Preview Roundups
July 15, 2017
NY Yankees at Boston 4:05 PM ET
Four days after starting the All-Star Game for the American League, Chris Sale will make his first start of the second half of the season Saturday afternoon when he leads the Boston Red Sox into the second of four games with the visiting New York Yankees. Sale went into the break leading the majors in strikeouts (178) while ranking near the top of a number of other major statistical categories.
Toronto at Detroit 6:10 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping they can climb back into contention in the second half, and they emerged from the All-Star break with the kind of effort that just might sustain them. The Blue Jays can claim a series win and keep alive a mini-surge when they play the second of three straight games in Detroit against the Tigers on Saturday.
Chi. Cubs at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
Jake Arrieta has discovered the success with the Chicago Cubs that eluded him during a promising but frustrating career with the Baltimore Orioles. The right-hander returns to the mound at Camden Yards on Saturday as the Cubs face the Orioles in the second of a three-game interleague series.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals find themselves in a sort of purgatory as the non-waiver trading deadline approaches. The final two contests of their three-game series in Pittsburgh this weekend could help determine whether they buy or sell.
Arizona at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Freddie Freeman was not supposed to be back in the lineup until early August after fracturing his wrist, but the Atlanta Braves new third baseman sparked his team to a victory in the first game after the All-Star break. The Braves enter Saturday’s home contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks after Freeman made several nice plays at third base, and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as Atlanta won for the 14th time in its past 22 games in Friday’s 4-3 victory.
Colorado at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies may have entered the All-Star break with their best first-half record in club history, but the second half of the season started the same way too many games leading up to the Midsummer Classic ended. Coming off their most lopsided defeat of the season, the Rockies attempt to put an end to their recent losing ways Saturday when they play the second of three games in New York against the Mets.
LA Dodgers at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Yasiel Puig wasn't included among the eight participants in Home Run Derby or one of the six Los Angeles Dodgers to take part in the Midsummer Classic Tuesday in Miami, but his performance in the second-half opener was certainly of that caliber. Coming off his third two-homer outing of the season, the former All-Star outfielder attempts to lead the red-hot Dodgers to an eighth straight victory Saturday when they continue a three-game road set versus the Marlins.
Minnesota at Houston 7:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros have pulverized Minnesota pitching this season and look to defeat the host Twins for the fifth straight time in 2017 when they meet Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Houston collected 14 hits in Friday's series-opening 10-5 victory and has outscored the Twins 50-21 in the four victories.
Seattle at Chi. White Sox 7:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are trying to work their way up the American League wild-card standings and strive to take another positive step when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Seattle lost 10 of 14 games prior to the All-Star break but was sharp in the opener as it posted a 4-2 victory.
Washington at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Bryce Harper attempts to extend his hitting streak to double figures and fellow All-Star Max Scherzer takes the mound as their Washington Nationals visit the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday for the second a four-game series. Harper belted a pair of homers in the 5-0 victory over the Reds on Friday as the National League East-leading Nationals improved to 6-2 in their last eight contests.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee 7:10 PM ET
The All-Star break did nothing to slow down the Milwaukee Brewers, who hope to extend their lead in the National League Central when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Milwaukee won six of its last seven contests before the break and picked up where it left off by posting a 9-6 triumph in Friday's series opener.
Texas at Kansas City 7:15 PM ET
Veterans Adrian Beltre and Cole Hamels look to continue hot streaks when their Texas Rangers go after a fifth victory in six games Saturday against the host Kansas City Royals. Beltre homered for the third time in four contests as the Rangers rallied for a 5-3 victory in the opener of a three-game series Friday and Hamels attempts to remain unbeaten in his eight starts of the season.
San Francisco at San Diego 8:40 PM ET
Nearly three months after landing on the disabled list, Madison Bumgarner is set to return Saturday as the San Francisco Giants continue their three-game series against the host San Diego Padres. The Giants are moving veteran Matt Cain to the bullpen to accommodate Bumgarner, who injured his shoulder and ribs in a dirt-bike accident in April but looked sharp in a minor-league rehab start on Monday.
Cleveland at Oakland 9:05 PM ET
After coming out of the All-Star break flat, the Cleveland Indians look to avoid a third straight loss when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Cleveland was unable to expand its 2 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the American League Central as it managed only four hits in Friday's series-opening 5-0 setback.
Tampa Bay at LA Angels 9:07 PM ET
Mike Trout is back in the Los Angeles Angels' lineup, but his much-ballyhooed return didn't result in a victory. Trout and the Angels look to rebound from a series-opening loss when they host the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set.