Preview Roundups
September 16, 2014
Toronto at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Wrapping up their first division title in 17 years is a mere formality for the Baltimore Orioles, who can win the American League East with a victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night. The Orioles dispatched second-place Toronto in the series opener to clinch a tie for their first title since the 1997 season. "It's pretty special to come in here tomorrow and have a chance to do that," manager Buck Showalter said. "We've worked hard for this opportunity."
Boston at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates look to maintain their hold on a postseason berth as they continue their final homestand of the season Tuesday with the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Boston Red Sox. Pittsburgh enters the set with a 1 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot in the National League and still within reach of the Central Division crown as it trails first-place St. Louis by 3 1/2.
Washington at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
There are plenty of big names in the Washington Nationals’ starting rotation, but Tanner Roark has been the surprising force that has propelled them to the verge of a National League East title. The 27-year-old goes for his 14th victory of the season – which would tie Doug Fister for the team lead – Tuesday when Washington visits the Atlanta Braves. A Washington victory would clinch the Nationals’ second NL East crown in the past three years.
Miami at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins came from three runs behind in the ninth inning to win Sunday and rallied twice a little more than 24 hours later after a slow start to seize a wild 6-5 victory. Miami looks to make things easier when it visits the New York Mets for the second of a three-game series on Tuesday. The Marlins, who boast a major league-best 34 one-run wins, kept their slim playoff hopes alive after pulling within six games of Pittsburgh for the National League’s second wild-card spot.
NY Yankees at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
There’s no telling whether the slumping Derek Jeter will be in the lineup when the New York Yankees visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Jeter didn’t play in New York’s 1-0 series-opening loss on Monday due to his 0-for-24 hitting slump and a 5-for-43 effort in September. The Yankees have been eliminated from the American League East race and sit six games behind Kansas City for the AL’s second wild-card spot.
Cincinnati at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
Anthony Rizzo has picked up where he left off, and he's trying to get the Chicago Cubs back to the winning ways they showed in August. Rizzo and the Cubs aim for a second straight win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. The Cubs claimed the series opener 1-0 on Rizzo's 31st homer leading off the ninth, pulling them within 4 1/2 games of the Reds for fourth place in the National League Central.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals notched a dramatic victory in the series opener and look to knock off Chicago again when they host the White Sox on Tuesday. Kansas City trailed in the ninth inning and scored the tying run on a wild pitch and the winner on an infield single to post an improbable 4-3 victory. The Royals hold a two-game lead over Seattle in the American League wild-card race and trail Detroit by 1 1/2 in the AL Central.
Cleveland at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians call upon their ace to try to stop a damaging losing streak when they continue a four-game series at the Houston Astros on Tuesday. Corey Kluber, who is 8-3 since the end of June, will be tasked with helping the Indians end an ill-timed four-game slide. The losing streak continued with a 3-1 loss in the series opener on Monday, dropping Cleveland 5 1/2 games behind Kansas City for the second wild-card spot in the American League.
Detroit at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers attempt to extend their winning streak to five games as they continue their three-game series against the host Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Fresh off a three-game sweep of Cleveland at home, Detroit kicked off its final road trip of the season Monday by building a six-run lead before escaping with an 8-6 victory in the series opener. Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera opened the ninth inning with back-to-back homers as the Tigers posted their seventh win in eight contests.
Milwaukee at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers still have time to make up ground in the chase for a postseason slot but they'll have to do it the hard way when they kick off a nine-game road trip at the National League Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. The Brewers are five games behind St. Louis in the division and trail Pittsburgh by 1 1/2 games for the second wild with 12 to play. Winners of four of five, Milwaukee visits the Pirates for three games following three versus the Cardinals.
LA Dodgers at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers look to take advantage of the lowly Rockies again when the teams continue their three-game series in Colorado on Tuesday. The Dodgers took the series opener 11-3 to improve to 6-2 at Coors Field and 10-4 overall against the Rockies in 2014. Los Angeles owns a four-game lead over San Francisco in the National League West and trails Washington by one-half game in the race for the top record in the NL.
San Francisco at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan is hitting .488 in 10 games against Arizona this season, but a sore back could force him to miss his second straight game on Tuesday. Pagan was clearly missed on Monday, when the Giants opened a nine-game road trip with a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks and fell four games behind Los Angeles in the National League West with 12 remaining.
Seattle at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels have wrapped up a playoff spot and attempt to take another step toward winning the American League West when they host the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Los Angeles won the series opener to assure it will be part of the playoff field and its magic number stands at three to wrap up the division. Seattle has lost five of its last six games and has fallen two games behind the Kansas City Royals for the AL’s second wild card.
Texas at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
A 2 1/2-week tailspin derailed the division title hopes for the Oakland Athletics, who try to protect their hold of the first American League wild card spot when they host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. The schedule sets up nicely for Oakland, which plays the next six against last-place clubs in Texas and Philadelphia before closing the nine-game homestand against AL West-leading Los Angeles. The Athletics are looking to win three straight for the first time since Aug. 7-9.
Philadelphia at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres attempt to post consecutive wins for the first time since the beginning of the month when they continue their four-game set against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. San Diego began its final homestand of the season - a 10-game stretch - with a 1-0 triumph in Monday's series opener as Andrew Cashner tossed a two-hitter en route to his third career shutout and second this year.