Preview Roundups
July 17, 2017
Washington at Cincinnati 12:35 PM ET
The offense and starting pitching of the Washington Nationals have been among the best in the National League all season long, but their bullpen has consistently let them down in big situations. Washington addressed its biggest shortcoming over the weekend by acquiring a pair of solid relievers from Oakland, and the NL East leaders may look to show them off Monday as they eye a four-game sweep of the host Cincinnati Reds.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers’ excellent play away from home has been a major reason for their position atop the National League Central. The Brewers hope to continue their strong performance on the road when they begin a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
Texas at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles will try to pick up the pieces from a disastrous start to the second half of their season when they begin a four-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers on Monday. The Orioles lost their series opener against the Chicago Cubs on a ninth-inning homer Friday night and then dropped the next two meetings by a combined score of 18-3.
Philadelphia at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies return to the Sunshine State with revenge on their minds as they continue their six-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Monday. Philadelphia's most recent visit to Miami was a forgettable one, as it was outscored 21-5 while being swept in a three-game set from May 29-31.
St. Louis at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
If the St. Louis Cardinals are going to get back in the National League Central race, they’ll have to play better on the road. The Cardinals look to do so when they begin a four-game series against the host New York Mets on Monday.
Toronto at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox hope to have some energy left after a draining weekend when they begin a four-game home series against the American League East-rival Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The Red Sox suffered a 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees in 16 innings on Saturday before splitting a day-night doubleheader a day later, taking the nightcap 3-0 to open a three-game lead in the division.
Chi. Cubs at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
There may not be another pitcher in baseball more anxious to start the second half than Jon Lester, who gets the call as the defending world champion Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Monday at the Atlanta Braves. Lester, who won 19 games a season ago, was pummeled for 10 runs (four earned) in just two-thirds of an inning in his final start of the first half and has allowed nine earned runs in 5 2/3 innings across two July starts.
Seattle at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners will try to ride the momentum of a dramatic series sweep when they visit the American League West-leading Houston Astros for the first of three games Monday night. After winning their final game before the All-Star break, the Mariners took three in a row at the Chicago White Sox to open their road trip, capped by a 7-6 win in 10 innings Sunday.
NY Yankees at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
After beginning the second half of the season by splitting a four-game series with their hated rivals, the New York Yankees continue their 11-game road trip with the opener of a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins on Monday. New York broke even with Boston over the weekend, splitting a pair of 3-0 decisions in Sunday's doubleheader to remain 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Red Sox in the American League East.
Detroit at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
If the Kansas City Royals aren’t able to win the American League Central this season, they won't need to look any further than their struggles inside the division as to why they fell short. After snapping a five-game losing streak Sunday, the Royals hope to move back one game over .500 one day later as they welcome the Detroit Tigers for the opener of a four-game set.
San Diego at Colorado 8:40 PM ET
After losing 15 of their previous 20 games, the Colorado Rockies are hoping they've turned a corner with Sunday’s 13-4 rout of the New York Mets. Leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon is hitting .383 during his 11-game hitting streak to lead the Rockies, who open a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Monday.
Tampa Bay at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics are not playing like a last-place team of late and look to continue their surge when they host the playoff-contending Tampa Bay Rays on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. The Athletics have won seven of their last nine games overall after sweeping three from American League Central-leading Cleveland following the All-Star break.
Cleveland at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians look to snap their longest losing streak since 2015 on Monday as they open a three-game series against the host San Francisco Giants, who have dropped six of their last seven. Cleveland was swept in three games by last-place Oakland over the weekend and have lost four in a row, but they’ll receive little sympathy from a cellar-dwelling Giants team that has fallen 23 games under .500.