Preview Roundups
August 13, 2014
Boston at Cincinnati 12:35 PM ET
Yoenis Cespedes is turning out to be everything the Boston Red Sox hoped when they acquired the slugger at the trade deadline. Cespedes will try to homer for the third straight game when the Red Sox visit the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of their two-game interleague series Wednesday afternoon. The Reds could use some home runs of their own as they have dropped three of their last four while scoring three runs or fewer in each of those setbacks.
Minnesota at Houston 2:10 PM ET
Chris Carter is quietly becoming one of the most dangerous sluggers in the game and is in the midst of an impressive streak. Carter will try to homer for the seventh time in as many games when the Houston Astros host the Minnesota Twins in the rubber match of a three-game series Wednesday. Carter is one of several players that are combining to make the future look much brighter, with Jake Marisnick and Jose Altuve joining him of late.
Chi. White Sox at San Francisco 3:45 PM ET
When the San Francisco Giants acquired Jake Peavy prior to the trade deadline, they were hoping a change of scenery would snap the veteran right-hander out of the longest funk of his career. Peavy, though, is still trying to push his way into the win column as he takes a 12-game losing streak - and 18-game winless string - into Wednesday's two-game series finale against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Arizona at Cleveland 4:05 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians will complete their two-game interleague series in one fell swoop as they square off in a doubleheader at Progressive Field on Wednesday. Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in what was to be the opener Tuesday, but the contest was halted by rain in the top of the fourth inning and postponed after a lengthy delay. The Indians gained in the standings without even officially playing, climbing within five games of first-place Kansas City in the AL Central.
Colorado at San Diego 6:40 PM ET
The San Diego Padres got a new direction with the hiring of a new general manager last week and are showing the new boss some positive signs on the field. The Padres will look for their fifth straight victory when they host the Colorado Rockies in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday. The Rockies are sinking fast with their stars on the disabled list and have dropped 10 of their last 12 games.
NY Yankees at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Michael Pineda makes his long-awaited return to the mound Wednesday when the New York Yankees conclude a rain-shortened road series against the Baltimore Orioles. Pineda, who has not pitched since April 23 due to a shoulder injury, returns to find the Yankees seven games behind the first-place Orioles in the American League East. New York is hanging around the wild-card race despite a three-game losing streak that matches the team's longest skid since a five-game slide from June 28 to July 2.
Pittsburgh at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers boast a starting staff that features the last three American League Cy Young Award winners, but they'll be forced to start a pitcher who was toiling in Single-A last month as they attempt to halt their four-game losing streak. Buck Farmer takes the mound for the Tigers as they continue a four-game, home-and-home interleague series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
LA Dodgers at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to maintain their recent dominance of the Atlanta Braves when the teams continue their four-game series Wednesday in Atlanta. After dispatching the Braves in the National League Division Series last fall, the Dodgers have claimed the first five meetings between the teams in 2014. Each of those victories have come in the past three weeks, playing a big role in the divergent paths for the two squads.
St. Louis at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins have surged back into the National League wild-card race as they try to finish a three-game sweep of the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday. The Marlins own a 4-1 lead in the season series and have moved within 3 1/2 games of the Cardinals for the second wild card after Tuesday's 3-0 win. Miami also trails first-place Washington by six games in the NL East, while St. Louis is three back of Milwaukee for the top spot in the Central.
Washington at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Washington Nationals look to extend their remarkable dominance at Citi Field on Wednesday, when they continue their three-game set against the fading New York Mets. Washington moved a season-high five games ahead of second-place Atlanta in the National League East with a 7-1 win in Tuesday’s series opener, while New York has fallen 8 1/2 games out of first. The Nationals have won nine consecutive games at Citi Field, outscoring the Mets 67-18 during the streak.
Arizona at Cleveland 7:35 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians will complete their two-game interleague series in one fell swoop as they square off in a doubleheader at Progressive Field on Wednesday. Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in what was to be the opener Tuesday, but the contest was halted by rain in the top of the fourth inning and postponed after a lengthy delay. The Indians gained in the standings without officially playing, climbing within five games of first-place Kansas City in the AL Central.
Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers figured to pad their National League Central lead with a four-game trip to face the last-place Chicago Cubs, but that hasn't been the case so far. After splitting the first two games of the series, the Brewers look to get their offense back on track Wednesday. Milwaukee managed only six hits - all singles - while being shutout 3-0 on Tuesday as Pittsburgh narrowed its division lead to 1 1/2 games.
Tampa Bay at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays try to recover from another wasted opportunity when they continue a four-game series at Texas on Wednesday. The Rays are 4-4 on their 10-game road trip while sustaining a series of painful losses that have hurt their postseason chances. They are 1-3 in extra innings on the trek after a 3-2 loss in 14 innings Tuesday, remaining six games out of the second wild-card spot in the American League.
Oakland at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics are the only team to beat Kansas City Royals in the past two weeks and they will try to make it back-to-back victories over the host Royals on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game series. The Athletics pounded out a season-high 20 hits in snapping Kansas City's eight-game winning streak - only the second setback in 13 games for the Royals. "It helps when you have contributors up and down the lineup," said Josh Donaldson, who homered twice Tuesday.
Philadelphia at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels began the week mired in a rare offensive slump, but the Philadelphia Phillies might be the perfect remedy. The Angels conclude their two-game set against the visiting Phillies on Wednesday with a new perspective after erupting for seven runs in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 7-2 victory. Los Angeles, which entered Tuesday’s play averaging 3.2 runs since the All-Star break, remained 3 1/2 games back of first-place Oakland in the American League West with the victory.
Toronto at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners have the misfortune of playing in a division with the two best teams in baseball so they know there is only path to reach the postseason. The surging Mariners have won three straight and seven of eight to pull into a tie with Detroit for the second wild card in the American League as they prepare to host the finale of a three-game series versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Completing a sweep would put Seattle 10 games over .500 for the first time this season.