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Verlander & Tigers Look To Cool Texas Rangers
Two of Saturday's best pitching matchups are early-afternoon contests, while three more staff aces will take the mound just as the sun begins to drop below the horizon.
We start the proceedings in Detroit where the Tigers and Texas Rangers continue their early-season Showdown in Motown. Game 3 of the 4-game series is slated for a 1:05 p.m. (ET) first pitch from Justin Verlander who will be opposed by the Rangers' Neftali Feliz.
Texas drew first blood Thursday with a 10-3 win as -130 chalk behind Yu Darvish's arm and Mike Napoli's bat. Napoli clubbed his fifth home run in four games and was hitting .400 on the road trip entering Friday's contest. That game pitted Matt Harrison and Rick Porcello, and was still pending with the MLB odds starting as a pick before drifting in the Tigers' favor.
If there's a pitcher who can cool the red-hot Texas sticks, it's Verlander. He's limited the Rangers to a .170 batting average while striking out 33 in 27 innings over his last four regular season assignments vs. Texas (Detroit 3-1), and is off to another fine start to this campaign with 23 K's and just 13 hits allowed in his first 25-1/3 frames.
Feliz is also looking good as he transitions from being Texas' closer into the rotation. He did struggle a bit the last time out at Minnesota (5 IP, 3 ER), but a strong bullpen and late rally from the bats bailed him out to get the dubya for the Rangers. Feliz has made three career relief appearances at Comerica, picking up the save each time without allowing a run.
Fish & Nats Continue Series In DC
Stephen Strasburg looks to improve his record to 3-0 and keep Washington on top of the NL East when the Nationals host the Miami Marlins in a 1:05 p.m. (ET) matinee. Miami counters with Anibal Sanchez who is seeking his second win of the campaign.
Washington opened the weekend with a 1.5-game lead over Atlanta in the division; Miami was fourth, 2.5-games back. The Nats were -130 favorites in Friday's series opener that featured Carlos Zambrano pitching for the visitors and Ross Detwiler for the home squad.
The Nationals have won all three of Strasburg's starts while the young righty has compiled a 1.42 ERA with 19 K's in 19 innings. He saw the Marlins twice last September after coming back from Tommy John surgery, and combined for 12 innings of 5-hit, 1-run, 13-K work with Washington splitting the two decisions.
Sanchez didn't figure into the decision his last time out (April 15), a game that went to the 11th before Miami earned the win. The Venezuelan has been very tough on the Nats the past few seasons with a 1.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and the Marlins 7-3 in his 10 starts (62 IP).
Three Aces Set To Deal At Dusk
Big chalk bettors should have several choices to consider Saturday night when a trio of No. 1 hurlers take to the mound. It starts in Houston where Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers go up against Kyle Weiland and the Astros (7:05 p.m. ET).
Los Angeles avoided being swept in Milwaukee with a 4-3 win on Thursday as Matt Kemp pounded his seventh homer and drove in runs 17 and 18 to remain on fire in the early going. The Dodgers were laying -130 for Friday's series opener in a matchup of lefties, Ted Lilly and JA Happ.
Kershaw hasn't been in the winner's circle himself this season, but all three of his starts have gone into the win column for LA. He's had mixed results in three career outings at Minute Maid Park where the Dodgers are 1-2 and Kershaw sports a 5.62 ERA. Weiland's first two starts for the Astros both ended in defeat for the Notre Dame alum, and this will be his cherry against the Dodgers.
An 8:35 p.m. (ET) contest at Petco Park finds Roy Halladay on the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies against Cory Luebke and the San Diego Padres.
Halladay heads to the bump looking for his fourth consecutive win to begin the season as well as his fourth straight triumph vs. the Padres. His only appearance at Petco was a gem just about a year ago, coming within an out of a complete game with 14 strikeouts in Philly's 3-1 victory. Luebke is coming off a strong showing at Coors Field this past Monday (7 IP, 1 ER), a 7-1 win over the Colorado Rockies as a +110 underdog.
Last but not least, Jered Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels host the Baltimore Orioles who send Jake Arrieta to the mound for Saturday's 9:05 p.m. (ET) first pitch. Weaver had a hiccup on the road in Minnesota 10 days ago, but has continued his prowess in Anaheim with 14-2/3 scoreless innings at home in a pair of Halos victories. The Angels are 16-4 in Weaver's last 20 Big A assignments with his ERA a sparkling 1.81 in almost 149 innings.
Arrieta will be making his first career appearance at Angel Stadium and last faced the Halos in an Aug. 2010 start at Camden Yards. He didn't have a decision (7-2/3 IP, 2 ER) in the game that eventually went the Orioles' way, 5-4.
Two of Saturday's best pitching matchups are early-afternoon contests, while three more staff aces will take the mound just as the sun begins to drop below the horizon.
We start the proceedings in Detroit where the Tigers and Texas Rangers continue their early-season Showdown in Motown. Game 3 of the 4-game series is slated for a 1:05 p.m. (ET) first pitch from Justin Verlander who will be opposed by the Rangers' Neftali Feliz.
Texas drew first blood Thursday with a 10-3 win as -130 chalk behind Yu Darvish's arm and Mike Napoli's bat. Napoli clubbed his fifth home run in four games and was hitting .400 on the road trip entering Friday's contest. That game pitted Matt Harrison and Rick Porcello, and was still pending with the MLB odds starting as a pick before drifting in the Tigers' favor.
If there's a pitcher who can cool the red-hot Texas sticks, it's Verlander. He's limited the Rangers to a .170 batting average while striking out 33 in 27 innings over his last four regular season assignments vs. Texas (Detroit 3-1), and is off to another fine start to this campaign with 23 K's and just 13 hits allowed in his first 25-1/3 frames.
Feliz is also looking good as he transitions from being Texas' closer into the rotation. He did struggle a bit the last time out at Minnesota (5 IP, 3 ER), but a strong bullpen and late rally from the bats bailed him out to get the dubya for the Rangers. Feliz has made three career relief appearances at Comerica, picking up the save each time without allowing a run.
Fish & Nats Continue Series In DC
Stephen Strasburg looks to improve his record to 3-0 and keep Washington on top of the NL East when the Nationals host the Miami Marlins in a 1:05 p.m. (ET) matinee. Miami counters with Anibal Sanchez who is seeking his second win of the campaign.
Washington opened the weekend with a 1.5-game lead over Atlanta in the division; Miami was fourth, 2.5-games back. The Nats were -130 favorites in Friday's series opener that featured Carlos Zambrano pitching for the visitors and Ross Detwiler for the home squad.
The Nationals have won all three of Strasburg's starts while the young righty has compiled a 1.42 ERA with 19 K's in 19 innings. He saw the Marlins twice last September after coming back from Tommy John surgery, and combined for 12 innings of 5-hit, 1-run, 13-K work with Washington splitting the two decisions.
Sanchez didn't figure into the decision his last time out (April 15), a game that went to the 11th before Miami earned the win. The Venezuelan has been very tough on the Nats the past few seasons with a 1.31 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and the Marlins 7-3 in his 10 starts (62 IP).
Three Aces Set To Deal At Dusk
Big chalk bettors should have several choices to consider Saturday night when a trio of No. 1 hurlers take to the mound. It starts in Houston where Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers go up against Kyle Weiland and the Astros (7:05 p.m. ET).
Los Angeles avoided being swept in Milwaukee with a 4-3 win on Thursday as Matt Kemp pounded his seventh homer and drove in runs 17 and 18 to remain on fire in the early going. The Dodgers were laying -130 for Friday's series opener in a matchup of lefties, Ted Lilly and JA Happ.
Kershaw hasn't been in the winner's circle himself this season, but all three of his starts have gone into the win column for LA. He's had mixed results in three career outings at Minute Maid Park where the Dodgers are 1-2 and Kershaw sports a 5.62 ERA. Weiland's first two starts for the Astros both ended in defeat for the Notre Dame alum, and this will be his cherry against the Dodgers.
An 8:35 p.m. (ET) contest at Petco Park finds Roy Halladay on the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies against Cory Luebke and the San Diego Padres.
Halladay heads to the bump looking for his fourth consecutive win to begin the season as well as his fourth straight triumph vs. the Padres. His only appearance at Petco was a gem just about a year ago, coming within an out of a complete game with 14 strikeouts in Philly's 3-1 victory. Luebke is coming off a strong showing at Coors Field this past Monday (7 IP, 1 ER), a 7-1 win over the Colorado Rockies as a +110 underdog.
Last but not least, Jered Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels host the Baltimore Orioles who send Jake Arrieta to the mound for Saturday's 9:05 p.m. (ET) first pitch. Weaver had a hiccup on the road in Minnesota 10 days ago, but has continued his prowess in Anaheim with 14-2/3 scoreless innings at home in a pair of Halos victories. The Angels are 16-4 in Weaver's last 20 Big A assignments with his ERA a sparkling 1.81 in almost 149 innings.
Arrieta will be making his first career appearance at Angel Stadium and last faced the Halos in an Aug. 2010 start at Camden Yards. He didn't have a decision (7-2/3 IP, 2 ER) in the game that eventually went the Orioles' way, 5-4.
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