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
OriolesOrioles
YankeesYankeesYankees
Texas Rangers
Red Sox
DiamondbacksDiamondbacksDiamondbacks
MarinersWhere 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 Astros76-75.503W1Texas Rangers75-76.497W3Seattle Mariners70-82.461L3
Oakland Athletics61-90.404L1
Los Angeles Angels58-93.384W2
Atlanta Braves89-63.586W1
Philadelphia Phillies83-68.550L1
Miami Marlins75-77.493W1
Washington Nationals71-81.467W4New York Mets69-82.457L3
