Although there are only a handful of early games this week, they are spread out over four of the five days. So with just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, it’s a great chance to enjoy the pleasure of sitting down and taking in a Major League game during the British evening. All times are listed in BST.Â
Monday 15 September – One early game to start the week and it’s from Milwaukee. Bernie Brewer won’t know what to do with himself though: this is the second game between the Cubs and the Astros that had to be moved at short notice from Houston due to Hurricane Ike. The pitching match-up sees Ted Lilly (14-9) against Brian Moehler (11-6), with first pitch set for 19.05.
Tuesday 16 September – No early games today. There are a lot of big series at this stage of the season, but the two biggest today are from the AL East and the NL Central. The Rays try to put a halt to the Red Sox’s charge in the first of a three game series in Tampa. Josh Beckett and Andy Sonnanstine are the probable pitchers for the opener (00.10). Meanwhile the Brewers are in Chicago, hoping to reduce the Cubs’ lead at the top of the division. It should be a pitching classic with CC Sabathia and Ryan Dempster on the mound (01.05).
Wednesday 17 September – The solitary early game today sees us heading to Colorado. A couple of weeks ago, the Rockies briefly looked like they might be mounting a repeat of their late challenge from ’07, but they’ve fallen away of late and this game against the Padres is simply a case of trying to make their final record look a little better. The rookie Josh Greer should make his fourth Major League start for the Padres, while Jeff Francis goes for the Rockies. The home plate umpire will be shouting “play ball” at 20.05.
Thursday 18 September – ‘Getaway’ Thursday brings us four early games. We start in Pittsburgh where Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers face Paul Maholm and the Pirates (17.35). At 19.10, the Mariners begin their game against the Royals, which perhaps is one just for Seattle and K.C. fans? If that’s true, then ten minutes later we have the polar opposite: the Brewers versus the Cubs with Manny Parra and Rich Harden scheduled to start. Finally, the AL West champion Angels are in Oakland at 20.35 and they will face the best-named pitcher in the Majors: Josh Outman.
Friday 19 September – After a brief hiatus, we once again are treated to an early Friday game from Wrigley Field. The Cardinals are in the Windy City, with first pitch set for 19.20.
The Wednesday night game on Five begins at 01.25, while NASN’s MLB schedule for the week can be found here.
