Today’s tip sheet focuses on both the National and American Leagues. Even though the season is just over a month old, division races are starting to take shape. While most of the focus this time of year is on the NBA and NHL playoffs, there remains plenty of betting options on Friday’s major league baseball card.

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Here’s an inside look at four games concerning Friday’s action.

**Marlins (Nolasco) at Nationals (Redding)**

-Caesars Palace installed Washington as a $1.35 home ‘chalk’ over Florida, with the total set at 9 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This National League East matchup is scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m. ET.

-Florida’s Ricky Nolasco (1-3, 7.46 ERA) dropped to 0-3 his last four starts after Saturday’s setback to San Diego as a $1.45 home underdog, 7-2. The 6-foot-2 right-hander lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

-The combined nine runs went ‘over’ the eight-run closing total, ending a string of three straight ‘under’ outings for the 25-year-old.

-Nolasco picked up a no-decision against the Nationals last year after going four innings and yielding one run on three hits with three walks and no strikeouts. The Marlins eventually dropped that contest as a $1.30 road favorite, 7-3, while the combined 10 runs went ‘over’ the nine-run closing total.

-Washington right-hander Tim Redding (4-2, 3.20 ERA) is off Sunday’s victory over Pittsburgh as a home ‘pick,’ 5-2. The New York native was reached for one run on six hits (one home run) with no walks and five strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

-The combined seven runs failed to eclipse the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his second straight start.

-The 30-year-old beat the Marlins April 18 as a $1.17 road underdog, 6-4, tossing six innings while surrendering four runs on three hits (one home run) with a walk and 10 strikeouts. The combined 10 runs slithered ‘over’ the 9 ½-run closing total.

**Cardinals (Wellemeyer) at Brewers (Parra)**

-Caesars Palace opened Milwaukee as a $1.15 home favorite over St. Louis, with the total set at 9 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This NL Central contest is slated to start at 8:05 p.m. ET.

-St. Louis hurler Todd Wellemeyer (3-1, 4.07 ERA) dumped Chicago his last start Sunday as a $1.12 home ‘chalk,’ 5-3. The six-year veteran went five innings, yielding two runs on three hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

-The combined eight runs went below the 8 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to cash his second start in a row.

-Wellemeyer has not started against the Brewers the last few seasons.

-Milwaukee counters with Manny Parra, hoping the left-hander can improve on his 1-2 record and 5.86 ERA in six starts. The 25-year-old fell to Houston Saturday as a $1.10 road ‘chalk,’ 6-2, surrendering six runs (five earned) on nine hits (two home runs) with four walks and three strikeouts over just four innings.

-The combined eight runs failed to topple the 10-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to improve to 4-1 his last five starts.

-The California native has two no decisions against the Cardinals this year, going a combined nine innings while being reached for six runs on 14 hits (one home run) with seven walks and five strikeouts. The Brewers prevailed as a $1.10 road underdog, 5-3, and as a $1.20 home favorite, 9-8.

**Yankees (Igawa) at Tigers (Rogers)**

-Caesars Palace lists Detroit as a $1.30 home favorite over New York, with the total set at 10. This American League matchup is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.

-New York’s Kei Igawa gets his first start of the season with the Yankees in place of right-hander Ian Kennedy who was shipped off to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Igawa went 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA in seven starts down on the farm, allowing 33 hits in 39 2/3 innings while walking 12 and striking out 40.

-The Japanese left-hander began his major league career last year, going 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in 14 games (12 starts). This marks his first time pitching against the Tigers.

-Detroit left-hander Ken Rogers (2-3, 6.27 ERA) toes the rubber for the first time since Sunday’s no-decision against Minnesota. The veteran hurler went 6 2/3 innings, yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

-The Tigers eventually dropped that matchup as a $1.03 road underdog, 7-6, while the combined 13 runs eclipsed the 9 ½-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 4-0-1 his last five starts.

-Rogers beat the Yankees April 29 as a $1.25 road underdog, 6-4, allowing two runs on six hits (one home run) with four walks and four strikeouts over six innings. The combined 10 runs landed directly on the closing total.

**Red Sox (Lester) at Twins (Bonser)**

-Caesars Palace opened Boston as a $1.30 road favorite over Minnesota, with the total listed at nine. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.

-Boston’s Jon Lester (2-2, 3.94 ERA) upended Tampa Bay Sunday as a $1.10 home ‘chalk,’ 7-3. The southpaw was reached for one run on four hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts over six innings.

-The combined 10 runs went ‘over’ the nine-run closing total, ending a three-game ‘under’ streak for the 24-year-old.

-Lester, a three-year veteran, has not started against the Twins the last few seasons.

-Minnesota pitcher Boof Bonser (2-4, 4.29 ERA) received a no-decision his last start Sunday against Detroit despite tossing a subpar six innings. The righty was tagged for six runs (five earned) on eight hits (one home run) with no walks and five strikeouts.

-The Twins eventually won that affair as a $1.07 home favorite, 7-6, while the combined 13 runs went ‘over’ the 9 ½-run closing total. The ‘under’ had gone 4-1 his previous five outings.

-Bonser beat the Red Sox last year as a decided $2.30 road underdog, 5-4, lasting five innings while surrendering three runs on six hits (one home run) with two walks and two strikeouts. The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total.

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