Preview Roundups
July 29, 2014
LA Angels at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels will have revenge on their minds when they begin a three-game series against the American League East-leading Orioles in Baltimore on Tuesday. Los Angeles dropped a three-game set to Baltimore at home last week, salvaging the finale after a pair of 4-2 defeats. The Angels enter the matchup with a three-game winning streak as they held Detroit to a total of two runs in the three victories following a 6-4 loss in the series opener.
Seattle at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians kick off an eight-game homestand when they host the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, beginning a key three-game set with postseason implications. Seattle is two games behind Toronto for the final wild card spot in the American League while Cleveland sits four games off the pace. The Indians return to Progressive Field after losing four of their last five contests to complete a 5-6 road trip coming out of the All-Star break while the Mariners are 3-7 during that span.
Chi. White Sox at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers still hold a comfortable five-game lead in the American League Central, but that could change in a hurry if they don't get their high-powered offense back on track. Detroit looks to leave behind its offensive struggles when it welcomes a surging Chicago White Sox team for a three-game series starting Tuesday. The Tigers scored a total of two runs while dropping the final three contests of their four-game road series against the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend.
Arizona at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds' offense has gone south and their playoff hopes are quickly following. The Reds look to snap out of a dreadful offensive stretch when they continue a three-game series with the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Cincinnati has scored a total of 17 runs while losing nine of 10 since the All-Star break to dip below .500 for the first time since June 21.
Toronto at Boston 7:10 PM ET
Marcus Stroman gets another shot at hapless Boston on Tuesday when he leads the Toronto Blue Jays into the second of three games at the Red Sox. Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Boston last Thursday before serving up a leadoff single and settling for seven innings of shutout ball as Toronto picked up an 8-0 win. It was the second straight outing in which the 23-year-old threw seven scoreless frames.
Washington at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins look to build off the emotion of a stirring comeback when they host the Washington Nationals in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday. The Marlins rallied from six runs down and scored four times in the ninth inning to shock the National League East-leading Nationals 7-6 on Monday, notching their fifth straight victory. Washington saw its lead in the NL East shrink to a half-game over Atlanta after dropping three of five and Miami is six back in third place.
Milwaukee at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
Matt Garza enjoyed his greatest success in the major leagues with Tampa Bay and will square off against his former team when the Milwaukee Brewers visit the red-hot Rays on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game interleague series. Garza won 34 games over three seasons with Tampa Bay, including a career-high 15 in 2010 before he was sent to the Chicago Cubs in a blockbuster trade.
Philadelphia at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
At a time of year in which they are typically considered sellers on the trade market, the New York Mets could consider buying if they can continue their recent home success. The Mets eye their ninth victory in their last 10 home games Tuesday when they continue their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Although New York (51-55) finds itself 7 ½ games out of first place in the National League East, it capped off a 10-game road trip with wins in five of its final seven contests.
Colorado at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs sent Colorado into the National League cellar, and the Rockies will try to return the favor when the teams continue their four-game series Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Chicago's 4-1 win in the opener moved the Cubs one-half game ahead of the Rockies, who have dropped seven of 10 since the All-Star break. It was only the third win in 12 games for the Cubs, who are 23-26 at home.
NY Yankees at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers have won only seven times in their last 36 games, but the last four victories have come in series openers since the All-Star break. The Rangers look to win back-to-back games for the first time since June 27-28 when they host the New York Yankees on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Texas can draw some good vibes from the fact that its only two come-from-behind victories since June 17 have come at the expense of the Yankees.
Oakland at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros look to continue their power surge when they host the division-rival Oakland Athletics for the middle contest of their three-game series Tuesday. Houston emphatically ended its five-game losing streak in the opener, belting four home runs en route to a 7-3 triumph. Former Athletic Chris Carter hit a three-run shot, Jason Castro snapped a tie with a two-run blast and solo homers by Eric Krauss and Matt Dominguez capped the long-ball bonanza.
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
Thanks in part to their ability to win inside their division since the All-Star break, the Kansas City Royals have been able to gain a bit of ground despite a rough start. The Royals hope to continue their success inside the American League Central on Tuesday when they host the Minnesota Twins for the first of three games. Kansas City opened the second half by getting swept in Boston before rebounding with series victories over the Chicago White Sox (2-1) and Cleveland Indians (3-1).
Atlanta at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
A pair of three-game winning streaks will be on the line Tuesday when the Atlanta Braves visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first of three games. Behind eight spectacular innings from Ervin Santana, the Braves took a Monday matinee from San Diego 2-0 to claim the final three of a four-game set. The mini-surge has Atlanta sitting a half game behind Washington in the National League East.
St. Louis at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
With a showdown against National League Central-leading Milwaukee looming on the weekend, the St. Louis Cardinals must be wary of looking ahead when they open a three-game series at the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. The Cardinals, who trail the Brewers by 1 1/2 games in the division, rebounded from a four-game losing streak to win their last two at the Chicago Cubs. Lance Lynn looks to make his fifth consecutive quality start in the series opener.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are making a charge up the National League standings and a return to form by Francisco Liriano would go a long way toward their goal of reaching the postseason for a second straight year. Liriano, who won 16 games in 2013 to lead the Pirates to their first playoff berth in 21 years, has only two wins this season entering Tuesday's start at the San Francisco Giants.