Preview Roundups
July 02, 2014
Milwaukee at Toronto 12:37 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays look to follow up a clutch hitting and solid pitching performance by finishing a two-game sweep of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Jose Bautista returned to the starting lineup for the first time in nine days and homered in his opening at-bat as the Blue Jays beat Milwaukee 4-1 on Tuesday to snap a three-game losing streak. The Brewers have dropped two straight after winning four in a row, but still hold a comfortable lead in the National League Central.
Tampa Bay at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees have lost four straight and a defeat in Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays will put them below .500 for the first time since April 11. New York has lost eight of 10 to fall to 41-41 - its worst record through 82 games since 2007 and the latest the team has been at .500 in Joe Girardi's tenure. "The guys we have, they've got to get it done. That's the bottom line," Girardi said. "It's not just a couple of guys going, it's a number of guys."
Oakland at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
Designated hitter Victor Martinez is expected to sit out his third straight game when the Detroit Tigers go for a sweep of the visiting Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon in a matchup of division leaders. Despite missing Martinez, who leads the team in homers (20) and batting average (.323), Detroit won the the first two games of the series to improve to 10-2 in its last 12 games. Justin Verlander looks to end a five-start winless drought in the series finale.
Kansas City at Minnesota 1:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins wait on the status of star first baseman Joe Mauer as they prepare for the rubber match of a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Mauer delivered a two-run double in Tuesday's 10-2 win but suffered a strained right oblique on the play and left the game. The double extended his hitting streak to 12 games and helped the Twins record their fifth win in their last six home contests.
Seattle at Houston 2:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners have rolled up 23 runs over the first two games of the series and look to complete a three-game road sweep of the Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon. Seattle racked up season bests in runs scored and hits (18) while rolling to a 13-2 win Tuesday and has won 12 of 16 games to move a season-high eight games above .500. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve had two hits but his franchise mark of stealing at least one base in seven straight games reached an end.
Cleveland at LA Dodgers 3:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians erupted after a historically silent 18 innings to put 10 runs on the board Tuesday and look for another strong offensive showing when they complete a three-game set against the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The Indians suffered consecutive one-hit shutout losses before breaking loose for 13 hits while winning for just the third time in 10 games. The Indians also turned a triple play while sending the Dodgers to their fourth defeat in 18 games.
Cincinnati at San Diego 3:40 PM ET
Johnny Cueto goes for his fourth victory in five outings when he takes the mound for the visiting Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. The Reds have to like their chances of averting a sweep behind Cueto, who tossed a three-hitter versus San Diego on May 15 for his second shutout of the season. The major-league leader in ERA among starters, Cueto has permitted two earned runs or fewer in 15 of his 17 outings.
Colorado at Washington 6:05 PM ET
There is one simple explanation as to why the Washington Nationals on Wednesday can finish a three-game sweep against the visiting Colorado Rockies - they pitch better. Washington prevailed 7-1 on Tuesday and has outscored Colorado 14-4 in the first two games of the series while lowering its major league-best ERA to 3.04. The Rockies, meanwhile, have lost 13 of their last 15 games - including eight of nine on the road - while their ERA rose to 4.99 - the worst in baseball.
Arizona at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to continue their success at home when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle contest of their three-game series on Wednesday. Pittsburgh began its 10-game homestand by taking three of four from the New York Mets but was on the verge of losing the opener against Arizona before staging a three-run rally in the ninth inning.
Texas at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers’ rotation was already a beleaguered unit upon its arrival in Baltimore, which has been taking advantage of a lot of pitching staffs lately. The Orioles, who have belted seven home runs in their last two contests against the Rangers, look to continue their homer-happy ways Wednesday when the teams continue their four-game set. Baltimore tallied a team-record 46 home runs in June, the last four of which came in its series-opening win Monday.
Chi. Cubs at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs entered the week among the worst offensive teams in the majors and have done little to prove otherwise in the first two games of the series. The Red Sox will attempt to score more than one run for the first time in the series and avoid a sweep when they host the Cubs in the finale of the three-game set on Wednesday. The teams have totaled five runs in the first two contests, but four of those have gone to the visitors.
NY Mets at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Julio Teheran has done everything the Atlanta Braves could ask from their 23-year-old ace in the wake of season-ending injuries to Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy during spring training. Teheran makes his 18th start of the season Wednesday as the Braves host the New York Mets in the finale of their three-game series, ranking second in the National League in innings pitched and fifth in ERA. The Mets fell nine games behind Atlanta in the NL East with Tuesday’s 5-4 loss.
Philadelphia at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Late-inning drama has become commonplace when the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins get together. The last two meetings have resulted in walk-off wins in extra innings, including host Miami's 5-4 victory in 11 frames Tuesday in the opener of the three-game series. The Marlins have been working overtime lately, twice losing in 14 innings during a four-game skid before Tuesday's victory.
LA Angels at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox were just starting to find a rhythm before running into a buzzsaw. The White Sox will try to avoid a three-game sweep when they host the surging Los Angeles Angels in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday. The Angels are winners of nine of their last 11 games and took both ends of a doubleheader on Tuesday while putting up 15 runs and getting contributions up and down the lineup.
St. Louis at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The key to success for the San Francisco Giants is apparently to let Tim Lincecum pitch every day. The Giants will try to halt a six-game losing streak when anyone other than Lincecum starts when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in the second of a three-game set. Lincecum pitched a no-hitter against San Diego last week and dominated through eight inning in a 5-0 triumph in Tuesday’s series opener.