Cubs And Mets Meet In Series’ Rubber Match Tonight On ESPN

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has released its Major League Baseball broadcast schedule for this week.  And it is a very busy one now that the race for the post season is on.  It all begins tonight on ESPN as the Mets take on the Cubs in Chicago.

The Mets take on the Cubs live tonight on ESPN in Chicago in the second game of a three-game series between the National League opponents.  Coverage begins at 7pm ET.  Jake Arrieta (12 – 4) is scheduled to get the start for Chicago in tonight’s interdivisional match.  Arrieta has had a little more than a week off since his last time on the mound.  That was July 8^th against Pittsburgh.  That game was not an easy one for the 30-year old.  He threw 6 innings, allowing a total of 6 runs on 9 hits, 6 earned runs, 1 walk, and 2 home runs, striking out only 6 of 28 batters along the way.

On the other side of the ball Noah Syndergaard is slated to get the start for the Mets in tonight’s game.  He has had roughly the same amount of time as Arrieta to rest up for tonight’s game.  His last time on the mound was July 8^th when the Mets took on the Washington Nationals.  The Nats won that game 3 – 1 with Syndergaard taking the loss for the Mets.  He allowed 3 runs on 4 hits over 4.2 innings.  He also allowed 3 earned runs, 3 walks, 1 home run and struck out 5 of 19 batters.  Even with those numbers in consideration he still fared somewhat better than Arrieta during his last outing.  In the bigger picture the Cubs took the win in the series’ opener Monday night 5 – 1.  And Chicago’s 29 -15 home record far outweighs the Mets’ 23 – 23 road record.  At the same time both teams are 4 – 6 in their last ten games.  So New York can’t be completely counted out tonight or Wednesday.

Karl Ravech will have the call for tonight’s NL matchup between the Cubs and Mets.  He will be joined in the booth by analysts Dallas Braden and Eduardo Perez for additional commentary.  As an additional note, while the game will be broadcast on television on ESPN, it will be blacked out both in the New York and Chicago market.  More information on tonight’s game is available online now along with all of the latest MLB headlines at:

 

 

 

Website: http://espn.go.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBTN

 

 

 

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Cubs, Mets Open 3-Game Series Tonight On ESPN

Courtesy: ESPN

Tonight on ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball presented by USAA the Mets and Cubs face off in an interdivisional matchup.

The NL Central-leading Cubs continue their home-stand tonight when the team opens a three-game series against the Mets (NL East) on ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball presented by USAA.  The game is the opener in a three-game series between the teams.  John Lester (9 – 4) is expected to get the start for the Cubs while Steven Matz (7 – 5) is slated to get the start for the Mets.  Lester’s last time on the mound was more than a week ago on July 9^th against Pittsburgh.  The Pirates won that game in dominating fashion doubling up on the Cubs 12 – 6.  Lester threw three innings in the game, allowing 5 runs on 4 hits, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, and 2 home runs.  He struck out only 2 of 16 batters that he faced.  Teammate Adam Warren, who was credited with the loss, didn’t fare much better.  Warren only threw 2 innings but allowed 7 more runs on 5 hits in that short time along with 7 earned runs, 3 walks, and 2 home runs.  He struck out only 2 of 14 batters.

Steven Matz’s last time on the mound was roughly a week ago against the Nationals on July 10^th.  The Nats won that game 3 – 2.  Matz took the loss in the game.  He threw 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits along the way along with 3 earned runs, 4 walks, and 1 home run, striking out 5 of 29 batters faced.

Even with both pitchers numbers in consideration either team could win this game and series.  Chicago is 28 – 15 at home so far on the season while New York is 23 – 22 on the road so far this season.  However, the Cubs are 4- 6 in their last ten games and the Mets 5 – 5 in their last 10 games.  The Mets come into tonight’s game with some momentum, having picked up a 5 – 0 win against Philadelphia Sunday afternoon.  The Cubs come into tonight’s series opener licking its wounds after falling 4 – 1 against the Rangers on Sunday.  So each team will have its own motivation for a win tonight when the National League foes go under the lights.

Karl Ravech will have the call for the game tonight on ESPN.  He will be joined in the booth by analysts Dallas Braden and Eduardo Perez.  As an additional note the game will be blacked out in the Chicago market.  Coverage of the game is expected to begin at 7pm ET in all other markets.  More information on tonight’s game is available online now along with all of the latest MLB headlines at:

 

 

 

Website: http://espn.go.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBTN

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN To Feature Two Divisional Matchups On SNB, MNB Broadcasts

Courtesy: ESPN

This Sunday night on ESPN, one of baseball’s longet running and most heated rivalries continues.  No, not that rivalry.  Rather, it’s the rivalry between the Giants and the Dodgers.

Buster Posey and the San Francisco Giants will be in hostile territory as they take on Yasiel Puig and the Los Angeles Dodgers live Sunday night on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell.  The game is the third in a three-game weekend series between the National League conference and divisional opponents.  Currently there is no information as to who will take the mound for either team in Sunday’s matchup or either team’s rotation.  The game is scheduled to broadcast live at 8pm ET on ESPN.  Dan Shulman will be in the booth for the call.  He will be joined by analysts Aaron Boone and Jessica Mendoza for additional commentary.  Reporter Buster Olney will also be on hand for all of the game’s latest news, interviews, and more.  It will be shown in all markets as a full national telecast.  Karl Ravech, Dallas Braden and Tim Kurkjian will preview the game live at 7pm ET on Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown.

The action continues Monday night on Monday Night Baseball presented by USAA when Yadier Molina and the struggling St. Louis Cardinals play host to the team’s NL Central foes, Dexter Fowler and the Chicago Cubs.  The game is scheduled to air live at 8pm ET on ESPN.  Dave Flemming will be in the booth for the call.  He will be joined by analysts Curt Schilling ad Eduardo Perez for additional commentary.  The game is currently expected to air nationally in all markets.

More information on these games and all of ESPN’s Major League Baseball coverage is available online now along with all of the latest MLB headlines at:

 

 

Website: http://espn.go.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBTN

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Adds NL, AL Matchups To Its MNB, WNB Broadcast Schedule

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has added two more games to its Major League Baseball broadcast schedule.

On Monday, April 18^th, the Cubs and Cardinals will face off live on ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball presented by USAA.  The game is the series-opener in a three-game set between the NL Central opponents.  The game will also mark the midway point of what will be a six-game home stand for the team.   No announcement has been made at this time in regards to starting lineups or pitching rotations for either team in the game.  The other three games in that run will see the Cardinals host another NL Central opponent, the Cincinnati Reds.  Currently the Reds sit second in the division just behind the Cubs.  Dave Flemming will be in the booth for the game.  He will be joined by analysts Curt Schilling and Eduardo Perez for additional commentary.

Also added to the network’s MLB coverage, the defending MLB champion Kansas City Royals will host the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, April 20^th on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball presented by Hankook Tires.  Currently the Royals sit fourth in the AL Central, one game back from the division-leading Tigers.  The White Sox and Indians currently sit in second and third respectively in the division.  The game will be the second in a three-game set between those two teams.  Coverage is expected to begin at 7pm ET on ESPN.  Jon Sciambi will be in the booth for the game.  Analysts Rick Sutcliffe and Eduardo Perez will also be on hand for additional commentary.  As an additional note, this game will be a full national telecast.

Both the NL Central matchup on the 18^th and the AL Central game set for the 20^th will be simulcast on television on ESPN Deportes and online via WatchESPN.  More information on both of these games is available online along with all of the latest MLB headlines at:

 

Website: http://espn.go.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBTN

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.comphilspicks and “Like” it.

Cardinals, Cubs Face Off In NL Central Showdown This Week On ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN has a big game on tap for this weekend’s edition of Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell.

This  ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell, the league-leading St. Louis Cardinals host the Chicago Cubs in a pivotal NL Central showdown. The game, which could have potential playoff implications as the first half of the season winds down, will be the closer in a three-game series between the NL Central foes. The Cardinals currently sit at 48 – 24 on the season and 7 – 3 in their last ten games. The Red Birds are currently riding high on a six-game win streak. Chicago is third in the division, eight and a half games back from St. Louis, sitting currently at 39 – 32. The team is 5 – 5 in its last ten games and is currently looking to end its two-game skid. Sunday’s broadcast is expected to begin at 8pm ET. The game will be simulcast on ESPN Deportes for the network’s Spanish-speaking viewers. And those that won’t be near a TV during Sunday Night’s game can still catch it online via WatchESPN and on the radio on ESPN Radio. Dan Shulman will have the call for Sunday’s game. He will be joined by analysts Curt Schilling and John Kruk in the booth. Reporter Buster Olney will also be on hand with all of the latest in-game news. As with every broadcast of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell, Sunday’s broadcast will be preceded by Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown presented by Chevrolet at 7pm ET. Karl Ravech will anchor the broadcast and will be joined at the desk by analyst Aaron Boone and ESPN MLB Insider Tim Kurkjian. The broadcast will be simulcast online via WatchESPN.

The second game in the Cubs-Cardinals weekend series will air live on ESPN Radio Saturday night at 6pm ET. Jon Sciambi and Chris Singleton will have the call for Saturday night’s game.

Carlos Martinez is currently expected to take the mound for St. Louis in Sunday’s game. His last time on the mound was Tuesday’s game against the Marlins. St. Louis won that game 4 – 3. He pitched seven innings in the game, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, one walk, and struck out nine batters en route to the team’s win.

Jason Hammel is expected to start for Chicago in Sunday’s game. Hammel’s last time on the mound was Tuesday against the Dodgers. The Cubs won that game 1 – 0 over the Dodgers. Hammel Pitched 7.2 innings, allowing 2 hits along the way, no runs or earned runs, only two walks, and struck out six men.

Monday night on ESPN’s Monday Night Baseball presented by USAA Adam Jones and the Baltimore Orioles will host Prince Fielder and the Texas Rangers on ESPN. Fielder just hit his 300th home run tonight as the Rangers face the Blue Jays. It makes Fielder and his famed father only the second father/son duo since Bobby and Barry Bonds to hit 300 home runs each. Monday night’s game is the first in a four-game series that will run thought next Thursday, July 2nd. Dave O’Brien will have the call for the game. He will be joined in the booth by Eduardo Perez and Mark Mulder in the booth for additional commentary. The game will be simulcast on ESPN Deportes for ESPN’s Spanish-speaking audiences. It will also simulcast online via WatchESPN for those that won’t be close to a television during the course of the game.

Bud Norris is expected to start for the Orioles in Monday night’s game. Norris’ last time on the mound was Wednesday against the Red Sox. Baltimore dropped that game 5 – 1 with Norris pitching 5.2 innings in the game. He allowed seven hits, five runs, no earned runs, one walk, one home run, and struck out three batters in his time on the mound.

Wady Rodriguez is expected to start for Texas in Monday night’s game. His last time taking the mound was Wednesday against Oakland. He struggled in that game, allowing eleven hits, right runs, eight earned runs, three walks and two home runs over the course of four innings and striking out only four batters. By comparison, Rodriguez’s team-mate Anthony Bass only allowed two hits and one walk over the course of four innings, striking out five batters along the way. He allowed no runs, no earned runs, and no home runs in that time, too.

More information on ESPN’s Major League Baseball coverage is available online along with all of the latest baseball news at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Heads West Again This Weekend For SNB

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell continues its western swing this weekend as the worldwide leader in sports brings audiences a matchup of the Cardinals and Dodgers.

Sunday’s broadcast is the closer in a four-game series between the National League foes. Clayton Kershaw is currently scheduled to take the mound for Los Angeles as it hosts the Cardinals. Kershaw last took the mound Monday night against the Rockies. He pitched 7 innings in the Dodgers’ 11 – 4 shellacking of Colorado, allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk and striking out 7 batters along the way. Currently there is no word on who will take the mound for St. Louis in the game.

Dan Shulman will have the call for Sunday night’s game. He will be joined in the booth by analysts Mark Mulder and John Kruk. Reporter Buster Olney will also be on hand for the latest news and updates throughout the game. Sunday’s broadcast is scheduled for an 8pm ET start time. It will preceded at 7pm ET by Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown presented by Chevrolet. Karl Ravech will anchor the broadcast and will be joined at the desk by analyst Aaron Boone and ESPN MLB Insider Tim Kurkjian.

Before heading back out west this weekend, the worldwide leader in sports will bring audiences the closer between the Dodgers and Rockies in the teams’ 4-game series on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball. Mike Bolsinger is expected to get the start for the Dodgers in the game. Currently there are no details on who will get the start for Colorado. Bolsinger’s last time on the mound was this past Friday against St. Louis. Bolsinger pitched 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned runs, 3, walks, and struck out 3 in the Dodgers’ 3 – 0 loss to the Cardinals. Jon Sciambi will have the call for Wednesday night’s game. He will be joined by analysts Rick Sutcliffe and Doug Glanville, and studio analysts Eric Wedge and Eduardo Perez for the broadcast. the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 beginning at 8pm ET. Along with its broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes will also carry the game live for ESPN’s Spanish-speaking audiences. Audiences that won’t be close to a TV tomorrow night can still catch the game live online via WatchESPN. More information on ESPN’s MLB coverage is available online now at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/mlb

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESPNBaseballTonight

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and Like it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Networks Announce Changes For 2014 MLB Season

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN kicks off its 25th season covering Major League Baseball today. In celebration of the anniversary, ESPN has announced a number of changes and additions to its coverage. The very first of those changes and additions is a rebranding of its flagship program, Sunday Night Baseball. Sunday Night Baseball has been rebranded as Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown. The name change has been implemented in order to better coincide with ESPN’s weekly national game of the week. Karl Ravech will continue to anchor the broadcast. And MLB Hall of Famer/analyst Barry Larkin will join Ravech for most episodes.

The rebranding of Sunday Night Baseball is just the tip of the iceberg for the changes being made to ESPN’s MLB coverage in its 25th season. Along with the rebranding of the network’s flagship show, several episodes of Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown will be broadcast live on-site from key locations near select games throughout the season. The live broadcasts will allow fans to show their pride live on television and viewers to get a taste of the live Baseball Tonight atmosphere. It all begins opening night from PetCo Park in San Diego at 6:30pm.

The new live, on-site broadcasts of Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown are the cornerstone of ESPN’s re-branded broadcasts for its 25th season of coverage. Along with the new live, on-site broadcasts, viewers will also see some new faces on this year’s telecasts. ESPN added new commentators for its telecasts during the offseason. Veteran manager Eric Wedge has been added to the Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown roster as has former perfect game pitcher Dallas Braden. Braden will join ESPN’s weekly broadcast as an analyst. Wedge will contribute regularly to the show, too.

MLB great and former manager Ozzie Guillen joined ESPN Deportes throughout the 2013 MLB season. His role has been expanded this season. Guillen will contribute both to ESPN Deportes and ESPN’s English-language platforms this season, including regular appearances on Baseball Tonight. Eduardo Perez returns to the broadcast side of the game after spending the past two seasons in the dugout. Perez will contribute largely to MLB broadcasts on ESPN Deportes. Both Guillen and Perez will join Manny Acta and Alex Cora in ESPN’s growing stable of bilingual MLB analysts.

As the 2014 MLB season progresses, audiences can stay tuned in to ESPN as the Worldwide Leader in Sports will televise special holiday games on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, as well as at least one Wild Card game, in addition to NY and all tie-breaker games. Making the deal even sweeter, ESPN will have rights to four Postseason Impact games in late September. This will allow ESPN to present the top games and storylines from around the league heading into the postseason. The schedule for ESPN’s special holiday broadcasts is provided below.

Holiday Date Time (ET) Game
Memorial Day Mon, May 26 1 p.m. Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves
4 p.m. New York Yankees at St. Louis Cardinals
Independence Day Fri, Jul 4 3 p.m. New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins
TBD TBD
Labor Day Mon, Sep 1 TBD TBD
TBD TBD

If the weekly Sunday night broadcast of MLB games isn’t enough for fans, ESPN will also offer audiences a special “seamheads” edition of Baseball Tonight every Thursday night at 10pm ET. ESPN MLB Insiders Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, and Jayson Stark will serve as the panel for the program. They will discuss all even more insight than is offered every Sunday night, including: advanced stats, ranking, and breaking news and rumors throughout the season. They will be joined occasionally by Keith Law and Grantland’s Jonah Keri.

ESPN is going to have expansive and in-depth coverage of MLB baseball this season, as is obvious by now. But it’s still not all that fans have to expect from the Worldwide Leader in Sports during the 2014 MLB season. ESPN will also present specially produced vignettes each week across its TV and internet platforms that celebrate each of the league’s teams. The first of those vignettes will air tonight, March 30th. It will focus on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The final touch to ESPN’s massive list of changes for this season of MBL coverage involves coverage on ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes +. ESPN Deportes increases its broadcast schedule to more than eighty regular season games. That is sixty-five games more than in previous seasons. ESPN Deportes + will also include exclusive Spanish-language coverage of thirty regular season games.

More information on all of the latest on the ESPN family of networks’ MLB coverage is available online at http://espn.go.com/mlb. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN’s Baseball Tonight Goodyear Express Tour Winds Down This Weekend

Courtesy: ESPN

ESPN winds down its Baseball Tonight Goodyear Express Tour this weekend.

The tour finishes off this weekend beginning this morning at 9am ET.  ESPN’s SportsCenter will feature live reports from the Cincinnati Reds’ training camp in Goodyear, Arizona.  Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech and analyst Jon Kruk will be joined by ESPN MLB Insider Tim Kurkjian for all the latest from the Reds’ training camp.

Tomorrow—Saturday, March 1^st—Kurkjian will have live SportsCenter updates from the Seattle Mariners’ training camp in Peoria, Arizona.  Coverage of both teams’ training camps includes in-depth analysis of each team and interviews with both players and managers.

ESPN’s MLB coverage picks back up on March 17^th as the Worldwide Leader in Sports kicks off Spring Training telecasts that day.  Spring Training coverage kicks off with a matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox.  Coverage is scheduled to begin at 1pm ET. ESPN’s complete Spring Training coverage schedule is listed below.

Spring Training game schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Game/Commentators	Networks
Mon, March 17	1 p.m.	St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox Karl Ravech, Barry Larkin, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Tue, March 18	1 p.m.	Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees Dan Shulman, John Kruk, Buster Olney	ESPN, WatchESPN
Thu, March 20	7 p.m.	New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Dan Shulman, John Kruk, Buster Olney	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Mon, March 24	1 p.m.	Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates Adnan Virk, Doug Glanville, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Tue, March  25	1 p.m.	Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers Adnan Virk, Doug Glanville, Tim Kurkjian	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Wed, March 26	1 p.m.	Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals Steve Levy, Eduardo Perez, Doug Glanville	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +
Thu, March 27	12 p.m.	Washington Nationals at New York Mets Steve Levy, Eduardo Perez, Doug Glanville	ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes +

 

More information on ESPN’s MLB coverage is available online at http://espn.go.com/mlb.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.