Preview Roundups
September 05, 2014
Pittsburgh at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs get another chance to sour a National League Central rival's playoff hopes when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday to start a three-game series. The last-place Cubs are coming off a three-game sweep of Milwaukee that knocked the Brewers out of the division lead. Now they'll try to torpedo Pittsburgh's wild-card chances by extending the Pirates' four-game losing streak.
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians attempt to remain relevant in the American League playoff picture when they open a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Friday. Cleveland had a chance to make up ground in the wild-card race but failed miserably, dropping three of four against Detroit to fall five games behind the Tigers for the second extra postseason berth.
Kansas City at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees continue to keep themselves in the wild-card race thanks to some dramatic wins. The Kansas City Royals, who visit the Yankees for the start of a three-game series on Friday, are in first place in September and trying to hold off Detroit in the American League Central. New York looked as if it was falling off the pace with three straight setbacks but pulled off back-to-back wins to gain some momentum.
Philadelphia at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Coming off one of their most thrilling wins of the season, the Washington Nationals return to the nation's capital to begin a six-game homestand in Friday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nationals topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-5 in 14 innings on Wednesday in a game that featured both teams scoring in both the ninth and the 12th innings before the visitors finally came out on top.
San Francisco at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
Two teams who currently own wild-card spots but have their sights set on division titles square off Friday, when the Detroit Tigers host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of their three-game interleague series. Detroit is one-half game ahead of Seattle for the second wild card in the American League and trails first-place Kansas City by one game in the Central Division.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles received contributions throughout the lineup to post 67 runs during a 9-2 homestand as they solidified their lead in the American League East. The Orioles look to stay hot as they head out on the road for the next six contests, starting with the first of three against the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Baltimore leads the second-place New York Yankees by 9 ½ games in the division and continues to close in on its fourth consecutive season of at least 190 homers.
Toronto at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox are in the business of helping teams improve their postseason positioning, thanks in part to a back end of the bullpen that suddenly is springing holes. The Toronto Blue Jays will try to take advantage of those holes when they visit Boston for the start of a three-game series on Friday. Red Sox All-Star closer Koji Uehara gave up a pair of ninth-inning home runs in a crushing loss at New York on Thursday and has been awful of late.
Atlanta at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves open a three-game series Friday at the Miami Marlins as both teams try to remain part of the wide-open race for a National League wild-card berth. The Braves sit in a tie with Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot, and kick off a nine-game road trip that will go a long way to determining if they reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Miami, which lost at least 90 contests the past three years, is five games behind Atlanta and Milwaukee.
NY Mets at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
After a porous road trip did little to change their fortune, the Cincinnati Reds look to apply the brakes when they begin a seven-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets on Friday. The Reds yielded 20 runs en route to getting swept by Baltimore and have dropped 16 of their last 22 to reside even with New York at seven games out in the race for the second wild card in the National League.
Seattle at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are trying to make up ground in the American League wild card standings and the Texas Rangers are not doing much to stand in the way. The Mariners will try to clinch at least a tie of the four-game series when they visit the Rangers on Friday. Seattle is not known for its offense but put up nine runs in the first three innings of the series opener on Thursday and cruised to a 10-2 triumph.
LA Angels at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels have little trouble locating their offense when they face the Minnesota Twins this season. The visiting Angels look to secure a win for the fifth time in as many meetings in 2014 when they play the second contest of their four-game series on Friday. Chris Iannetta's go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning proved just enough for Los Angeles, which moved five games ahead of idle Oakland in the American League West with a 5-4 victory on Thursday.
St. Louis at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Division rivals heading in opposite directions continue their showdown Friday as the struggling Milwaukee Brewers host the streaking St. Louis Cardinals in the second contest of their four-game series. Milwaukee came up short in the opener, dropping a 3-2 decision for its ninth consecutive loss. Rickie Weeks belted a pinch-hit solo homer and Jonathan Lucroy recorded two hits and an RBI as the Brewers fell four games behind St. Louis in the National League Central.
San Diego at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
After scoring a total of eight runs in their last five games, the San Diego Padres probably can't wait to begin their three-game series at Coors Field. The Padres have lost two in a row heading into Friday's contest against the Colorado Rockies, who took two of three against San Francisco before enjoying Thursday’s off day. The Rockies need to go at least 7-15 over their final 22 games in order to avoid the first 100-loss season in franchise history.
Houston at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
Although the Oakland Athletics have dropped six of their last seven contests, they can take solace in knowing that they've traditionally gotten the better of their next opponent. Oakland looks to right its ship on Friday, when it opens a three-game series versus the American League West-rival Houston Astros. Oakland, which has won 10 of its 16 meetings with Houston this season, sits five games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels.
Arizona at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been out of playoff contention for months, but they’ll be a key factor in the National League West race over the next week. Arizona begins a three-game series against the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday before visiting second-place San Francisco for three games starting Monday. The Dodgers, who have won 12 of their first 16 meetings with Arizona, lead the Giants by two games with 22 remaining for both teams.