Preview Roundups
August 03, 2018
San Diego at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs hope their most recent offensive outage was simply a blip, and they’ll try to get their bats going again Friday in the second contest of their four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres. It’s the second of seven straight contests against last-place teams for the Cubs, who have a prime opportunity to cushion their slim lead in the National League Central.
Cincinnati at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Former National League MVP Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals are beginning to gain steam and they look to pick up their fourth straight victory when the Cincinnati Reds visit for the second of a four-game set Friday night. Harper belted his 26th homer and added a single for his third straight two-hit game Thursday as Washington pulled away for a 10-4 victory to remain in striking distance of first place in the NL East.
Miami at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies have been able to enjoy the comforts of home all season long, although the National League East leaders tested their fans' patience in that regard in Thursday's series-opening victory over the Miami Marlins. The Phillies attempt to improve on the best home record in the NL on Friday when they host the second of four games against division-rival Miami.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates declared that they were still in the postseason race and intended to make the playoffs this season with the moves they made in front of Tuesday's trade deadline, and those moves are about to take shape. Chris Archer will make his Pittsburgh debut when the Pirates host the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Atlanta at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
Surely at some point the New York Mets are going to score some runs for Jacob deGrom, who hopes that time comes Friday in the second contest of a four-game home series against the Atlanta Braves. New York is suffering through a difficult season - no one more so than deGrom, who comes into his 22nd start of the season leading the majors with a 1.82 ERA, but is under .500 because the Mets have scored two runs or fewer in nine of his past 15 starts.
Chi. White Sox at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
A return to Tropicana Field provided a much-needed boost for the Tampa Bay Rays, who will resume their nine-game homestand on Friday night when they host the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game series. The Rays got back on track at home, rebounding from a horrific beating by majors-worst Baltimore to post a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels.
LA Angels at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels carry the weight of having lost 20 of their last 27 on the road heading into a ballpark that has been home to their personal house of horrors. With Mike Trout's availability in question, the Angels (54-46) aim to snap a 10-game losing skid at Progressive Field on Friday when they open a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians (59-48).
NY Yankees at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox acquired Steve Pearce in late June in part for his ability to hammer left-handed pitching, but he did that and then some in the American League East leaders' latest rout. The Red Sox strive to create more separation between themselves and their closest competitor Friday when they host the second of four games with the New York Yankees.
Baltimore at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers produced their top offensive showing of the campaign in the series opener and look to duplicate the effort when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Texas recorded season highs in runs and hits (18) in Thursday's 17-8 victory, an assault that included three homers and seven doubles.
Colorado at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Two teams in the hunt for a postseason berth in the National League but coming off back-to-back losses square off Friday, when the Colorado Rockies visit the Milwaukee Brewers for the opener of their three-game series. Colorado, which trails the Los Angeles Dodgers by two games for first place in the NL West and is 1 1/2 out of a wild-card spot, kicked off its seven-game road trip by dropping three of four in St. Louis.
Kansas City at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins may have squandered their last chance to make a move in the American League Central, dropping the final two of a three-game set to division-leading Cleveland. That left the Twins 10 games behind the Indians and nine below .500 as they continue a six-game homestand with the first of three against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
San Francisco at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants look to post their fifth straight victory and further tighten things up in the National League West when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second contest of their four-game set. The Giants trounced Arizona 8-1 in the series opener and are five games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers with two teams between them.
Detroit at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics planted themselves firmly in the American League playoff race over the last month and are surging on their current homestand. The Athletics will try to push their winning streak to four straight games and keep the pressure on the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race when they host the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
Houston at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
Justin Verlander faces host Los Angeles' hitters on Friday for the first time since helping the Houston Astros defeat the Dodgers in last season's World Series. Verlander gave up five hits in 12 innings while losing one start and not factoring in the decision in the other during a highly competitive Fall Classic that Houston won in seven games.
Toronto at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners have dropped to third place in the American League West due to their prolonged slump. Seattle has lost 14 of 21 contests and looks to break out of the funk when it hosts the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.