Preview Roundups
September 28, 2014
Tampa Bay at Cleveland 1:05 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Cleveland Indians on Sunday in the season finale for both, about a year after the teams met in the American League wild-card contest. Alex Cobb faces the Indians for the first time since that day when he pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings to earn a 4-0 victory that sent the Rays into the AL Divisional Series. Cleveland suffered through a roller-coaster season while leading the majors in errors and the Rays will finish a losing season for the first time since 2007.
Baltimore at Toronto 1:07 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles have taken their foot off the throttle and head into Sunday's regular-season finale against the host Toronto Blue Jays riding their first three-game losing streak since Aug. 22-24. The Orioles have shown little resistance in dropping the first two games of the series, scoring two runs and mustering four hits in each loss. Miguel Gonzalez takes the mound for Baltimore with a chance to give the Orioles four 10-game winners for the first time since 1997.
Minnesota at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins are making it hard for Detroit to clinch the American League Central title and the Tigers will give it another try during Sunday’s finale of the four-game set. Minnesota has pummeled Detroit each of the last two nights so the Tigers enter the finale with a one-game lead over the Kansas City Royals. The Twins have outscored Detroit 23-7 while winning the last two games and Eduardo Escobar had a career-best six RBIs in Saturday’s 12-3 win.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 1:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates might have thought they lost a chance to claim their first National League Central title since 1992 after a tough loss to the Cincinnati Reds in their last contest. However, the Pirates will try to win and hope for some help on Sunday as they face the Reds in the rubber match of a three-game road set. Pittsburgh entered Saturday a game behind St. Louis in the division, but saw its hopes of pulling even dashed on Ramon Santiago’s 10th inning, walk-off grand slam.
Houston at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
Jose Altuve wasn't interested in resting on his laurels and admitted as much, saying that he was intent on winning the American League batting title on the field. The diminutive star didn't help his cause following an 0-for-4 performance heading into Sunday's regular-season finale against the host New York Mets. Altuve saw his majors-best average dip to .340 as he attempts to hold off Detroit's Victor Martinez (.337).
NY Yankees at Boston 1:35 PM ET
Derek Jeter will spend his final day in a New York Yankees uniform Sunday playing against the host Boston Red Sox in the season finale. Jeter took two at-bats as the designated hitter on Saturday and is expected to do the same on Sunday, though manager Joe Girardi is leaving it up to his future Hall of Famer. Both teams have nothing on the line, marking the first time in the wild card era that both Boston and New York will miss the playoffs.
Atlanta at Philadelphia 1:35 PM ET
Cole Hamels supplied the initial part of a historic performance the last time he faced Atlanta, and the Philadelphia ace aims to finish the 2014 season with another dominant showing Sunday when the Phillies host the Braves in the season finale. Hamels fired six no-hit innings at Atlanta on Sept. 1, and three Philadelphia relievers finished off the 11th combined no-hitter in major-league history. It started a miserable month for Atlanta, which has lost 18 of 24 games in September.
Miami at Washington 1:35 PM ET
Henderson Alvarez made the 2013 season finale one to remember, and he'll try to do the same when the visiting Miami Marlins wrap up the 2014 campaign Sunday against the Washington Nationals. Alvarez tossed a no-hitter versus Detroit on the last day of the 2013 season, and he will try to send Miami off with a win again this year. The Marlins might be more likely to be no-hit, though — they managed only four hits Saturday after being three-hit in the opener of Friday's doubleheader.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are guaranteed to at least host the American League Wild Card game Tuesday, but they still have a chance to tie Detroit on the final day of the regular season. The Royals need to beat the host Chicago White Sox on Sunday and hope for the Tigers to lose a third straight game to Minnesota to force a playoff for the AL Central title. Kansas City leads the season series against Chicago 12-6 and had won 10 of the last 12 meetings before Saturday's 5-4 setback.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers close out the 2014 campaign Sunday by taking a look at pitchers who hope to fit into their clubs' future plans. Visiting Chicago sends reclamation project Jacob Turner to the mound against resurgent Mike Fiers in the rubber match of the three-game series. The Brewers clinched their third winning season in four years with a 2-1 win Saturday.
Oakland at Texas 3:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers have been playing solid baseball over the second half of September and look to spoil Oakland’s clinching efforts again when they host the Athletics in Sunday’s season finale. Texas won for the 13th time in 15 games when it defeated Oakland on Saturday and that victory prevented the Athletics from clinching an American League wild-card spot. Oakland leads Seattle by one game and would like to avoid a play-in game Monday.
San Diego at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
Buster Posey is expected to return to the starting lineup when the playoff-bound San Francisco Giants host the San Diego Padres in Sunday’s regular-season finale. Posey has missed the last two games due to a sore back, but an MRI came back clean and he was available off the bench both days. Giants manager Bruce Bochy rested many of his regulars Saturday after his team clinched the National League's second wild card on Friday, but he said most of the starters will play in Sunday’s contest.
St. Louis at Arizona 4:10 PM ET
A pair of last-place clubs have had a major impact on the National League Central race, but the St. Louis Cardinals still have an ace to play in their regular-season finale. Holding a one-game lead over Pittsburgh in their bid for a second straight division title, the Cardinals send 20-game winner Adam Wainwright to the mound Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "We're up one with one to go with our ace on the mound," righty Lance Lynn said, "so we're in a good spot."
Colorado at LA Dodgers 4:10 PM ET
Despite his team long out of playoff contention, Justin Morneau has plenty at stake as he pursues what would be his first batting title when Colorado visits the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in the Rockies' season finale. Morneau sat out Saturday night's 7-6 loss in 12 innings after Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison went 1-for-4 earlier in the day and leads .3193 to .3178.
LA Angels at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
Felix Hernandez can win the American League ERA crown with a strong performance but he’s hoping to pitch the Seattle Mariners into a one-game playoff when he faces the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Hernandez has a 2.18 ERA – just behind Chris Sale (2.17) of the Chicago White Sox – after a recent scoring change removed four earned runs from his ledger. The Mariners are one game behind Oakland for the AL’s second wild-card spot.