**Phillies (Kendrick) at Pirates (Morris)**
-Caesars Palace lists Philadelphia as a $1.25 road ‘chalk’ over Pittsburgh, with the total set at 10 ‘over’ (minus $1.20). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
-Philadelphia pitcher Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 5.59 ERA) heads to the hill searching for his first victory since April 4 after going 0-2 his last three outings. The 23-year-old escaped with a no-decision against Colorado Monday after allowing five runs on eight hits (two home runs) with two walks and two strikeouts over five innings.
-The Phillies eventually won that game as a $1.10 road underdog, 9-5, while the combined 14 runs toppled the 10 ½-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 3-1 his four starts this season.
-Kendrick beat the Pirates last year as a $1.35 home favorite, 5-1, while the combined six runs went ‘under’ the 10-run closing total. The right-hander was reached for the lone run on six hits (one home run) with a walk and four strikeouts over seven innings.
-Pittsburgh’s Matt Morris (0-3, 9.15 ERA) continues to struggle after falling to Florida Monday as a $1.03 home ‘chalk,’ 10-4. The right-hander lasted just four innings, surrendering eight runs on nine hits (two home runs) with a walk and two strikeouts.
-The combined 14 runs eclipsed the 10-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash his third consecutive start.
-Morris went 2-0 against the Phillies last year in two starts, going a combined 13 innings while yielding two runs on nine hits with six walks and four strikeouts. The Pirates prevailed as a $1.02 home favorite, 6-2, and as a $1.30 road underdog, 13-0.
**Rockies (Redman) at Dodgers (Penny)**
-Caesars Palace opened Los Angeles as a $1.80 home favorite over Colorado, with the total set at eight ‘over’ (minus $1.20). This National League West matchup is scheduled to start at 10:10 p.m. ET.
-Colorado’s Mark Redman (2-1, 5.23 ERA) picked up a no-decision against Philadelphia Monday despite allowing four runs on six hits (three home runs) with no walks and five strikeouts over five innings.
-The Rockies eventually dropped that contest as a $1.13 home ‘chalk,’ 9-5, while the combined 14 runs toppled the 10 ½-run closing total. The ‘over’ has cashed his last three starts.
-The southpaw received a no-decision in his lone start against the Dodgers last season, tossing five innings while yielding four runs on seven hits (one home run) with a walk and a strikeout. The Rockies eventually prevailed as a $1.17 home favorite, 9-8, while the combined 17 runs went ‘over’ the 11-run closing total.
-Los Angeles counters with right-hander Brad Penny (3-2, 2.67 ERA) who enters this contest riding a personal two-game winning streak. The nine-year veteran upended Cincinnati Monday as a $1.35 road ‘chalk,’ 9-3, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over six innings.
-The combined 12 runs eclipsed the nine-run closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to cash his last three starts.
-The 29-year-old went 2-0 against Colorado last year in five starts, tossing a combined 28 1/3 innings while surrendering 12 runs on 24 hits (three home runs) with 16 walks and 13 strikeouts. The Dodgers prevailed as a $1.50 home favorite, 3-0, a $1.40 road ‘chalk,’ 5-4, and as a $1.38 home favorite, 4-3, while losing as a $1.38 road ‘chalk,’ 6-5, and as a $1.35 home favorite, 9-7.
**Red Sox (Buchholz) at Rays (Jackson)**
-Caesars Palace installed Boston as a $1.30 road ‘chalk’ over Tampa Bay, with the total listed at 10 ‘under’ (minus $1.15). This American League East contest is slated to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.
-Boston pitcher Clay Buchholz (1-1, 4.79 ERA) beat Texas Monday as a $1.53 home favorite, 8-3, for his first victory of the year. The 6-foot-3 hurler tossed six scoreless innings on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
-The combined 11 runs toppled the 10-run closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to improve to 3-1 his four starts.
-Buchholz, a two-year veteran, has never started against the Rays during his brief major league tenure.
-Tampa Bay pitcher Edwin Jackson (2-2, 4.63 ERA) has dropped his last two starts after falling to Chicago Sunday as a $1.20 home ‘chalk,’ 6-0. The 6-foot-3 right-hander lasted just 4 1/3 innings while surrendering six runs on seven hits (one home run) with three walks and four strikeouts.
-The six runs failed to topple the 9 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 4-0 when he’s pitching.
-Jackson went 2-1 against Boston last season in four starts, going a combined 22 1/3 innings while being tagged for 14 runs on 27 hits (two home runs) with 12 walks and 19 strikeouts. The Rays triumphed as a $1.70 home underdog, 2-1, and as a $1.55 home ‘dog, 5-4, while losing as a $2.00 road ‘dog, 7-5, and as a $1.90 road ‘dog, 5-4.
**Twins (Baker) at Rangers (Feldman)**
-Caesars Palace lists Minnesota as a $1.10 road favorite over Texas, with the total set at 10 ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This matchup is scheduled to begin at 8:05 p.m. ET.
-Minnesota pitcher Scott Baker (2-0, 3.51 ERA) is off back-to-back no decisions after Sunday’s affair with Cleveland. The Oklahoma State product went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.
-The Twins eventually won that contest as a home ‘pick,’ 2-1, while the combined three runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total. The ‘over’ had cashed his previous two starts.
-Baker, a four-year veteran, did not start against the Rangers last season.
-Texas right-hander Scott Feldman (0-0, 4.50 ERA) picked up a no-decision in his lone start April 13 against Toronto. The 6-foot-5 hurler was reached for three runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings.
-The Rangers eventually dropped that affair as a $1.35 home underdog, 5-4, while the combined nine runs slithered ‘under’ the 9 ½-run closing total.
-Feldman, a four-year veteran, did not start against the Twins the past few seasons.
Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.
