Preview Roundups
August 25, 2017
NY Mets at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals are cruising toward the National League East crown and aim to continue their winning pattern when they host the New Mets on Friday for the opener of their four-game series. Washington, which holds a 13 1/2-game lead over Miami, completed a 5-2 road trip with a 5-4, 11-inning victory over Houston on Thursday.
Seattle at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees head home still in second place and staring at some likely suspensions. The Yankees finished off their road trip with a wild loss at Detroit that featured five hit batters and three benches-clearing incidents, and are hoping to get back to the business of erasing their 4 1/2-game deficit in the American League East when they host the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
Chi. Cubs at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
After playing three straight series against last-place teams, the Chicago Cubs face an even weaker opponent this weekend when they begin a three-game road series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. The Cubs hope to add to their three-game National League Central lead when they take on the Phillies, who own the worst record in the majors.
Minnesota at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins blew a grand opportunity to create a bit of separation between themselves and the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race by losing a rare five-game series to the worst team in the American League. The Twins will attempt to right the ship against another AL cellar-dweller starting on Friday, when they begin a three-game set with the host Toronto Blue Jays.
Baltimore at Boston 7:10 PM ET
Rick Porcello ranks among the biggest disappointment in the majors, but the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has found a groove entering the stretch run. Porcello looks to win his fifth consecutive start when the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox open a three-game series at home Friday night against the division rival Baltimore Orioles.
Kansas City at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
Jason Vargas already has matched his career high for victories but has won just two of seven starts since his appearance in the All-Star team. Vargas gets a chance to avenge his latest setback and help the Kansas City Royals narrow the gap in the American League Central when they visit the division-leading Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
On the verge of completely sliding out of playoff contention, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be catching a break when they open a six-game road trip against the last-place Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. One problem, though, for Pittsburgh: Cincinnati is buried in the cellar of the National League Central but has won eight of 10 against the Pirates.
San Diego at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Almost unthinkable as recently as two weeks ago, the Miami Marlins have taken full advantage of some of the worst teams in the National League to put themselves in the running for a wild-card spot. The Marlins attempt to continue their surge against another sub-.500 team on Friday, when they begin a three-game series versus the visiting San Diego Padres.
Colorado at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The top two hit men in the National League will roam center field in the same ballpark this weekend, as Charlie Blackmon and the playoff-contending Colorado Rockies visit Atlanta for Friday’s opener of a three-game series against Ender Inciarte and the struggling Braves. Blackmon recorded two hits Thursday to give him 173 on the season, while Inciarte ranks second in the NL and third in the majors overall with 160 after a four-hit performance Wednesday.
Detroit at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers hope to receive stronger pitching performances on their six-game road trip than they did in their last series, a home set against the New York Yankees in which they were outscored 29-16 while losing two of three. Detroit gets the chance to recover when it visits the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the opener of a three-game series.
Tampa Bay at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays are showing signs of life in the quest to stay in the American League wild-card race and open a nine-game road trip that could determine their fate against the struggling St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. The Rays, who also play Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox on the trek, have won three of their last four contests after a 2-0 victory over Toronto on Thursday and Kevin Kiermaier’s return from the disabled list has been a big factor.
San Francisco at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks are staring at a tough stretch of schedule and need to take care of business this weekend at home against the worst team in the National League West. The Diamondbacks will try to put one in the win column when they host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Texas at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers find themselves just one game out of the second wild-card spot in the American League and hope to grab hold of the berth over the weekend as they begin a three-game series against the host Oakland Athletics on Friday. Texas began its 10-game road trip by taking three of four from the Los Angeles Angels, who are just one-half game back in the wild-card race.
Houston at LA Angels 10:07 PM ET
The Houston Astros are having a dreadful time despite their large lead in the American League West and could be without MVP candidate Jose Altuve when they open a three-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Altuve left Thursday's 5-4, 11-inning loss to Washington after injuring his neck while batting against Stephen Strasburg.
Milwaukee at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
One day after becoming the 12th team in major league history to reach the 90-win mark in 126 contests, the Los Angeles Dodgers return home Friday to begin a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The record-setting Dodgers belted three homers and improved to 55-11 since June 7 with Thursday’s 5-2 win over Pittsburgh.