Preview Roundups
July 24, 2015
Philadelphia at Chi. Cubs 4:05 PM ET
Chicago Cubs fans had this stretch of the schedule circled as an opportunity for their team to make a charge, but it hasn’t happened yet. The Cubs have gone 4-3 since the All-Star break — all against teams below .500 — but hope to take advantage of a visit from the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series starting Friday.
Washington at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Max Scherzer will have a tough act to follow when he draws the start for the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday in the second of a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Scherzer came within one strike of a perfect game and had to settle for a masterful 10-strikeout no-hitter in a victory over the Pirates on June 20.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
Two struggling teams tangle when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles on Friday to open a three-game set. Both American League East squads are 2-4 since the All-Star break after the Orioles were swept in three games at the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay dropped two of three at Philadelphia, which owns the worst record in baseball.
Detroit at Boston 7:10 PM ET
One of the reasons the Detroit Tigers are leaning more toward selling than buying at the trade deadline is the inconsistency of former ace Justin Verlander. The 2011 American League MVP will try to lock up his first win of the season when the Tigers visit the stumbling Boston Red Sox in the opener of their three-game series on Friday.
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox were not having much luck finding the win column after the All-Star break until they began their road trip. The White Sox will try to add to their home run total when they visit the Cleveland Indians for the second contest of their four-game series on Friday.
LA Dodgers at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The New York Mets will avoid baseball's most vaunted 1-2 pitching tandem - at least temporarily - when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. Zack Greinke, who is riding a 43 2/3-inning scoreless streak, flew back to Los Angeles to be with his wife for the birth of the couple's first child and will miss Friday's scheduled start.
Houston at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros made the first major move in advance of the trade deadline, acquiring left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics on Thursday for a pair of minor-leaguers. Kazmir won't have to wait to make an impression on his new club as he draws the start for the opener of a three-game series at the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
NY Yankees at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The New York Yankees came into the month looking at a four-team race in the American League East but have spent the last few weeks turning it into a one-team division. The Yankees will try to pick up their fifth straight win when they visit the Minnesota Twins for the start of a three-game series on Friday.
Atlanta at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Jason Heyward is playing some of his best baseball of the season, and just in time for the St. Louis Cardinals’ right fielder to face his former team this weekend. The Cardinals open a three-game home series Friday against the Atlanta Braves, for whom Heyward slugged 84 homers in five seasons before Atlanta shipped him to St. Louis last offseason.
Cincinnati at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Even though Cincinnati didn’t win its series with Colorado the last time the teams met, the Rockies are still responsible for one of the few highlights in what appears to be another disappointing season for the Reds. Two clubs at or near the bottom of their respective divisions renew acquaintances when Cincinnati opens a three-game set in Colorado on Friday.
Milwaukee at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
All-Star center fielder A.J. Pollock has possessed a torrid bat in July
and looks to continue the production when the Arizona Diamondbacks host
the Milwaukee Brewers in Friday's second contest of a four-game set.
Pollock had three hits and two RBIs as Arizona recorded an 8-3 victory
in the series opener and is batting .368 in 68 at-bats this month.
Texas at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
Josh Hamilton makes his return to Angel Stadium on Friday as his Texas Rangers look to avenge a series sweep earlier this month when they open a three-game set against American League West rival Los Angeles Angels. Hamilton spent two seasons with the Angels, including a disappointing 2014 during which he recorded 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 89 games, before being traded back to Texas on April 27 while still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Toronto at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes is expected to be in the lineup for
Friday's series opener against the host Seattle Mariners after being hit in the face with a ball during Thursday's victory at Oakland. Reyes was struck in the
mouth by a bounced throw from right fielder Jose Bautista while covering second
base in the eighth inning and left the contest.
Miami at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins have posted two shutout victories during a three-game
winning streak and attempt to add another victory when they visit the
San Diego Padres in Friday's second contest of a four-game series.
Miami's mini-streak comes after a slump that saw it lose nine of 12
games.
Oakland at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants return home from a successful road trip to take on the Bay Area-rival Oakland Athletics on Friday in the opener of their three-game interleague series. San Francisco came out of the All-Star break strong, going 5-1 on its trek that concluded with a 7-1 triumph at San Diego on Wednesday.