Preview Roundups
August 27, 2014
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 12:35 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates host the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series, but will likely do so without center fielder Andrew McCutchen. The reigning National League MVP appeared to re-aggravate a rib injury and left Tuesday's 5-2 victory after five innings. Pittsburgh, which was 5-9 in the 14 games McCutchen missed while on the disabled list earlier this month, is 1 1/2 games behind San Francisco for the final NL wild card spot.
Texas at Seattle 3:40 PM ET
On the heels of eclipsing last season's win total, the Seattle Mariners look to claim a series victory against the visiting Texas Rangers when the American League West rivals conclude their three-game set on Wednesday. Upstart Seattle has won 15 of 20 overall and nine of 11 at Safeco Field to cling to a half-game lead over Detroit in the race for the second wild card.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles lost 11 of their final 13 games against the Tampa Bay Rays last season and are making up for it during a special 2014 campaign. The Orioles have won 10 of 14 contests in the season series and look to add to that when the Rays visit for the third of a four-game series Wednesday. Baltimore clubbed five homers in the series opener and rallied for a 4-2 victory Tuesday while increasing its lead in the American League East to seven games over the New York Yankees.
Washington at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals look to avoid their first three-game losing streak in two months when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday for the finale of their three-game series. Washington failed to extend its lead over second-place Atlanta in the National League East, dropping a pair of one-run decisions to Philadelphia. The Nationals rallied from a 3-0 deficit Tuesday, only to suffer a 4-3 loss as an error by shortstop Ian Desmond in the eighth inning led to the winning run.
Boston at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays aren't shy about working overtime, although their long hours are yielding limited dividends as they slip further out of contention. After winning just one of their last four consecutive extra-inning contests, the Blue Jays look to salvage the finale of their three-game series versus the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.
NY Yankees at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
David Price made a much-ballyhood change of address from Tampa Bay to Detroit at the trade deadline, but he will be facing a familiar foe when the Tigers host the New York Yankees on Wednesday night in the second of a three-game set. Price will oppose the Yankees for the fifth time this season, having posted a 1-1 record against them - including a no-decision in his Detroit debut on Aug. 5. The Tigers are 1 1/2 games out of first in the American League Central.
Atlanta at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves look to crawl their way out of another offensive funk when they continue a three-game series at the New York Mets on Wednesday. The Braves managed eight hits but hit into four double plays in a 3-2 loss in Tuesday's series opener for their third straight setback, falling 1 1/2 games behind San Francisco in the race for the second wild-card spot in the National League. They have managed five runs during the slide after averaging nearly six per game during a recent 7-1 surge.
Chi. Cubs at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Another of the Chicago Cubs' highly-touted prospects arrives Wednesday, as outfielder Jorge Soler is expected to make his major-league debut when the Cubs continue a three-game series in Cincinnati. Soler joins a parade of young players who have the Cubs thinking ahead to next year -- and playing better ball now. Chicago blanked the Reds 3-0 in the series opener, getting home runs from Anthony Rizzo and Arismendy Alcantara and another gem from the pitching staff.
Cleveland at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians appear to have found another gear after hovering around the break-even mark for the most of the season, but their endurance figures to be tested in other ways over the next month. The Indians, who continue their three-game set in Chicago against the White Sox on Wednesday, improved to 14-8 in August after a 10-inning victory in the opener. The win was Cleveland’s 10th in its last 14 contests and allowed the team to move a season-high four games over .500 at 67-63.
Oakland at Houston 8:10 PM ET
Chris Carter was traded to the Houston Astros from Oakland prior to the 2013 season and he's starting to make the Athletics rue the deal. Carter clubbed a decisive three-run blast in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 4-2 victory and enters Wednesday's series finale against visiting Oakland with a major league-best 19 blasts since July 1. I'll tell you what, he's putting together some kind of season," Astros manager Bo Porter said.
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
After avoiding their first three-game slide since the beginning of the second half, the Kansas City Royals attempt to start a winning streak when they host the Minnesota Twins in the middle contest of their three-game series Wednesday. Kansas City was held to three hits over eight innings before registering two in the ninth, including Alex Gordon's walk-off two-run homer.
Milwaukee at San Diego 9:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers hope to rebound from a poor offensive effort as they visit the San Diego Padres in the rubber match of their three-game series Wednesday. After using a 16-hit attack to post a 10-1 victory in the opener, Milwaukee registered only five hits in a 4-1 loss on Tuesday. Jean Segura had two of the hits and Scooter Gennett drove in the lone run with a single as the Brewers maintained their 1 1/2-game lead over second-place St. Louis in the National League Central.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The injury bug has hit Los Angeles' starting rotation hard, but Clayton Kershaw has been the one constant and he'll try for his 16th victory when the Dodgers visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday in the finale of a two-game series. With two starters (Josh Beckett, Hyun-Jin Ryu) on the disabled list and another (Zack Greinke) battling an elbow issue, Kershaw is making a case to become the first pitcher to win the National League MVP award since Bob Gibson in 1968.
Miami at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
Mike Trout and Giancarlo Stanton are the marquee players in this week’s series between the Los Angeles Angels and the visiting Miami Marlins, but Erick Aybar has been quite the scene-stealer. The Angels’ shortstop heads into Wednesday’s rubber match of the three-game series riding a season-high 11-game hitting streak, including six straight multi-hit games. Los Angeles stands one game ahead of Oakland in the American League West.
Colorado at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants will try to build off an impressive pitching performance when they continue a four-game set against Colorado on Wednesday. In need of a boost after dropping three straight, including the series opener against the lowly Rockies, the Giants saw Madison Bumgarner deliver a one-hit shutout in Tuesday's 3-0 triumph. Buster Posey provided the offense with a two-run homer and a solo shot as San Francisco opened a 1 1/2-game lead for the second wild card in the National League.