Preview Roundups
March 31, 2018
St. Louis at NY Mets 1:10 PM ET
New York Mets rookie manager Mickey Callaway’s lineup decisions worked out well in the season opener, and he hopes for similar results when his team hosts the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series. The Mets made Callaway a winner in his debut Thursday, beating St. Louis 9-4 as Yoenis Cespedes collected three RBIs batting second, Amed Rosario contributed two runs and two RBIs hitting ninth, and a healthy Noah Syndergaard struck out 10 Cardinals.
Pittsburgh at Detroit 1:10 PM ET
A pair of rebuilding teams put on quite a show in their season opener and hope their starters can go deep when the Detroit Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon in the middle contest of a three-game series. The teams combined to use 15 pitchers Friday in Pittsburgh's 13-10 victory - a 5-hour, 27-minute game decided when Gregory Polanco belted a three-run homer in the 13th inning on a 3-0 pitch from Alex Wilson.
Washington at Cincinnati 2:10 PM ET
The Washington Nationals haven't engaged in many pitchers' duels while dominating the Cincinnati Reds recently, although a lack of runs didn't keep the defending National League East champions from securing a win on Opening Day. The visiting Nationals hope up to pick up the pace a bit offensively Saturday when they continue their three-game set with the Reds.
Houston at Texas 4:05 PM ET
The Texas Rangers halted their skid against Houston and will look to defeat the visiting Astros for the second straight day on Saturday when the four-game set continues. Texas posted a 5-1 victory on Friday to end a five-game slide against Houston, a stretch that included a 4-1 Opening Day loss on Thursday.
LA Angels at Oakland 4:05 PM ET
Mike Trout had a rough time in the season opener, but he made up for it in his first at-bat in his next contest and hopes to follow suit Saturday as the Los Angeles Angels continue their four-game series against the host Oakland Athletics. Trout went 0-for-6 in Thursday's 6-5 loss but homered in the first inning the following night as the Angels posted a 2-1 victory.
NY Yankees at Toronto 4:07 PM ET
Newcomers are providing an early lift for the New York Yankees, who look to open 3-0 for the first time in 15 years when they continue a four-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. After Giancarlo Stanton had a memorable team debut by hitting two home run in the Yankees' 6-1 win on Opening Day, Brandon Drury went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Friday's 4-2 victory.
Cleveland at Seattle 4:10 PM ET
The Seattle Mariners look to open the season with two straight victories when they host the Cleveland Indians for the middle contest of a three-game series on Saturday afternoon. Nelson Cruz belted a two-run, first-inning homer off reigning American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in a 2-1 victory in the opener Thursday and it should be another low-scoring contest Saturday with two pitchers coming off career-best seasons.
Boston at Tampa Bay 6:10 PM ET
One day after the bullpen failed to protect a four-run lead, Boston's relievers were nearly perfect in slamming the door on the Tampa Bay Rays to get David Price a win against his former team. The American League East rivals clash yet again Saturday when the Red Sox visit the Rays in the third of a four-game series.
Minnesota at Baltimore 7:05 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles opened with a walk-off win for the third straight season when Adam Jones homered off Fernando Rodney in the 11th inning on Thursday. The Orioles will try to carry that momentum into the weekend and clinch a series win when they host the Minnesota Twins in the second of a three-game series on Saturday.
Chi. Cubs at Miami 7:10 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs were already looking forward to Yu Darvish’s debut with the team Saturday against the Miami Marlins, but they find themselves in a position where they are hoping it lasts a little bit longer. The Cubs will look for a deep outing from their free-agent prize one night after dropping a 2-1 decision to the host Marlins in 17 innings.
Philadelphia at Atlanta 7:10 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies signed first baseman Carlos Santana in the offseason hoping he would provide a power bat in the heart of their lineup, and the slugger did just that in helping his new team move into position to win a season-opening series Saturday against the host Atlanta Braves. Santana homered and drove in the go-ahead run in Friday’s 5-4, 11-inning victory while teammate Rhys Hoskins (18 homers in 50 games last year as a rookie) went deep for the first time in 2018.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 7:15 PM ET
After tying the major-league record with six home runs in an Opening Day win over the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox will try to keep the power surge going when the series continues Saturday in Kansas City. Chicago’s 14 runs on Opening Day were five more than any other team put on the board Thursday.
Colorado at Arizona 8:10 PM ET
Arizona ace Zack Greinke makes his 2018 debut two days later than expected when the Diamondbacks aim to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The right-hander suffered a groin injury during spring training that led to him being pushed back from his Opening Day start by manager Torey Lovullo.
Milwaukee at San Diego 8:40 PM ET
The Milwaukee Brewers look to ride the momentum of an impressive comeback when they attempt to complete a three-game sweep of the host San Diego Padres on Saturday. The Brewers scored five ninth-inning runs, the final three on Ryan Braun's two-out homer, to record an 8-6 victory on Friday.
San Francisco at LA Dodgers 9:10 PM ET
The season is only two days old, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have already seen enough of San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik. The Dodgers look to get on the scoreboard for the first time Saturday when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Giants and Panik, who has powered his team to back-to-back 1-0 victories by homering in each contest.