Preview Roundups
September 25, 2014
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 12:35 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers' pitching staff has done all it could to keep the team's playoff hopes afloat, but the offense has done too little — and now it might be too late. The Brewers are on the brink of elimination going into the rubber match of a three-game series at Cincinnati. Milwaukee is four games behind San Francisco for the second National League wild card and will be eliminated with one loss or one Giants win.
NY Mets at Washington 1:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals enter Thursday's doubleheader with the visiting New York Mets having won nine of their last 10 games. The Nationals are battling the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League, so it became critical to make up Wednesday's rained-out contest even though the Mets are eliminated from playoff contention. New York had won three straight before dropping a 4-2 decision in Tuesday's series opener.
Seattle at Toronto 4:07 PM ET
At a time when the Seattle Mariners need all the victories they can muster, all they have been doing is losing and moving themselves closer to elimination in the American League wild-card race. Seattle has lost five consecutive games entering Thursday’s series finale against the host Toronto Blue Jays and trails Kansas City and Oakland by three games with four to play. The Mariners have been outscored 25-6 in three games against Toronto and have lost 11 of their last 15 contests.
Philadelphia at Miami 4:10 PM ET
Marlon Byrd is finishing a solid season for the Philadelphia Phillies after his name was often mentioned as a trade target for playoff-contending teams in July. Byrd looks to extend his hitting streak to six contests when the Phillies visit the Miami Marlins on Thursday afternoon for the rubber match of a three-game series. The 37-year-old outfielder has knocked in five runs over his last four games, including the go-ahead RBI in a 2-1 victory Wednesday, and boasts a career-high 25 homers.
Baltimore at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
Derek Jeter has played 1,389 home games in his storied 20-year career, including 385 at the new Yankee Stadium. With the New York Yankees no longer in the running for the postseason, they look to give their retiring 14-time All-Star a fond farewell in his final home game Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles. New York was officially eliminated from the playoffs in Wednesday’s 9-5 loss, marking the first time it has missed the postseason in consecutive years during Jeter’s career.
NY Mets at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals enter Thursday's doubleheader with the visiting New York Mets having won nine of their last 10 games. The Nationals are battling the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League, so it became critical to make up Wednesday's contest even though the Mets are eliminated from playoff contention. New York had won three straight before dropping a 4-2 decision in Tuesday's series opener.
Minnesota at Detroit 7:08 PM ET
It takes a confident man to reportedly turn down a six-year, $144 million contract extension prior to the season, so Max Scherzer decided he'd try to validate his Cy Young Award season in an attempt to break the bank. The right-hander tries for his 18th victory - and further impress future suitors - as the Detroit Tigers host the Minnesota Twins on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series which ends the regular season.
Tampa Bay at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox need one more victory to ensure they won’t match the 2012 squad as the worst since the 1965 team managed only 62 wins. The Red Sox will attempt to lock up win No. 70 when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in the rubber match of a three-game series. Boston bounced back from a crushing loss in Tuesday’s opener to grab an 11-3 victory on Wednesday as the Rays staff paid for nine walks.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates have played their way into the National League playoffs by winning 11 of their past 14 games, but there remains work to be done if the Pirates hope to avoid the one-game wild-card playoff next week. Pittsburgh wraps up a four-game series at the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, starting the day 1 ½ games behind St. Louis in the NL Central and holding a one-game lead over San Francisco for the top wild-card spot.
Oakland at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics are heading to Texas hoping to sew up an American League wild-card spot but the host Rangers might be up for doing some spoiling during the four-game set. Oakland is tied with the Kansas City Royals for the two wild cards but red-hot Texas has won four consecutive games and 11 of its last 12. The Seattle Mariners are three games behind the Athletics but have allowed Oakland to move closer to clinching by losing five straight games.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals face an uphill climb to win a division title but they remain in the driver's seat to secure their first postseason berth in 29 years. The Royals trail first-place Detroit by two games in the American League Central entering a season-ending four-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night. Kansas City remains tied with Oakland for the two wild cards and leads Seattle by three games in its bid to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1985.
San Diego at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
One day after watching their bitter rival celebrate a division title, the San Francisco Giants have a chance of their own to wrap up a playoff berth when they host the San Diego Padres on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. The Giants hold a four-game lead over Milwaukee with four games to play and have a magic number of one to advance to the postseason. San Francisco is also in a battle for the top wild card, trailing Pittsburgh by one game.