Weekend Watch

18 And Life

The San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies played into the wee hours on Friday night, going 18 innings before the Giants finally outlasted the Rockies 3-2. The game ended just before 1:00 a.m. PDT, and they have a quick turnaround with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch in San Francisco. LHP Kyle Freeland and LHP Madison Bumgarner might find some tired, slugging hitters stepping into the box. It's not like that two offenses have been tearing it up anyway.

The Rockies are 9-1 in Freeland's past 10 starts against the National League West, and 6-2 in the left-handers past eight road outings. They're also 23-8 in the past 31 starts overall by Freeland. In addition, they're 5-2 in the past seven road starts by Freeland against teams with a losing record. However, they have dropped six in a row inside the division while going 0-5 in the past five vs. LHP. The Rockies are also 2-5 in the past seven road outings against a southpaw pitcher. For the Rockies, they have also dropped eight of their past 10 games at Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park), while going 1-4 in the past five meetings overall.

 The under is 10-1 in the past 11 meetings in this series, and 20-8-1 in the past 29 meetings in San Francisco, including the first two in this series. The under is also 4-1 in MadBum's past five outings against the Rockies, and 6-2 in the past eight starts by Freeland against the Giants. The under is 22-7-1 in Freeland's past 30 starts against NL West foes, while the under is 20-6-2 in the past 28 at home for the Giants. The under is also 12-3-1 in the past 16 home starts by MadBum, whiole going an impressive 16-5-2 in his past 23 starts against the NL West.

Looking Ahead

Saturday, April 13

The A's and Rangers continue their battle in Arlington with RHP Marco Estrada and RHP Adrian Sampson facing off. Will someone be able to cool off Khris Davis? He swatted his league-leading 10th home run in Friday night's game. The A's have won four in a row on the road, and they're 42-15 in the past 57 against teams with a losing record. They're also 3-9 in the past 12 road starts against a right-handed starter. They're a dismal 0-4 in the past four starts by Marco Estrada. The Rangers have won just one of the past six, and they're 18-38 in the past 56 against teams with a winning record. However, they're 0-4 in the past four starts by Sampson, while going 0-4 in the past four vs. AL West opponents. The over has hit in each of the past four meetings, and is 5-1-1 in the past seven meetings in Arlington. The A's have also won five in a row in Texas, and 22 of the past 30 overall in this series.

The Astros and Mariners continue their AL West set at T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field) on Saturday night. Houston has rattled off four consecutive victories aginst divisional foes, while going 4-0 in the past four against teams with a winning overall record. In addition, the 'Stros are a perfect 5-0 in their past five tries against AL West opponents. RHP Justin Verlander will be toeing the slab, and the Astros have won 19 of his past 23 starts on the road, while winning nine of his past 11 starts and five starts in a row on the road against teams with a winning overall mark.

For the M's, they're 7-1 in the past eight games inside the division, while going 13-3 in the past 16 games vs. RHP. In addition, they're 5-1 in the past six at home against righties, while going 17-5 in the past 22 games overall. However, they have a dismal 3-9 in the past 12 starts by Felix Hernandez, and 2-5 in his past seven at home. They're also a dismal 1-9 in the past 10 starts by King Felix against teams with a winning record. Houston has won 35 of their past 52 trips to Seattle, while the M's are 4-1 in Hernandez's past five starts at home against the Astros. Something's gotta give. The over is also 4-1 in the past five meetings in Seattle, while going 8-3-1 in Hernandez's past 12 starts against Houston.

Weather Report

The weather during the daytime looks fine with no wind issues swaying the total. However, for the 6:10 p.m. CDT game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds we should see plenty of wind in Monterrey Baseball Stadium in Mexico. The forecast calls for temperatures near 90 degrees at game time with winds blowing out to the left-center field power alley at 13-16 mph. 

In Arlington, the A's and Rangers might experience a lengthy delay, as the forecast calls for 70 percent or greater chances of rain until around midnight local time. If and when they do get underway, the wind is forecast from 18-22 mph to blow out to straightaway center field. Those are the only potential trouble spots.

Sunday, April 14

The Cardinals will look to continue their strong play with RHP Miles Mikolas on the hill. They're 13-2 in his past 15 starts against losing teams, while going 6-1 in his past seven on the road. They're also a whopping 14-2 in the past 16 outings while working on five days of rest. It's the complete opposite picture for RHP Anthony DeSclafani and the Reds. They're 0-4 in DeSclafani's past four against NL Central teams, 0-6 in their past six starts overall and 0-5 in the past five starts against teams with a winning overall record. However, the Reds are 4-0 in the past four home starts by DeSclafani against the Cards, and they're 4-1 in his past five against St. Louis. The under is 4-0 in DeSclafani's past four home starts against the Cards, too.

After taking a licking in Friday's game in Kansas City, the Indians look to bounce back Sunday with their ace RHP Corey Kluber on the bump. The Indians have posted a 13-3 record in the past 16 road outings by Klubot against teams with a losing record, and they're 35-16 in his past 51 starts against AL Central foes. However, they are just 2-5 in his past seven road outings. Royals RHP Jakob Junis has been a mess. The Royals are 7-16 in the past 23 starts, while going 2-11 in his past 13 outings against teams with a winning record. They're also 1-6 in his past seven at home against teams with a winning overall mark. The over is 5-1 in Kluber's past six road starts against the Royals, and the Indians are just 2-8 in his past 10 starts at Kauffman Stadium.

In the Sunday night game in Atlanta, the Mets will wheel out RHP Jacob deGrom and the Braves will counter with RHP Julio Teheran. The Mets are 4-0 in deGrom's past four starts against divisional foes, while going 4-1 in the past five road outings. For the Braves, they're 4-1 in Teheran's past five home starts, while going 9-2 in his past 11 home outings against teams with a winning record. They're 7-3 in Teheran's past 10 starts overall, too. The under is a solid 21-8-2 in the past 31 starts overall by deGrom, while going 5-1-1 in his past seven on the road. The over is 4-1 in the past five starts overall, but the under is 20-8-1 in the past 29 home outings by Teheran. The under is also 4-0 in the past four home starts by Teheran against the Mets, and 5-2 in his past seven overall vs. NYM. The under is 6-2 in deGrom's past eight starts on the road against the Braves, while going a perfect 6-0 in his past six against Atlanta.

Weather Report

The winds will pick up in the nation's capital for the series finale between the Pirates and Nationals. The wind will be gusting from 10-13 mph out to the left-field power alley. In Kansas City, the wind will be blowing from left field to first base at a 10-13 mph clip, possibly knocking down any potential fly balls.

On the north side of Chicago, there is snow in the forecast for the first pitch. There is a 75 percent chance of snow, tailing off by 3:00 p.m. CDT. There will be a cold wind, too, blowing 16-19 mph from left-center field into the face of the batters. In other words, very miserable and un-April-like conditions. Since it's an interleague game between the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs, they'll likely do anything they have to do to get this game in, even if it doesn't start until the evening after a lengthy delay. While temperatures will be freezing or below by 5 p.m. CDT, the precipitation chances will be 20 percent or less.

In Texas, and in San Francisco, the winds will be blowing out to straightaway center field at a 10-13 mph clip, so watch the overs in those two contests.

On Sunday night, the Mets and Braves will see a 13-16 mph wind blowing right to left, knocking down balls hit up into the air.