Preview Roundups
June 02, 2017
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
Once the spark plug for the Chicago Cubs’ curse-breaking World Series championship team, Dexter Fowler returns to Wrigley Field with the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game series starting Friday. Fowler, the leadoff hitter and center fielder during the Cubs’ title run last season, will receive his World Series ring in a ceremony prior to Friday’s opener.
Boston at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles provided the fireworks with four home runs in the opener of what was expected to be a contentious four-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Baltimore aims to continue making a statement with its offense on Friday, when it hosts reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello and the Red Sox.
San Francisco at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
A pair of last-place National League clubs in dire need of turning things around will square off when the San Francisco Giants open a seven-game road trip with the first of three at the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. Inept offenses have plagued San Francisco and Philadelphia, which have lost three and four in a row, respectively.
NY Yankees at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
Aaron Hicks has provided tremendous balance this season by leading the team in on-base percentage (.437), but the 27-year-old had no problem clearing the bases in the opener of a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Hicks aims to carry the momentum of a six-RBI performance into Friday's tilt as the visiting New York Yankees tangle with the Blue Jays.
Arizona at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Promising pitching and just enough offense have propelled the Arizona Diamondbacks to a share of the lead in the National League West. That formula paved the way in the opener of a four-game series against the host Miami Marlins, with Arizona vying to record its 14th win in 18 contests when the teams reconvene on Friday.
Atlanta at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds will try to bounce back from a difficult end to their road trip when they welcome old friend Brandon Phillips and the Atlanta Braves to town for the opener of a three-game series Friday night. After opening with three wins in their first four contests on the trip, the Reds dropped three straight in Toronto - capped by Wednesday's 5-4 defeat - to fall to 3-10 in their last 13 away games.
Pittsburgh at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The New York Mets took two of three at Pittsburgh last weekend, and the Pirates hope to return the favor when they travel to the Big Apple for a three-game series starting Friday. Both teams sit six games below .500 entering the weekend set.
Chi. White Sox at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
No team has been able to seize control of the American League Central Division, which is why both the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers are close to first place despite each sporting sub-.500 records. The teams will square off for the second straight weekend and fourth time overall this season when Detroit hosts Chicago on Friday night.
Houston at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros are coming off a record-setting offensive performance but a marquee pitching matchup will be the focal point in Friday's series opener at the Texas Rangers. The red-hot Astros will vie for their eighth consecutive victory when they send ace left-hander Dallas Keuchel to the mound against Texas' Yu Darvish.
LA Dodgers at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Clayton Kershaw just experienced his worst start of the season and the left-hander seeks to rebound when the Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game series against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The three-time Cy Young winner lasted a season-low 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday while allowing a season worst-matching four earned runs and tying a career worst of 11 hits.
Cleveland at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are looking more like the defending American League champions that they are as they begin a five-game road trip with three against the Kansas City Royals beginning Friday. The Indians (28-24), who maintained a virtual share of first in the AL Central with an 8-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday afternoon for their fourth victory in five games, and the Royals split six meetings this season after Kansas City won two of three in Cleveland last weekend.
Washington at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The first-place Washington Nationals continue their nine-game trek through California when they meet the Oakland Athletics on Friday in the first contest of a three-game set, but do so without their superstar right fielder. Bryce Harper is eligible to return Sunday after he serves a three-game suspension for charging the mound Monday in San Francisco, but Washington did fine without him when it completed a three-game sweep of the Giants with a 3-1 victory Wednesday.
Minnesota at LA Angels 10:07 PM ET
The Albert Pujols watch resumes Friday as the slugger continues his search for his 600th career home run when the Los Angeles Angels host the Minnesota Twins for the second contest of their four-game series. Pujols failed to go deep in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Twins, remaining one shy of becoming the ninth player in major-league history to reach 600.
Tampa Bay at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners figure to be without two of their top offensive weapons when they open a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz (left hand) and shortstop Jean Segura (right ankle) both were injured on Thursday and will undergo further exams before a timetable for their returns are determined.
Colorado at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres are enjoying their best stretch of the season and seek their eighth victory in 11 games when they host the Colorado Rockies on Friday. San Diego has won a season-high four consecutive contests as it enters a three-game set against the Rockies, who posted a 6-3 win over Seattle on Thursday.