Preview Roundups
September 30, 2016
Baltimore at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles' pursuit of a playoff spot moves to New York on Friday for three games against the Yankees to finish the regular season. Courtesy of a 4-0 win in Toronto on Thursday, the Orioles are in a tie with the Blue Jays, who would host the wild-card game between the two teams if they ended up in a tie.
Miami at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals hope to wrap up home field in the National League Divisional series when they host the Miami Marlins in the final series of the regular season beginning Friday. The injury-plagued Nationals knocked off Arizona 5-3 on Thursday to strengthen their chances at starting the playoffs in the nation’s capital against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The New York Mets can punch their ticket into the postseason as early as Friday heading into the opener of a three-game series against the host Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets have won five of their last seven, including an emphatic 17-0 rout on Sunday to take three of four versus the National League East-rival Phillies at Citi Field.
Toronto at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The American League East was decided earlier in the week, but there will be plenty on the line when the Toronto Blue Jays begin a season-ending three-game series at the Boston Red Sox on Friday. The Blue Jays enter the set tied with the Baltimore Orioles atop the wild-card standings, 1 1/2 games up on Detroit, while the division champion Red Sox are vying for a premium playoff seed.
Chi. Cubs at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET

When the Chicago Cubs broke spring training in April, they proceeded to win eight of their first nine games to start the 2016 season, and they hope a similar approach to the final week of the campaign will result in the same type of results in the playoffs. The Cubs continue their all-hands-on-deck tune-up for the postseason with a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds that begins Friday. 

Detroit at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
Mother Nature has played a significant role in the Detroit Tigers' last two games, and the American League wild-card race by extension. After following up a win in a rain-shortened contest with a postponement in the series finale, Detroit will vie for its eighth victory in 11 outings on Friday when it opens a three-game interleague set at the Atlanta Braves.
Tampa Bay at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers can wrap up home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs with a victory Friday, when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for the opener of their three-game series. The Rangers have posted 52 wins at home, matching the club record set in 1978 and equaled in 2011, and have closed within two of tying the franchise mark for victories in a season (96 in 2011).
Minnesota at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
Carlos Sanchez isn't letting the Chicago White Sox's lack of a postseason race slow down his torrid pace as the 2016 campaign enters its final weekend. Sanchez will look to continue his hot hand on Friday, when the White Sox open a three-game home series against the American League Central cellar-dwelling Minnesota Twins.
Milwaukee at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
There won’t be any playoff spots on the line Friday when the Colorado Rockies begin a three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, but several players on both teams are battling for individual honors. The National League home run race features the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado and the Brewers’ Chris Carter, while Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu is in line for his first batting title.
Cleveland at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals aren't returning to the postseason and need one more victory for their fourth straight winning season. The Royals have three chances to record victory No. 82, beginning with Friday's opener of a series against the visiting Cleveland Indians.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals are running out of time to catch the San Francisco Giants for the National League's second wild-card spot and have little margin for error as they open a three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. The Cardinals trail the Giants by one game with three contests remaining as they look to make the postseason field for the sixth consecutive season.
San Diego at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
As they battle to avoid finishing in the National League West cellar, the San Diego Padres are better positioned to finish ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who host the opener of their season-ending three-game series on Friday. San Diego is two games ahead of Arizona and needs to win just once to assure its rival maintains ownership of the basement all winter.
Houston at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros conclude their season with a three-game road series beginning Friday against the Los Angeles Angels, one day after being eliminated from American League wild-card contention. Many believed Houston would continue the momentum from its wild-card victory in 2015 with a nucleus of young players such as Cy Young award winner Dallas Keuchel and Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa, but the Astros couldn't rebound from a 17-28 start or overcome Keuchel's injury-plagued season.
Oakland at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are hanging by a thread in their quest for the postseason and are running out of time in a hurry. The Mariners attempt to keep alive their playoff hopes when they host the Oakland Athletics on Friday for the second contest of their season-ending four-game series.
LA Dodgers at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants hoped to be playing for a division title this weekend, but they still have plenty on the line heading into Friday’s series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants are one game behind the Mets for the top National League wild card and a game up on St. Louis for the second spot with three games remaining.