Preview Roundups
September 02, 2014
Cincinnati at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles hope to have shortstop J.J. Hardy in the lineup Tuesday, when they welcome the Cincinnati Reds to town for the first of three interleague contests. Hardy left Monday's 6-4 loss to Minnesota after seven innings due to back spasms, an injury that also robbed him of five games in April. With an 8 1/2-game lead in the American League East, the Orioles can be patient with Hardy, who hit .322 with five homers and 18 RBIs in August.
Boston at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees are trying to hang around in the American League wild-card chase, and a lot will be determined after their upcoming nine-game homestand. The Yankees try to rebound from losing four of their last six when they host the rival Boston Red Sox on Tuesday for the first of three contests. New York stands four games back in the race for the AL’s second wild-card spot and hosts three-game series against Kansas City and Tampa Bay after the Red Sox leave town.
Detroit at Cleveland 7:05 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers have battled their way back within one-half game of Kansas City in the American League Central and slugger Miguel Cabrera may be ready to go on a big streak. The two-time defending AL MVP looks to build off his two-homer, four-hit effort in the series opener when the Tigers visit the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday for the second of a four-game set. Cabrera had not homered since Aug. 2 and his power surge ignited the Detroit offense in a 12-1 triumph over the Indians.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves have struggled all season to consistently score runs, but the offensive futility reached a new low Monday as four Philadelphia Phillies pitchers combined for a no-hitter. The Braves host the Phillies for the second of three games Tuesday, and while the no-hitter grabbed people’s attention, the Braves have scored just one run in their last 27 innings. The Phillies' 7-0 triumph in the series opener was their ninth victory in 13 games.
NY Mets at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Miami Marlins may not be able to afford Giancarlo Stanton someday, but in the meantime, they are certainly getting their money's worth. The 24-year-old slugger, who leads the National League with 34 home runs and is tied for the major-league lead with 99 RBIs, tries to help keep Miami in postseason contention when the Marlins host the New York Mets on Tuesday. Miami is 5 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot with three teams to pass after its 9-6 victory Monday.
Toronto at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
Jose Bautista is trying to keep the Toronto Blue Jays in the playoff chase on his own with homers in five straight games, one shy of the club record set in 2001 by Jose Cruz Jr. Bautista, who has belted 29 home runs this season, will try to make history when the Blue Jays visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in the opener of their three-game series. Toronto starts a six-game road trip after winning three of its last four and is 5 1/2 games behind Detroit in the race for the AL's second wild card.
Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs 8:05 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers likely will be without center fielder and lineup catalyst Carlos Gomez again when they continue their road trip in Chicago against the Cubs on Tuesday. "Hand or wrist is not good for him," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke told reporters about Gomez, who left Sunday's game in San Francisco after he heard something pop in his left wrist. "There's no easing back on swings, and the way he plays, his whole game depends on him being physically close to 100 percent."
Chi. White Sox at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
A pair of teams looking to avoid another last-place finish in the American League Central square off Tuesday when the Minnesota Twins host the Chicago White Sox in the first of two games. The Twins finished in the division basement in 2011 and 2012 before the White Sox brought up the rear last season. Chicago holds a two-game lead over last-place Minnesota as the teams square off for the final time in the Twin Cities this season.
LA Angels at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels bulldozed their nearest competition in the American League West over the weekend to build a comfortable division lead. The Angels look to continue extending their 4 1/2-game advantage in the West on Tuesday when they visit Houston for the first of two against the Astros. Los Angeles spent most of the season trailing Oakland, but outscored the Athletics 18-4 during a four-game sweep while holding Oakland’s once-formidable offense to one run over the last three contests.
Texas at Kansas City 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals hope to maintain their slim division lead when they host the Texas Rangers in the middle contest of their three-game set Tuesday. Kansas City remained one-half game ahead of Detroit in the American League Central with a 4-3 triumph over Texas in Monday's series opener. Salvador Perez went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs as the Royals snapped their three-game losing streak and improved to 3-4 on their nine-game homestand.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
While most of the country was enjoying Labor Day weekend, opposing pitchers have been working overtime to no avail in order to stop Matt Holliday. The six-time All-Star looks to extend his torrid spell Tuesday as the St. Louis Cardinals continue their three-game home set against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Holliday has caught fire during the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak, going 7-for-11 with three homers and 12 RBIs against the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh.
San Francisco at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants appear to have the pitching necessary to reach the postseason, but their big bats - Hunter Pence and Buster Posey - could put them over the top. The hot-hitting duo tries to help San Francisco bounce back from a tough loss when the team visits the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. Pence is hitting .393 with 11 RBIs and 13 runs during his 14-game hitting streak while Posey is batting .469 with five homers and 14 RBIs over his last 11 contests.
Seattle at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
With slugger Adam Dunn firmly in the mix, the Oakland Athletics look to gain some momentum after a dry spell when they host the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Dunn, acquired Sunday in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, homered in his first at-bat as an Athletic to power his new club to a 6-1 victory in Monday's series opener. Oakland scored five times in the first inning after producing a total of four runs in losing four straight against the Los Angeles Angels.
Arizona at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres aren't a factor in the postseason race, but they're a force in their home park. The Padres look to continue their strong play at Petco Park in the second of a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. San Diego won the opener 3-1 and has won 11 of its last 13 and 20 of its last 26 at home.
Washington at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
After turning Dodger Stadium into their own launching pad in the series opener, the Washington Nationals face a tougher test Tuesday against Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw. The Nationals have blasted 14 home runs over their last four games, including four in Monday’s 6-4 victory that pushed their lead over Atlanta in the National League East to seven games. Leadoff hitter Dee Gordon is mired in a 0-for-18 slump for Los Angeles, whose lead over San Francisco is down to two games.