Preview Roundups
September 22, 2017
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals weren't shy with their offense as they scored 15 runs in their three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium earlier this month. Fresh off erupting for erupting for 25 runs in a three-game sweep of Cincinnati, the Cardinals aim to keep the offense churning versus the Pirates on Friday when the National League Central rivals meet at PNC Park.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles expected to be preparing for a playoff run in late September, but instead they are battling for third place in the American League East when the Tampa Bay Rays pay a visit for the second of a four-game set Friday night. The Orioles earned a 3-1 victory in the series opener Thursday and are 5 ½ games out in the race for the AL’s second wild card - one-half game behind the Rays - with just over a week to go.
NY Yankees at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The surging New York Yankees have all but locked up the top wild card but they still have their eyes on a division title entering the opener of a three-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. New York has won three games in a row and seven of eight to trail first-place Boston by three games in the American League East.
Boston at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell isn't so much interested in what is in his team's rear-view mirror as opposed to what is outside its windshield. Fresh off seeing Boston secure a playoff spot, Farrell and the Red Sox look to inch closer to the American League East title on Friday when they open a three-game interleague series against the host Cincinnati Reds.
Washington at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The New York Mets have nothing to play for as they kick off their final homestand of the season with the first of three games against the Washington Nationals, who are busy prepping for the postseason. It appears it will mark the final homestand at Citi Field for Mets manager Terry Collins, who reportedly is planning to retire after the season.
Minnesota at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
Joe Mauer is enjoying a September to remember and the Minnesota Twins hope to follow suit if that path leads to a postseason berth. Fresh off his fifth performance of at least three hits in the month, Mauer and the Twins look to add to the Detroit Tigers' misery on Friday when the American League Central rivals play the second contest of their four-game series at Comerica Park.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies are in last place in the National League East, but enter Friday’s opener of a three-game weekend series in Atlanta looking to continue their strong play in September and extend their dominance of the Braves this season. Philadelphia beat the Los Angeles Dodgers three times in a four-game series this week - going 8-4 in the last 12 contests - and faces an Atlanta squad it has owned in 2017 while leading the season series 12-4.
Chi. Cubs at Milwaukee 7:35 PM ET
A playoff-like atmosphere served as the backdrop for the Chicago Cubs’ comeback win in the opener of a critical four-game road series against the host Milwaukee Brewers. The buzz should only grow as the National League Central rivals square off Friday with their division title hopes hanging in the balance.
LA Angels at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Angels are looking to halt a four-game losing streak and find themselves having to solve the red-hot Justin Verlander when they open a three-game road series against the Houston Astros on Friday. The Angels have dropped nine of their last 13 and sit 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the American League's second wild-card spot.
Kansas City at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are running out of time - and games - in their bid for the second wild card in the American League. Kansas City continues its 11-game road trip Friday with the first of three contests against the host Chicago White Sox but trails Minnesota by 3 1/2 games with only 10 remaining in the regular season.
Miami at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks have seemingly broken out of an offensive slump and look to inch closer to a wild-card berth when they begin a three-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins on Friday. After being held to 11 runs over a five-game span, during which they went 2-3, the Diamondbacks erupted for four home runs in a 13-7 win over San Diego on Wednesday.
Texas at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers apparently are planning to make the race for the second wild card in the American League a fight to the finish. Texas brings a four-game winning streak into its three-game series against the host Oakland Athletics, which begins on Friday, and sits 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the wild-card spot.
Cleveland at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners are watching their American League wild-card hopes evaporate, and the schedule certainly isn't going to help with the Cleveland Indians visiting on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Cleveland has won 27 of its last 28 games - including 14 straight on the road - while the Mariners have lost six consecutive contests.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers seem to be limping to the finish line and are coming off a forgettable series against one of the National League's worst teams, but they did just enough at the end of their 10-game road trip to guarantee themselves a share of a division title. The Dodgers attempt to claim their fifth consecutive outright National League West crown Friday when they begin a six-game homestand with the first of three against the San Francisco Giants.
Colorado at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies' bats have gone quiet and their hold on the second National League wild-card spot certainly is in jeopardy heading into Friday's game against the host San Diego Padres. The Rockies have been blanked in back-to-back contests and have dropped four in a row as both Milwaukee and St. Louis threaten to overtake them for the second wild card.