Preview Roundups
August 31, 2018
Detroit at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees have not been shy about making moves this summer to help them make a push for the American League East crown, and they did so again Thursday by reportedly acquiring Andrew McCutchen from San Francisco. The five-time All-Star could debut with his new team as early as Friday as the Yankees host the Detroit Tigers for the second contest of their four-game series.
Milwaukee at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Jhoulys Chacin was one of the more under-the-radar signings in the offseason, but the veteran right-hander is among the biggest reasons that the Milwaukee Brewers are in the thick of the postseason chase. Chacin can match his career high in wins when he goes for his 14th victory in Friday's opener of a three-game series at the Washington Nationals.
Chi. Cubs at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
A day after helping the Philadelphia Phillies gain ground in the National League East race, the Chicago Cubs will try to damage the host Phillies’ playoff hopes when the NL contenders begin a three-game series Friday. Chicago leads the NL Central by 4 1/2 games over St. Louis after opening an 11-game road trip with a 5-4 win Thursday at Atlanta, which leads the Phillies by three games in the NL East.
Tampa Bay at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
Tommy Pham is beginning to flaunt some power after a slow start with his new team and hopes to continue the surge when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians for the opener of a three-game set Friday night. Pham is 11-for-23 with a pair of homers and five RBIs in his last five games after going 2-for-22 in his first seven contests with the Rays following a trade deadline deal with St. Louis.
Toronto at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Aaron Sanchez could use a strong finish to another injury-marred campaign as he and the Toronto Blue Jays glance toward improvement in 2019. Sanchez will try to recover from a rocky start his last time out when he climbs the hill for the Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series at the Miami Marlins on Friday.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates won 11 games in a row in July, but that success is only a fading memory heading into the opener of a three-game road series Friday at the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates fell 5-0 on Thursday at St. Louis - their 20th defeat in the past 32 games - and stand at 2-4 on their current nine-game road trip as they head to Atlanta to face a team that leads the National League East by three games and completed a three-game sweep in Pittsburgh last week.
Minnesota at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins are a second-place club while the Texas Rangers are buried in last place in their division, but neither team has much to play for as they close out the month of August. The Twins and Rangers are separated by only 4 1/2 games in the standings as they prepare to kick off a three-game series Friday night at Texas' Globe Life Park.
Boston at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
Highly regarded prospect Michael Kopech faces his former organization for the first time when the Chicago White Sox host the Boston Red Sox on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. The 22-year-old right-hander was a first-round pick of the Red Sox in 2014 but was shipped to Chicago as part of the package for Chris Sale in December 2016.
LA Angels at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels began a 10-game road trip with a solid performance and attempt to defeat the Houston Astros for a second straight night when they visit the American League West leaders on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Andrelton Simmons recorded three hits, including a three-run double, as the Angels topped the Astros 5-2 on Thursday for just their third win in 12 games.
Baltimore at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals have answered a five-game losing skid by erupting for 32 runs en route to winning four of their last five contests. The Royals (42-91) hope their bats remain hot on Friday as they play the opener of a three-game series versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles (40-94) in a matchup of the two worst teams in the majors.
Cincinnati at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
Immediately prior to rolling off 10 consecutive series victories, the St. Louis Cardinals dropped two of three on the road to the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals hope to avenge that setback and cap one of the most successful months in club history with a win on Friday, when they host the first of three games against the Reds.
Seattle at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners proved early in their series-opening win against the Oakland Athletics that they're not prepared to give up on a spot in the postseason. Seattle looks to draw even closer in the American League wild-card race on Friday as it visits AL West-rival Oakland for the second contest of their four-game set.
Arizona at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Zack Greinke looks to defeat his former team for the third straight time this season when the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Greinke registered 17 strikeouts over 12 1/3 innings in the two wins and will attempt to help Arizona beat Los Angeles for the 10th time in 14 meetings this season.
Colorado at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The San Diego Padres carry a rare three-game winning streak into Friday’s contest against the visiting Colorado Rockies, who sit 1 1/2 games behind first-place Arizona in the National League West and two games behind Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot. San Diego opened the four-game series with Thursday's 3-2, 13-inning victory after Franmil Reyes delivered the team’s first walk-off home run of the season.
NY Mets at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
Zack Wheeler has been downright dominant in his last seven starts, sporting a 6-0 mark with a rail-thin 1.17 ERA. Wheeler will look to avenge his lone "blemish" in that stretch - a well-pitched effort that resulted in a no-decision versus San Francisco - as the New York Mets (59-74) continue their nine-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Giants (67-68) on Friday.