Preview Roundups
July 24, 2017
Chi. White Sox at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs’ starting pitchers have been dominant since the All-Star break, and they get a key member of the rotation back Monday. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks returns from a seven-week stint on the disabled list to take the mound in the opener of a four-game, home-and-home series against the crosstown-rival Chicago White Sox.
Houston at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros own the best road record in baseball, and they have a chance to add a few more victories away from home when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game interleague series that begins Monday. Houston is 35-12 on the road after beginning a nine-game trip by winning two of three at Baltimore over the weekend.
Oakland at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
Two teams with identical disappointing records begin a four-game series Monday, when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Oakland Athletics. A third straight postseason appearance likely isn't in the cards for Toronto (44-54), which sits in the basement of the American League East after being on the wrong end of a three-game sweep at Cleveland over the weekend.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays must lick their wounds after a disastrous weekend and move back in a positive direction when they host the American League East-rival Baltimore Orioles on Monday to open a three-game set. The Rays coughed up multiple-run leads in three straight setbacks against Texas at home to push their losing streak to four and lose some ground in the wild-card race.
Kansas City at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals have had no shortage of drama in their recent surge and will try to stay hot when they hit the road Monday for the first of three games at the Detroit Tigers. Brandon Moss delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Royals to a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, their fourth walk-off victory during a 10-game homestand.
Cincinnati at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians found their best form over the weekend and look to post a fourth straight victory when the Cincinnati Reds pay visit Monday for a make-up game to complete the Ohio Cup series. The American League Central-leading Indians had lost six of seven contests coming into Friday before winning three in a row against struggling Toronto while posting 23 runs and giving up just five.
Miami at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers ended a long road trip with three straight one-run wins and they will look to build upon their winning streak when they begin a nine-game homestand against the Miami Marlins on Monday. After opening the trip with a 2-5 mark, the Rangers eked out a pair of 4-3 victories at Tampa Bay before surviving Sunday's series finale 6-5.
Colorado at St. Louis 8:08 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies have stormed to the top of the National League wild-card standings thanks to an oustanding homestand and hope to maintain the spot when they begin a six-game road trip Monday with the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Colorado finished a 5-1 stretch at Coors Field with Sunday's 13-3 rout of Pittsburgh and is one game ahead of Arizona for the first wild card.
Atlanta at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves got a break Sunday when Clayton Kershaw left his scheduled start after just two innings, but there likely will not be that type of reprieve when they open a three-game series Monday at the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Braves face Zack Greinke, one of the top hurlers in the National League, eight days after Atlanta completed a three-game home sweep of the Diamondbacks - outscoring Arizona 19-9 in the three victories.
Boston at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox have received minimal offensive production from the assortment of players they have tried at third base this season, so they decided it was time to see if they could find a sparkplug on the farm. The Red Sox likely will start 20-year-old Rafael Devers on Monday, when the team's top prospect is expected to make his major-league debut on the road in the opener of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.
Minnesota at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers don't appear to have many weaknesses, but they have been rumored to be in the market for starting pitching as the trade deadline approaches - a need that may have become more pronounced over the weekend. Hyun-Jin Ryu is expected to come off the disabled list while Clayton Kershaw is expected to go on it Monday as the Dodgers begin a three-game interleague series against the visiting Minnesota Twins.
NY Mets at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The New York Mets will attempt to keep their focus on the field this week while ignoring the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, which could affect several of their key veterans. New York opens a 10-game road trip Monday against the rebuilding San Diego Padres, who took three of four from San Francisco over the weekend.
Pittsburgh at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The San Francisco Giants will play the unfamiliar role of spoiler over the next two months, starting with a three-game set against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates that begins on Monday. The Giants head into the series opener looking to derail the Pirates, who used a six-game winning streak to climb back into the National League Central race before dropping back-to-back contests in Colorado.