Preview Roundups
April 03, 2017
Miami at Washington 1:05 PM ET
The window of opportunity remains open for the Washington Nationals as they begin the 2017 season at home Monday against the Miami Marlins, but the expectations are heavy for a team that won the National League East but failed again to win a playoff series. The key will be for the team’s top two starters - Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg - to stay healthy, and for Bryce Harper to rebound after a disappointing 2016.
Atlanta at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
The New York Mets look to ride power hitting and pitching back to the postseason as they begin the 2017 campaign at home Monday against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets return virtually the same roster that captured a National League wild-card spot last season, anchored around slugging center fielder Yoenis Cespedes and a rotation that - when healthy - is one of baseball’s best.
Pittsburgh at Boston 2:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox will step on the field without David Ortiz on the roster for the first time since 2002 when they open the regular season at home Monday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ortiz retired after 14 remarkable seasons with the Sox, turning the clubhouse over to veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia, a handful of emerging stars - particularly in the outfield - and a solid but banged-up rotation that features newcomer Chris Sale.
Colorado at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
After losing three key players to injury during spring training, the Colorado Rockies are eager to turn the page with Monday’s season’s opener against the host Milwaukee Brewers. The Rockies saw first baseman Ian Desmond (hand), catcher Tom Murphy (forearm) and outfielder David Dahl (rib) go down with injuries this spring but could still have the firepower to surprise in the NL West.
Toronto at Baltimore 3:05 PM ET
Toronto and Baltimore begin journeys they hope take them deeper into the playoffs when the Blue Jays visit the Orioles on Monday afternoon in a rematch of last year's American League wild-card game. Toronto eventually swept Texas 3-0 in an AL Division Series before losing to Cleveland 4-1 in the AL Championship Series and appears to have a rotation deep enough to challenge East favorite Boston for the division title after finishing four games behind the Red Sox last season.
Detroit at Chi. White Sox 4:10 PM ET
The Detroit Tigers may soon run out of time with a star-laden roster loaded with veterans, but they hope to have enough in the tank to make a return to the postseason in 2017. That quest begins in Chicago on Tuesday. when the Tigers and White Sox open their regular seasons in the first of three games at Guaranteed Rate Field after Monday's game was rained out.
Philadelphia at Cincinnati 4:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies each suffered through 90-plus losses in 2016 and hope to kick off a better season Monday when the teams meet in Cincinnati in the opener for both teams. The Reds were outscored by 138 runs last season while the only worse figure in the National League belonged to the Phillies (minus-186), who were last in the majors in that statistic.
San Diego at LA Dodgers 4:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the National League West each of the last four seasons, but each foray into the postseason has ended in bitter disappointment. The Dodgers begin yet another push toward their first World Series appearance since winning it all in 1988 on Monday as they open a four-game set against the visiting San Diego Padres, who are coming off their worst season in nearly 10 years.
Kansas City at Minnesota 4:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals struggled to a .500 record last year after making two straight World Series appearances and winning the championship in 2015 but look to begin a bounce-back campaign when they visit the Minnesota Twins for the season opener on Monday. And if returning to the playoffs isn't enough motivation for the Royals, they likely will attempt to improve in honor of right-hander Yordano Ventura, who was killed in a car crash in January.
Cleveland at Texas 7:05 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians begin their quest to return to the World Series when they open the 2017 season Monday against the host Texas Rangers, one of their chief competitors in the American League. The Indians coughed up a three games-to-one lead in the 2016 Fall Classic against the Chicago Cubs and have added to a batting order that produced their first pennant since 1997.
Seattle at Houston 8:10 PM ET
Neither the Houston Astros nor the Seattle Mariners have won their division since 2001, but an active offseason by both clubs could make them the teams to beat in the American League West in 2017. The two clubs who appear to be in the best position to end Texas' two-year hold on the division begin a four-game set on Monday, when the Astros attempt to win on Opening Day for a fifth consecutive season when they host the Mariners.
LA Angels at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
Two teams hoping to improve their standing in the American League West square off Monday as the Oakland Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels in the season opener for both clubs. After three consecutive playoff appearances, Oakland has suffered at least 93 losses each of the last two years - hence its back-to-back last-place finishes in the division.