Preview Roundups
August 30, 2019
Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs began August with three comfortable victories in a series sweep of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs brought out the brooms once again in their last set and aim to finish the month strong as they return home on Friday afternoon to open a three-game series against their National League Central rivals.
Miami at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals are surging toward the postseason with wins in 13 of their last 16 games and will play the next six at home against division foes as they attempt to keep the pressure on National League East-leading Atlanta. The Nationals host the NL-worst Miami Marlins on Friday for the opener of their three-game series.
Oakland at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees overcame a rough start to their just-concluded road trip by winning four in a row to finish 5-4 on the nine-game trek. While they are running away with the American League East, the Yankees get a chance for a bit of payback when they kick off a six-game homestand with the first of three versus the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The New York Mets didn't do the Philadelphia Phillies any favors after getting swept by the Chicago Cubs, thus preventing manager Gabe Kapler's club from cutting into its deficit in its pursuit of the second wild card. The Phillies aim to take their frustrations out on the reeling Mets on Friday when they open a three-game set in the City of Brotherly Love.
Houston at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
While the final tally of 22-16 in the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays' first series of the season indicated each game was relatively close, nothing could be further from the truth. The Astros attempt to carry over the success they enjoyed on their just-completed 10-game homestand starting Friday when they visit the Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game set.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
There may be a month left in the season, but there's a good chance what happens this weekend between the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays will have some kind of impact on the American League wild-card race. The Rays look to close a 2 1/2-game gap on the visiting Indians beginning Friday when the teams square off in the opener of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.
Minnesota at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
One home run record down, one to go. The Minnesota Twins set the major league record for homers on the road in a three-game sweep at the Chicago White Sox and are within six of the overall single-season record of 267 set by the New York Yankees last year. The surging Twins can inch closer to that mark when they open a three-game series at the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Chi. White Sox at Atlanta 7:20 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves hope a breakout performance followed by a day off will get their offense on track entering the start of a three-game home series Friday against the Chicago White Sox. The National League East leaders have won nine of their past 11 games despite hitting just .209 as a team and averaging 10.1 strikeouts per game in that span, but slumping first baseman Freddie Freeman and right fielder Matt Joyce each homered in Wednesday’s 9-4 triumph at Toronto.
Seattle at Texas 8:05 PM ET
Marco Gonzales has been one of the few bright spots in a rebuilding year for the Seattle Mariners. The steady left-hander will try to become the sixth 15-game winner in the major leagues this season when he starts the second contest of Seattle's four-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Friday.
Cincinnati at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals had their six-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday but remain in first place in the National League Central behind a 19-game stretch that includes 15 victories. The Cardinals will try to get back in the win column and increase their division lead when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday for the opener of their four-game series.
Baltimore at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The bickering Baltimore Orioles continue their eight-game road trip Friday with the the first of three against the Kansas City Royals as another dugout incident demonstrated the club's frustration. Baltimore (44-89) is heading toward its second straight 100-loss season despite winning five of their last eight games with Wednesday's 8-4 loss at Washington marred by a confrontation between left-hander Richard Bleier and third base coach Jose David Flores.
Pittsburgh at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
Nolan Arenado has been one of the few bright spots this month for the Colorado Rockies, who have fallen a season-high 17 games under .500 with nine losses in their last 11 contests. Arenado looks to maintain his focus on Friday, when the Rockies continue their four-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
Eduardo Escobar has placed his name alongside some historic figures and looks to add to his big offensive numbers when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Escobar joins Mickey Mantle, Ripper Collins and Jimmy Rollins as the only switch-hitters in major-league history to post 30 homers, 20 doubles and 10 triples in a single season after going deep in Arizona’s series-opening 11-5 win.
Boston at LA Angels 10:07 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox are trying to bash their way back into wild card contention as they continue their road trip Friday with the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels. Boston has never had three players hit .300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in a season but Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez are threatening to do so after combining to go 8-for-14 with four home runs in Wednesday's 7-4 victory at Colorado.
San Diego at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants surprised many by climbing into the National League postseason race, but they are sliding right back out of it. San Francisco attempts to avoid a fourth consecutive setback when it hosts the San Diego Padres on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.