Preview Roundups
August 06, 2014
San Diego at Minnesota 1:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins look to maintain their dominance of the San Diego Padres when the teams complete a quick two-game series in Minneapolis on Wednesday. After posting a 3-1 win in the series opener Tuesday, the Twins had run their winning streak in the overall series to nine straight. The run, which dates back to June 24, 2008, gives Minnesota a 12-3 series advantage.
Texas at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
Chris Sale attempts to bounce back from a rare clunker when the Chicago White Sox host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series. Sale will be making his ninth start since absorbing his only loss of the season on June 12 against Detroit and can match his win total from a year ago with a victory. Chicago will be hoping for Sale to pitch deep into the game to preserve a bullpen that has been shredded for 29 runs in 13 1/3 innings this month.
Tampa Bay at Oakland 3:35 PM ET
Despite stranding a whopping 28 runners in their last two contests, the Oakland Athletics can complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in Wednesday afternoon's series finale. The Athletics have to like their chances with 12-game winner Sonny Gray, the American League Pitch of the Month in July, set to make the start. Oakland, which owns the best record in the majors at 69-43, holds a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels atop the AL West Division.
Atlanta at Seattle 3:40 PM ET
After winning three of four on the road to wrap up the first half of the season in a first-place tie in the National League East, the Atlanta Braves have been unable to build any momentum away from home. The Braves look to avoid a winless road trip when they complete a two-game set in Seattle on Wednesday. Atlanta went 6-5 at home in its first 11 games following the All-Star break, but got swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres to begin its eight-game journey out west.
Detroit at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees own more than their share of major-league records, and they will set another when they host the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday in the third contest of their four-game series. Scheduled to face Detroit's Justin Verlander, the Yankees will become the first team in history to take on the league's last three Cy Young Award winners in three consecutive games.
Houston at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Following a five-hour, five-minute marathon, the Philadelphia Phillies and visiting Houston Astros need their starters to deliver strong performances when they square off Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game set. Philadelphia used seven relievers Tuesday before Ryan Howard delivered the game-winning single in the 15th inning to secure a 2-1 triumph. Houston went through five relievers and likely will make Jake Buchanan unavailable after he logged 3 2/3 innings in the series opener.
Miami at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Adeiny Hechavarria has made a big impression with the glove over his first two years with the Miami Marlins, but he is beginning to become more productive with the bat. The shortstop has recorded two hits in five of his last eight games as the Marlins visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Hechavarria delivered an RBI single during a five-run eighth inning in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Pirates, who were without All-Star Andrew McCutchen.
NY Mets at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals again try to emerge from their recent funk when they host the New York Mets on Wednesday in the second contest of their three-game series. Washington was on the losing end of a 6-1 decision on Tuesday, falling for the eighth time in 13 games, but continues to lead the National League East by three games as the Atlanta Braves are experiencing even more distress. Tuesday’s victory came in the opener of a seven-game road trip for the Mets.
Baltimore at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles look to put even more distance between themselves and the Blue Jays when the division rivals meet in Toronto for the middle contest of their three-game series Wednesday. Baltimore posted a 9-3 victory in the opener to extend its lead over second-place Toronto in the American League East to five games. Caleb Joseph, Jonathan Schoop and Chris Davis homered as the Orioles won for the fourth time in five contests.
Cleveland at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds need two straight wins over the in-state rival Cleveland Indians to reclaim the Ohio Cup as the four-game, home-and-home series shifts to Great American Ball Park on Wednesday. The teams split the first two games in Cleveland, meaning the Indians need just one win in Cincinnati to retain the trophy. The Reds come home with some momentum after a 9-2 victory Tuesday.
San Francisco at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Gerardo Parra made his presence known in his third game with Milwaukee and will again try to make an impact when the Brewers host the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Parra was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to the July 31 trade deadline and his first hit since joining the Brewers was a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning as Milwaukee posted a 4-3 series-opening win Tuesday. The Brewers lead St. Louis by one game in the National League Central.
Boston at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals attempt to make an old friend's return an unpleasant one when they host Joe Kelly and the Boston Red Sox in the middle contest of their three-game interleague series Wednesday. Kelly makes his debut for Boston after being acquired from St. Louis along with Allen Craig for John Lackey at Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline. The California native owns a 9-7 record and 2.90 ERA in 35 career games - 20 starts - at Busch Stadium.
Chi. Cubs at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Chicago Cubs fans got another glimpse of what looks like a bright future when highly-touted prospect Javier Baez hit a game-winning home run in his major-league debut. They hope for more highlights when Baez and the Cubs continue a three-game road series with the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. The Cubs have won six of eight and are distancing themselves from the Rockies, who have dropped five straight and own the worst record in the National League.
Kansas City at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals look to follow up a season-best scoring output when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game set. The Royals rode a grand slam from Norichika Aoki and three-run homers from Billy Butler and Salvador Perez to post a 12-2 victory in the opener. Kansas City has won 10 of its last 13 games and is just a half-game behind Toronto for the American League’s second wild card spot.
LA Dodgers at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
After a dramatic win to gain a split of two meetings at home, the Los Angeles Dodgers head to Anaheim on Wednesday to continue a four-game Freeway Series with the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers lost a late lead on an Albert Pujols home run Tuesday but rallied in the ninth, utilizing the Angels' third error of the game to score the game-winning run. Juan Uribe had a three-run homer and singled and scored the decisive run as the Dodgers opened up a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League West.