Preview Roundups
August 17, 2018
NY Mets at Philadelphia 6:05 PM ET
One day after the offenses put on a show, the pitchers should take center stage when the New York Mets visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night to continue a five-game series between National League East rivals. Hard-throwing Noah Syndergaard goes for New York and All-Star Aaron Nola brings an 8-0 home record to the mound for the Phillies after the teams combined for 43 runs in a doubleheader split Thursday.
Miami at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals finished an otherwise dismal road trip with a much-needed win and will try to carry some momentum into the opener of a six-game homestand against the Miami Marlins on Friday. The Nationals were 1-5 to begin the trip - a stretch that included multiple bullpen meltdowns - before hanging on for a 5-4 win in a series finale at St. Louis on Thursday.
Toronto at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
Whatever hopes the New York Yankees had of making a run for the American League East likely fell apart with a season-high, five-game slide at the start of the month. After posting only one three-game skid over the first four-plus months of the season, the Yankees attempt to avoid their second such losing streak in August on Friday when they wrap up the final leg of their 11-game homestand with the first of three against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Chi. Cubs at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs hoped to solidify the back end of their rotation by acquiring veteran left-hander Cole Hamels, but so far they’ve wound up adding an ace. The four-time All-Star will try to give the Cubs another strong outing in the second contest of their four-game series against the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. 

Baltimore at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco is starting to flash the form from a year ago, when he tied for the major-league lead with 18 wins. Carrasco looks to keep his hot stretch going for the surging Indians, who vie for their sixth straight victory in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
San Francisco at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants are trying to stay alive in the National League West and wild-card races as they resume their 10-game road trip with the first of three at the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. San Francisco started the trek by taking two of thee at the Los Angeles Dodgers and now faces a pair of also-ran opponents in the Reds and Mets.
Tampa Bay at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays took two of three from the Yankees in New York to start the week and continue their difficult road trip with the first of three against the major league-best Boston Red Sox on Friday. The Rays scored twice in the first inning on Thursday and escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the ninth for a 3-1 victory to win a series at Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2014.
Colorado at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
With no team distinguishing themselves in the National League West, the Colorado Rockies are making a charge at the top spot in the division due in large part to their recent ability to pull off late-game theatrics. The Rockies set their sights on their sixth victory in seven outings Friday when they play the second of four contests in Atlanta against the Braves.
LA Angels at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers sure can swing the bats and look to build off a three-homer performance when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Texas posted an 8-6 victory in the series opener for its 12th win in 19 games and has scored eight or more runs on eight occasions during the stretch.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox aim for their third consecutive victory when they host the Kansas City Royals on Friday for the opener of the three-game series between the American League Central bottom-feeders. Chicago, which sits 7 1/2 games ahead of last-place Kansas City, posted back-to-back wins at Detroit after three straight contests and six of seven.
Detroit at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
Logan Forsythe has been superb since joining Minnesota and he looks to keep his torrid hitting going when the Twins host the Detroit Tigers on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Forsythe recorded a career-best five hits in Thursday's 15-8 win over Detroit and is 22-for-49 in 14 contests with Minnesota.
Milwaukee at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Both the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals lost ground in the National League Central race Thursday and will try to bounce back when they begin a three-game series at Busch Stadium on Friday. The idle Brewers dropped 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs while the Cardinals fell 5-4 to Washington on Thursday to sink five games back.
Houston at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics have won 11 of 14 to give the American League West-leading Houston Astros good reason to look over their shoulder. The division rivals will begin a pivotal three-game series Friday as the Athletics (72-49) aim to cut into their two-game deficit behind the first-place Astros (74-47), who snapped a five-game skid with a lopsided victory Wednesday.
Arizona at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks look to defeat the host San Diego Padres for the fifth straight time and ninth in 12 attempts this season when the teams continue their four-game series on Friday. Arizona rode a five-run first inning to a series-opening 5-1 win on Thursday and remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado Rockies in the National League West.
LA Dodgers at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners won five of seven encounters against a pair of American League West heavyweights to conclude their 10-game road trip with plenty of optimism. The Mariners (70-52) hope to continue their good fortune Friday when they begin a six-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers (65-57).