Preview Roundups
August 25, 2016
Boston at Tampa Bay 1:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox are hoping to end their road trip on a high note when they endure a quick turnaround with a day game in Thursday’s series finale against the host Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox fell to 7-3 on the trip with a loss in 11 innings on Wednesday night and are tied for first place in the American League East with the Toronto Blue Jays, one game clear of the Baltimore Orioles.
Detroit at Minnesota 1:10 PM ET
J.D. Martinez is swinging a scorching-hot bat by highlighting his 14-game hitting streak with multi-hit performances in each of his last five contests. The 29-year-old looks to continue his torrid display at the plate on Thursday afternoon as the Detroit Tigers vie for a three-game sweep of the host Minnesota Twins.
Baltimore at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles are using the Beltway Series to maintain their spot in the American League wild card standings and keep the pressure on the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. The Orioles will try to make it a clean sweep of the four-game, home-and-home set when they visit the Washington Nationals for the finale on Thursday.
LA Angels at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
Toronto Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ is in the midst of a career year, but the 33-year-old has endured nothing but trouble when testing his mettle against the Los Angeles Angels. Happ will vie for his majors-best 18th victory this season and first of his career versus the Angels on Thursday when the clubs battle in the rubber match of the series at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Kansas City at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins look to record a series victory at home for the first time in nearly one month on Thursday when they play the rubber match of the three-game set versus the Kansas City Royals. Miami, which took two of three from visiting Philadelphia on July 25-27, has won four of five overall to remain 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
NY Mets at St. Louis 7:15 PM ET
Adam Wainwright will be seeking his first victory in nearly six weeks when the St. Louis Cardinals host the New York Mets on Thursday in the rubber match of their three-game set. The Cardinals went deep three times to stretch their home run streak to 13 games in Wednesday's 8-1 victory, which leveled the series.
Cleveland at Texas 8:05 PM ET
It's been a memorable season for the Cleveland Indians, but manager Terry Francona would like his club to forget the most recent series entering a four-game showdown at the Texas Rangers on Thursday night. After opening a seven-game road trip with a 1-0 win at Oakland on Monday, the Indians were outscored 14-2 while dropping the final two contests.
Seattle at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners could be without two key bats when they begin their seven-game road trip Thursday with the opener of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Kyle Seager, who leads the Mariners with 83 RBIs, sat out Wednesday's 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees due to a contusion on his right foot while Nelson Cruz, who tops the club with 32 home runs, exited the defeat with back spasms.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are losing ground in the National League
wild-card race and aim to begin a turnaround when they open a four-game
road series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. Pittsburgh has
dropped five of its last six contests and has slipped 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot.
Atlanta at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray has been superb over his last three
outings and he attempts to throw another gem when the Diamondbacks
conclude a four-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves on
Thursday. Ray has allowed two earned runs and 12 hits and struck out 22
over his past 19 innings and is the reigning National League Player of
the Week.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy isn’t ready to push the panic button, but it might be under consideration Thursday when the Giants look to salvage the finale of a three-game series against the host Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants have dropped four straight and eight of their last 10 to fall three games back of Los Angeles in the National League West with 36 games remaining.