Preview Roundups
September 13, 2014
NY Yankees at Baltimore 1:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles are down another key member of their infield, but continue to run away with the American League East. The Orioles will aim for their seventh straight victory when they host the New York Yankees in the third of a four-game series on Saturday. Baltimore learned early Friday that slugger Chris Davis, who had already moved from first to third to cover for the loss of injured Manny Machado, would be gone 25 games after a positive test for amphetamines.
Atlanta at Texas 1:05 PM ET
The injuries keep piling up for the Texas Rangers, who hold the worst record in the majors and already have established big-league records by using 64 players and 40 pitchers during their 55-92 campaign. Texas hosts the Atlanta Braves on Saturday and will start rookie Lisalverto Bonilla after scratching Scott Baker due to right triceps tendinitis. Atlanta scored fewer than two runs for the 37th time this season as it dropped a 2-1 decision in Friday’s series opener.
Tampa Bay at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays attempt to awaken their bats when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in the middle contest of their three-game set Saturday afternoon. Toronto was limited to two hits in a 1-0 loss in the series opener as J.A. Happ was outdueled by Nathan Karns. The setback halted the Blue Jays' four-game winning streak and dropped them four games back in the race for the American League's second wild-card spot.
Minnesota at Chi. White Sox 4:10 PM ET
Thanks to Mother Nature, the Minnesota Twins find themselves playing their second doubleheader in three days when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Minnesota dropped both games of a twinbill in Cleveland on Thursday after the previous day's contest was rained out. Friday's series opener against Chicago also was washed away, setting up a pair of games at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday.
Chi. Cubs at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates look to reach a new high-water mark for the season and strengthen their hold on the National League's second wild card when they host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. The Pirates won a 7-3 decision in the opener of the three-game series on Friday, their third straight victory and seventh in the last eight contests. Pittsburgh leads Milwaukee by 1 1/2 games for the final playoff spot and is 2 1/2 behind NL Central leader St. Louis.
Miami at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies' offense has been quiet of late, but their pitching has salvaged some victories in the process. One night after posting a dramatic victory over the Miami Marlins, the Phillies hope for a boost in offensive production Saturday as they host the Marlins in the second contest of their three-game series. Philadelphia has scored four runs or fewer in nine of its last 10 games, including Friday's 3-1 triumph in which Cody Asche delivered a walk-off homer in the 10th inning.
Cleveland at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
A swoon following the All-Star break cost the Detroit Tigers their lead in the American League Central, but a strong showing lately has them back in a tenuous yet familiar position. Back on top of the division by one-half game for the first time in over a month, the Tigers look to extend the advantage when they continue their three-game home set on Saturday with the Cleveland Indians. Detroit led by as many as 7 ½ games in mid-July before Kansas City went on a run to move atop the Central.
Boston at Kansas City 7:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals have some sort of block when it comes to facing the Boston Red Sox. The Royals will try to avoid falling to 0-6 against the Red Sox since the All-Star break when they host Boston in the third of a four-game series on Saturday. Kansas City dropped the first two of the series to fall a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American League Central and into a tie with Seattle for the second wild card and has lost four of five this week.
Cincinnati at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers are bouncing back after a long slide nearly sabotaged their season. After losing 13 of 14 contests, the Brewers won their third straight Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. The teams meet again on Saturday with Milwaukee sitting only 1 1/2 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League’s second wild card while trailing the first-place St. Louis Cardinals by four games in the NL Central.
Washington at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
After snapping their 12-game home losing streak against the Washington Nationals, the New York Mets look to gain the advantage in the four-game series when the division rivals play the third contest at Citi Field on Saturday. New York has won five of its last six to remain within 6 1/2 games of Pittsburgh in the race for the second wild card in the National League with 14 contests remaining on its schedule.
Colorado at St. Louis 7:15 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies traded Matt Holliday following the 2008 season and have likely regretted it ever since. The St. Louis Cardinals left fielder enters Saturday’s contest against the visiting Rockies with a .395 batting average, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in 34 games against his former team. Holliday crushed a three-run homer in Friday’s 5-1 victory, which snapped the Cardinals’ three-game losing streak and kept them 2 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh in the National League Central.
Minnesota at Chi. White Sox 7:40 PM ET
Thanks to Mother Nature, the Minnesota Twins find themselves playing their second doubleheader in three days when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Minnesota dropped both games of a twinbill in Cleveland on Thursday after the previous day's contest was rained out. Friday's series opener against Chicago also was washed away, setting up a pair of games at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday.
San Diego at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres are both playing out the string over the last two-plus weeks of the season, but only one appears to still be putting up a fight. The Padres will look to hand the Diamondbacks an eighth straight loss when they visit Arizona on Saturday. San Diego has been a tough opponent since the All-Star break and showed off some lineup depth when six different players drove in a run in Friday’s 6-5 win.
Houston at LA Angels 9:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels aren't just winning games - they are keeping the scoreboard operators busy in the process. The Angels look to extend their season-high winning streak to 10 games on Saturday when they continue their three-game set versus the visiting Houston Astros. Los Angeles matched a franchise high when it recorded at least seven runs for the eighth straight contest in Friday's 11-3 triumph in the series opener.
LA Dodgers at San Francisco 9:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers have their two aces lined up for the next two games, but the San Francisco Giants have all the momentum. San Francisco can move into a first-place tie with Los Angeles atop the National League West with a victory Saturday at AT&T Park, where the Giants have won 10 in a row. Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw are set to start the final two games of the series for the Dodgers after the Giants extended their winning streak to four with Friday’s 9-0 win.
Oakland at Seattle 9:10 PM ET
Felix Hernandez has won more than 14 games just once in his career and goes after his 15th victory on Saturday when the Seattle Mariners host the Oakland Athletics. Hernandez went a career-best 19-5 in 2009 but has otherwise not won more than 14 games in a season. The sight of Oakland has been a good thing this season as Hernandez is 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in five outings.