Preview Roundups
April 02, 2014
Kansas City at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
Max Scherzer recently turned down a six-year, $144 million contract offer and insists it won’t have a bearing on his performance when he starts against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. “I’m here to pitch and win,” the 2013 American League Cy Young winner told reporters. “I’m here to help get the team to the postseason. That’s the only thing on my plate right now. All the off-field stuff takes care of itself off the field, but everything on the field stays the same.”
Atlanta at Milwaukee 1:10 PM ET
Both Matt Garza and Aaron Harang will debut with new teams when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday, but suffice to say there is plenty more optimism surrounding Garza’s first outing in a new uniform. Milwaukee signed Garza to a four-year contract in the offseason, hoping the right-hander is the missing piece to competing in the National League Central. Atlanta added Harang in the final days of spring training.
Minnesota at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
Alejandro De Aza was expected to be the less powerful part of a left-field platoon with Dayan Viciedo, but a home run explosion may change that outlook. De Aza will attempt to stay on his 324-homer pace when the White Sox host the Minnesota Twins again on Wednesday. De Aza’s pair of homers and a big game from Cuban import Jose Abreu pushed Chicago to a 5-3 triumph in Monday’s series opener.
Cleveland at Oakland 3:35 PM ET
Scott Kazmir faces his former team Wednesday as part of a day-night doubleheader when the Cleveland Indians visit the Oakland Athletics, who are looking to bounce back from their major league-record 10th straight Opening Day loss. Kazmir, who joined the Athletics as a free agent after resurrecting his career in Cleveland last year, said he’s looking forward to facing his former teammates.
Boston at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles can use as many wins as possible against direct competition in the American League East as they attempt to return to the playoffs. The Orioles look to clinch a season-opening series against the division-rival Boston Red Sox when they host the second game of the series on Wednesday. Offseason acquisition Nelson Cruz played the hero on Opening Day with a go-ahead homer as Baltimore took a 2-1 win.
Chi. Cubs at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to build off the momentum of their dramatic Opening Day victory when they host the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game series. A crowd of 39,833 - the largest to witness a regular-season game in PNC Park history - watched Neil Walker deliver a home run leading off the 10th inning Monday to give the Pirates a 1-0 win over the Cubs. It was a fitting start for Pittsburgh, which scored the fewest runs among the 10 playoff teams in 2013.
St. Louis at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals give the ball to breakout candidate Michael Wacha on Wednesday as they aim for their second straight win at Cincinnati. Wacha, who followed up an impressive stretch run as a rookie with an electric performance in the National League playoffs, will be looking to build off the season-opening effort of staff ace Adam Wainwright on Monday. Behind seven scoreless innings from Wainwright and a solo homer from Yadier Molina, St. Louis claimed a 1-0 victory on Opening Day.
Colorado at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Henderson Alvarez made history the last time he took the mound in the major leagues, and the Miami Marlins right-hander looks to start his 2014 with a flourish when the Marlins host the Colorado Rockies in Wednesday’s third game of a four-game set. Alvarez ended Miami’s 100-loss 2013 campaign with a flourish, firing a no-hitter against Detroit. The Rockies look to right-hander Jordan Lyles, who makes his Colorado debut after coming over from Houston in an offseason trade for Dexter Fowler.
Washington at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Washington Nationals could savor their comeback victory in the season opener before visiting the New York Mets on Wednesday for the second of a three-game series. The Nationals, coming off an underachieving 2013 campaign, battled back twice late and beat the Mets 9-7 in 10 innings Monday as several players stepped up in big spots. “It was a well-played game – emphasis on team,” Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond told the Washington Post. “Maybe that’s what was missing last year.”
Toronto at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
By this point in the opening week of the major league season, the majority of teams are parading out their less-proven pitchers after rolling with their first two options. The Tampa Bay Rays are in a better position than most, sending 17-game winner Matt Moore to the hill Wednesday evening as the Rays and Toronto Blue Jays resume their season-opening four-game set in Florida. Toronto prevailed 4-2 Tuesday after dropping a 9-2 decision in the opener.
Philadelphia at Texas 8:05 PM ET
Fresh off a dramatic comeback win on Tuesday, the Texas Rangers hope the momentum spills over into Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Texas star Adrian Beltre tied Tuesday's game with a seventh-inning double and won it with a single in the bottom of the ninth, helping the Rangers draw even after losing a 14-10 slugfest in the season opener. The game also served as a solid bounce-back effort for Shin-Soo Choo, the Rangers' $130 million free-agent signing.
NY Yankees at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros look to make it two straight over the revamped New York Yankees to begin the season when the teams meet Wednesday in the second of three games in Houston. Behind 6 2/3 scoreless innings from Scott Feldman and a two-run homer by Jesus Guzman - both newcomers in Houston - the Astros claimed a 6-2 triumph in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday. The victory was Houston's first in seven all-time home games against the Yankees.
Cleveland at Oakland 9:00 PM ET
Oakland called up right-hander Josh Lindblom from Triple-A Sacramento to start the nightcap of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader against the visiting Cleveland Indians after the Athletics were rained out at home for the first time since 1998. With teams allowed to add a 26th player to the roster for the second game of a split doubleheader, the Athletics will push scheduled starter Jesse Chavez to Thursday and keep their rotation on schedule.
San Francisco at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants gave 38-year-old Tim Hudson a two-year contract worth $23 million in the offseason and they'll begin to find out if it was a good investment when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third of a four-game series. Hudson, who along with the New York Yankees' CC Sabathia leads active pitchers with 205 victories, makes his first start since suffering a season-ending ankle injury with the Atlanta Braves last July.
Seattle at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners have already equaled their victory total at Angel Stadium from last season and attempt to complete a three-game sweep when they conclude a series against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The Mariners were 2-7 in Anaheim last season but have scored 18 runs in posting back-to-back victories to start the 2014 season. Los Angeles has scored just six runs while losing its first two games for the first time since 2001.
LA Dodgers at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
Even after tying their three-game road series with the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers may not be feeling all that good about themselves. The Dodgers, who look to take the rubber game on Wednesday, announced Tuesday that ace Clayton Kershaw (muscle strain) would miss at least a month and placed reliever Brian Wilson (right elbow nerve irritation) on the disabled list. Yasiel Puig made it all better later that night, belting a 410-foot two-run homer to propel Los Angeles to a 3-2 win.