Preview Roundups
August 31, 2014
NY Yankees at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
Jacoby Ellsbury has been the best offensive player for the New York Yankees and his absence from the lineup was noticeable in Saturday's 2-0 loss in Toronto. Ellsbury is expected to sit out again in Sunday's series finale against the host Blue Jays due to a sprain ankle sustained while sliding into home plate Friday. "It's a big difference without him," New York third baseman Chase Headley said. "But hopefully it's just a couple of days or a day and we'll get him back."
Philadelphia at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
Coming off perhaps his best start of the season, A.J. Burnett takes aim at the New York Mets - a team that has given him plenty of trouble this season - when the Philadelphia Phillies wrap up their three-game road set on Sunday. Burnett has given up at least five runs in all three of his starts against the Mets in 2014. Among the players who have given him trouble this year is New York catcher Travis d'Arnaud (5-for-9, two homers, five RBIs).
Minnesota at Baltimore 1:35 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles keep stretching their American League East lead and look to continue their winning ways when they meet the visiting Minnesota Twins on Sunday. Baltimore has won the first two contests of the four-game set and has captured five of six overall to increase its division lead over the New York Yankees to eight games. Struggling Minnesota has dropped six of its last seven games and is 1-4 during a seven-game road trip.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 1:35 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to stay hot and keep the pressure on in the National League wild-card race when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series. Behind some exceptional pitching, the Pirates have taken the first two games of the series to pull within a game of St. Louis for the NL's second wild card. They have held the Reds to a total of seven hits while recording a pair of one-run wins.
Boston at Tampa Bay 1:40 PM ET
Alex Cobb has taken over the role of ace for the Tampa Bay Rays since the trade of former American League Cy Young Award winner David Price. Cobb goes for his career-high eighth straight victory and attempts to extend his unbeaten streak to 12 games when the Rays host the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in the third contest of their four-game series. Cobb has given up only six runs over his last seven starts and hopes to give Tampa Bay another gem after Jake Odorizzi’s seven one-hit innings Saturday.
Detroit at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers are trying to take advantage of their schedule and move up in the American League Central standings. The Tigers, who are tied for first with the Kansas City Royals in the Central, attempt to clinch a win in a four-game series when they visiting the slumping Chicago White Sox for the finale on Sunday. The bullpen has been the Achilles' heel for Detroit all season but the team managed to overcome another meltdown and earn a split of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Texas at Houston 2:10 PM ET
Having won the season series for the first time since 2006, the Houston Astros try to extend their recent dominance of the visiting Texas Rangers when the teams wrap up a four-game set Sunday afternoon. "I think overall the Silver Boot's not really like a very big deal," Astros pitcher Scott Feldman said of the trophy that goes to the season series winner. "It's great, but we'd rather be in the playoffs." Houston has won nine of the last 11 meetings against Texas.
Chi. Cubs at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals attempt to gain a split of their four-game series when they host the Chicago Cubs in the finale on Sunday. St. Louis dropped a 7-2 decision on Friday and suffered a 5-1 loss in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader before erupting for 13 runs in the nightcap, staging an eighth-inning rally during which it scored seven of its nine runs before an out was recorded.
Oakland at LA Angels 3:35 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are putting on a pitching clinic while opening up a big gap in the American League West. The Angels will attempt to polish off a four-game sweep and increase their division lead to five games when they host the Oakland Athletics in the finale on Sunday. The Athletics have had trouble hitting all month and are really struggling in the series after getting shut out in each of the last two games.
Milwaukee at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
San Francisco tries for its sixth consecutive victory when it hosts the first-place Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series as the Giants' starting rotation continues to dominate. San Francisco, which is two games clear in the National League wild-card race, moved within 2 1/2 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the West Division after Saturday's 3-1 victory, which was highlighted by Jake Peavy taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning.
Colorado at Arizona 4:10 PM ET
Colorado's Nolan Arenado has emerged as a force at the plate, but he also is trying to validate his Gold Glove rookie season of 2013 as the Rockies visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. "I feel that he's the best third baseman in the National League, for sure," manager Walt Weiss told the Denver Post about the reigning National League Player of the Week, who also is hitting .300 - raising his average 19 points since a fateful moment on July 25.
LA Dodgers at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers are nearing a return to full health, but their offense remains on life support heading into Sunday’s series finale against the host San Diego Padres. While the Dodgers have scored a total of six runs in their last three games, the Padres have won four in a row, including three straight walk-off victories. Outfielder Yasiel Puig is mired in a 1-for-24 slump for Los Angeles, which has seen its lead over San Francisco in the National League West cut to 2 1/2 games.
Washington at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are slipping during their six-game homestand and look to salvage the finale of a three-game set with Washington when they host the Nationals on Sunday. Seattle is 1-4 entering the last contest of the homestand and has been outscored 23-8 while losing its last three games. Washington has hit seven homers while winning the first two games of the series and extended its National League East lead to seven games over the Atlanta Braves.
Miami at Atlanta 5:10 PM ET
Christian Yelich has solidified the top of the Miami Marlins’ lineup in his second season in the majors and is batting .414 over his last 17 games. Yelich looks to remain hot when the Marlins visit the Atlanta Braves on Sunday for the rubber match of a three-game series. The Braves are fighting for a playoff spot, but put on a dreadful performance in Saturday’s 4-0 loss, committing three errors and hitting into three double plays.
Cleveland at Kansas City 8:07 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians continue to soar up the American League Central and go for a sweep of Kansas City when they visit the Royals in Sunday’s finale of the three-game set. Cleveland won Saturday’s contest 3-2 in 11 innings for its 13th victory in 18 games and is just 3 1/2 games off the pace in the Central. Kansas City dropped into a first-place tie with the Detroit Tigers with Saturday’s loss and is just 2-4 during a 10-game homestand.