There is another busy sports weekend on tap, including a full slate of baseball games Saturday and Sunday. Today’s Tip Sheet is going to tackle a couple key contests in both the American and National Leagues, and there will be an upcoming article on the best home and away teams to wager on.

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**Braves (James) at Pirates (Gorzelanny)**

-Caesars Palace opened Atlanta as a $1.10 road ‘chalk’ over Pittsburgh, with the total set at 9 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This National League matchup is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.

-Atlanta’s Chuck James (2-1, 7.62 ERA) has won his last two starts after upending Florida April 24 as a $1.50 home favorite, 7-4. The southpaw surrendered four runs on five hits (one home run) with five walks and three strikeouts over five innings.

-The 26-year-old has been a spot starter for the Braves when not making periodical trips down to Triple-A.

-James went 1-0 against the Pirates last year in two starts, going a combined 13 innings while not allowing a run on three hits with six walks and seven strikeouts. The Braves prevailed as a $1.37 road ‘chalk,’ 9-2, and as a $1.40 home favorite, 5-4. The ‘over’ cashed in both meetings.

-Pittsburgh southpaw Tom Gorzelanny (2-3, 6.91 ERA) hasn’t pitched since April 30 when he beat New York as a $1.55 road underdog, 13-1. The four-year veteran tossed five innings of scoreless ball on one hit with five walks and four strikeouts.

-The combined 14 runs toppled the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ go 5-1 his six starts.

-Gorzelanny fell to the Braves April 2 as a $1.18 road underdog, 10-2, tossing six innings while yielding three runs on six hits (one home run) with three walks and three strikeouts. The combined 12 runs eclipsed the nine-run closing total.

**Rockies (Jimenez) at Padres (Maddux)**

-Caesars Palace installed San Diego as a $1.25 home favorite over Colorado, with the total listed at 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This NL West matchup is slated to start at 10:05 p.m. ET.

-Colorado pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 5.82 ERA) has received four consecutive no decisions after Monday’s outing against St. Louis. The Dominican Republic native went five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

-The Rockies eventually dropped that affair as a $1.33 home favorite, 6-5, while the combined 11 runs toppled the 10-run closing total. The ‘over’ has gone 3-1 his last four starts.

-The 24-year-old right-hander fell to the Padres April 15 as a $1.13 road underdog, 6-0, while the six runs went ‘under’ the 7 ½-run closing total. Jimenez was reached for six runs (two earned) on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.

-San Diego’s Greg Maddux (2-3, 4.09 ERA) dropped to 0-3 his last four starts after Sunday’s setback to Florida as a road ‘pick,’ 10-3. The veteran right-hander tossed 5 2/3 innings while surrendering five runs (four earned) on 11 hits (one home run) with a walk and four strikeouts.

-The combined 13 runs eclipsed the 9 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash his second straight start. The Padres have lost Maddux’s last four outings.

-The Cy Young recipient went 2-2 versus the Rockies last year in five starts, going a combined 28 1/3 innings while being tagged for 12 runs on 31 hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts. The Padres prevailed as a $1.10 home ‘chalk,’ 8-0, and as a $1.20 road underdog, 3-1, while losing as a road ‘pick,’ 4-2, a $1.27 road ‘dog, 7-5, and as a $1.30 home favorite, 7-3.

**Blue Jays (McGowan) at Indians (Laffey)**

-Caesars Palace lists Cleveland as a $1.30 home ‘chalk’ over Toronto, with the total set at 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This American League tilt is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.

-Toronto pitcher Dustin McGowan (2-2, 2.95 ERA) heads to the hill for the first time since beating Chicago Monday as a $1.15 home favorite, 1-0. The 6-foot-3 hurler tossed 7 1/3 innings of scoreless ball on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

-The lone run never seriously threatened the 7 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 6-0-1 his seven starts. The Blue Jays have lost all four of McGowan’s road starts this season.

-The right-hander received a no-decision against the Indians last year despite being reached for five runs on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts over five innings. The Blue Jays ended up dropping that contest as a $1.45 road underdog, 6-5, while the combined 11 runs toppled the 10-run closing total.

-Cleveland lefty Aaron Laffey (0-2, 2.84 ERA) fell to Kansas City Sunday as a $1.65 home ‘chalk,’ 2-0. The two-year veteran tossed a solid seven innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

-The two runs never seriously threatened the 8 1/2-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 2-0 when he’s starting.

-Laffey has never started against the Blue Jays in his brief major league career.

**White Sox (Vazquez) at Mariners (Washburn)**

-Caesars Palace opened Chicago as a $1.25 road favorite over Seattle, with the total listed at eight. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET.

-Chicago pitcher Javier Vazquez (3-3, 3.30 ERA) fell to 0-2 his last three starts after Monday’s setback to Toronto as a $1.10 road underdog, 1-0. The Puerto Rico native was reached for one run on eight hits (one home run) with a walk and nine strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings.

-The White Sox have lost his last three starts, while the ‘under’ has cashed his previous two outings.

-The veteran right-hander went 1-1 versus the Mariners last year in two starts, going a combined 14 1/3 innings while surrendering seven runs on 15 hits (three home runs) with two walks and eight strikeouts. The White Sox prevailed as a $1.25 home favorite, 5-3, while losing as a $1.10 road ‘dog, 5-2. The ‘under’ cashed both times.

-Seattle counters with Jarrod Washburn, hoping the left-hander can improve his 2-4 record and 4.81 ERA in seven starts. The Wisconsin native is off Monday’s victory over Texas as a $1.27 home ‘chalk,’ 7-3, lasting six innings while yielding three runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

-The combined 10 runs toppled the 8 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to cash his third consecutive contest.

-The 33-year-old went 1-1 against the White Sox last season in two starts, going a combined 13 2/3 innings while allowing seven runs on 11 hits (five home runs) with three walks and 10 strikeouts. The Mariners triumphed as a $1.15 home ‘chalk,’ 5-2, while losing as a $1.15 road underdog, 5-3. The ‘under’ prevailed in both matchups.

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