Preview Roundups
July 14, 2017
Chi. Cubs at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs made a big move on the trade front Thursday, and they hope to begin a move up the National League Central standings. The defending World Series champions attempt to put a rough first half behind them when they open a three-game interleague road series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
Paul DeJong looks to pick up where he left off as the St. Louis Cardinals return from the All-Star break on Friday to begin a 10-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 23-year-old DeJong has 10 hits in his last 13 at-bats and became the first Cardinals player in the modern era to collect seven extra-base hits in a three-game series.
Colorado at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The wildly inconsistent New York Mets turn to the steady hand of Jacob deGrom as they return from the All-Star break on Friday to begin a 10-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series versus the Colorado Rockies. The right-hander entered the break with a career high-tying five straight victories and sports a 2-0 mark with an 0.95 ERA and 28 strikeouts in four career starts (28 1/3 innings) against the Rockies.
LA Dodgers at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed one of the best first halves of any team in recent major-league history, largely by taking care of business at home. The Dodgers will try to replicate their recent success away from Los Angeles when they kick off a five-game road trip Friday with the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
NY Yankees at Boston 7:10 PM ET
The New York Yankees stumbled badly down the stretch of the first half of the season and watched the Boston Red Sox zip past them and into first place in the American League East. The Yankees get an opportunity to chip into their bitter rival's 3 1/2-game lead atop the division when they visit the Red Sox on Friday night in the opener of a four-game series.
Washington at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Washington Nationals are in control of the National League East, holding a 9 1/2-game cushion as they prepare to kick off the second half of the season with a nine-game road trip. The Nationals enter the second half tied with Colorado for the most road wins in the NL (26) as they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Friday in the opener of a four-game set.
Toronto at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays are buried in the cellar of the American League East and the Detroit Tigers are struggling to stay out of last place in the AL Central, yet both teams remain in striking distance of a playoff spot. Both teams will look to put disappointing first halves behind them as they open a three-game series in Detroit on Friday night.
Arizona at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The Arizona Diamondbacks surprised most observers with their strong start to the season, but enter the post All-Star break looking to snap a 3-8 skid when they open a three-game series Friday at the Atlanta Braves. The Diamondbacks hold a two-game lead over Colorado for the top National League wild-card spot, but have hit just .209 as a team during their past 11 games while scoring more than three runs only three times.
Minnesota at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros are enjoying one of the best seasons in American League history and seek to continue their dominance when they open a three-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday. Houston (60-29) is the fourth team in AL history to win 60 games prior to the All-Star break and holds an astounding 16 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.
Seattle at Chi. White Sox 8:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners felt this was the campaign in which they would end a 15-season playoff drought, but they are four games below .500 as they resume play on Friday against the host Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game series. Seattle (43-47) lost 10 of its last 14 contests prior to the All-Star break to fall four games behind in the American League wild-card race.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers are one of baseball's feel-good stories this season while the Philadelphia Phillies have been a horrific read for the majority of 2017. Winners of nine of their last 11, the National League Central-leading Brewers aim to continue their surge as they return from the All-Star break on Friday to host the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series.
Texas at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals steadily dug themselves out of an early season hole and sit in a contending position for a playoff spot as they begin the second half with the opener of a 10-game homestand Friday against the Texas Rangers. Kansas City went into the break after three straight losses to the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers, but are only three games behind first-place Cleveland in the American League Central and 1 ½ out of the second wild card.
Cleveland at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians hope to expand their lead in the American League Central when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Cleveland begins the second half of the season 2 1/2 games ahead of Minnesota in the division as it kicks off a six-game trip to the Bay Area.
Tampa Bay at LA Angels 10:07 PM ET
Reigning American League MVP Mike Trout returns to the lineup after a 39-game absence on Friday, when the Los Angeles Angels host the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of their three-game series. Los Angeles went 19-20 without the superstar center fielder, who suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb on May 28 that required surgery.
San Francisco at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
While other teams used the All-Star break to refresh before diving back into the pennant race, the San Francisco Giants were busy preparing for the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. Nearly everyone is available for the struggling Giants, who are 27 games under .500 as they begin a three-game series Friday against the host San Diego Padres.