Preview Roundups
April 08, 2018
Baltimore at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
Rookie manager Aaron Boone didn't want to lose any sleep after watching the New York Yankees lose a 14-inning marathon and three players to injury Friday, so he decided to sleep at Yankee Stadium. Boone watched his tired club pull away for an 8-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, giving the Yankees a chance for a split of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon.
Tampa Bay at Boston 1:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox have been lights-out on the mound en route to their 7-1 start but the bats are starting to turn on the power as they go for a three-game sweep of the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Xander Bogaerts belted Boston's first grand slam since 2016 as part of a career-high six-RBI day in Saturday's 10-3 victory that left the Red Sox pitching staff with a 2.24 ERA -- albeit exclusively versus two of the worst teams in Tampa Bay and Miami.
Kansas City at Cleveland 1:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians look to get their struggling offense in gear and win a series for the first time this season when they host the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set. The Indians are last in the majors with a .161 team batting average after getting blanked 1-0 on six hits Saturday by the Royals while going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 1:35 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds piled up 13 hits in second of their four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates and lost by 11 runs, but Eugenio Suarez wasn't about to let their 11-hit attack Saturday go to waste. The Reds eye consecutive wins for the first time this season when they target a series split Sunday versus the host Pirates.
Miami at Philadelphia 1:35 PM ET
Jake Arrieta won 54 games, a Cy Young Award and a World Series ring the past three seasons, and now the newly signed Philadelphia Phillies ace debuts in Sunday’s home contest against the Miami Marlins. One of several big-name players who did not sign until late in the offseason, Arrieta inked a three-year, $75-million deal on March 11 to join a franchise seeking its first season above .500 since 2011, and the nine-year veteran does not anticipate any issues getting ready.
Detroit at Chi. White Sox 2:10 PM ET
The frosty conditions on their season-opening homestand are not agreeing with the Chicago White Sox, who will try to avoid a three-game sweep against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon. The White Sox squandered a four-run lead in a 10-inning loss in Thursday's home opener and saw their pitching staff unravel in 32-degree temperatures in Saturday's 6-1 setback.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs have endured their share of offensive struggles early in the season, but former National League MVP Kris Bryant is pulling his weight. Bryant looks to stay hot as the Cubs face the host Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday in the finale of their four-game series.
San Diego at Houston 2:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros won six of their first seven games in large part because they scored 41 runs in that stretch, but the San Diego Padres have quickly proven to be the kryptonite to their high-powered offensive attack. After scoring one run for the second straight game, the Astros hope to jump-start their offense Sunday when they host the Padres in the rubber match of their three-game set.
Seattle at Minnesota 2:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners hope to follow up their best offensive output of the season with another big effort when they visit the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon for the rubber match a three-game set. The Mariners, who were held to a total of three runs in their previous two contests, recorded five extra-base hits among their 12 overall in an 11-4 victory over the Twins Saturday in frigid conditions.
Arizona at St. Louis 2:15 PM ET
Getaway day has been good so far to the St. Louis Cardinals, who host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game series. The Cardinals have won the finale of each of their first two sets this season and will try to continue that trend with the series on the line.
Toronto at Texas 3:05 PM ET
Moving down in the batting order seems to agree with Texas Rangers first baseman Joey Gallo, who snapped out of an early-season slump with a key two-run double Saturday. Gallo figures to be in the fifth spot in the order again Sunday as the Rangers face the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Atlanta at Colorado 3:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies feature one of the best lineups in the major leagues, and after a strong showing last time out, they hope those hitters come through in Sunday’s series finale against the Atlanta Braves. The Rockies won for the third time in four games on Saturday as they posted a 3-2, 10-inning victory in which they held Atlanta’s offense in check while Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu and Nolen Arenado combined to go 4-for-12 with two walks and an RBI.
LA Dodgers at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
After struggling out of the gate with his new club, Andrew McCutchen announced his arrival with the San Francisco Giants in a big way Saturday with a career-high six hits - including a three-run, walk-off homer. The five-time All-Star looks to build on his breakout performance Sunday, when the Giants conclude their abbreviated two-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.
Oakland at LA Angels 4:07 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics make another attempt at posting back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game set. Oakland rolled to a 7-3 victory Saturday after wasting a five-homer performance and squandering a late lead in the series opener.
NY Mets at Washington 8:08 PM ET
The New York Mets will try to continue their best start in 12 years when they visit the frustrated Washington Nationals on Sunday night. New York is 6-1 for the first time since the 2006 club began 8-1 after Saturday's 3-2 victory over Washington, surviving Bryce Harper's fifth home run and benefiting from the ejection of Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon and manager Dave Martinez for arguing balls and strikes.