Preview Roundups
July 20, 2018
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs picked up right where they left off before the All-Star break, and they’ll try to keep the hot streak going Friday when they host the St. Louis Cardinals for the second of a five-game series. The Cubs used a five-run fifth inning to rally for their major league-leading 31st comeback victory Thursday while posting their fourth consecutive victory.
Atlanta at Washington 7:05 PM ET
If the Washington Nationals are going to climb back into the National League East race, Friday’s series opener at home against the Atlanta Braves would be a good place to start. The two-time defending division champion are sitting at .500 and in third place, 5 ½ games behind first-place Philadelphia and five games behind the Braves, but the Nationals do get pitcher Stephen Strasburg and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman back from the disabled list to start the opener.
NY Mets at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees emerge from the All-Star break with the second-best record in the majors, but they still have plenty of work to do. That work begins at home Friday night with the first of three against the New York Mets in the latest installment of the Subway Series.
San Diego at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies have surpassed expectations by entering the All-Star break with the top record in the National League East while the San Diego Padres reside at the other end of the spectrum with the worst mark in the Senior Circuit. The Phillies (53-42) look to add to their feel-good story on Friday when they begin a six-game homestand with the first of three contests against the Padres (40-59).
Baltimore at Toronto 7:07 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles begin life without All-Star shortstop Manny Machado when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays for the beginning of a three-game series Friday night. Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for five minor leaguers, ending an era that saw that the 26-year-old amass 162 homers and nearly 1,000 hits in six-plus seasons with the Orioles.
Miami at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Tampa Bay Rays still maintain hope to climb into the American League wild-card race, while keeping an eye on the future, as they begin the second half Friday with the opener of a three-game interleague set with the visiting Miami Marlins. The Rays dropped three of four at Minnesota before the All-Star break, but have won 15 of their last 22 overall and trail Seattle by 8 1/2 games for the AL’s second wild-card spot.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates have won a season-high six in a row and eight of nine to propel themselves back in the mix in the National League Central. The Pirates (48-49) look to continue their ascent on Friday when they begin a six-game road trip through the Buckeye State with the opener of a three-game series versus the Cincinnati Reds (43-53).
Boston at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox look to build off their historic first half of the season when they begin a six-game road trip following the All-Star break with the first of three against the struggling Detroit Tigers on Friday night. The Red Sox (68-30) averaged seven runs while going 12-1 in their last 13 contests and lead the second-place New York Yankees by 4 1/2 games in the American League East while moving to 38 over .500 for the first time since 1949.
Cleveland at Texas 8:05 PM ET
All-Star Shin-Soo Choo looks to extend his streak of reaching base to 52 consecutive games when the Texas Rangers host the Cleveland Indians on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Choo recently surpassed Julio Franco's franchise-record single-season mark of 46 straight contests set in 1993 and is closing in on Will Clark's overall streak of 58 games bridging the 1995 and 1996 campaigns.
LA Dodgers at Milwaukee 8:10 PM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat out a number of other National League contenders - including the Milwaukee Brewers - to acquire the services of Manny Machado during the All-Star break, adding even more thump to an offense that leads the NL in home runs. Two days after being acquired in a six-player deal, the four-time All-Star is expected to make his debut for the Dodgers on Friday as they visit the Brewers for the opener of their three-game series.
Minnesota at Kansas City 8:15 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals are saddled with the worst record in the majors as they resume play after the All-Star break by hosting the Minnesota Twins on Friday. The 2015 World Series champions are an abysmal 27-68 as they enter the opener of a three-game set with the Twins.
San Francisco at Oakland 9:35 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics finished the first half of their season as the hottest team in baseball due in part to their strong showing against National League competition. The red-hot Athletics attempt to pick up where they left off last weekend when they host the San Francisco Giants for the opener of their three-game interleague series.
Colorado at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
Two teams looking to emerge from the pack in the tight National League West race meet Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Colorado Rockies for the opener of their three-game series. The Diamondbacks trail the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by one half-game while Colorado sits two back.
Houston at LA Angels 10:07 PM ET
The Houston Astros finished the first half with just two wins fewer than their 2017 World Series champion and look to continue pulling away in the American League West when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Friday to start a three-game set. The Astros staggered slightly by losing four of seven before the All-Star break, but lead the West by five games over Seattle with Los Angeles 14 back.
Chi. White Sox at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners aim to avoid matching a season-worst five-game losing streak when they host the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Seattle limped into the All-Star break by being outscored 29-13 over a four-game span but still possesses the fourth-best record (58-39) in the major leagues.