Preview Roundups
August 14, 2017
Cleveland at Boston 6:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox began their hot streak the last time Cleveland was in town and hope to win for the 11th time in 12 contests when the Indians return on Monday for the makeup of a rained-out game on Aug. 2. The Red Sox scored 18 times in beating Cleveland twice to start the run and have built their lead in the American League East to 5 ½ games after edging the New York Yankees in 10 innings on Sunday.
NY Mets at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees were unable to gain any ground in the American League East over the weekend, but they still lead the wild-card race as they enter the four-game Subway Series, which begins when they host the New York Mets on Monday. The Yankees lost the final two contests of their three-game series against Boston to fall 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Red Sox but still hold a 1 1/2-game advantage over the Los Angeles Angels for the first AL wild card.
Tampa Bay at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays will welcome a short road trip after a disastrous homestand as they visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday to open a critical four-game series between American League East rivals. The Rays scored just 11 times during a 2-7 homestand after dropping a 4-3 decision to Cleveland on Sunday and have registered the least runs in the majors since the All-Star break.
San Francisco at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Giancarlo Stanton seems to be matching or breaking records on a daily basis lately, and the Miami Marlins are all too happy to go along for the ride. The Marlins seek their fourth straight victory Monday when they open a three-game set at home against the San Francisco Giants.
Detroit at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers were both sellers at the trade deadline and are a combined 15 games under 500, but an American League wild-card berth is still very much for the taking if one of them can catch fire soon. The Rangers eye their fourth win in five games Monday when they continue a 10-game homestand with the first of three against the Tigers.
Cincinnati at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
Two last-place teams visit Wrigley Field this week, giving the first-place Chicago Cubs a chance to pad their lead in the National League Central. The Cubs look to increase their advantage in the tight division race when they begin a seven-game homestand on Monday with the opener of a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Atlanta at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies will receive a boost to their starting rotation and, far more importantly, an emotional lift when Chad Bettis takes the mound for the opener of a four-game set Monday against the Atlanta Braves. Bettis, a 14-game winner last year, makes his season debut after battling testicular cancer that required offseason surgery and chemotherapy earlier this year.
Houston at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Houston Astros ended their longest losing streak of the season last time out and hope to continue moving in a positive direction when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday for the opener of a four-game, home-and-home interleague series. The Astros lead the American League West by 12 games but had lost nine of 11 and five in a row before edging Texas 2-1 on Sunday.
Kansas City at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals appear to have put a difficult losing streak behind them and still find themselves right in the middle of a crowded wild-card race. Kansas City seeks its third straight victory when it begins a three-game series against the host Oakland Athletics on Monday.
Baltimore at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners will try to recover from a dismal weekend against one wild card hopeful when they host another in the Baltimore Orioles on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. The Mariners lost four straight to the Los Angeles Angels - a sweep that was capped by Sunday's 4-2 defeat - and fell two games behind them in the race for the second wild-card spot in the American League.
Philadelphia at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
Following a series loss against the best team in baseball, the San Diego Padres return home to take on the sport's worst when they begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. The Padres took the opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers before dropping two straight over the weekend, including a 6-4 setback on Sunday despite two home runs by Cory Spangenberg.