Preview Roundups
August 02, 2014
NY Yankees at Boston 4:05 PM ET
The new-look Boston Red Sox held a meeting prior to Friday’s series opener to introduce themselves to each other as the flurry of activity around Thursday’s trade deadline brought many new faces into the clubhouse. The Red Sox will try to get back to the business of just playing baseball when they host the New York Yankees on Saturday. Boston may have called an end to its path to the postseason but would be happy making it tough for the Yankees.
Kansas City at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
Jon Lester makes his Oakland debut when the Athletics host the Royals in the second contest of a three-game set. The left-hander starter was acquired from the Boston Red Sox prior to Thursday’s trade deadline as part of Oakland’s efforts to load up for a postseason run. Jason Vargas will be on the mound for the Royals for the first time since July 8 after being sidelined three-plus weeks due to an appendectomy.
Seattle at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Promising youngster James Paxton returns to a major-league mound for the first time in nearly four months when the Seattle Mariners visit the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday in the second contest of a three-game set. The 25-year-old Paxton has been sidelined with shoulder soreness and a strained lat muscle. “I’m real excited to go out there and compete again,” Paxton told reporters. “It’s been a long road, but I’m just really excited to be back up here.”
Texas at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
All-Star Michael Brantley and David Murphy have been doing their best to keep the Cleveland Indians afloat in the American League Central. After combining for seven hits and four RBIs in Cleveland's 12-2 series-opening victory over Texas, the duo looks to continue its hot hand when the club hosts the reeling Rangers on Saturday. Brantley has collected multi-hit performances in four of his last six games and Murphy - a former Ranger - has hit safely in eight of his last 10 contests.
Philadelphia at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies look to make it three straight wins over the first-place Washington Nationals when the teams continue their four-game set in the nation's capital on Saturday. The Phillies rolled to a 10-4 victory in Thursday's series opener before squeaking past the Nationals, 2-1, on Friday behind Roberto Hernandez's eight dominant innings. Washington has lost four of its last five games and leads Atlanta by 1 1/2 games in the National League East.
Colorado at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
With the the past three American League Cy Young Award winners in Detroit's rotation, it is easy for Rick Porcello to remain in the shadows, but he'll take the spotlight when the Tigers host the Colorado Rockies on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series. Porcello tries to match Max Scherzer for the team lead with his 13th victory as first-place Detroit, which defeated Colorado 4-2 on Friday, enjoys a four-game lead over Kansas City in the American League Central.
Minnesota at Chi. White Sox 7:10 PM ET
Jose Abreu attempts to stretch his hitting streak to 22 games Saturday when the Chicago White Sox host the Minnesota Twins in the second contest of a three-game set. Abreu went 3-for-3 and scored twice as Chicago won a wild 10-8 decision Friday and is closing in on Carlos Lee’s franchise-record 28-game hitting streak. The White Sox have won six of their last eight games while Minnesota is just 4-10 since the All-Star break.
Cincinnati at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds continue to receive strong efforts from their starting pitchers and their offense has begun to perk up during a 3-1 stretch. The Reds try to follow up their biggest offensive output on the road in more than a month when they go for their third straight win at the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. Ryan Ludwick has four RBIs in the series, including two in their 5-2 victory Friday, as the Reds remained 5½ games behind first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.
Toronto at Houston 7:10 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays insist they are still in the race despite a lack of action at the trade deadline and hope to gain more ground as their injured players slowly make their way back. The Blue Jays will go for their seventh win in eight games when they visit the Houston Astros again Saturday. The Astros pulled out a 3-1 win Friday to even the four-game set at a win apiece and snap Toronto’s six-game streak.
LA Angels at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels look to post their third straight victory when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays for the middle contest of their three-game series Saturday. Los Angeles kicked off its eight-game road trip with a pair of one-run losses at Baltimore before recording a 1-0 triumph in the series finale on Thursday. The Angels proceeded to take the opener at Tampa Bay on Friday as All-Star Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton homered in a 5-3 victory.
San Francisco at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants continue their quest for a division title when they visit the New York Mets for the second contest of their four-game series Saturday. San Francisco kicked off its 10-game road trip in winning fashion as Ryan Vogelsong tossed a two-hitter for his second career complete game. With the triumph, the Giants climbed within 2 1/2 games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and maintained their slim lead atop the wild-card standings.
Milwaukee at St. Louis 7:15 PM ET
After watching their ace get decked, the St. Louis Cardinals look to a new acquisition to provide a jolt as they vie to even their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Justin Masterson, who was dealt from Cleveland on Wednesday, will try his hand with his new team as the Cardinals attempt to end their four-game losing skid at Busch Stadium and avoid an eighth loss in 11 outings.
Pittsburgh at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates found their offense just in time to keep their hope of a winning road trip alive. The Pirates will attempt to carry the momentum from a strong finish Friday into Saturday’s matchup when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third of a four-game set. Pittsburgh pulled even at 4-4 on its 10-game trip by exploding for eight runs in the final two innings as the top of the lineup came alive.
Atlanta at San Diego 8:40 PM ET
Two season-ending injuries in a 24-hour span forced the Atlanta Braves to sign Ervin Santana in spring training, and the 31-year-old right-hander has been worth the $14 million investment. Santana takes the mound Saturday as the Braves play at the San Diego Padres, coming off back-to-back double-digit strikeout performances and looking to extend his three-start winning streak. The Padres lost three out of four in Atlanta last weekend but captured the series opener 10-1.
Chi. Cubs at LA Dodgers 9:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to bounce back from one of their worst efforts of the season on Saturday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs, who have won four of their last five. The Dodgers saw their lead over second-place San Francisco cut to 2 1/2 games in the National League West on Friday when they were held to four singles in an ugly 8-2 loss. First baseman Anthony Rizzo has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games for Chicago.