Preview Roundups
August 05, 2014
Cincinnati at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians look to continue their home-field dominance over the Cincinnati Reds when the in-state rivals continue a four-game, home-and-home series Tuesday. The Indians won the opener 7-1, running their home winning streak in the series to 10 games. Cleveland has won four straight overall and is 2 1/2 games behind Toronto for the second American League wild card.
Detroit at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
David Price's debut with his new club will come against a familiar foe when the Detroit Tigers visit the New York Yankees in the second of a four-game series on Tuesday. Price, who was acquired by the Tigers in a three-team deal at the trade deadline, will try to even the series after the Yankees posted a 2-1 victory Monday. Price owns a 10-5 record with a 3.66 ERA in 24 career appearances (23 starts) against New York, including a 6-2 mark at Yankee Stadium.
Houston at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Dallas Keuchel eyes a third straight dominant start Tuesday when the Houston Astros kick off a three-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Keuchel allowed only two unearned runs in seven innings against Miami on July 25 before tossing a four-hitter five days later in a 8-1 triumph against the major league-leading Oakland Athletics. He will now take aim at a Philadelphia squad which has not scored in 21 innings.
Miami at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to be without center fielder Andrew McCutchen when they begin an eight-game homestand against the inconsistent Miami Marlins on Tuesday. McCutchen reportedly suffered a left oblique injury during Sunday's 3-2 loss in 10 innings to Arizona and could miss 3-to-4 weeks. Despite a 5-5 road trip, Pittsburgh pulled within 1½ games of National League Central Division frontrunner Milwaukee and is one-half game back of St. Louis for the NL’s second wild card spot.
NY Mets at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Having defeated the New York Mets in five of six matchups this season, the Washington Nationals look to continue their success against their NL East rival when the teams begin a three-game set in the nation's capital on Tuesday.The Nationals have averaged nearly six runs per game against the Mets this season, although the teams have not met since mid-May. Washington's Gio Gonzalez and New York's Zack Wheeler will square off in a matchup of pitchers who sit below .500 despite sub-4.00 ERAs.
Baltimore at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays attempt to close the gap in the American League East when they host the division-leading Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in the opener of their three-game series. Toronto enters the showdown four games behind Baltimore after scoring a total of four runs while losing the final three contests of a four-game set at Houston. The Blue Jays return home from a 6-4 road trip holding a one-game lead over the New York Yankees for the second AL wild-card spot.
Texas at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers opted to shed his contact lenses in favor of glasses nearly a month ago and he's done nothing but make contact since. Flowers continued his recent tear with three hits and three RBIs on Monday for Chicago, which goes for its second straight win over the visiting Texas Rangers on Tuesday. "I’m not an idiot. I’m going to keep wearing them," Flowers told reporters about the glasses. "I’m doing well, so I’m going to stick with them.”
San Francisco at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers look to turn their fortunes around and hold on to the National League Central lead when they host the surging San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. The Brewers have dropped five of their last seven and lead St. Louis by a game while Pittsburgh is 1½ back in the division. Milwaukee, which visits San Francisco in the final series of the month, hopes to continue its luck from 2013 when it beat the Giants in five of seven games.
San Diego at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins will try to carry a sudden offensive surge into the opener of a two-game series at home against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. After dropping 10 of their first 14 games following the All-Star break, the last-place Twins secured an 8-6 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday before breaking out for a 16-3 victory Sunday. The runs as well as the 23 hits - five from rookie Danny Santana - represented a team season high.
Boston at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals welcome back a few familiar faces as they continue their quest for a division title with the opener of a three-game interleague series against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. Allen Craig and Joe Kelly return to St. Louis for the first time since being sent to Boston at Thursday's trade deadline for John Lackey, who worked seven strong innings to notch the win in his Cardinals debut on Sunday against Milwaukee.
Chi. Cubs at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Another of the Chicago Cubs' highly-touted prospects will arrive Tuesday, as infielder Javier Baez is expected to make his major-league debut when they begin a three-game road series against the Colorado Rockies. Baez struggled early in the season at Triple-A Iowa but has come on strong and is hitting .260 with 24 doubles, 23 homers, 80 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He and the retooled Cubs lineup hope to send the Rockies to their fifth straight defeat.
Kansas City at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks have 50 games remaining in a lost season and playing them without All-Star Paul Goldschmidt figures to keep the losses mounting. Goldschmidt was lost to a broken left hand during a four-game series with Pittsburgh and manager Kirk Gibson told reporters he doesn’t expect the first baseman to play again this season. Visiting Kansas City enters the three-game series on a roll with nine victories in its last 12 games.
Tampa Bay at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics have made a pair of blockbuster trades to bolster their starting rotation but they are still waiting for a contribution from Jason Hammel as they prepare for the second of a three-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Hammel has lost all four starts with the Athletics and has been shelled in his last three. “It’s just a small speed bump, and I do want to go out there and give people something to cheer about,” Hammel said.
Atlanta at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners may not have many answers as to why they have fared so much better on the road than at home, but Felix Hernandez’s dominance has rarely ever been in question. The Mariners, who open a nine-game homestand Tuesday with the first of two contests versus the Atlanta Braves, own the American League’s third-best winning percentage away from home (.574). However, Seattle’s 26-31 record at Safeco Field is the worst home mark in the majors for a team with a winning record.
LA Angels at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw aims to maintain his run of dominance when he puts a personal 10-game winning streak on the line Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Kershaw has thrown four complete games in his last eight starts, including a gem against Atlanta on Thursday, when he let up a run and struck out nine in a 2-1 victory. The National League Pitcher of the Month for June and July has yielded only three runs in 41 frames over his last four home outings.