Today’s focus is going to be on the National League and four matchups on Wednesday’s eight-game schedule. Two major market teams collide in the New York-Los Angeles game, but the main contest pits National League East leader Philadelphia against NL West frontrunner Arizona.

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Now let’s break down Wednesday’s key contests.

**Mets (Maine) at Dodgers (Penny)**

-Caesars Palace installed Los Angeles as a $1.30 home ‘chalk’ over New York, with the total set at eight ‘over’ (minus $1.20). This contest is slated to start at 3:10 p.m. ET.

-New York’s John Maine (3-2, 3.48 ERA) is riding a personal two-game winning streak after upending Arizona Friday as a $1.10 road underdog, 7-2. The 6-foot-4 hurler was reached for two runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts over six innings.

-The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total. The ‘under’ had cashed his previous four starts.

-The right-hander went 0-2 against the Dodgers last year in two starts, going a combined 11 innings while allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on 16 hits (three home runs) with three walks and eight strikeouts. The Mets lost as a road ‘pick,’ 4-1, and as a $1.70 home favorite, 6-2. The ‘under’ cashed in both contests.

-Los Angeles right-hander Brad Penny (5-2, 3.19 ERA) has won his last four starts after Friday’s victory over Colorado as a $1.02 road underdog, 11-6. The 29-year-old went five innings, surrendering three runs on three hits (one home run) with four walks and a strikeout.

-The combined 17 runs soared ‘over’ the 8 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to cash his fifth straight start.

-Penny went 2-1 against the Mets last year in three starts, tossing a combined 19 1/3 innings while yielding eight runs on 19 hits (two home runs) with six walks and 14 strikeouts. The Dodgers triumphed as a $1.20 home favorite, 9-1, and as a $1.43 home ‘chalk,’ 8-6, while losing as a $1.02 road underdog, 5-2. The ‘over’ went 2-1 during those three games.

**Padres (Wolf) at Braves (Hudson)**

-Caesars Palace opened Atlanta as a $1.65 home favorite over San Diego, with the total listed at 8 ½. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

-San Diego southpaw Randy Wolf (2-1, 3.57 ERA) heads to the hill fresh off Thursday’s no-decision against Philadelphia. The Pepperdine product went six innings, surrendering two runs on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

-The Padres eventually dropped that contest as a $1.00 road underdog, 3-2, while the combined five runs failed to eclipse the 9 ½-run closing total. The ‘under’ is 5-1 during his six starts this season.

-Wolf picked up two no decisions against the Braves last year, going a combined eight innings while allowing seven runs on 11 hits (one home run) with six walks and nine strikeouts. The Padres prevailed as a $1.40 home favorite, 7-6, while losing as a $1.03 road underdog, 6-4. The ‘over’ cashed in both contests.

-Atlanta counters with Tim Hudson, hoping the right-hander can improve on his 4-2 record and 2.95 ERA in seven starts. The 32-year-old has alternated wins and losses his last five starts after beating Cincinnati Friday as a $1.23 home ‘chalk,’ 2-0. The 10-year veteran went the complete-game route on three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

-The two runs never seriously threatened the 8 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his second straight start.

-Hudson beat the Padres last year in his lone start against them as a $1.90 home favorite, 5-3. In six innings, he surrendered two runs on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The combined eight runs slithered ‘under’ the 8 ½-run closing total.

**Cardinals (Wainwright) at Rockies (Francis)**

-Caesars Palace lists Colorado as a $1.20 home ‘chalk’ over St. Louis, with the total set at nine. This matchup is slated to start at 8:35 p.m. ET.

-St. Louis hurler Adam Wainwright (3-1, 2.60 ERA) is off Friday’s no-decision against Chicago after allowing one run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. The Cardinals ended up winning that contest as a $1.12 home favorite, 5-3, while the combined eight runs landed directly on the closing total.

-St. Louis has won his last four starts.

-Wainwright beat the Rockies last year as a $1.30 home ‘chalk,’ 9-2. The 6-foot-7 hurler was reached for two runs (one earned) on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts over six innings. The combined 11 runs toppled the 8 ½-run closing total.

-Colorado left-hander Jeff Francis (0-3, 5.26 ERA) is still searching for his first victory of the year after falling to Los Angeles Friday as a $1.08 home favorite, 11-6. The Canadian lasted 5 1/3 innings, yielding four runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

-The combined 17 runs soared past the 8 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 4-2 his six starts.

-The five-year veteran went 1-0 against the Cardinals last year in two starts, surrendering four runs on nine hits (one home run) with four walks and six strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings. The Rockies prevailed as a $1.20 road underdog, 3-2, and as a $1.45 home favorite, 6-2. The ‘under’ cashed in both outings.

**Phillies (Kendrick) at Diamondbacks (Owings)**

-Caesars Palace opened Arizona as a $1.35 home favorite over Philadelphia, with the total set at 10 ½. This matchup is scheduled to begin at 9:40 p.m. ET.

-Philadelphia pitcher Kyle Kendrick (2-2, 5.01 ERA) is off Friday’s no-decision against San Francisco, tossing six innings while yielding three runs on eight hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

-The Phillies eventually won that contest as a $1.65 home ‘chalk,’ 6-5, while the combined 11 runs toppled the nine-run closing total. Philadelphia has won his last three starts, with the ‘over’ cashing each time.

-Kendrick, a two-year veteran, has never started against the Diamondbacks in his brief major league career.

-Arizona right-hander Micah Owings (4-1, 4.42 ERA) suffered his first setback of the season in Friday’s loss to New York as a $1.20 home favorite, 7-2. The Tulane product was tagged for seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits (two home runs) with three walks and two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.

-The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total. The Diamondbacks have dropped his last two starts after winning his first four outings.

-The 6-foot-5 pitcher went 2-0 against the Phillies last year in two starts, going a combined 12 innings while allowing three runs on 12 hits (two home runs) with four walks and five strikeouts. The D’backs prevailed as a $1.25 home favorite, 3-2, and as a $1.35 road underdog, 11-5.

Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.