Preview Roundups
August 08, 2015
Toronto at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
It took one extra inning, but the Toronto Blue Jays managed to strike first in a key battle for American League East supremacy. The Blue Jays will try to clinch a series win when they visit the first-place New York Yankees in the second contest of the three-game series on Saturday.
Houston at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
Houston probably would not be in first place without right-hander Collin McHugh, who tries for his fifth straight victory Saturday when the Astros visit the Oakland Athletics in the third contest of a four-game series. McHugh, whose 13 victories are tied for the American League lead with teammate Dallas Keuchel and Seattle's Felix Hernandez, is 24-14 in two seasons with Houston - 20-5 since Aug. 1, 2014 - after going 0-8 in two years with the New York Mets and Colorado.
San Francisco at Chi. Cubs 4:05 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs look to continue their surge when they host the San Francisco Giants on Saturday in the third contest of their four-game series. Chicago made it eight wins in its last nine contests Friday with a 7-3 triumph that moved it 1 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco for the second wild card in the National League.
LA Dodgers at Pittsburgh 4:05 PM ET
An expected pitching duel between aces Clayton Kershaw and Gerrit Cole never materialized, but the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to feast against National League West opponents. The Pirates look to fatten their 12-2 record against the NL West when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday in the second of a three-game series.
Texas at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
The Texas Rangers attempt to get back on track when they visit the Seattle Mariners for the middle contest of their three-game series Saturday afternoon. Texas took a step back in its quest for a postseason berth as it suffered a 4-3 defeat in Friday's opener.
NY Mets at Tampa Bay 6:10 PM ET
The rapid development of rookie Noah Syndergaard is a prime reason why the New York Mets are being touted as having the best pitching staff in baseball. Syndergaard looks to win his third straight start and the visiting New York Mets go for their eighth consecutive victory Saturday in the second of a three-game series versus the Tampa Bay Rays.
Colorado at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Stephen Strasburg is expected to make his first start in over a month as the reeling Washington Nationals look get back on track when they face the visiting Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since July 4 with an oblique injury, but didn't miss a beat on Monday after striking out 11 in 5 2/3 innings of a rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse.
Boston at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox can clinch their third series win since the All-Star break when they visit the Detroit Tigers in the second of a three-game series on Saturday. One of the Red Sox’s two series wins since the break came over the Tigers at home last month, and Boston got right back to it with a 7-2 victory in Friday’s opener.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 7:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals kicked off their 10-game homestand with a win on Friday, and dominance in their own stadium is a big reason the team sits atop the American League. The Royals will try to clinch their fifth straight series win at home when they host the Chicago White Sox in the middle contest of their three-game series on Saturday.
Minnesota at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins slugged their way to victory in the series opener to temporarily stop the bleeding, but their pitching hasn't looked too healthy after hemorrhaging nine runs in each of the last three games. The tumbling Twins look to regain their footing when Ervin Santana takes the mound in the second contest of a three-game series against the host Cleveland Indians on Saturday.
Miami at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Returning home has helped the Atlanta Braves find their offense, and they hope a couple of newcomers will contribute to the scoring trend when the Miami Marlins visit on Saturday. Atlanta, which scored 21 runs during a 2-8 road trip, has totaled 28 in the first five games of its current homestand and looks for a boost from veterans Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, who were acquired in a trade Friday with Cleveland.
St. Louis at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers need to find a way to solve the pitching staff of the visiting St. Louis Cardinals when the National League Central rivals resume their three-game set on Saturday. The Cardinals posted their major league-best 70th victory with a 6-0 win in the series opener - their fourth shutout triumph over Milwaukee in the last eight meetings.
Cincinnati at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks are aiming to make it back to the .500 mark and can move one step closer when they host the Cincinnati Reds in Saturday's second contest of the three-game set. Arizona posted a 2-0 victory in the series opener and sits two games under the break-even mark.
Philadelphia at San Diego 8:40 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies put on a power show to win the series opener and look to knock off the host San Diego Padres again Saturday. Philadelphia blasted four solo homers, including Cameron Rupp's decisive blast in the 12th inning, to post a 4-3 victory in Friday's opener of the three-game set for their 14th win in 19 games since the All-Star break.
Baltimore at LA Angels 9:05 PM ET
Mike Trout broke out of a mini-slump in the series opener and aims for another productive contest when the Los Angeles Angels host the Baltimore Orioles in Saturday's second contest of a three-game set. Trout on Friday slugged his American League-best 33rd homer and reached base four times on two hits and two walks during an 8-4 victory on his 24th birthday after going 1-for-20 over his previous five games.