Preview Roundups
August 11, 2017
Boston at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees have fallen off a bit in the race for first place in the American League East while the Boston Red Sox were busy ripping off an eight-game winning streak. The Red Sox will try to make it nine in a row and increase their lead in the East to 5 1/2 games when they visit the Yankees for the opener of a three-game showdown on Friday.
San Francisco at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals renew acquaintances on Friday for the first time since reliever Hunter Strickland drilled superstar Bryce Harper in the hip with a 98 mph fastball that sparked a brawl in late May. While both insist that they've moved on from the skirmish, there's a chance the two will square off in a more traditional sense in Friday's opener of the three-game series at Nationals Park.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
In the midst of one of their worst offensive stretches of the season, the New York Mets had no problem finding their groove against a team they have dominated over the better part of the last three seasons. The Mets hope to maintain their extended success against the Phillies on Friday when they play the second of a four-game set in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates had little trouble in their first four interleague contests this week and will try to continue the trend when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday in the opener of three-game interleague set. The Pirates are trying to track down the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and are getting some help from teams near the bottom of the standings in the AL.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
Mired in an ugly offensive slump, the Tampa Bay Rays put an end to a pair of painfully inept streaks in the opener of a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians. The Rays scored as many runs in Thursday's 4-1 win as they had in their previous five games combined and hope to carry the momentum into the second of the four-game set on Friday night.
Colorado at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Charlie Blackmon has enjoyed quite the power surge over the last week, recording three homers to highlight a trio of three-hit performances in his last six contests. The 31-year-old aims to continue swinging a hot bat on Friday as the Colorado Rockies open a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins.
Minnesota at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers had a chance to push one team on the brink of contention this week out of the race but ended up dropping three of four to the National League Central-hopeful Pittsburgh Pirates. The Tigers get another chance to throw a wrench into the race - this time in their own division - when they host the Minnesota Twins for the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Houston at Texas 8:05 PM ET
Nine teams in the American League are separated by 6 1/2 games in the battle for the two wild cards, with the Texas Rangers near the bottom of that pack in eighth place. The Rangers have a chance to make a move up the standings with a 10-game homestand awaiting, although they must kick it off against the AL-leading Houston Astros on Friday night.
Cincinnati at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Ryan Braun looks to deliver his sixth consecutive multi-hit performance when the Milwaukee Brewers open a three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Braun recorded two hits in Thursday's 7-2 setback against Minnesota and is a scorching 12-for-21 during the five-game stretch.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are in a tailspin that has them back at the .500 mark, but they have a chance to turn things around with a pair of last-place clubs up next on the schedule. Coming off a four-game, home-and-home sweep by in-state rival St. Louis, the Royals continue their eight-game road trip against the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Atlanta at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Dexter Fowler has returned to the St. Louis Cardinals lineup just in time, as the center fielder who helped the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 World Series has his new team surging toward the top of the National League Central division. The Cardinals open a three-game home series Friday against the Atlanta Braves sitting just one game behind the Cubs for the division lead after Fowler belted a grand slam in Thursday's 8-6 victory over Kansas City in his fourth contest back from the disabled list.
Chi. Cubs at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs are hoping a day off helps them snap out of their funk and build their lead in the National League Central. The reigning world champions will find out Friday, when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for the opener of their three-game series.
Baltimore at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles attempt to move closer to a wild-card spot when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Baltimore began the set on Thursday with a 7-2 triumph and is 1 1/2 games back in the race for the second wild card in the American League.
LA Angels at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are creeping up in the American League wild-card race and aim to post their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Mike Trout's three-run double in the top of the ninth inning propelled Los Angeles to a 6-3 win in the opener of the four-game set and moved it within one game of the second wild-card spot.
San Diego at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been making a mockery of the National League this season and look to win for the 16th time in 18 games when they host the San Diego Padres on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Los Angeles posted an 8-6 road victory over Arizona on Thursday to win for the 46th time in its last 54 contests.