Preview Roundups
July 06, 2018
Cincinnati at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds left the Chicago Cubs feeling low after sweeping a four-game series from June 21-24, but the Cubs have been riding high ever since. The Cubs have won a season-high six straight games to move a season-best 14 games above .500, and they’ll try to continue their surge when they host the Reds for a three-game set starting Friday.
Miami at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals hope that a furious rally and a crucial win can give them some much-needed momentum as they continue a four-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins on Friday. The Nationals had dropped five straight and 15 of 19, and they fell behind the lowly Marlins 9-0 on Thursday before erupting for 14 runs across four innings in a 14-12 triumph.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies have exceeded expectations midway into the season, but manager Gabe Kapler isn't going to let his upstart team rest on its laurels. Residing 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2011 season, the Phillies (47-37) bid to win their fifth straight contest on Friday when they open a three-game series versus the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-46).
NY Yankees at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The New York Yankees are jockeying with bitter rival Boston for both first place in the American League East and the best record in the majors, but they will not play again at home until after the All-Star break. The Yankees kick off an 11-game road trip with the first of three at the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.
Oakland at Cleveland 7:10 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics are one of the hottest teams in the majors, having won eight of nine to move a season-high nine games over .500. The surging Athletics (48-39) aim to continue their torrid stretch on Friday when they begin a stretch of 10 straight road contests with the opener of a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians (48-37).
Tampa Bay at NY Mets 7:10 PM ET
The frustration continues to bubble over for the New York Mets and no one is feeling it more than ace pitcher Jacob deGrom, who will take the mound in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Despite leading the major leagues in ERA, deGrom has won only once in his past eight starts for New York.
Texas at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The Texas Rangers opened their longest road trip of the season in winning fashion and will try to make it two in a row when they continue a four-game set at the Detroit Tigers on Friday. Joey Gallo and Ronald Guzman slugged two-run homers as the Rangers scored the game's first seven runs en route to a 7-5 win in Thursday's series opener and the first of 10 games on the road.
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
Being opportunistic is a key reason why the Milwaukee Brewers are in first place in the National League Central, and why they look for a second consecutive home victory Friday over the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves in the second game of a four-game series of division frontrunners. Milwaukee trailed 2-0 three hitters into Thursday’s series opener but made the most of their seven hits in a 7-2 victory, giving the Brewers an NL-leading 52 victories on the season.
Baltimore at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
Coming off a miserable 1-8 road trip, the Minnesota Twins figure to have a solid grasp on whether they want to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline later this month once they finish their 11-game homestand leading into the All-Star break. The Twins kicked off their extended stay in Minnesota the right way and attempt to win consecutive games on Friday, when they host the Baltimore Orioles for the second contest of their four-game series.
Chi. White Sox at Houston 8:10 PM ET
The Houston Astros staged a dramatic comeback victory in the series opener and look to improve to 5-0 in the season set when they host the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the second of four contests. Yuli Gurriel's run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a two-run uprising as the Astros posted a 4-3 victory on Thursday.
Boston at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox own the best record in the majors at 30 games over .500 and just finished off a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals to improve to 4-2 on their nine-game road trip. The Kansas City Royals, who host the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series on Friday, are at the opposite end of the spectrum as they fight to avoid the worst record in baseball.
San Diego at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
A dreadful homestand is hindering the Arizona Diamondbacks as they attempt to reverse course when they host the San Diego Padres on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. San Diego recorded a 6-3 victory in the series opener to drop the Diamondbacks to 1-6 on their string of 10 straight home games.
LA Dodgers at LA Angels 10:07 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to remain undefeated this month when they begin a seven-game road trip on Friday with the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels. After ending June with three straight losses, the Dodgers have begun July with four consecutive wins - including a 6-4 triumph over Pittsburgh on Wednesday that concluded a 6-4 homestand.
Colorado at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
Two hot teams square off on Friday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Seattle Mariners for the opener of their three-game interleague series. Seattle has prevailed in nine of its last 10 contests while Colorado has won six of its last seven games.
St. Louis at San Francisco 10:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals hope to continue their success on their nine-game road trip when they visit the San Francisco Giants on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. St. Louis rolled to an 11-2 victory in the series opener to improve to 3-1 on a trek that has seen it outscore its opponents 27-13.