Weekend Watch

Saturday, April 27
The Athletics and Blue Jays do battle north of the border in a 3:07 p.m. ET start, with LHP Brett Anderson going for the A's and RHP Aaron Sanchez toeing the slab for the Jays. For what it's worth, the A's are 14-5 in their past 19 games on a Saturday. More importantly, they're 57-25 in the past 82 games against losing teams prior to Friday's game. While they're also 12-5 in the past 17 starts by Anderson against a losing team. they're just 1-4 in his past five on the road against losing teams, and 1-7 in his past eight starts on the road overall. The Jays enter this one 5-0 across the past five starts by Sanchez at home, and they're 10-4 in his past 14 overall. In addition, they're 4-1 in his past five at home against winning teams, although just 5-11 in his past 16 overall against winning sides and 1-4 in his past five against the American League West Division.

 For the second consecutive day, the Yankees and Giants have a lefty-on-lefty battle in San Francisco. Friday's game featured LHPs James Paxton vs. Madison Bumgarner, while Saturday will have LHP J.A. Happ against LHP Derek Holland. The Yankees are 6-1 in Happ's past seven road outings, 12-5 in his past 17 overall and 7-3 in his past 10 against teams with a losing overall record. The Giants are 1-5 in Holland's past six starts overall, and 1-6 in his past seven against winning teams while going 1-4 in his past five outings at home.

The Rangers and Mariners tangle at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night in a 'Battle of Mikes' with LHP Mike Minor against RHP Mike Leake. The Rangers are just 2-5 in Minor's past seven starts overall and 3-8 in his past 11 against teams with a winning overall record. However, the Rangers are 6-2 across Minor's past eight starts inside the division. The M's are 5-1 in their past six at home against left-handed starting pitchers, while going 9-3 in the pas 12 vs. LHP overall. They're also 4-1 in Leake's past five at home, while going a perfect 5-0 in his past five starts on a Saturday.

In the late game, RHP Joe Musgrove looks to turn things around against the Dodgers in L.A. The Bucs are just 1-6 in Musgrove's past seven starts on the road, 1-6 in his past seven against the NL West and 1-4 in his past five on the road against teams with a winning overall record. LHP Clayton Kershaw is on the bump for the Dodgers, and L.A. is 43-12 in his past 55 home outings, while going 49-15 in his past 64 at home against winning teams. The over is 4-1 in Kershaw's past five outings against Pittsburgh, although the under is 4-1 in his past five home starts against the Pirates.

Weather Report
The Reds and Cardinals will face overcast conditions at Busch Stadium and a stiff wind blowing 15-18 mph from first base to left field. In D.C. the wind will be blowing from third base to first base at a 12-15 mph clip, dying down by the final innings of the game. The Rays and Red Sox will also be dealing wit ha stiff wind blowing out from home plate to right field at a steady 15-17 mph clip. The same holds true for the Marlins and Phillies, blowing out of the bandbox at 'The Vault' with a 13-17 mph wind to right field. For the Brewers-Mets in New York, the winds gust left to right at 11-14 mph.

Wind will be an issue all over the Midwest, too. For the Tigers-White Sox, a chilly rain turning to, believe it or not, snow, will be falling, so expect a cancellation. If they do get underway, it will be a raw, cold wind blowing in from 20-24 mph. For the Angels-Royals in K.C. they will have a 17-21 mph wind blowing from third to first base, knocking down fly balls for right-handed hitters. 

Sunday, April 28

RHPs Pablo Lopez and RHP Zach Eflin do battle in Philadelphia in the series finale. Eflin has been up and down during the early going, posting just two quality starts in six starts so far this season, compiling a 2-3 record and 4.15 ERA. That includes a loss in Miami on April 13 in his first start against the Marlins, allowing season highs of six earned runs and 10 hits in just four innings. Lopez also has a 2-3 record and a 4.44 ERA, so total bettors might be leaning to the over. However, watch the wind, as it will be blowing in hard (see below). Lopez posted his first quality start of the season last time out, posting just one unearned run, two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in Cleveland.

RHP Lance Lynn takes the ball for the Rangers, facing RHP Erik Swanson of the Mariners. Lynn has been very giving, posting a 2-2 record and 6.51 ERA through five starts. He was tuned up for a season-high eight earned runs and nine hits over just 3 1/3 innings in a loss in Oakland on April 23 last time out. He needed an awful 23.7 pitches per inning. The Rangers are 1-2 in his three outings against American League West Division foes so far this season. Swanson is winless in two starts and three appearances, although he has a quality start in his only start this season in Seattle. He allowed one earned run, two hits and no walks with five strikeouts over six innings in a loss against Cleveland.

The Indians and Astros do battle on Sunday Night Baseball, and it looks like RHP Carlos Carrasco (knee) will be a go for his scheduled start. He left his last outing in the fifth inning after a collision, suffering a knee ailment. He went for what was called a precautionary MRI and everything checked out fine and he is expected to be able to go. It's been a tough go for Carrasco by his standards, going 2-2 with a 6.00 ERA through five starts. However, he has been his usual self from a strikeouts perspective, whiffing 33 over just 21 innings. LHP Wade Miley will take the ball for the Astros, and he enters with a 1-2 record and 3.58 ERA over 27 2/3 innings across five outings. He has back-to-back quality starts heading into this one, although he is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA over the 12-inning span.The Astros are 3-1 over his past four starts, including 2-0 at home this season.

Weather Report

The rains will be rolling in midway through the afternoon game between the Rays and Red Sox. The Marlins and Phillies will be battling winds from 12-15 mph from the left-center field power alley into the face of the batters, making 'The Vault' play bigger than it is. For the Padres-Nationals series finale, the winds will be gusting 15-18 mph blowing directly from the center field seats into home plate. 

Like Saturday, the Midwest will be under the gun as far as winds are concerned. In both Minnesota and Kansas City, the winds will be blowing from first base to third base at a 12-15 mph clip, limiting the ability of left-handed power hitters for the O's-Twins and Angels-Royals games. Those will be the only trouble spots, with a handful of games in neutral conditions in venues with retractable roofs.