Preview Roundups
September 22, 2014
Baltimore at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
Derek Jeter begins the final home series of his illustrious career as the New York Yankees look to keep alive their slim wild-card hopes in the first of four games against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. Jeter is 8-for-17 with three RBIs on the current eight-game homestand to help the Yankees remain relevant. After taking three of four from Toronto over the weekend, New York sits 4 1/2 games behind Kansas City in the race for the American League's second wild card with seven games to play.
Kansas City at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians try for a "sweep" of the visiting Kansas City Royals on Monday when the teams finish their suspended game from Aug. 31 before playing their regularly scheduled contest - the first of a three-game set. Cleveland took a 4-2 lead in the 10th inning at Kansas City last month before heavy rain forced the game to be called in the middle of the frame and continued when the teams next met. The Indians trail the Royals by 3 1/2 games in the American League wild card standings.
Seattle at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners look to dust themselves off after a rough series in Houston when they continue the last road trip of the season Monday with the first of four against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mariners dropped two of three to the also-ran Astros to fall 1 1/2 games behind in the race for the American League's second wild card with seven games to play. Five Seattle pitchers were knocked around in an 8-3 setback on Sunday, dropping the club to 3-4 on its current 11-game excursion.
Chi. White Sox at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers took care of business by winning two of three in Kansas City over the weekend, putting themselves in prime position to win their fourth straight American League Central title. Detroit kicks off its regular season-ending seven-game homestand with three against the Chicago White Sox beginning Monday. The Royals are 1 1/2 games behind the Tigers and while they face a tough series in Cleveland, Detroit meets teams playing out the string in Chicago and Minnesota.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are closing in on their second consecutive appearance in the National League wild-card game and their sights are set on having that contest at home. Pittsburgh has won 13 of its last 16 and visits the struggling Atlanta Braves on Monday to open a four-game series with a 4 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for the final NL playoff berth and in a tie with San Francisco for the top wild-card spot.
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals are headed to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, but they’d strongly prefer to enter as a division champion. St. Louis can take another step toward that goal Monday when they visit the Chicago Cubs for the start of a three-game series. The Cardinals have won seven of nine and stands 2 1/2 game ahead of Pittsburgh in the National League Central, but they’re battling a stomach illness that has swept the clubhouse.
Houston at Texas 8:05 PM ET
Nick Tropeano has been solid and steady in his first two major-league starts, but the improving Texas Rangers should present a formidable foe. The Houston right-hander takes the mound Monday when the Astros open a three-game road series against the Rangers. In each of his first two outings, Tropeano has given up exactly two runs, four hits and two walks in five innings, but Texas has proven that it is still playing hard with eight wins in its last nine games.
Arizona at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The last time the Arizona Diamondbacks lost 10 in a row away from home, they went on to their second-worst record in team history. The Diamondbacks need to win four of their remaining six games to avoid matching that mark this season and look to begin that process Monday when they begin a three-game interleague set in Minnesota against the Twins. Arizona dropped 14 consecutive road contests from May 18-June 18, 2010 – a stretch that led the team to a 65-97 record.
LA Angels at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The last time the Oakland Athletics began a series against the Los Angeles Angels, they were within one game of each other atop the American League West. When the Athletics host the Angels in the opener of a three-game series Monday, they will be 10 1/2 games back in a division Los Angeles has already clinched. Stumbling Oakland won two of three over the weekend and sits atop the AL wild-card race.
Colorado at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres faded from playoff contention months ago, but nobody can accuse either team of going through the motions this month. Colorado has won a season-high six in a row while San Diego carries a four-game winning streak into Monday’s contest at Petco Park. Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau begins the three-game series in a virtual tie with Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison (.318) for the National League batting crown.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
While the Los Angeles Dodgers took care of business over the weekend, the San Francisco Giants were watching their division title hopes fade with three straight losses. As a result, the host Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Giants on Monday with a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League West and a magic number of four to clinch the division. The Giants have lost six of their last eight to fall into a tie with Pittsburgh for the top wild card spot, but are 4 1/2 ahead of Milwaukee.