Preview Roundups
August 05, 2016
Cleveland at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians used the long ball to avoid a sweep and are swinging the power bats at the right time as they begin a three-game series against the host New York Yankees on Friday. Yankee Stadium has the highest home run rate of any American League park and will be hard-pressed to contain the Indians, who have hit 15 shots over their last seven games.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Struggling Andrew McCutchen is expected to return to the lineup when the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. McCutchen was benched for the entire three-game series versus the Atlanta Braves as the Pirates lost two of three to drop back to .500 on the season.
San Francisco at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Riding some momentum after wrapping up a road trip with a dominating sweep at Arizona, the Washington Nationals will host the San Francisco Giants on Friday night in the opener of an eight-game homestand. Washington amassed 32 runs in a three-game set against the Diamondbacks to finish 6-3 on the nine-game trek.
NY Mets at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The surging Detroit Tigers continue their pursuit of the top spot in the American League Central when they host the New York Mets on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander, who was unbeaten in six starts last month, squares off with Mets fireballer Noah Syndergaard in the series opener.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins have been playing much better than their current lot in the standings would indicate. The cellar dwellers in the American League East and Central divisions, respectively, look to continue their solid play of late at the other's expense on Friday when they open a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Baltimore at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
Chicago White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez likely won't need additional motivation heading into the opener of a three-game series versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Friday. After spending his first four seasons with the Orioles, the 32-year-old Gonzalez was released by the club in late March after posting a 1-4 mark with a bloated 9.78 ERA in spring training.
Texas at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Texas Rangers attempt to continue their dominance of in-state rival Houston when they open a three-game series against the host Astros on Friday. Texas is 9-1 versus Houston this season and has won seven of the eight contests decided by fewer than three runs.
Toronto at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays have won three games in a row and eight of 11 to pull within one percentage point of the top spot in the American League East. The surging Blue Jays look to continue their torrid stretch on Friday, when they open a three-game series at the reeling Kansas City Royals.
Atlanta at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals are getting healthy but are looking for a boost in their battle for a National League wild-card spot as they return home Friday to open a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter is expected to play in the opener after missing 29 games with a strained right oblique, while infielders Jhonny Peralta and Brandon Moss came off the disabled list earlier this week.
Miami at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
The Miami Marlins have had a day off to recover from a dreadful defeat and will look to turn things around when they begin a three-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Friday. The Marlins kicked off their six-game road trip with three straight losses to the Chicago Cubs, none worse than Wednesday's 5-4 defeat.
Milwaukee at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks look to end a disappointing run of pitching performances when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday for the opener of a three-game set. The last-place Diamondbacks have given up 46 runs during a four-game losing streak and their opponents recorded nine tallies per contest over the last seven.
Chi. Cubs at Oakland 10:05 PM ET

Addison Russell once dreamed of playing at Oakland Coliseum, and he finally will do so Friday as the visiting Chicago Cubs begin a three-game interleague series against the Oakland Athletics. Once a top prospect in the Oakland organization, Russell has blossomed into a key player for the major league-best Cubs, who have won four straight and seven of their last eight.

Boston at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox have their sights on ending a 11-game West Coast trek with a winning record as they open Friday's three-game series against the host Los Angeles Dodgers. Boston is 4-4 on the trip after versatile Brock Holt delivered the tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th inning Thursday for a 3-2 victory over Seattle and a split of a four-game series.
LA Angels at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are attempting to make up ground in the American League wild-card race and are entering a stretch in which seven of their next 13 games are against the soaring Los Angeles Angels. Seattle is just 2-4 against the Angels this season and Los Angeles is a 12-7 since the All-Star break entering Friday's opener of a three-game series in Seattle.
Philadelphia at San Diego 10:40 PM ET
Philadelphia's Jeremy Hellickson was a prime candidate to be moved prior to Monday's trade deadline, but the veteran right-hander remained a Phillie and takes the ball in Friday's three-game series opener against the Padres in San Diego. “Now that it's passed us, I'm happy to have him,” Philadelphia manager Pete Mackanin told reporters. “Obviously there wasn't the right deal. I'm happy to have him with us, and I think he's fine with it.”