Preview Roundups
August 18, 2016
Boston at Detroit 1:10 PM ET
The red-hot Boston Red Sox are headed to their fourth city in five days when they visit the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon. The Red Sox, who played in Baltimore on Wednesday night, reportedly requested that Thursday’s series opener be moved back to a night game despite the NFL’s Detroit Lions playing across the street at the same time but were denied by the Tigers.
Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs look to wrap up a dominant homestand with a four-game sweep of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. The Cubs are 7-2 during the stand and have won 14 of their last 17 at Wrigley Field, where they own the majors’ best home mark at 44-19. 

Houston at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch hasn't enjoyed the ride on which his team has been during its four-game losing streak. Outscored by a gaudy 29-11 margin during the skid, the Astros look to turn the tide on Thursday as they open a four-game series against the host Baltimore Orioles.
LA Dodgers at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Chase Utley set the tone in his return to Philadelphia with a pair of home runs and his Los Angeles' teammates have followed his lead by continuing to swing for the fences. The Dodgers have blasted seven homers in a pair of lopsided victories and look to complete a three-game sweep over the host Phillies on Thursday night.
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
Right-hander Danny Salazar looks to hit the ground running upon his return from the disabled list on Thursday as the host Cleveland Indians vie for a series victory over the Chicago White Sox. The 26-year-old Salazar, who has been sidelined by right elbow inflammation since Aug. 2, improved to 5-2 lifetime with a 3.19 ERA against the American League Central rival by winning both starts this season.
Washington at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Washington Nationals have defeated the Atlanta Braves eight times in nine meetings entering Thursday’s opener of a four-game series in Atlanta, but the Nationals really need a good effort from starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez. Washington’s bullpen worked 16 1/3 innings in losing two of three at Colorado, using five relievers to cover 6 1/3 innings in Wednesday’s 12-10 defeat.
Miami at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins are slipping in the National League wild card race while failing to take advantage of an easier portion of the schedule. The Marlins will try to salvage a split of a four-game series and take some momentum into the rest of the road trip when they visit the Cincinnati Reds for the finale on Thursday.
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
Back at the .500 mark for the first time in nearly a month, the Kansas City Royals have a chance to climb back into postseason contention when they open a four-game series against the American League-worst Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Reigning World Series champion Kansas City is coming off a three-game sweep in Detroit to improve to 11-5 in August.
Seattle at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners attempt to inch closer to a postseason spot as they conclude their seven-game road trip Thursday with the finale of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. Seattle pulled within two games of Baltimore for the second wild card in the American League on Wednesday, surviving a ninth-inning comeback attempt to register a 4-3 victory.
Arizona at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres just completed a dreadful road swing and look to put the tough times behind them when they open a four-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. San Diego was just 2-7 during a trip against Pittsburgh, the New York Mets and Tampa Bay and lost the final five games by a cumulative 33-6 score.
NY Mets at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
Madison Bumgarner picked up his lone victory since the All-Star break in his last turn and looks to outduel Jacob deGrom when the San Francisco Giants host the New York Mets on Thursday in the opener of a four-game set. The left-hander was 0-3 in his first five starts after the break before tossing seven innings of three-hit shutout ball to defeat Baltimore in his last start.