Preview Roundups
August 26, 2016
Baltimore at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
With the American League East race a jumbled one, the Baltimore Orioles begin a homestretch loaded with division opponents when they open a three-game road series against the New York Yankees on Friday. The Orioles own the second wild-card spot and are in third place in the division, one game behind Toronto and Boston but 4 1/2 ahead of the Yankees, after their four-game winning streak came to an end with Thursday's 4-0 loss to Washington.
Colorado at Washington 7:05 PM ET

Left-hander Gio Gonzalez will take a third crack at his 100th career victory when the Washington Nationals host the Colorado Rockies in the first of a three-game series Friday. Gonzalez looks to follow up a brilliant performance by teammate Max Scherzer, who helped the Nationals snap a four-game skid with a 4-0 win over Baltimore on Thursday.

Minnesota at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
After they failed to take advantage of a home matchup with one last-place team, the Toronto Blue Jays will try to do so with another when they begin a three-game series with the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday. Toronto dropped the final two of three straight against the Los Angeles Angels - including Thursday's 6-3 setback - and have lost four of six overall.
Kansas City at Boston 7:10 PM ET
Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright looks to resume his breakthrough campaign when he comes off the disabled list to start the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Friday night. Boston went 7-4 on its 11-game road trip after ending the trek with consecutive one-run losses at Tampa Bay.
LA Angels at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
After beating up on the American League-worst Minnesota Twins, the Detroit Tigers go for their fifth consecutive victory against another last-place team when they host the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series beginning Friday night. Detroit has amassed 35 runs during its winning streak and outscored the Twins 25-12 in a three-game sweep.
San Diego at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Jarred Cosart will face the team that sent him packing at the trade deadline when the San Diego Padres visit the Miami Marlins on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. Cosart will look to dent the postseason hopes of the Marlins, who are 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card in the National League.
Philadelphia at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The New York Mets may have started out their just-completed 10-game road trip in dubious fashion, but they wrapped it up by proving they aren't quite ready to fade away in the National League wild-card race. The Mets eye their fifth win in six tries Friday when they begin a 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Cleveland at Texas 8:05 PM ET
In a highly anticipated potential playoff preview between the two best teams in the American League, the Texas Rangers scored an impressive opening-round knockout. The Cleveland Indians will attempt to repay the favor Friday as the two of the AL's three division leaders square off in the second of a four-game set in Texas.
Seattle at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
Felix Hernandez is seeking his fifth consecutive victory while All-Star Chris Sale aims to remain part of the American League Cy Young Award race when the Seattle Mariners visit the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Hernandez hasn't lost in seven starts following a stint on the disabled list while Sale is tied for third in the AL in victories despite a recent drought.
Tampa Bay at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros look to continue their surge toward contention in the American League wild-card race when they begin a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. The Astros, who play the next six at home - where they are 34-28 - received a much-needed day off after edging Pittsburgh 5-4 on Wednesday for their fifth victory in six road contests.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates look to extend their road winning streak to six when they continue their four-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Pittsburgh squandered a two-run lead but came away with a 3-2 victory in the series opener as Andrew McCutchen drove in all three runs, including the winner with a single in the 10th inning.
Oakland at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals attempt to bounce back from their first series loss in nearly three weeks when they continue their six-game homestand on Friday with the opener of a three-game set against the visiting Oakland Athletics. St. Louis, which hadn't lost a series since dropping two of three at home to Atlanta from Aug. 5-7, did the same against the New York Mets - including a 10-6 loss on Thursday in which it allowed the game's first seven runs.
Cincinnati at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks are on their way to their fifth consecutive non-winning season and already have clinched a losing home record. Arizona is just 23-42 at Chase Field as it opens a three-game series on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds, who are a miserable 22-39 on the road.
Chi. Cubs at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Two of the majors’ top young shortstops meet Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs, who have won 22 of their past 27 games and stand 36 games over .500. The Dodgers’ Corey Seager is favored to win the NL Rookie of the Year award, while Chicago’s Addison Russell has homered five times in his last six games while being a defensive standout.
Atlanta at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants have been sliding in the wrong direction but they hope they have the right opponent in which to stage a turnaround when they host the Atlanta Braves on Friday in the opener of a three-game set. Atlanta owns the worst record in the majors while the Giants are just two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West despite losing eight of their last 11 games.