Preview Roundups
April 13, 2014
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays must show off their pitching depth with Matt Moore out indefinitely with an injury and Jeremy Hellickson still several weeks away from a return to the rotation. Veteran left-hander Cesar Ramos gets the first chance at Moore’s spot Sunday when the visiting Rays go for a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati has lost four straight series to open the season after managing only one run combined the last two days against David Price and Alex Cobb.
Toronto at Baltimore 1:35 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles displayed the ability to be somewhat productive on offense entering their three-game set, but both teams have stymied the other through two games. After totaling five runs this weekend, the American League East rivals hope to wake up their bats in time to win the rubber game on Sunday in Baltimore. Toronto scored 16 runs in its previous series against the Houston Astros, but has managed only three (two unearned) versus the Orioles.
Washington at Atlanta 1:35 PM ET
After Sunday the Washington Nationals do not see the Atlanta Braves again until June 19, and that probably will not elicit many complaints from Washington. The Nationals, who play at Atlanta in the finale of a three-game series Sunday, are 1-4 against their top National League East rival this season, and this weekend has proven costly for Washington with center fielder Denard Span landing on the disabled list with a concussion, outfielder Jayson Werth injuring his groin Friday, and third baseman
Miami at Philadelphia 1:35 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies' homestand began on a sour note with a sweep at the hands of Milwaukee, but they are one win from evening their home mark at 3-3. The Phillies look to sweep the Miami Marlins on Sunday, one day after Jimmy Rollins' walk-off homer in the 10th inning lifted Philadelphia to a 5-4 win. Miami enters this matchup having dropped six straight games following a surprising 5-1 mark to begin the campaign.
Cleveland at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
After losing the first two games of their four-game set with the Chicago White Sox, the Cleveland Indians have a chance to salvage a split when they visit the White Sox in a Sunday matinee. Cleveland allowed 16 runs in dropping the first two contests versus Chicago but broke through offensively en route to a 12-6 victory Saturday. Ryan Raburn had the go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh before David Murphy's three-run triple provided plenty of insurance in the ninth.
Kansas City at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins have pummeled Kansas City the past two days and look to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Royals in Sunday’s series finale. Minnesota has outscored Kansas City 17-2 in winning the first two games, a remarkable turnaround after the Twins went 4-15 against the Royals in 2013. Joe Mauer continued his career-long success against Kansas City with a three-run homer in Saturday’s easy 10-1 victory.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers will try to run their winning streak to nine games when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. The 9-2 start by the Brewers represents their best mark since opening 13-0 in 1987 and their plus-25 run differential leads the majors by seven. Carlos Gomez has already hit two leadoff home runs for Milwaukee and Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez and Jonathan Lucroy are all hitting better than .300 in the 3-4-5 spots.
Chi. Cubs at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals try to hand Chicago its eighth straight series loss when they host the Cubs on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series. St. Louis atoned for Friday's 6-3 setback in 11 innings by routing Chicago 10-4 on Saturday - its highest run total of the season - as everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit. More importantly, Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings, giving the bullpen rest after three key members threw more than 20 pitches apiece Friday.
Houston at Texas 3:05 PM ET
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington proved to be prophetic when he suggested the Houston Astros were not the same team his squad dominated last season. The Rangers hope to rebound from a rare loss to the Astros when they conclude their three-game home set against Houston on Sunday. Washington told MLB.com prior to the start of the series that Houston was “not going to be anybody’s doormat” in 2014 after it went 51-111 in its inaugural season in the American League West.
NY Mets at LA Angels 3:35 PM ET
The New York Mets will attempt to win their third straight road series, after being swept at home to start the season, when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game set. The Mets blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning before rebounding to beat the Angels 7-6 in the 13th inning Saturday and send Bartolo Colon to the mound against his former team. Colon won his only Cy Young Award in 2005 while with the Angels, winning 21 games.
Colorado at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies try for consecutive victories in the same series in San Francisco for the first time since 2008 on Sunday when they visit the Giants in the finale of a three-game set. Colorado went 29-52 on the road in each of the past two seasons while compiling the worst ERA in the National League both years, but none of that mattered in Saturday's 1-0 victory as six pitchers combined on a three-hitter to lead the Rockies to their third victory in their last 17 games at AT&T Park.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 4:10 PM ET
If the Arizona Diamondbacks are ever going to slow down the Los Angeles Dodgers, they might want to start with Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers first baseman has homered in three straight games heading into Sunday’s series finale at Chase Field, and he’s batting .344 with four home runs and 10 RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak. Gonzalez also has an extra-base hit in seven consecutive games, the longest streak by a Dodger since Shawn Green’s eight-game run in 2002.
Detroit at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres' struggling offense faces their second former Cy Young award winner in as many days Sunday in the rubber match against the visiting Detroit Tigers. One game after losing 6-2 to Tigers ace Justin Verlander on Saturday, the Padres will take on Max Scherzer in hopes of recording their first series win of the young season.
Oakland at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
Scott Kazmir has made a good impression on his fourth major-league franchise and looks for his third straight strong outing when the Oakland Athletics close a three-game series with the host Seattle Mariners on Sunday. The 30-year-old left-hander has allowed just nine hits and has 10 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings while winning his first two starts since joining the Athletics. Kazmir will attempt to pitch Oakland to its sixth victory in seven games.
Boston at NY Yankees 8:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees had all sorts of trouble hitting home runs in their first two series but are making up for it against the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees will try to keep the home run swings coming and clinch the four-game set when they host the Red Sox on Sunday night. Brian McCann hit his first two home runs for New York as part of a five-homer onslaught in Saturday’s 7-4 victory.