Preview Roundups
September 19, 2014
LA Dodgers at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ recent roller coaster ride appears back on the upswing after a rare late rally in the opener of their four-game road set against the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers are unlikely to need similar late-game theatrics when Clayton Kershaw looks to become the majors’ first 20-game winner Friday. Los Angeles is 4-3 over its last seven games, but has run extremely hot-and-cold over that stretch, outscoring the opposition 40-9 in the wins while getting outscored 35-6 in the losses.
Boston at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles already have clinched the American League East, ending the Boston Red Sox’s tenure as reigning champs of the division. The Orioles attempt to take advantage of the lowly Red Sox en route to the top overall record in the AL when they host the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Baltimore is chasing the Los Angeles Angels for the top record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates can all but wrap up a postseason berth with a successful weekend that begins with the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Pittsburgh owns a 3 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the second National League wild-card spot with 10 contests remaining on its schedule. The Pirates posted their 11th win in 13 games Thursday as they completed a three-game sweep of Boston with a 3-2 triumph.
Toronto at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
After giving the fans a thrill to open his final homestand, Derek Jeter looks to add to the memories as the New York Yankees continue their four-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The future Hall of Famer celebrated snapping an 0-for-28 stretch Wednesday by launching a solo homer in New York's 3-2 series-opening win the following night.
Chi. White Sox at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays begin their final home series of the year Friday when they host the Chicago White Sox in the first of three games. With a 9 1/2-game deficit in the race for a wild-card spot, the Rays have little else to play for in the standings with the exception of a last-gasp effort to achieve another winning season. They have finished above .500 six straight years and need to go 8-1 to keep alive that streak, which is tied for the second-longest in the majors.
Washington at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Bryce Harper is showing signs he could be a major factor in the playoffs for the Washington Nationals, as he's batting .343 over his last 19 games. Harper looks to build off his fifth three-hit effort during that span when the Nationals visit the Miami Marlins on Friday to continue their four-game series. The 21-year-old outfielder, who missed more than two months with a thumb injury earlier this year, went 3-for-4 as Washington defeated Miami 6-2 on Thursday for its ninth win in 12 games.
NY Mets at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
Julio Teheran has pitched like a top-of-the-rotation starter for most of the season, and the Atlanta Braves need their 23-year-old right-hander to come up big as they open a three-game home series Friday with the New York Mets. Atlanta resides six games behind Pittsburgh for the final National League wild-card spot with just 10 games remaining, and Teheran tries to snap a three-start losing streak as the Braves desperately cling to their faint postseason hopes.
Arizona at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
Colorado is a different team offensively at home, and the Rockies' Wilin Rosario is no exception. The 25-year-old catcher tries to continue his hot streak at Coors Field when Colorado hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday in the second contest of a four-game series. Rosario's walk-off two-run homer in the ninth inning capped a four-hit performance and gave the Rockies a 7-6 victory Thursday, raising his average at Coors Field to .330 compared to .190 on the road.
Cleveland at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are clinging to the hope that they can make up some ground in the American League wild-card race over the final 10 days of the regular season. The Indians will try to take care of their own business when they open a three-game series at the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Cleveland is four games behind Oakland for the second wild card, with Seattle parked in the way as well.
Detroit at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals begin their most important series in nearly three decades on Friday when they host the Detroit Tigers for three games that could determine the American League Central champ. “There’s not a person in this clubhouse that doesn’t understand the importance of this series,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters. Detroit, which lost the last two after a four-game winning streak, holds a half-game lead over the Royals in the division and an 11-5 edge in the season series.
Seattle at Houston 8:10 PM ET
After salvaging a split against the American League West champions, the Seattle Mariners look to boost their wild-card aspirations against another division foe. The Mariners vie for just their fourth win in 10 outings on Friday when they open a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Logan Morrison belted a three-run homer in the ninth inning of Seattle's 3-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, moving the club within one game of Oakland in the race for the second wild card.
Cincinnati at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up the home portion of their regular-season schedule with a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds that begins Friday. St. Louis improved to 5-1 on its nine-game homestand by winning two of three in a crucial series against Milwaukee that concluded with Thursday's 3-2 triumph in 13 innings. Matt Adams drew a bases-loaded walk with two out in the eighth inning to forge a tie before scoring the winning run on Tony Cruz's single.
Philadelphia at Oakland 9:35 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics dropped like a stone out of the top spot in the American League West and just surrendered the top wild card spot. The Athletics will try to avoid a 16th loss in 21 games when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Oakland was outscored 19-6 while being swept by the major league-worst Texas Rangers in three games this week and sits just one game ahead of Seattle for the second wild card.
Texas at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
With the American League West title under wraps, the Los Angeles Angels can turn their attention toward securing baseball's best record when they begin a three-game home series versus the cellar-dwelling Texas Rangers. The Angels have faced little resistance from their division rival, outscoring Texas by a 24-7 margin in a three-game sweep from Sept. 9-11, and have won 13 of the 16 meetings this season.
San Francisco at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants are in good shape to earn one of the National League wild card spots but still have their sights set on the NL West crown. The Giants will try to advance toward that goal when they visit the San Diego Padres for the start of a three-game series on Friday. San Francisco sits 2 1/2 games behind the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the West and owns the top wild card spot, 5 1/2 games clear of the third-place Milwaukee Brewers.
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