Preview Roundups
September 23, 2017
LA Angels at Houston 1:05 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are falling out of the competition for the American League's second wild-card spot and they attempt to snap their five-game losing streak when they visit the AL West champion Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon. The Angels recorded just two hits on Friday in a 3-0 loss in the opener of the three-game series to fall 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota with nine to play.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 1:05 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs may have opened the door for the Milwaukee Brewers to close the gap in the National League Central nearly two weeks ago, but they are doing their best to slam it shut with just a little over a week remaining in the season. The Cubs attempt to lower their magic number for clinching the division from five Saturday when they play the third of four games in Milwaukee against the Brewers.
NY Yankees at Toronto 4:07 PM ET
The New York Yankees, with the exception of Aaron Judge, were unable to get their offense through customs in the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, denting their chances of winning the American League East. New York still is in control of the top wild-card, leading Minnesota by 5 1/2 games with nine to play entering the second of three games in Toronto on Saturday.
Boston at Cincinnati 4:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox bullpen should get a large chunk of the credit if the team ends up taking the American League East and moving deep into the postseason. The Red Sox will try to give their relief corps a break and earn a fifth straight win when they visit the Cincinnati Reds in the second of a three-game interleague series on Saturday.
Cleveland at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners ended a six-game losing streak in dramatic fashion and look to keep alive their slim postseason hopes when they host the American League Central champion Cleveland Indians on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday to give Seattle a 3-1 victory and send Cleveland to just its second loss in 29 games.
Minnesota at Detroit 6:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins had a rough start to the road trip but are picking things back up against the fading Detroit Tigers. The Tigers, who announced on Friday that manager Brad Ausmus would not return next season, will try to play spoiler when they host the Twins in the third of a four-game series on Saturday.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals need every win they can get in a tight race for the second National League wild card spot and are taking advantage of the teams at the bottom of their division. The Cardinals will try to win their fifth straight game and keep the pressure on the Colorado Rockies and the Milwaukee Brewers when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays will set a franchise record for homers in a single season with their next blast and can keep their faint wild-card hopes alive when they visit the Baltimore Orioles for the third of a four-game series Saturday. The Rays belted a pair of homers to push their total to 216 - tying last year’s team - in Friday’s 8-3 victory over Baltimore to remain five games behind Minnesota for the American League’s second wild-card.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves added Kurt Suzuki over the winter to serve as a backup catcher, but he is authoring a career-best hitting season entering Saturday night’s home contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. Suzuki blasted two homers in Friday’s 7-2 victory over the Phillies in the series opener, giving him a career-high 18 on the season, and in 76 games he is hitting .271 with 47 RBIs while helping guide Atlanta’s young pitching staff.
Washington at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
In the not-too-distant past, a pitching matchup featuring Stephen Strasburg against either Noah Syndergaard or Matt Harvey would've been among the most anticipated of the season. The current state of the three pitchers mirrors that of their teams as the visiting Washington Nationals and New York Mets resume their three-game series on Saturday night.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 7:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox have been a thorn in the side of Kansas City despite spending the majority of the season in last place in the American League Central, and it doesn't appear the Royals' desperation to remain in the wild-card chase is changing anything in that regard. The Royals hope to keep their fading playoff hopes alive Saturday when they meet the White Sox for the second of three games in Chicago.
Miami at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks hope 13 can be lucky a third straight time when they host the Miami Marlins on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Arizona halted a three-game skid with a 13-7 victory at San Diego on Wednesday before kicking off its final homestand of the season by outlasting Miami 13-11 on Friday behind a tremendous performance by Chris Iannetta.
Colorado at San Diego 8:40 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies ended a four-game skid in the series opener and aim to defeat the host San Diego Padres for the second straight night when the teams meet Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Colorado saw its scoreless streak reach 23 innings before producing a much-needed 4-1 victory on Friday.
Texas at Oakland 9:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers' freight train en route to a wild-card spot was slowed down in the series opener and hopes to avoid a full derailment when the club visits the Oakland Athletics on Saturday to continue the set. Texas followed a five-game slide with a four-game winning streak before dropping a 4-1 decision on Friday to fall 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the second wild card in the American League.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 9:10 PM ET
One day after clinching their fifth straight National League West title, the Los Angeles Dodgers might rest a few regulars Saturday as they continue their three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers received a three-run homer from rookie Cody Bellinger in Friday's 4-2 victory, which snapped a surprising nine-game losing streak at home.