The Fourth of July holiday weekend is here, and what’s more American than wagering on the national pastime? This is the slow time in athletics, with pro football camps still three weeks away from opening and the Summer Olympics won’t take center stage for another month.

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Outside of the Ultimate Fighting Championship this weekend, baseball will take the spotlight during the holiday weekend. The All-Star break is still a few weeks away, but there are plenty of baseball games on Friday’s schedule. Now let’s break down four of Friday’s marquee matchups.

**Dodgers (Lowe) at Giants (Sanchez)**

-Caesars Palace installed San Francisco as a $1.10 home ‘chalk’ over Los Angeles, with the total set at 7 ½. This National League West tilt is slated to start at 4:05 p.m. ET.

-Los Angeles pitcher Derek Lowe (5-8, 3.88 ERA) dropped to 1-3 his last four starts after Sunday’s setback to the Los Angeles Angels as a $1.25 home underdog, 1-0. The right-hander went seven innings, yielding the lone run on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

-The lone run never seriously threatened the seven-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to cash his fourth consecutive contest.

-The 6-foot-6 hurler picked up a no-decision against the Giants April 1, tossing six innings while being reached for two runs on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The Dodgers ended up winning that affair as a $1.60 home favorite, 3-2, while the combined five runs failed to topple the 7 1/2-run closing total.

-San Francisco left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (8-4, 3.79 ERA) improved to 4-1 his last five starts after upending Oakland Sunday as a $1.25 road underdog, 11-1. The Puerto Rico product surrendered the lone run on four hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings.

-The combined 12 runs eclipsed the eight-run closing total, ending back-to-back ‘under’ outings for the 25-year-old.

-Sanchez picked up a no-decision against the Dodgers last year after going seven innings and allowing three runs on eight hits (one home run) with no walks and five strikeouts. The Giants eventually triumphed as a $1.18 home underdog, 5-4, while the combined nine runs slithered ‘over’ the 8 ½-run closing total.

**Cubs (Zambrano) at Cardinals (Looper)**

-Caesars Palace opened Chicago as a $1.30 road favorite over St. Louis, with the total listed at 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This NL Central contest is scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. ET.

-Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano (8-3, 3.13 ERA) returns to the starting rotation after going on the 15-day disabled list because of inflammation in his pitching shoulder. The Venezuela native went on the shelf after a June 18 setback to Tampa Bay as a $1.20 road ‘chalk,’ 5-4, pitching 6 2/3 innings while surrendering five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

-The combined nine runs toppled the eight-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 6-2 his last eight outings.

-Zambrano went 3-0 against the Cardinals last season in three starts, going a combined 21 1/3 innings while yielding four runs on 16 hits (two home runs) with five walks and 10 strikeouts. The Cubs prevailed as a $1.00 road underdog, 8-1, a $1.40 road ‘dog, 4-3, and as a $1.20 road ‘dog, 5-3.

-St. Louis gives the starting assignment to Braden Looper, hoping the right-hander can improve on his 9-5 record and 4.50 ERA. The Wichita State product lasted just 3 1/3 innings against Kansas City in Sunday’s no decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

-The Cardinals eventually prevailed as a $1.10 road underdog, 9-6, while the combined 15 runs soared ‘over’ the nine-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 6-2 in Looper’s past eight outings.

-The 11-year veteran went 2-1 against the Cubs last year in four starts, going a combined 27 innings while being reached for five runs on 17 hits (two home runs) with nine walks and 17 strikeouts. The Cardinals prevailed as a $1.27 road underdog, 2-1, and as a $1.10 home ‘chalk,’ 11-1, while losing as a $1.25 road ‘dog, 2-1, and as a $1.00 home selection, 3-2. The ‘under’ went 3-1 during those four outings.

**Indians (Byrd) at Twins (Hernandez)**

-Caesars Palace lists Minnesota as a $1.20 home ‘chalk’ over Cleveland, with the total set at 9 ½. This American League Central matchup is slated to start at 7:10 p.m. ET.

-Cleveland’s Paul Byrd (3-9, 5.26 ERA) heads to the hill searching for his first victory in almost a month. The veteran right-hander has dropped his last four starts after Saturday’s setback to Cincinnati as a $1.10 home favorite, 5-0. The Louisiana State product went six innings, surrendering four runs on six hits (one home run) with three walks and four strikeouts.

-The five runs failed to eclipse the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his second consecutive start. The Indians are just 1-8 his last nine starts overall.

-Byrd is 0-1 against the Twins this year in two starts, tossing a combined 10 innings while yielding seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits (two home runs) with a walk and three strikeouts. The Indians fell as a road ‘pick,’ 2-1, and as a $1.35 home favorite, 8-5.

-Minnesota righty Livan Hernandez (8-5, 5.22 ERA) had recorded back-to-back victories before Saturday’s setback to Milwaukee as a $1.03 home selection, 5-1. The veteran hurler went seven innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

-The combined six runs failed to topple the 9 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to cash his third consecutive contest.

-The Cuba native was roughed up by Cleveland June 12 as a $1.70 road underdog, 12-2, getting tagged for seven runs on 12 hits (two home runs) with no walks and a strikeout over just three innings. The combined 14 innings went ‘over’ the 9 ½-run closing total.

**Blue Jays (Burnett) at Angels (Weaver)**

-Caesars Palace opened Los Angeles as a $1.25 home favorite over Toronto, with the total set at 7 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). First pitch is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. ET.

-Toronto pitcher A.J. Burnett (8-6, 4.61 ERA) toes the rubber riding a personal two-game winning streak after beating Atlanta Sunday as a $1.50 home ‘chalk,’ 1-0. The 6-foot-5 hurler tossed seven scoreless innings on four hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts.

-The lone run never seriously threatened the 8 ½-run closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings for the right-hander.

-Burnett is 1-0 against the Angels this season in two starts, tossing a combined 14 innings while surrendering five runs on nine hits (one home run) with five walks and 14 strikeouts. The Blue Jays triumphed as a $1.30 home favorite, 4-3, while falling as a $1.10 road ‘chalk,’ 4-3. The ‘under’ cashed both times.

-Los Angeles hurler Jered Weaver (7-8, 4.30 ERA) heads to the hill for the first time since suffering his tough-luck loss to the Dodgers Saturday as a $1.10 road underdog, 1-0. The 6-foot-7 hurler didn’t allow a hit, but one unearned run with three walks and six strikeouts over six innings.

-The lone run never seriously threatened the 7 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 3-1 his last four starts.

-The right-hander fell to Toronto May 30 as a $1.30 home ‘chalk,’ 10-4, going just four innings while yielding six runs on 10 hits (one home run) with no walks and two strikeouts. The combined 14 runs eclipsed the eight-run closing total.

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