The written preview lands about a day and a half before the game, once the lineups, the injuries and the market have settled. Until then the boards below carry the matchup: recent form, how the two sides compare, and where each of them sits.
The full preview, matchup keys, probable starters and the storylines to watch, posts closer to game time, once lineups are set.
Each side's most recent results, newest first, with the score and who they played. These reach back into last season where a club has not played five yet, which is why every row carries its date.
New York Mets
YankeesYankeesYankees
MarlinsMarlins
Texas Rangers
DiamondbacksDiamondbacksDiamondbacks
MarinersMarinersWhere each side sits in its own division, with both clubs marked. These two are in different ones, so the tables are separate and the records are not directly comparable.
Houston Astros75-75.500L3Texas Rangers74-76.493W2Seattle Mariners70-80.467L1
Oakland Athletics61-89.407W1
Los Angeles Angels56-93.376L3
Atlanta Braves88-62.587L1
Philadelphia Phillies83-67.553W1Miami Marlins74-76.493W2
Washington Nationals70-81.464W3New York Mets69-80.463L1
