Preview Roundups
September 30, 2018
Houston at Baltimore 3:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros get one final tune-up before beginning their defense of the World Series crown when they visit the Baltimore Orioles in the regular-season finale Sunday afternoon. The Astros took both ends of a doubleheader Saturday at Camden Yards to set a franchise record for wins with 103.
LA Dodgers at San Francisco 3:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers finally punched their ticket to the postseason but still harbor loftier goals -- both in the short and long term. The Dodgers still have a chance to claim their sixth consecutive National League West title, entering Sunday's regular-season finale at the San Francisco Giants tied with the Colorado Rockies atop the division.
NY Yankees at Boston 3:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox spent the first two games of the final series of the regular season auditioning pitchers for the role of long reliever in the postseason, and the results were not encouraging. The Red Sox will try to turn the momentum heading into the playoffs and avoid a sweep when they host the rival New York Yankees for the regular season finale on Sunday.
Atlanta at Philadelphia 3:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies wrap up the regular season Sunday when they host the Atlanta Braves, capping a year in which both teams rose from the depths of rebuilding to contend for the National League East title. But it is the Braves who will play on into the National League Division Series as division champions, thanks in large part to a September in which Atlanta is 16-11 with five wins in six games against a Phillies squad that improved to 7-20 this month after Saturday’s 3-0 victory.
Oakland at LA Angels 3:07 PM ET
The playoff-bound Oakland Athletics will have several players looking to reach milestones on Sunday when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the rubber match of their season-ending three-game series. Major-league home run leader Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie aim to hit key marks and help send Oakland to New York for the American League wild-card game versus the Yankees on a positive note after starring in Saturday's 5-2 triumph.
Miami at NY Mets 3:10 PM ET
The New York Mets gave captain David Wright an emotional sendoff on Saturday and are moving into the future without their cornerstone player. Wright is not expected to play on Sunday, when the Mets host the Miami Marlins in the 2018 finale.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 3:10 PM ET
Having snapped a pair of losing streaks, the Cincinnati Reds look to end another woeful season on a winning note when they wrap up the 2018 campaign against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. The Reds halted a six-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, a victory that also halted a seven-game slide versus the Pirates.
Toronto at Tampa Bay 3:10 PM ET
John Gibbons will officially manage his 1,582nd and final game with the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon against the host Tampa Bay Rays, but there will be a unique wrinkle in the regular-season finale for both teams. Gibbons, who is 793-788 in 11 years with Toronto and won’t be retained for a 12th, will informally hand over the lineup card to veteran catcher-infielder Russell Martin for the matchup between American League East rivals.
Washington at Colorado 3:10 PM ET
The euphoria created by an eight-game winning streak that catapulted the Colorado Rockies into first place in the National League West quickly dissipated with Saturday's brutal loss. The Rockies find themselves faced with the possibility of settling for a wild-card spot instead of winning the first division title in franchise history when they host the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
Arizona at San Diego 3:10 PM ET
Despite what figures to be a strong finish to the season, the Arizona Diamondbacks went from potential National League West champions to a team on the outside looking in at the postseason. The Diamondbacks hope to put a positive spin on an otherwise forgettable September with their fourth win in five games Sunday, when they visit the San Diego Padres for the season finale for both teams.
Detroit at Milwaukee 3:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers have a shot at their first division crown since 2011 when they wrap up the regular season against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Sunday. MVP favorite Christian Yelich slugged a pair of home runs to lead the Brewers to a 6-5 win over the Tigers on Saturday, pulling Milwaukee into a tie with the Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central.
Texas at Seattle 3:10 PM ET
Nelson Cruz and Denard Span couldn't do quite enough this season to help the Seattle Mariners end a 16-year postseason drought, but both have a chance to reach some impressive individual marks. The Mariners eye a third straight win and look to secure a second consecutive season series victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday, when the American League West rivals conclude their campaigns with the finale of their four-game set in Seattle.
Chi. White Sox at Minnesota 3:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins took a step back this season after earning a wild card berth in 2017 and will sit out the playoffs, but heading into the offseason with some momentum is still a priority. The Twins will try to finish the regular season with a sixth consecutive victory when they host the Chicago White Sox in the finale on Sunday.
Cleveland at Kansas City 3:15 PM ET
Whit Merrifield looks to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games and do something a Kansas City Royals player has not done in more than 30 years when the playoff-bound Cleveland Indians visit for the regular-season finale Sunday. Merrifield is 26-for-81 over the last 19 games to push his season total to 191 hits, five ahead of everyone else in the quest to become the first Royal to lead the AL since Kevin Seitzer (207) shared the honor in 1987.
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs 3:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs will be playing beyond Sunday, but the final day of the regular season will determine their postseason fate. The Cubs are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers atop the National League Central, and Chicago’s regular-season finale against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals will help determine which team is the top seed in the NL playoffs and which is relegated to the wild-card game.