Preview Roundups
September 09, 2014
Atlanta at Washington 7:05 PM ET
If the Atlanta Braves miss the playoffs, nobody will blame the patchwork starting rotation the team deployed after losing Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy to season-ending injuries in spring training. The Braves play the middle contest of a three-game series Tuesday at the NL East-leading Washington Nationals, and while Atlanta leads the major leagues with 100 quality starts, its offense continues to push the club toward the offseason. Atlanta has scored 15 runs in its last seven games.
Minnesota at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians hit a speed bump against the best team in baseball on Monday and look to get back to business in their quest for a playoff spot. The Indians have won 10 of their last 15 contests overall as they host the struggling Minnesota Twins on Tuesday for the first of three games. Cleveland gave up 16 hits in a 12-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, putting it 4 1/2 games behind Seattle for the second American League wild-card spot.
Tampa Bay at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
Hiroki Kuroda staggered down the stretch a year ago but he goes for his fourth straight win when the New York Yankees open a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night. The Yankees need a big outing from Kuroda after they were shut out twice in dropping two of three to Kansas City over the weekend to fall five games back of Seattle for the American League's second wild card. New York has lost four straight at home to the Rays, scoring a total of eight runs.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
With the postseason right around the corner, the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense is starting to click at the perfect time. The Pirates aim to push their winning streak to five games and increase their lead in the National League wild-card race when they continue their four-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Pittsburgh has 31 hits over the last two games and has averaged 6.5 runs during its winning streak, which continued with Monday's 6-4 victory.
Chi. Cubs at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
If the Toronto Blue Jays fall short in the American League wild-card race, it won't be on account of Jose Bautista's bat. Bautista has hit eight home runs during a 12-game hitting streak and looks to stay hot when the host Blue Jays continue a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The Cubs have been outscored 28-7 during a four-game losing streak. Bautista hit his 200th home run as a Blue Jay in Monday's 8-0 win in the series opener.
Kansas City at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers have a chance to move into a tie for first place in the American League Central and have the man they want on the mound in the second of a three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. Reigning Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer gets the start for Detroit, which won the series opener 9-5 to shave Kansas City's lead to one game. Scherzer is 9-1 at Comerica Park this season, but the one defeat came at the hands of the Royals.
Baltimore at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles hope to reduce their magic number to single digits when they visit the Boston Red Sox for the middle contest of their three-game series Tuesday. Baltimore enters with a 10-game lead over both New York and Toronto, with a magic number of 11 to clinch its ninth American League East title and first since 1997. The Orioles posted their fifth win in seven games Monday, a 4-0 triumph behind a strong effort on the mound from Miguel Gonzalez.
St. Louis at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Michael Wacha will make his second start since returning from a shoulder injury when he leads the St. Louis Cardinals into another matchup at the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. Wacha tossed three innings in his return to the mound Thursday in Milwaukee in his first appearance in the majors since June 17.
Colorado at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
Curtis Granderson has not had a memorable first year with the New York Mets, but he's doing his best to end the season on a high note. Granderson has swatted two homers and collected seven RBIs during a four-game hitting streak, including an RBI triple before scoring the winning run in Monday's series-opening, walk-off victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies. The Mets have won five of six and can move to .500 at home with a victory Tuesday in the middle game of the series.
LA Angels at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels continue to ride the major league’s best offense toward the postseason, posting 46 runs during their current five-game winning streak. The Angels look to pad their statistics and move closer to clinching a playoff spot Tuesday as they begin a three-game series at the Texas Rangers, who have given up the second-most runs in either league. Albert Pujols continues his comeback season for the Angels, going 10-for-23 with two homers and eight RBIs over the last five games.
Oakland at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics were enjoying the good life, cruising along with a major league-best 72-44 record while comfortably sitting atop the American League West. After dropping 19 of their last 27 overall contests and 11 of 13 on the road, the Athletics attempt to right the ship on Tuesday, when they continue their four-game series versus the host Chicago White Sox.
Miami at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins are hanging around in the National League wild-card race, led by their talented young outfield of Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton. Ozuna and Stanton each homered in the series opener and the Marlins visit the reeling Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday for the second contest of the important four-game set.
Houston at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners look to continue their strong showing against one American League West rival to gain ground on another. The Mariners vie for their fifth straight win and ninth in 11 meetings against the Houston Astros when the division foes continue their three-game series in the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday. Brad Miller had an RBI single in the sixth inning before ripping a two-run triple to snap a tie in the eighth as Seattle seized a 4-1 triumph in the series opener.
San Diego at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp carries a season-high 14-game hitting streak into Tuesday’s contest against the visiting San Diego Padres, who have been outscored 36-12 during their six-game losing skid. Kemp is batting .345 during his streak for the Dodgers, who have won four straight to move 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco in the National League West with 18 games remaining. “Matt is swinging the bat good,” manager Don Mattingly told reporters.
Arizona at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants must guard against looking ahead to a crucial weekend series as they begin a three-game set against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. San Francisco sits atop the National League wild-card standings but is within reach of first place in the West Division, which is occupied by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants are 3 1/2 games behind their fierce rivals and host the Dodgers for a three-game series beginning Friday.