Preview Roundups
September 18, 2015
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals can squash the Chicago Cubs' hopes of winning the National League Central when the division rivals begin a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon. St. Louis sits five games ahead of second-place Pittsburgh and seven in front of Chicago with 16 contests remaining for each team.
Miami at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals missed a golden opportunity to cut into their sizable deficit in the National League East by dropping the opener of a four-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins. With the clock ticking on the season, the Nationals look to get back on track and improve their flickering playoff hopes when they continue the home set against the Marlins on Friday.
Boston at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays have a chance to wrap up the American League East with a nine-game homestand and will play only division opponents the rest of the way. The Blue Jays open the homestand by hosting a dangerous Boston Red Sox team in the first of a three-game series on Friday.
Kansas City at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The American League Central-leading Kansas City Royals have been on cruise control for quite some time while the cellar-dwelling Detroit Tigers don't have much reason to get it in gear. Winners of just four of their last 13, the Royals will open a three-game series versus their division rivals on Friday to wrap up their 10-game road trip.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles are keeping their slim hopes of an American League wild-card spot alive with seven wins in last nine contests. The Orioles look to build more optimism - after rallying with four runs in the eighth to earn a 4-3 victory in the series opener - when they visit the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Friday to continue a four-game set.
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
Despite a hot streak in which they have won 14 of 21 games, the Cleveland Indians are running out of time in their late-season push to claim a playoff berth. The Indians are four games back of the Houston Astros for the second wild card in the American League as they prepare to host the Chicago White Sox on Friday in the opener of a three-game set.
NY Yankees at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The New York Mets continue their march toward the National League East title when they host the New York Yankees in a three-game series beginning Friday. The Mets' magic number to clinch their first division crown since 2006 sits at nine while the Yankees are a comfortable 5 1/2 games clear of a wild-card spot and 3 1/2 behind runaway leader Toronto in the American League East.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
Away from the spotlight of the chase for division titles and wild-card berths, the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves open a three-game series Friday in Atlanta seeking to avoid having baseball’s worst record. The Phillies currently hold that dubious distinction with a 56-91 record, but the Braves’ second-half swoon has brought them within one game Philadelphia at 57-90.
Seattle at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers took care of business against Houston to surge to the top of the American League West and now begin the business of maintaining the spot. The Rangers will try to keep the momentum going when they host the Seattle Mariners for the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Oakland at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros watched their lead in the American League West disappear in a disastrous four-game series against Texas this week. The Astros will try to make up some of the ground it lost and hang on to the second wild-card spot when they host the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
LA Angels at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels aren’t sure how long Albert Pujols’ lengthy slump will continue, but they know what to expect from Mike Trout. The reigning American League MVP has belted four home runs in his last five games heading into the second contest of a four-game series against the reeling Twins in Minnesota.
Cincinnati at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers attempt to halt their losing streak and avoid the National League Central basement when they host the division-rival Cincinnati Reds on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. After dropping the final three contests of a four-game set at Pittsburgh, Milwaukee was swept at home by Central-leading St. Louis, scoring a total of eight runs in the three-game showdown.
San Diego at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Matt Kemp is closing in on the first 100-RBI season by a San Diego outfielder in 17 years as the Padres open a three-game series on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. Kemp has driven in 97 runs while vying to be the first San Diego outfielder since Greg Vaughn (119 in 1998) to reach the century mark.
Pittsburgh at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are reeling from a three-game losing streak and suffered a major blow when they lost rookie shortstop Jung Ho Kang for the rest of the season due to a torn medial collateral ligament and fractured left tibia. With their lead on the top wild card in the National League slipping away, Pittsburgh opens a 10-game road trip at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.
Arizona at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner is looking to record his career-best 19th victory when the Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks in Friday's opener of a three-game series. The red-hot Bumgarner tossed a one-hit shutout against San Diego in his last turn and has won seven of his past eight starts.