but 22-24 and 3.5 runs per game without him.
Detroit at Arizona 3:40 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers’ lack of faith in its relief corps seems to be a common theme at this point in every season, and 2014 is no different. The Tigers will attempt to leave things out of the bullpen’s hands when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for the rubber match of a three-game series Wednesday. The Diamondbacks are well off the pace but are playing well with five wins in their last six home games.
NY Mets at Seattle 3:40 PM ET
Bartolo Colon looks to continue his mastery of the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field when the New York Mets close a three-game set on Wednesday afternoon. The 41-year-old right-hander is 12-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 14 career starts at the ballpark that opened in 1999 while repeatedly dominating Seattle hitters. New York halted a three-game losing streak with Tuesday’s victory after Seattle recorded a 5-2 win in Monday’s series opener.
LA Dodgers at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers had the ball flying out of PNC Park for the middle contest of their three-game series, which wraps up with the rubber match Wednesday. The Pirates slugged three homers and the Dodgers two in Pittsburgh's 12-7 win to even the series, marking the Pirates' first multi-homer game at home since June 9.
Texas at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
After making quite the impression on his new team, Chase Headley will look for an encore as the New York Yankees play the third contest of their four-game series with the visiting Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Headley, acquired from San Diego on Tuesday afternoon, joined his new teammates during the game, made a stellar defensive play to end the 10th inning and ripped a walk-off RBI single in the 14th to give New York a 2-1 triumph.
San Francisco at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Following a stretch of four straight subpar outings, Madison Bumgarner tries to make it two solid starts in a row Wednesday evening against the host Philadelphia Phillies. The San Francisco Giants' left-hander allowed 20 runs over a span of four starts between June 27 and July 13 before righting the ship against the Miami Marlins his last time out.
Boston at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox are starting to make a push back into contention but are far enough out that they cannot afford a losing streak. The Red Sox attempt to avoid back-to-back setbacks when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays for the third contest of their four-game series on Wednesday. Boston had its five-game winning streak come to an end with Tuesday’s 7-3 loss but has won eight of its last 10 games to provide some hope.
Miami at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Buy or sell is the question facing the Miami Marlins as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, and at 6 1/2 games out of the final National League wild-card spot the next few days could determine their strategy. The Marlins visit the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, riding a three-game winning streak, and published reports Tuesday indicated Miami may have renewed interest in Oakland reliever Jim Johnson to bolster its fatigued bullpen.
Tampa Bay at St. Louis 7:15 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays continue increase optimism that they can contend for a playoff spot after spending most of June with the worst record in baseball. The Rays try to extend their season-high winning streak to seven and finish a perfect road trip when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in the finale of a two-game interleague set. Tampa Bay knocked All-Star Adam Wainwright out of the game in the fifth inning of the 7-2 win Tuesday and is averaging six runs during its win streak.
San Diego at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
Hope for the near future is gaining steam for the Chicago Cubs, who look for their young players to continue their hot hitting Wednesday against the visiting San Diego Padres. Slugger Anthony Rizzo smacked two homers to pad his National League lead and prospect Arismendy Alcantara also went deep in Chicago's 6-0 win in the opener of the three-game set.
Baltimore at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
With six games against the top two home teams in the majors coming out of the All-Star break, the Baltimore Orioles knew they had a chance to make a statement with a strong second-half start. The Orioles, who ended the Los Angeles Angels’ team-record streak of 10 home series wins, look to complete a three-game sweep on Wednesday. Baltimore went 1-2 in Oakland over the weekend, but has held the major’s best offense to two runs in each of the first two games of this series.
Houston at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros look to extend their winning streak against the host Oakland Athletics when the American League West rivals meet in the middle contest of a three-game series Wednesday. Oakland swept a three-game set at home from April 18-20 and won the first two tilts of a four-game series in Houston the following weekend before dropping the final two. The Astros made it three in a row Tuesday, squandering a 2-0 lead before L.J. Hoes belted a solo homer in the 12th inning to win it.