There are only nine games on Thursday’s MLB card, including a trio of afternoon tilts in the National League. All three AL games will be played under the lights. Let’s touch on a few quick-hit topics regarding Thursday’s card.

--Pittsburgh will play host to the Mets at 12:35 p.m. Eastern. Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Pirates as minus-130 favorites. New York is 16-22 on the road, while Pittsburgh is 22-16 at home. The Pirates have seen the ‘under’ hit in seven straight games.

--San Diego will take on Houston at 3:35 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. The Padres are short home underdogs at most books. They are 16-16 against lefties and will be squaring off against Astros’ LHP Wandy Rodriguez in this spot. Rodriguez (6-6, 3.35 ERA) has a 2-2 record and 5.47 lifetime ERA against the Padres.

Advertisement

--Atlanta will be trying to stay in the mix in the NL East when it hosts Philadelphia in their series finale Thursday night at Turner Field. LVSC installed the Braves as minus-135 home favorites. They will send Javier Vasquez (5-7, 3.04) to the bump. The right-hander has been extremely sharp recently, but he’s received little run support. Despite a 2.01 ERA, Vasquez is 1-2 in his last three outings. He has an 11-7 career record against the Phillies.

--Philadelphia SS Jimmy Rollins was given four games off by skipper Charlie Manuel before returning to the lineup in Tuesday’s extra-innings loss to Atlanta. In his return, Rollins went 0-for-5. He’s only 8-for-50 (.160) against the veteran Vasquez, but Rollins has popped a pair of homers versus the right-hander.

--Barry Zito (4-7, 4.55) will get the call for the Giants in their series finale at St. Louis. He is 0-3 with a 4.57 lifetime ERA against the Cardinals. Zito has a 6.61 ERA in his last three assignments.

--The Cards are 12-13 versus lefties.

--Even after Tuesday’s debacle in which the Red Sox let a 10-1 lead get away in the seventh inning of an 11-10 defeat, Boston maintains the best bullpen in the majors with a 3.24 ERA.

--Washington has the worst ‘pen in the majors with an abysmal 5.64 ERA. This group has just 12 saves in 29 chances.

--The Yankees are the most expensive favorites (minus-270) on Thursday’s board. They will take on Seattle at Yankee Stadium. LHP C.C. Sabathia (7-4, 3.55) will get the starting nod for the Bronx Bombers, while the Mariners will counter with LHP Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.79). The Yankees are 13-7 versus southpaws, while the M’s are 13-9 against lefties.

--Sabathia is 4-3 with a 2.95 career ERA against Seattle. Vargas has never faced the Yankees.

--After Wednesday’s 5-3 win over the Nats, the Marlins improved to 13-4 in RHP Josh Johnson’s starts. Florida also pulled to within one game of the Phillies for the NL East lead (pending Philly’s Wednesday result).

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.