Preview Roundups
August 01, 2015
Kansas City at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
Perhaps no two teams did more to improve their chances to make a deep postseason run in the week leading up to the trade deadline than the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals. The revitalized Blue Jays have rewarded the front office’s faith with their recent play against the Royals and eye a series victory on Saturday when they host the third of four games against Kansas City.
Tampa Bay at Boston 1:35 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox played themselves out of realistic contention for a postseason berth in July, but they will have a major role in deciding which teams from the American League East move on. The Red Sox look to continue playing spoiler when they go for two straight against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game set.
LA Angels at LA Dodgers 4:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to send Clayton Kershaw to the mound Saturday as they continue the Freeway Series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels, who have lost four straight and seven of their last eight. Kershaw was scratched for the second time this week Friday due to hip soreness, but the ace insists he’ll be ready for Saturday’s start.
Detroit at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles nearly overcame a seven-run deficit in the series opener before successfully clawing their way out of a six-run hole the following night. The scappy Orioles look to turn the tables and get the early jump on visiting Detroit Tigers on Saturday as they continue their four-game series.
Atlanta at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies are answering the bell after sleepwalking through much of the season while the listless Atlanta Braves routinely find themselves hitting the snooze alarm. Despite owning the worst majors' record, Philadelphia (40-64) vies for its 12th victory in 14 outings since the All-Star break when it continues a four-game series versus its visiting National League East rival on Saturday.
NY Yankees at Chi. White Sox 7:10 PM ET
The New York Yankees hope their bats remain hot when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the middle contest of their three-game series Saturday. New York posted a 13-5 triumph in the opener thanks to an 18-hit attack that was led by Mark Teixeira, who delivered a double and two home runs en route to a six-RBI performance.
Arizona at Houston 7:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks look to remain perfect on their road trip when they visit the Houston Astros on Saturday. Arizona kicked off its nine-game trek by sweeping a three-game set at Seattle before outlasting Houston 6-4 in 10 innings Friday.
Seattle at Minnesota 7:10 PM ET
Nelson Cruz is on a tear at the plate and he'll look to follow up a
season-best four-hit effort when the Seattle Mariners visit the
Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Cruz is batting .400 during a hitting streak that was extended to 11 games in Friday's 6-1 victory, a triumph in which he belted his sixth homer during the hot stretch.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs beefed up their pitching at the trade deadline by acquiring starter Dan Haren and reliever Tommy Hunter, but Anthony Rizzo is proving his powerful bat can carry the offense when necessary. The two-time All-Star will try to extend his career-best streak of hitting at least one homer to four games on Saturday, when Chicago attempts to claim a series victory in the third of four games in Milwaukee against the Brewers.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Gerrit Cole attempts to earn his major league-leading 15th victory and notch his first win at Great American Ball Park when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night in the third contest of a four-game series. Cole has never beaten the Reds in five career starts and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three outings in Cincinnati.
San Diego at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres were rumored to be the busiest team in the league on the final day of the trading deadline but, stunningly, they opted to stand pat. "Ultimately, we didn’t feel like we got the value that we wanted to get to," said Padres general manager A.J. Preller, whose club plays the second of a three-game series at the Miami Marlins on Saturday.
Washington at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
New York Mets shortstop Wilmer Flores has run the gamut of emotions in a two-day span, crying on the field Wednesday after he thought he had been traded before turning those tears to thunderous cheers 48 hours later. Flores belted a walk-off homer in the 12th inning to cap a 2-1 victory for the Mets, who try to make it two straight wins over the visiting Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Colorado at St. Louis 7:15 PM ET
Matt Carpenter has adjusted nicely to his return to the leadoff position. After belting three homers in the first two contests of the four-game series, Carpenter looks to continue his torrid stretch when the St. Louis Cardinals face the visiting Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
Colorado at St. Louis 7:15 PM ET
Matt Carpenter has adjusted nicely to his return to the leadoff position. After belting three homers in the first two contests of the four-game series, Carpenter looks to continue his torrid stretch when the St. Louis Cardinals face the visiting Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
San Francisco at Texas 8:05 PM ET
Cole Hamels makes his highly anticipated Texas debut when the Rangers
host the San Francisco Giants in Saturday's second contest of their three-game series. Hamels, who tossed his first career no-hitter in his final start for Philadelphia on July 25, was acquired by the Rangers in an
eight-player deal that sent six players to the Phillies.
Cleveland at Oakland 9:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are receiving outstanding starting pitching and
taking advantage of it to the tune of victories. Cleveland has won three
consecutive contests — allowing one run in each game — as it enters
Saturday's road game against the slumping Oakland Athletics.