Preview Roundups
August 26, 2014
Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
After an uncharacteristic weekend sweep at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, the Baltimore Orioles made it clear their offense is just fine. The Orioles look to build off a five-homer explosion when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in the second contest of their four-game series. Tampa Bay’s Alex Cobb tries to extend his career-high winning streak to eight games after Baltimore collected 14 hits in a 9-1 triumph on Monday that allowed it to maintain its six-game lead in the AL East.
Washington at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies are starting to show signs of life - and against some of the majors' best teams, to boot. With a 5-2 record on their seven-game homestand, the Phillies will take the field Tuesday looking to hand the Washington Nationals back-to-back losses for the first time in more than three weeks. After taking two of three from Seattle and St. Louis, Philadelphia received homers from Carlos Ruiz and Cody Asche and 12 strikeouts from A.J. Burnett in Monday's 3-2 triumph.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals are strengthening their hold on the top spot in the National League wild-card race, but it's the NL Central title that they covet. The Cardinals have won nine of their last 12 and look to continue their surge toward division-leading Milwaukee when they resume their three-game series against the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
Boston at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
After losing the final eight contests of their homestand, the Boston Red Sox regained their composure following a short trip North of the Border. The Red Sox vie for their fifth consecutive road win, and a series victory to boot, when they continue their three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Boston hasn't been shy about flexing its muscle at Rogers Centre, belting 12 of its 55 road homers in the spacious ballpark.
NY Yankees at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The New York Yankees look to extend their winning streak to six games when they visit the Detroit Tigers for the opener of a three-game series Tuesday. New York salvaged the finale of a three-game set against Houston and swept a three-game series versus the Chicago White Sox before kicking off its seven-game road trip with an 8-1 triumph at Kansas City on Monday.
Atlanta at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves look to get back to their winning ways when they open up a three-game series at the New York Mets on Tuesday. After winning seven of eight games to jump squarely into the muddled wild-card picture in the National League, the Braves dropped a pair at Cincinnati over the weekend while falling to 4-3 on their current 10-game road trip. Atlanta managed six runs in their final 34 innings against the Reds, leaving 10 men on base in a 5-3 loss on Sunday.
Chi. Cubs at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds are still 4 1/2 games ahead of the last-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, but you wouldn't know it from the attitudes surrounding the teams. The scuffling Reds look to continue their dominance of the North Siders when the Cubs visit for a three-game series starting Tuesday. The Reds have won nine of 13 meetings this season and lead the series 35-13 over the past three campaigns.
Cleveland at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are showing signs of life after wallowing in mediocrity for most of the season, perhaps making the slumping Chicago White Sox a perfect opponent to extend their recent success. The Indians, who travel to Chicago for the first of three games on Tuesday, have hovered around the break-even mark for most of the season. However, Cleveland (66-63) is three games over .500 – matching a season high – after taking two of three in Houston to improve to 13-8 in August.
Oakland at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics couldn't have picked a better time for a trip to Houston. The Athletics look to continue their dominance over the Astros - and keep pace in the heated American League West race - when they continue their three-game series Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. After losing five straight earlier this month, Oakland has won four of six to get even with the Los Angeles Angels atop the AL West and owns a six-game lead over Seattle for the first wild card.
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals attempt to halt a two-game skid as they continue their 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Kansas City's stretch at home got off to a disappointing start as it dropped an 8-1 decision to the New York Yankees on Monday in the makeup of a contest postponed in June.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
If the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers continue to hold off the San Francisco Giants and defend their National League West crown, Roberto Hernandez will likely be one of the big contributors. The veteran right-hander, acquired Aug. 7 when Josh Beckett could no longer pitch through a left hip injury, attempts to pay more dividends Tuesday when Los Angeles kicks off a five-game road trip with the first of two against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Miami at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
Los Angeles gets another chance to slow down MVP candidate Giancarlo Stanton on Tuesday when the Angels continue their three-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins, who have pulled within three games of the second National League wild-card spot. Stanton belted a three-run homer in Monday’s 7-1 win over the Angels, who are tied with Oakland atop the American League West. Stanton, who was raised in Los Angeles, has eight hits in his last four games and leads the majors with 97 RBIs.
Milwaukee at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers hope to extend their slim division lead when they visit the San Diego Padres for the middle contest of their three-game series Tuesday. Milwaukee began the set in impressive fashion, collecting 16 hits in a 10-1 triumph to maintain its 1 1/2-game advantage over St. Louis in the National League Central.
Texas at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
For all of their success, the Seattle Mariners haven't had much against the cellar-dwelling Texas Rangers this season. The Mariners look to even their three-game series at one victory apiece and avoid a ninth loss in 14 meetings with their American League West rival when they host the Rangers on Tuesday. The Mariners had won 14 of 18 before seeing their offense go limp in Monday's 2-0 setback, dropping the club's lead to a half-game over Detroit in the race for the second wild card.
Colorado at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
Madison Bumgarner looks to continue an impressive August when he leads the San Francisco Giants into the second of four straight games with visiting Colorado on Tuesday. After ending July with a rocky showing against Pittsburgh in which he gave up five runs in four innings, the lefty has posted a 2.03 ERA in four starts this month. Included in that run was a strong effort against Philadelphia on Aug. 15 at home, where he has struggled for much of the season, going 4-6 with a 5.17 ERA overall.