Preview Roundups
August 15, 2014
Baltimore at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The best road team in the American League looks to continue its surge when the Baltimore Orioles visit the Cleveland Indians for the first of three games on Friday. The Orioles have won eight of their last 11 road games and have yet to lose a series away from home all season. They haven't been too shabby at home, finishing up a 4-1 homestand with Wednesday's 5-3 win over the New York Yankees to extend their lead in the American League East to a season-high 7 1/2 games.
Pittsburgh at Washington 7:05 PM ET
After making themselves at home at Citi Field, the Washington Nationals return to the nation's capital to open a 10-game stretch with a three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. The Nationals completed a three-game sweep and recorded their franchise-best 11th consecutive victory at the New York Mets with a 4-1 triumph on Thursday.
Seattle at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The surging Seattle Mariners look to improve their playoff position when they visit the Detroit Tigers on Friday to begin a key three-game series. The Mariners have won four consecutive contests and eight of nine, moving within one-half game of Detroit for the second American League wild-card spot. Robinson Cano (.329 average) and Kyle Seager (73 RBIs) lead Seattle while the Tigers have won five straight at home and trail first-place Kansas City by one-half game in the AL Central.
Arizona at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins did what they needed to do in the opener in order to remain in the thick of the playoff race in the National League. They attempt to continue their quest for the postseason when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second contest of their four-game series Friday. Miami overcame a two-run deficit to post a 5-4 triumph in 10 innings Thursday as Marcell Ozuna capped the comeback with a walk-off double, putting the Marlins within four games of the second wild card.
Houston at Boston 7:10 PM ET
Now that the pressure is off, the Boston Red Sox are playing some of their best baseball of the season. The Red Sox will attempt to post a fifth straight victory when they host the Houston Astros for the second contest of a four-game series on Friday. Boston enjoyed a successful road trip due in large part to its pitching staff but returned home on Thursday and broke out the offense with 14 hits in a 9-4 triumph in the series opener.
Chi. Cubs at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
New York Mets captain David Wright and Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro carry 13-game hitting streaks into their teams' opener of a four-game series at Citi Field on Friday. While both players are faring well, their respective clubs have seen better days as New York was swept at home by Washington while Chicago sits comfortably at the bottom of the National League Central.
NY Yankees at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays can become the fourth team in major-league history to reach .500 after being 18 games below with a victory Friday when they host the New York Yankees to start a three-game series. Tampa Bay, which also accomplished the feat in 2004, has won six of its last eight to pull within six games of the second American League wild-card spot. The Yankees are going in the opposite direction with losses in six of their last seven and stand two games ahead of the Rays.
Oakland at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The last thing the slumping Atlanta Braves need to see is the team with the best record in the majors, but that is what they’ll get when the Oakland Athletics visit for the start of a three-game series on Friday. The Braves are losers of 12 of their last 15 and are coming off series loses to first-place clubs Washington and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletics just dropped three of four at Kansas City but lead the AL West by two games.
LA Angels at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels look to continue taking advantage of the host Texas Rangers when the teams begin a three-game series Friday. The Angels have beaten the Rangers in seven straight meetings - eight of 10 overall this season - and starter Garrett Richards tries to improve his record to 4-0 against Texas in 2014. Los Angeles is two games back of Oakland in the American League West after winning three of its last four and the Rangers are tied for the worst record in baseball (47-74).
Toronto at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
After a pronounced stumble to begin their eight-game road trip, the Toronto Blue Jays look to regain their footing Friday when they play the first of three contests versus the Chicago White Sox. The Blue Jays' bid to strengthen their postseason position took a significant hit this week after being outscored 19-4 en route to a sweep at the hands of Seattle. Toronto resides 3 1/2 games behind Detroit in the race for the second wild card in the American League.
Kansas City at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
Although the red-hot Kansas City Royals have ravaged the competition over the last month, the results haven't been overly positive when they visit the Minnesota Twins this season. Winners of 18 of their last 22, the Royals look to change their fortune in the Land of 10,000 Lakes when they open a nine-game homestand with a three-game series versus the Twins on Friday.
San Diego at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
With first place in one set of standings now under their wing, the St. Louis Cardinals continue to reach for a higher goal as they host the San Diego Padres in the second contest of their four-game series Friday. St. Louis posted an exciting 4-3 victory in the opener to leap ahead of Pittsburgh for the first wild-card spot in the National League.
Cincinnati at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds turn to Cy Young Award candidate Johnny Cueto in an attempt to remain relevant in the National League playoff race when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Friday in the second contest of their four-game series. Cincinnati has lost five of its last six contests following Thursday's 7-3 setback and is 9-17 since the All-Star break to fall four games out of a wild-card spot and 6 1/2 behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central.
Milwaukee at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers took two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers at home in a battle of division leaders last weekend. The Dodgers will attempt to repay the favor when they host the Brewers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Los Angeles owns a 5 1/2-game lead over San Francisco in the National League West, while Milwaukee is two games ahead of St. Louis in the tight Central Division.
Philadelphia at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
Two of the top left-handed pitchers in the National League square off Friday when the San Francisco Giants begin a three-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia's Cole Hamels owns a 1.76 ERA over his last 18 starts, while the San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner has allowed three earned runs over his last 17 innings.