Preview Roundups
September 16, 2017
LA Dodgers at Washington 1:05 PM ET
Prior to the start of a three-game weekend set against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters it was more important for his team to play good baseball than it was to make a statement against the team chasing it for the best record in the National League. The Dodgers ended up doing both in the opener, and hope for more of the same Saturday when they continue their series in Washington against the Nationals.
Seattle at Houston 1:05 PM ET
The Houston Astros are on the verge of clinching the American League West when they host the Seattle Mariners on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Houston posted a 5-2 victory in Friday's opener and arrives to the ballpark with a magic number of two for clinching its first division title since 2001.
Baltimore at NY Yankees 4:05 PM ET
The surging New York Yankees can clinch a fifth straight series victory when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the third of a four-game series Saturday afternoon. Didi Gregorius homered and drove in four runs in the Yankees' 8-2 rout of the sinking Orioles on Friday, which came on the heels of New York's 13-5 cakewalk in the series opener.
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs 4:05 PM ET
The first-place Chicago Cubs are off to a good start in distancing themselves from one of the two teams nipping at their heels as they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon in the middle contest of a three-game series. Chicago overcame a slow start before riding a seven-run sixth inning to an 8-2 victory Friday, increasing their lead in the National League Central over St. Louis to four games.
Kansas City at Cleveland 4:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians must begin another winning streak Saturday, one day after their American League-record run came to a close, as they host the Kansas City Royals in the third of a four-game set. The Indians saw their 22-game streak end Friday night with a 4-3 setback, losing for the first time since Aug. 23 and falling four short of the major-league mark set by the 1916 New York Giants.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds might be a little short on wins as they sit in the basement of the National League Central, but their lineup is long on power. The Reds will try to use the long ball to draw one game closer to getting out of the basement when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a three-game series on Saturday.
Boston at Tampa Bay 6:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox needed 15 innings to dispatch the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, but the effort was important to their position atop the American League East. The Red Sox will try to clinch a series win when they visit the Rays for the middle contest of their three-game set on Saturday.
Chi. White Sox at Detroit 6:10 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox are prepared for some inconsistency with their young team, and extremes from one game to the next are not uncommon. The White Sox will try to swing back to the extreme that saw them dominate the first game of the series when they visit the Detroit Tigers for the third of a four-game set on Saturday.
Oakland at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
Rhys Hoskins' impressive power display has generated enormous buzz for a Philadelphia Phillies team that has owned the league's worst record for much of the season. With 18 homers in 35 contests since being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Hoskins looks to add to his historic total as the Phillies continue their 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game interleague set against the Oakland Athletics on Friday.
Milwaukee at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Although they are officially listed as the visiting team due to the damage inflicted in Florida by Hurricane Irma, the Milwaukee Brewers took advantage of the cozy confines of Miller Park to stay on a roll. The Brewers have won three in a row and six of seven entering the second of a three-game set against the reeling Miami Marlins.
NY Mets at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
Jacob deGrom makes his 30th start of the season for the New York Mets on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves, and they can only wonder what could have been if the rest of the starting rotation had remained as healthy. The Mets hoped to contend for the National League East title in 2017 until their season crumbled due to a rash of injuries, and they enter the middle contest of this weekend’s series against the Braves 21 games under .500 with losses in five straight.
Toronto at Minnesota 7:10 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays' hopes of making the playoffs are remote at best, but they are getting plenty of practice playing in pressure-packed games. With 10 of their 14 games in September having been decided by one run, the Blue Jays continue their four-game series Saturday at the Minnesota Twins, who are holding down the second wild card.
San Diego at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies are playing solid baseball as they attempt to claim a National League wild-card spot. Colorado aims for its 10th victory in 13 games when it hosts the San Diego Padres on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set.
Arizona at San Francisco 9:05 PM ET
Zack Greinke can gain a share of the major-league lead in victories when he leads the Arizona Diamondbacks against the host San Francisco Giants on Saturday for the second contest of their three-game series. Greinke is seeking his 17th win, which would tie Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee's Zach Davies for the lead.
Texas at LA Angels 9:07 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels struck first in their key three-game series and look to win the set when they host the Texas Rangers on Saturday. Los Angeles posted a 7-6 victory in the opener on Friday, staging a five-run rally in the sixth inning to remain two games behind Minnesota for the second wild card in the American League.