Preview Roundups
September 30, 2017
Houston at Boston 1:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox dropped five of their final six contests in the regular season last year and were swept out of the playoffs in three games by the Cleveland Indians. The Red Sox are hoping a similar slump at the end of the 2017 campaign doesn't doom them to the same fate and they will try to avoid a fifth loss in six games when they host the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Toronto at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees are intent on forcing Boston to win the American League East and will try to keep the pressure on their bitter rival when they resume a three-game series against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. Trailing the Red Sox by two games with two to play, New York would host Boston in a potential tiebreaker Monday.
San Diego at San Francisco 4:05 PM ET
It figures to be an emotional scene Saturday at AT&T Park as San Francisco Giants veteran Matt Cain faces the San Diego Padres in the final start of his storied career. The Giants’ longest tenured player, Cain announced his retirement earlier this week, marking the end to a career highlighted by three World Series championships, the only perfect game in Giants history and a starting spot in the 2012 All-Star Game.
Cincinnati at Chi. Cubs 4:05 PM ET
With the National League Central title secured and nothing to play for, the Chicago Cubs still provided some drama for the fans in the final series of the regular season. Ian Happ's three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth was the difference in the Cubs' 5-4 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds, who look to even the series Saturday afternoon.
Milwaukee at St. Louis 4:15 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers have no margin for error and also need a little bit of help as they enter Saturday's contest against the host St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers stand two games behind Colorado for the National League's second wild-card spot with two contests left to play and will be eliminated by their next loss or the Rockies next victory.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 6:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays attempt to lock up the season series when they host the stumbling Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night in the second of a three-game set that ends a disappointing campaign for both teams. Logan Morrison belted his 38th homer of the season Friday as the Rays routed the Orioles 7-0 for their ninth victory in 17 games against Baltimore, which is just 4-17 in its last 21 contests.
Pittsburgh at Washington 7:05 PM ET
Bryce Harper continues to be limited as he works his way back from an extended absence, but Ryan Zimmerman's ability to turn back the clock this season has the Washington Nationals on the brink of making history. Already boasting a career-high 36 homers after hitting two more Friday, the two-time All-Star first baseman takes aim at his personal-best RBI mark Saturday when the Nationals play the third of four games at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies aim for their first four-game winning streak in two months when they continue a season-ending three-game series with the visiting New York Mets on Saturday. Home runs by three players and another solid outing by the bullpen helped the Phillies to a 6-2 win in Friday's series opener.
Atlanta at Miami 7:10 PM ET
Giancarlo Stanton has two games left to try and become the sixth player in major-league history to reach 60 homers in a season as his Miami Marlins host the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. Stanton, who blasted his 58th and 59th home runs in Thursday’s series opener, did not homer in Friday’s victory, setting the stage for a weekend where he will try to become the first player since 2001 to hit 60 in a season.
Detroit at Minnesota 7:10 PM ET
The Minnesota Twins are the only playoff-bound American League team certain of its fate this weekend and will continue to tune up for Tuesday's wild card game. The Twins, who host the Detroit Tigers for the second of a three-game series on Saturday, will serve as the visitors in the one-game playoff at either the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians are not taking any days off despite already having their spot in the postseason locked up. The Indians will try to earn another big win and clinch home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs when they host the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Arizona at Kansas City 7:15 PM ET
J.D. Martinez needs one homer to tie the major-league record for most in September as the Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Kansas City Royals for the middle contest of their three-game series. Martinez's 16 blasts this month match Ralph Kiner's National League mark set in 1949 and stand one behind the overall record shared by Babe Ruth (1927) and Albert Belle (1995).
Oakland at Texas 8:05 PM ET
After assuring they won't finish in the American League West basement, the Texas Rangers still hold out hope for third place as they continue their season-ending four-game series against the visiting Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Texas halted its seven-game losing streak with Friday's 5-3 triumph, burying Oakland in the division cellar and moving into a third-place tie with Seattle.
LA Dodgers at Colorado 8:10 PM ET
The Colorado Rockies attempt to cement their spot in the postseason when they host the National League West-champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. Colorado reduced its magic number for clinching the second wild-card spot to one with Friday's 9-1 victory.
Seattle at LA Angels 9:07 PM ET
Los Angeles superstar Mike Trout reached a milestone and Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz is chasing one as the Angels host the Mariners on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Trout belted his 200th career homer - and No. 201 - in Friday's 6-5 victory, while Cruz moved within one of his fourth straight 40-homer campaign.