Preview Roundups
April 09, 2014
San Diego at Cleveland 12:05 PM ET
Cleveland Indians right fielder David Murphy will likely move up a few spots in the lineup Wednesday when the Indians face the visiting San Diego Padres in a traditional doubleheader. The 32-year-old Murphy has gone 6-for-8 with three doubles, one home run and five RBIs over his last two games while hitting near the bottom of the order. “The other day I just stepped in the cage, the feel was there, and it’s carried over,” Murphy told cleveland.com. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time. ..."
Oakland at Minnesota 1:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics attempt to continue their recent dominance of Minnesota when they visit the Twins on Wednesday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game set. Oakland rolled to an 8-3 victory in Monday’s series opener for its seventh straight victory over the Twins and 12th in the last 14 meetings. The Athletics hope to have leadoff hitter Coco Crisp back in the lineup after he missed the opener due to a wrist injury.
Cincinnati at St. Louis 1:45 PM ET
If the Cincinnati Reds want to challenge in the rough-and-tumble National League Central Division, they better figure out a way to beat the St. Louis Cardinals. St. Louis on Wednesday will look for its fifth victory in six meetings this season with Cincinnati when it tries for a three-game sweep of the Reds. The Cardinals even spotted Cincinnati an early four-run lead Tuesday before storming back for a 7-5 victory as all five games with the Reds have been decided by one or two runs.
Tampa Bay at Kansas City 2:10 PM ET
Jake Odorizzi was one of the other players in the blockbuster trade that sent pitcher James Shields to the Kansas City Royals and Wil Myers to the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2013 season. The 24-year-old Odorizzi has worked himself into the rotation for the Rays and looks to make an impression as they visit the Royals on Wednesday for the rubber match of the three-game series. Tampa Bay will miss Shields this time around and Myers scored the winning run in the 1-0 victory Tuesday.
Chi. White Sox at Colorado 3:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox will try to maintain their offensive hot streak when they visit the Colorado Rockies in the rubber game of their three-game series Wednesday afternoon. The White Sox belted six home runs in a 15-3 victory Tuesday, the most they hit in nearly five years. Rookie first baseman Jose Abreu had a breakout game, clubbing his first two major-league home runs and driving in five runs.
San Diego at Cleveland 3:35 PM ET
Cleveland Indians right fielder David Murphy will likely move up a few spots in the lineup Wednesday when the Indians face the visiting San Diego Padres in a traditional doubleheader. The 32-year-old Murphy has gone 6-for-8 with three doubles, one home run and five RBIs over his last two games while hitting near the bottom of the order. “The other day I just stepped in the cage, the feel was there, and it’s carried over,” Murphy told cleveland.com. “I haven’t felt like this in a long time. ..."
Texas at Boston 4:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox appear to be suffering from a bit of a World Series hangover as they try to get going in 2014. The Red Sox look to salvage the rubber match of a three-game set when they host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Boston began the season with a series win over Baltimore but was swept at home by the Milwaukee Brewers and could not keep up with the Rangers' offense in a 10-7 setback on Tuesday, clinching a losing homestand.
Baltimore at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
Masahiro Tanaka is set to make his Yankee Stadium debut when the New York Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday. The Japanese right-hander was the subject of a huge bidding war won by the Yankees for a mere $155 million, and his home debut will be heavily scrutinized by media from both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Tanaka will need to slow an Orioles lineup that pounded out 20 hits on Tuesday.
Miami at Washington 7:05 PM ET
As Washington's Ryan Zimmerman suffers from an arthritic right shoulder, Anthony Rendon has been the cure for the Nationals. The second-year player tries to continue his hot start while Washington looks for its 16th victory in the last 21 games against Miami when it hosts the Marlins on Wednesday. Rendon is 11-for-27 with a homer and eight RBIs to begin the season and has started at third base the last two games in place of Zimmerman, who could see time at first base if his situation persists.
Milwaukee at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The surging Milwaukee Brewers and slugger Ryan Braun seeks their fifth straight win when they continue a three-game series at Philadelphia on Wednesday. After sweeping the World Series champion Boston Red Sox three straight in Fenway Park, the Brewers stormed into Citizens Bank Park and took the opener from the Phillies by a 10-4 score Tuesday afternoon. Braun, who had been dealing with a thumb injury, erupted for three home runs and a franchise record-tying seven RBIs in the series opener.
Houston at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
Leaving runners in scoring position proved to be a significant problem for the Houston Astros in their series-opening loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. They'll look to rectify what has been a recurring issue as they resume their three-game set with the host Blue Jays on Wednesday. Houston went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position in Tuesday's curtain raiser, one of the main factors in a 5-2 defeat that dropped the Astros to 3-5 on the season.
NY Mets at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Ervin Santana makes his Atlanta Braves debut when they host the New York Mets on Wednesday in the continuation of a three-game series. Santana signed a one-year deal with the Braves on March 12 and was only able to pitch five innings in spring training before getting in one outing for Triple-A Gwinnett, for whom he allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings. The veteran is coming off a solid season for Kansas City after spending his first eight years with the Los Angeles Angels.
Pittsburgh at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed three of four meetings with the Chicago Cubs this season, but they've been anything but dominant as all four contests have been decided by one run. The National League Central rivals go at it again Wednesday at Wrigley Field with the Pirates looking to lock up their third straight series win to start the season. Pittsburgh won 7-6 in Tuesday's opener despite a pair of home runs from Chicago's Starlin Castro.
Detroit at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Catcher A.J. Ellis won’t be available, but outfielder Yasiel Puig could return Wednesday when the Los Angeles Dodgers conclude a two-game set against the visiting Detroit Tigers. While Ellis had knee surgery Tuesday and will miss the next 4-6 weeks, Puig is hoping to get back in the lineup after missing the last two games with a strained left thumb ligament. Los Angeles won both games without Puig, including Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Tigers on Carl Crawford’s RBI double in the 10th inning.
LA Angels at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels cannot seem to beat the Seattle Mariners, but they might have a bigger problem depending on the severity of Josh Hamilton's thumb injury. Hamilton departed during the ninth inning of Tuesday's 5-3 loss in Seattle's home opener, leaving Ian Stewart to strike out as a pinch hitter with runners on first and second and none out. While X-rays were negative, manager Mike Scioscia said "it's pretty sore" and an MRI has been scheduled for Wednesday.
Arizona at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
Brandon Belt was a popular pick to break out in 2014 and become one of the better hitters in the National League. Belt is living up to those expectations and will try to continue his hot start when the San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Belt has five home runs - four in five games against the Diamondbacks - and nine RBIs to lead a Giants offense that is averaging 5.9 runs through its first eight games.