Preview Roundups
August 23, 2016
Washington at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals’ large lead in the National League East gives the team enough leeway to deal with an occasional losing streak or stint on the disabled list by a key player, but they would prefer to not deal with any of those issues. The Nationals will try to avoid a third straight setback when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday for the second of a four-game, home-and-home series that switches to Washington on Wednesday.
Houston at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing their way out of the National League wild-card race while the Houston Astros try to climb back into the race in the American League. The Astros will try to pick on the struggling Pirates for the second straight day when they visit for the middle of a three-game interleague series on Tuesday.
LA Angels at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays have a decided edge in pitching over their closest American League East competitors, but need to start winning the close ones as they kick off a six-game homestand against AL also-rans beginning with three versus the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Toronto, which boasts an AL-best 3.72 ERA, is tied for first place with Boston and two games clear of Baltimore but must improve on its 14-22 record in one-run games.
Boston at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
Surrounding David Ortiz with a roster full of dynamic young players might be just the thing to get the departing slugger back to the playoffs in his final season. Ortiz and his band of young stars will go for their 10th win in 12 games when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays in the second of a four-game series on Tuesday.
Kansas City at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals moved back into the playoff race with a dazzling 13-2 run and look to continue the surge when they visit the Miami Marlins on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game set. The Royals have won eight straight - allowing nine runs over the last seven - while Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer are all making major contributions with the bats.
Texas at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Derek Holland makes his return to the rotation for the Texas Rangers when they begin a two-game interleague series against the host Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Holland last pitched on June 20 against Baltimore before shoulder inflammation put him on the shelf, but he figures to be a key piece down the stretch for a rotation that has struggled beyond Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels.
Philadelphia at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
A pair of teams looking to the future will square off when the Chicago White Sox open a six-game homestand by hosting the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday for the first of two contests in the interleague set. Despite winning its last two games, Chicago remains five games under .500 despite starting the season with an American League-best 23-10 record.
Detroit at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
After salvaging a four-game split against American League wild card-leading Boston, the Detroit Tigers look to keep pace in the chase for a playoff slot when they visit the last-place Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series. The Tigers had dropped five of six before rolling to a 10-5 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday.
Colorado at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Chris Carter is one the least-known sluggers in the major leagues, even after securing the second 30-homer campaign of his career. Carter's latest blast raised his total to 120 over the last 3 1/2 seasons, and he will attempt to go deep for the fourth time in five games when Milwaukee aims to defeat the visiting Colorado Rockies for the second straight night on Tuesday.
NY Mets at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Holding down the final wild card in the National League, the St. Louis Cardinals will face one of their pursuers when the New York Mets come to town for a three-game series beginning on Tuesday night. The Cardinals return home off a 6-3 road trip that featured six wins in their final seven games.
Atlanta at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks are far removed from playoff consideration, but Jean Segura and Yasmany Tomas are performing as if there is a lot on the line. Segura and Tomas seek to continue their torrid play this month when the Diamondbacks attempt to defeat the visiting Atlanta Braves for the second straight night on Tuesday.
Cleveland at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians seek their fifth victory in six games when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Cleveland eked out a 1-0 triumph in the series opener as Carlos Santana belted a one-out solo home run in the eighth inning to help the club increase its division lead over Detroit to 7 1/2 games.
NY Yankees at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are nipping on the heels of Baltimore for the American League's second wild card. Seattle can move into a tie for the hotly contested spot on Tuesday if it can defeat the visiting New York Yankees for the second straight night and the Orioles lose to Washington.
Chi. Cubs at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs vie for their seventh victory in nine games when they visit the San Diego Padres on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Chicago also is hoping to clinch a series win after beginning its nine-game road trip by losing two of three in Colorado.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The battle for supremacy in the National League West shifts into overdrive Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who have gone 11-23 since the All-Star break. The Dodgers moved one game ahead of the Giants atop the division on Monday after salvaging a split of their four-game set with Cincinnati.