Preview Roundups
May 19, 2017
Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs seem to be back on track, and just in time for a visit from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The Cubs aim for a fourth consecutive victory when they open a three-game set against the Brewers, who have won three straight and nine of their last 11 to climb to the top of the National League Central.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies are struggling to get their starters working deep into games and have dropped four straight and 15 of their last 18 games. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who host the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series on Friday, are trending in the opposite direction with wins in four of their last five contests.
Toronto at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles dropped six of seven during their rain-shortened road trip, but a return home to face a familiar foe could get manager Buck Showalter's charges back on track. Baltimore opens a three-game series at Camden Yards on Friday versus the Toronto Blue Jays, against whom they outscored 26-14 en route to winning five of their previous six meetings this season.
Colorado at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds have begun to fade after a hot start, and they have another tough matchup this weekend with the first-place Colorado Rockies visiting Great American Ball Park on Friday. The Rockies own the second-best record in the National League, while the Reds dropped the final six contests on a seven-game road trip to fall two games below .500.
LA Angels at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The New York Mets are about to face the worst thing a struggling pitching staff can see: a red-hot Mike Trout. The Mets, who are losers of seven in a row, will try to find some way to slow the reigning American League MVP when they open a three-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.
NY Yankees at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The New York Yankees lead the American League in several offensive categories and haven't encountered much trouble at the plate this season ... well, aside from their last outing. After scraping for a run in the ninth inning to avoid being shut out for the first time this season, the Yankees look to get back on track Friday when they open a three-game series against the host Tampa Bay Rays.
Texas at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The Texas Rangers just pulled off a perfect homestand and will try to keep the momentum going on the road when they open a nine-game trip by visiting the Detroit Tigers on Friday. The Rangers are winners of nine in a row while averaging 6.6 runs.
Washington at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
The Washington Nationals are having pronounced troubles with losses in five of their six road contests, but a trip to the Atlanta Braves' new ballpark could be just what they need to turn around their fortunes. Washington would welcome a repeat of last month's three-game sweep at SunTrust Park when it takes the field this weekend, beginning with the opener of the three-game set on Friday.
Cleveland at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The starting rotation for the Cleveland Indians is in shambles as they prepare to open a three-game series at the red-hot Houston Astros, who just happen to own the best record in the major leagues. Cleveland will send right-hander Trevor Bauer, author of a 6.92 ERA, to the mound in Friday night's series opener against the American League West leaders.
Kansas City at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
Nathan Karns has been superb over his last three starts, and the Kansas City Royals are hopeful he will put forth another strong effort when they open a 10-game road trip against the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Karns is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 29 strikeouts over 17 1/3 innings during the stretch and looks to have his first good outing against the Twins in the opener of the three-game series.
San Francisco at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals will be looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since mid-April when they host the San Francisco Giants on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. St. Louis had won eight of nine before it was swept by visiting Boston in a two-game interleague set, including a 13-inning setback on Wednesday night.
Boston at Oakland 9:35 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics used the long ball to get their six-game homestand started on the right foot and hope to continue flexing their muscles when they host the Boston Red Sox on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis and Chad Pinder all went deep in the opener as Oakland topped Boston 8-3 for its fifth win in six home contests.
Chi. White Sox at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
American League batting leader Jean Segura continues to energize his team's offense and looks to extend his career-best hitting streak to 18 games when the Seattle Mariners host the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Segura, who is batting .359, reached base three times and slugged a three-run homer as Seattle posted a 5-4 victory in Thursday's opener.
Miami at LA Dodgers 10:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers likely will be without one of their key run producers Friday as they continue their four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins, who have lost four in a row and 18 of their last 22. Justin Turner is batting .379 with 17 RBIs but might be headed to the disabled list after exiting Los Angeles' 7-2 victory on Thursday in the seventh inning with a strained right hamstring that left him in considerable pain.
Arizona at San Diego 10:10 PM ET
Playing on the road has been a mixed bag for the Arizona Diamondbacks and they look for a turnaround when they visit the San Diego Padres on Friday in the opener of a three-game set. Arizona resides in second place in the National League West but is just 6-10 in away games as it enters a series against a San Diego squad that has dropped 12 of its last 15 games.