Preview Roundups
August 24, 2014
Chi. White Sox at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees have rediscovered their offense and the wins have followed suit. The Yankees vie for a series sweep and their fourth straight victory overall on Sunday afternoon when they host the reeling Chicago White Sox. After his game-winning hit in the ninth inning gave New York a 4-3 win in the series opener, Martin Prado added a two-run double among his three hits in Saturday's 5-3 triumph as the Yankees eclipsed the four-run plateau for the first time since Aug. 8.
Houston at Cleveland 1:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are hanging around the fringes of the American League wild card race and cannot afford a series loss to a team with a losing record. The Indians will try to avoid just that when they host the Houston Astros in the rubber match of the three-game series Sunday. Cleveland took two of three in Minnesota this week and will face another losing team in the Chicago White Sox after finishing up with the Astros.
Tampa Bay at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays are starting to perk up on offense and look to win only their second series in August when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game set. The Blue Jays, who are still last in the majors in scoring this month, have posted at least five runs in five of their last seven games after a 5-4 victory in 10 innings Saturday. Toronto's Jose Reyes had the game-winning single in that contest and is batting .397 with 29 hits over his last 16 games.
Atlanta at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET
Brandon Phillips spent more than a month on the disabled list with a thumb injury while the Cincinnati Reds floundered, and he may be ready to help bring them back to life. Phillips looks to build on a two-hit effort when the Reds host the Atlanta Braves on Sunday and go for a split of the four-game series. Phillips went 3-for-20 in his first five games after returning but lined a two-out RBI single in Cincinnati’s 1-0 victory on Saturday that snapped a frustrating seven-game losing streak.
Seattle at Boston 1:35 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners have won 13 of their last 17 to position themselves favorably in a run toward their first postseason appearance since 2001. The visiting Mariners vie for a three-game sweep of the reeling Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon and look to strengthen their one-game lead over Detroit for the second wild card in the American League. Dustin Ackley, who belted a three-run homer in the Mariners' 7-3 triumph on Saturday, is 6-for-16 with six RBIs in his last five games.
St. Louis at Philadelphia 1:35 PM ET
A pair of recent acquisitions square off Sunday afternoon, when the St. Louis Cardinals conclude their three-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Justin Masterson, picked up in a trade with Cleveland last month, takes the mound for the Cardinals. The Phillies counter with Jerome Williams, a journeyman who has pitched well since being claimed off waivers from Texas a few weeks ago.
San Francisco at Washington 1:35 PM ET
The Washington Nationals seek their 12th victory in 13 games when they conclude a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Sunday. Washington bounced back from being routed in the opener to post a 6-2 victory on Saturday as it continues to remain in control in the National League East, leading Atlanta by seven games. San Francisco is in second place in the NL West and holds a one-game lead over the Braves for the second wild card.
Detroit at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers continue their quest for a playoff berth as they attempt to gain a split of their four-game set against the host Minnesota Twins in Sunday's finale. After enduring a thorough beating in the series opener, Detroit again was trounced in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader before holding on for an 8-6 victory in the nightcap.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
Pedro Alvarez rediscovered his power stroke in the second game of the series and the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates hope it continues as they go for a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in Sunday’s finale of the three-game set. Alvarez hit two homers and drove in four runs in Saturday’s 10-2 victory as he went deep for the first time since July 11. The Pirates have won the first two games by an 18-5 margin and have pulled within four games of first-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.
Baltimore at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
While the Chicago Cubs appear headed for their sixth consecutive losing season, their recent success against the American League suggests there is reason for hope. The Cubs eye their seventh victory in their last nine interleague contests on Sunday when they look to complete a three-game home sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. Chicago (57-72), which has finished in fifth place in the National League Central every year since 2009, went 2-6 in its first eight games versus the AL in 2014.
Kansas City at Texas 3:05 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are taking advantage of a drop in competition to open up a nice gap in the American League Central. The Royals attempt to polish off a three-game sweep when they visit the AL-worst Texas Rangers for the series finale on Sunday. Kansas City posted 6-3 victories in each of the first two games to open up a three-game lead in the division over second-place Detroit.
San Diego at Arizona 4:10 PM ET
San Diego right-hander Ian Kennedy attempts to win in his former home ballpark for the first time since being traded and the Padres look to salvage Sunday’s finale of a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kennedy spent 3 1/2 seasons with Arizona before being dealt to San Diego just past the midway point of the 2013 season and received a no-decision Aug. 27, 2013 in his previous outing. The Diamondbacks have allowed just three runs while winning the first two games.
Miami at Colorado 4:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies dropped out of National League playoff contention long ago, but Corey Dickerson is making every game count. The reigning NL Player of the Week tries to continue his break-through season when Colorado hosts the Miami Marlins on Sunday in the rubber match of the three-game series. Dickerson delivered a walk-off single in the 13th inning to give the Rockies a 5-4 victory Saturday after his game-tying home run in the ninth landed in the third deck.
NY Mets at LA Dodgers 4:10 PM ET
Hanley Ramirez is expected to return to the starting lineup Sunday when the Los Angeles Dodgers aim for a three-game sweep of the visiting New York Mets. Ramirez has missed the last 13 games due to a right oblique strain for the Dodgers, who have won three straight to move 4 1/2 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the National League West. The Mets have lost six in a row in Los Angeles and 13 of their last 15 games overall against the Dodgers.
LA Angels at Oakland 8:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics needed to sweep a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels in order to take back the lead in the American League West. The Athletics will attempt to do just that when they host the Angels in the finale Sunday. Oakland drew even atop the AL West with a 2-1 victory on Saturday as Coco Crisp raced across with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning.