Preview Roundups
June 15, 2018
Miami at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles continue to sink and own the worst record in baseball while trudging along with a seven-game losing streak. The Orioles will try to take advantage of a tired opponent and snap the skid when they host the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game interleague series Friday.
Tampa Bay at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
New York Yankees rookie Gleyber Torres isn't shy about flexing his muscles, regardless of where he is penciled into the lineup. After belting a solo homer from the ninth spot on Wednesday, Torres launched a three-run shot from the No. 5 hole the following night to carry momentum into the second contest of a four-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are happy to be back home after a disappointing road trip that saw them drop four of six against playoff contenders the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Pirates, who come home with a little momentum after avoiding a sweep with a 5-4 victory at Arizona on Wednesday, will open the 10-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.
Washington at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays' offense got progressively worse while the team was being swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay this week, and they are hoping a return home can jump start the bats. The Washington Nationals, who visit the Blue Jays for the start of a three-game interleague series Friday, enjoyed an offensive breakout Wednesday and are taking on their second straight American League East opponent after splitting two games at the New York Yankees.
Minnesota at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins expect to activate former MVP Joe Mauer while another key player won’t be around Friday night when they visit the Cleveland Indians for the opener of a three-game series. Mauer, who has been out since May 18 with neck and concussion issues, will likely be in the lineup but slugger Miguel Sano was sent to Class A Fort Myers after Thursday’s 3-1 loss to Detroit - Minnesota’s sixth in the last nine games.
San Diego at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The Atlanta Braves have dominated the San Diego Padres at home in recent years, and the National League East leaders hope to continue that trend entering the second contest of a four-game series Friday. The Braves defeated the Padres 4-2 in Thursday’s series opener, the 13th time in the past 15 meetings Atlanta has beaten San Diego at home, keeping the Padres offense in check while winning for the fourth time in five games.
Colorado at Texas 8:05 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies are sliding backward in the National League West but they face an opponent in even more dire straits when they visit the Texas Rangers on Friday night for the opener of a three-game series. Colorado has dropped 10 of its last 13 games and will be looking to avoid falling three games below .500 for the first time this season.
Detroit at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers have managed to avoid an immediate hangover following a season-ending injury to Miguel Cabrera, winning both games since their slugging first baseman ruptured a biceps tendon on Tuesday. The Tigers will get a truer test of how life will be without Cabrera when they kick off an eight-game road trip at the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers let their loud bats do the talking last weekend en route to taking two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies. The National League Central-leading Brewers (41-27) then benefited from a pair of shutouts in their next series to give them even more momentum heading into Friday's opener of a three-game set versus the visiting Phillies (35-31).
Houston at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Houston Astros are rolling and look to extend their season-high winning streak to nine games when they visit the Kansas City Royals on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Houston's string of success includes the first seven contests of a 10-game road trip as it has climbed a season-best 20 games over .500.
Chi. Cubs at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs picked the wrong time for an offensive outage – right in the middle of a six-game road trip against their top two division rivals. The Cubs will try to put their recent hitting woes behind them when they open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
LA Angels at Oakland 9:35 PM ET
Two American League West rivals attempt to shake off disastrous series when the Oakland Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels on Friday for the opener of their three-game set. Oakland began its 10-game homestand by taking three of four from Kansas City but was outscored by Houston 26-11 during a three-game sweep.
NY Mets at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
After having their winning streak halted Wednesday by Pittsburgh, the Arizona Diamonbacks got back in the saddle in the series opener against the New York Mets. Arizona seeks its seventh victory in eight contests when it continues its four-game set against visiting New York on Friday.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants each began June with four-game winning streaks, but the arch-rivals appear to be headed in opposite directions based on their performances over the last week. Buoyed by the majors' most powerful offense this month, the Dodgers set their sights on a fourth straight win Friday when they host the opener of a three-game set with the Giants.
Boston at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
Seattle ace James Paxton has dominated Boston in three career outings and looks to continue the trend when the Mariners host the Red Sox on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Paxton is 2-0 with a 0.39 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and .163 batting average against in 23 career innings versus Boston.