Preview Roundups
August 31, 2015
Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Two struggling teams trying to stay relevant in the American League playoff race meet when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Baltimore Orioles on Monday to begin a three-game series. The Rays beat Kansas City 3-2 on Sunday for their second victory in the last seven contests to remain 4 ½ games behind Texas for the second wild card and Baltimore is 5 ½ back after losing 10 of its last 11.
Cleveland at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians have managed to work their way back onto the fringes of the American League wild card race but are about to run into a buzz saw. The Indians will try to post their sixth straight win when they visit the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.
NY Yankees at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox pitching staff managed to slow the New York Mets in a series win over the weekend and will set its sights on another hot offense. The New York Yankees began their road trip with 38 runs in a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves and head to Boston for the start of a three-game set on Monday.
Miami at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Mike Foltynewicz starts for the Atlanta Braves on Monday in the opener of a three-game home series against the Miami Marlins, and the best thing the right-hander can do is give his team innings. The Braves’ staff was pulverized for 38 runs on 43 hits in losing three games to the Yankees over the weekend, giving up 15 runs Friday and 20 on Sunday.
Philadelphia at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
If the New York Mets are able to capture the National League East for the first time since 2006 this season, they will undoubtedly point to their ability to win at home and dominate the Philadelphia Phillies as two of the main reasons why. The Mets will attempt to notch their 10th straight victory over the Phillies on Monday when the division rivals kick off a three-game set in New York.
Cincinnati at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs halted a four-game skid in epic fashion and attempt to ride the momentum into Monday's contest against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Chicago hurler Jake Arrieta tossed a no-hitter in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Cubs moved 5 1/2 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the battle for the National League's second wild card.
Seattle at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The last time Felix Hernandez started at the Houston Astros, he lasted only one out while serving up eight runs. The Seattle Mariners will let their ace watch from the bench this time when the Mariners visit Astros for the opener of a three-game series on Monday.
Washington at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
For the better part of this season, it seemed likely that a late summer series between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals could serve as a possible postseason showdown. The Cardinals have more than held up their end of the deal, but the Nationals find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in as they visit St. Louis to begin a three-game series against the team with the best record in the majors.
Arizona at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt looks to continue his season-long success against Colorado when the Diamondbacks visit the Rockies on Monday in the opener of a four-game set. The All-Star first baseman is batting .380 with two homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs in 50 at-bats against Colorado this season and has also drawn 10 walks.
LA Angels at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
It might be time to panic for the Los Angeles Angels, who have lost eight of their last 10 to fall three games behind Texas for the second American League wild-card spot. The Angels and their struggling offense look to get untracked Monday in the start of a three-game series against the host Oakland Athletics, who have won two straight but still own the American League's worst record.
Texas at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The red-hot Texas Rangers hope to have second baseman Rougned Odor back in the lineup Monday when they visit the San Diego Padres for the start of a three-game series. Texas, which has won four straight games and 13 of its last 17, sits within three games of first-place Houston in the American League West and leads the race for the second wild card by 1 1/2 games over Minnesota.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Jake Peavy looks to continue his long-standing dominance against Los Angeles when the San Francisco Giants visit the Dodgers in Monday's opener of a three-game series. The right-hander is 14-3 with a 2.30 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 27 career starts against Los Angeles.