St Louis (69-68) @ Milwaukee (80-57)
— Pallante is 2-0, 2.29 in his last three starts.
— Cardinals are 3-4 in his road starts.
— under 7-3 last ten
— allowed run in first inning: 3-15
— record in first 5 innings: 9-3-3
— He is 0-0, 4.08 in 12 relief stints (17.2 IP) vs Milwaukee.

— Cardinals are 8-4 in last 12 games.
— They’re 33-36 on road.
— Cardinals are 3-13 in last 16 series openers.
— over 5-2 last seven games
— scored run in first inning: 30-137
— record in first 5 innings: 54-62-20
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 2.2-2-5

— Peralta is 2-0, 0.53 in his last three starts.
— Brewers are 4-6 in his last ten starts.
— under 3-1 last four
— allowed run in first inning: 8-27
— record in first 5 innings: 11-14-2
— He is 0-0, 1.59 in three starts vs St Louis TY.

— Brewers are 13-5 in their last 18 games.
— They’re 40-25 at home.
— Brewers are 12-9 in home series openers.
— over 6-4 last ten games
— scored run in first inning: 36-137
— record in first 5 innings: 64-53-20
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 8-3-5

Los Angeles (82-55) @ Arizona (77-60)
— Flaherty is 3-1, 3.86 in five starts for LA.
— Dodgers are 3-2 in his starts.
— over 3-1-1
— allowed run in first inning: 1-5
— record in first 5 innings: 3-1-1
— He is 1-2, 4.41 in six starts vs Arizona.

— Dodgers are 19-8 in their last 27 games.
— Dodgers are 37-31 on road.
— over 4-1 last five games.
— scored run in first inning: 48-137
— record in first 5 innings: 70-52-15
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 8-4-2.2

— Rodriguez is 2-0, 5.06 in four starts.
— Arizona is 4-0 in his starts.
— over 2-2
— allowed run in first inning: 0-4
— record in first 5 innings: 2-1-1
— He is 1-3, 5.85 in four starts vs Los Angeles.

— Arizona is 2-4 in its last six games.
— Diamondbacks are 39-30 at home.
— over 26-7 last 33 games
— scored run in first inning: 46-137
— record in first 5 innings: 65-50-22
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 4-3.1-3.1

Pittsburgh (63-73) @ Cubs (71-66)
— Jones is 1-1, 4.50 in his last three starts.
— Pirates are 7-10 in his starts.
— over 8-2 last 10
— allowed run in first inning: 4-17
— record in first 5 innings: 8-6-3
— He is 1-2, 6.19 in three starts vs Chicago TY.

— Pirates lost six of last eight games.
— They’re 31-37 on road.
— Pirates are 9-13 in road series openers.
— over 6-3 last nine games
— scored run in first inning: 27-136
— record in first 5 innings: 54-59-23
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 5-3-2.2

— Taillon is 1-2, 6.11 in his last three starts.
— Chicago is 2-5 in his last seven starts.
— over 4-1 last five
— allowed run in first inning: 5-23
— record in first 5 innings: 12-10-1
— He is 1-1, 5.56 in two starts vs Pittsburgh TY.

— Cubs are 9-1 in their last ten games.
— They’re 36-29 at home.
— Cubs are 5-2 in last seven home series openers.
— over 9-2 last 11 games
— scored run in first inning: 31-137
— record in first 5 innings: 59-57-21
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 3-3-3.1

White Sox (31-107) @ Baltimore (79-59)
— Flexen is 0-2, 3.98 in his last four games.
— White Sox lost his last 19 starts.
— under 3-0 last three
— allowed run in first inning: 9-25
— record in first 5 innings: 6-13-6
— He is 1-1, 5.23 in four starts vs Baltimore.

— White Sox lost their last 10 games.
— Chicago is 13-53 on road.
— White Sox are 2-19 in road series openers.
— under 6-0 last six games
— scored run in first inning: 28-138
— record in first 5 innings: 49-68-21
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 4-4-5.2

— Burnes is 0-3, 10.43 in his last three starts.
— Orioles are 6-6 in his last 12 starts.
— over 13-5 last 18
— allowed run in first inning: 7-27
— record in first 5 innings: 17-8-2
— He is 1-0, 4.64 in three starts vs Chicago.

— Baltimore is 9-11 in its last 20 games.
— Orioles are 39-30 at home.
— Orioles are 4-7 in last 11 home series openers.
— under 12-6 last 18 games
— scored run in first inning: 37-138
— record in first 5 innings: 70-52-16
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 2-4.2-2

Cleveland (78-59) @ Kansas City (75-63)
— Williams is 0-3, 6.75 in his last three starts.
— Cleveland is 3-8 in his starts.
— under 8-3
— allowed run in first inning: 3-11
— record in first 5 innings: 2-7-2
— He is 1-1, 2.08 in four starts vs Kansas City.

— Cleveland is 6-10 in its last 16 games.
— Guardians are 35-34 on road.
— Guardians are 3-5 in last eight series openers.
— under 5-2 last seven games
— scored run in first inning: 37-137
— record in first 5 innings: 60-59-18
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 4.2-3-3

— Wacha is 5-0, 3.08 in his last eight starts.
— Royals are 9-2 in his last 11 starts.
— over 4-0 last four
— allowed run in first inning: 5-24
— record in first 5 innings: 10-10-4
— He is 0-0, 4.77 in two starts vs Cleveland TY.

— Royals lost their last five games.
— Royals are 41-28 at home.
— Royals are 15-7 in home series openers.
— over 8-5 last 13 games
— scored run in first inning: 37-138
— record in first 5 innings: 66-51-21
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 1.2-3-3

Minnesota (74-62) @ Tampa Bay (67-69)
— Woods-Richardson is 2-0, 4.30 in his last three starts.
— Minnesota is 16-8 in his starts.
— over 4-2 last six
— allowed run in first inning: 3-24
— record in first 5 innings: 10-7-7
— He gave up 2 runs in 6 IP, in his one start vs Tampa Bay.

— Twins lost nine of last 13 games.
— Twins are 35-32 on road.
— Twins are 9-13 in road series openers.
— under 6-2 last eight games.
— scored run in first inning: 38-136
— record in first 5 innings: 61-59-16
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 1.1-7-3

— Littell is 2-1, 1.99 in his last four starts.
— Rays are 6-9 in his last 15 starts.
— under 5-1 last six
— allowed run in first inning: 8-24
— record in first 5 innings: 8-10-6
— He is 0-1, 3.21 in two starts vs Minnesota

— Tampa Bay is 3-7 in its last ten games.
— Rays are 35-36 at home.
— Rays are 1-8 in last nine series openers.
— over 3-1 last four games.
— scored run in first inning: 34-136
— record in first 5 innings: 45-71-20
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 6.2-4-6

Seattle (69-68) @ Oakland (59-78)
— Gilbert is 0-2, 6.35 in his last three starts.
— Seattle is 2-8 in his last ten starts.
— under 7-4 last 11
— allowed run in first inning: 4-27
— record in first 5 innings: 10-11-6
— He is 2-1, 3.09 in ten starts vs Oakland.

— Seattle is 5-4 since they changed managers.
— Mariners are 28-40 on road.
— Mariners are 9-13 in road series openers.
— under 6-3 last nine games
— scored run in first inning: 37-137
— record in first 5 innings: 62-56-19
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 3.1-2.2-3.1

— Bido is 3-0, 1.17 in his last four starts.
— A’s are 5-3 in his starts.
— under 4-1 last five starts
— allowed run in first inning: 1-8
— record in first 5 innings: 4-3-1
— This is his first start against Seattle.

— A’s are 5-7 in last 12 games.
— Oakland is 33-35 at home.
— A’s are 12-2 in last 14 series openers.
— over 4-1 last five games
— scored run in first inning: 32-137
— record in first 5 innings: 52-76-9
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 2-2-4.2

Bronx (79-58) @ Texas (65-72)
— Cole is 2-1, 1.61 in his last four starts.
— New York is 7-5 in his starts.
— under 6-2 last eight
— allowed run in first inning: 2-12
— record in first 5 innings: 5-6-1
— He is 6-4, 3.74 in 16 starts vs Texas.

— New York is 3-5 in its last eight games.
— They’re 42-27 on road.
— New York is 13-9 in road series openers.
— under 6-0 last six road games
— scored run in first inning: 49-137
— record in first 5 innings: 67-54-16
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 2-5-5

— bullpen game

— Rangers are 9-4 in last 13 games.
— Texas is 36-32 at home.
— Rangers are 6-8 in last 14 series openers.
— under 11-5 last sixteen games
— scored run in first inning: 42-137
— record in first 5 innings: 54-60-23
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 4.1-2-5.1

Houston (75-62) @ Cincinnati (65-73)
— Verlander is 0-2, 5.87 in his last three starts.
— Astros are 4-8 in his starts.
— under 7-5
— allowed run in first inning: 4-12
— record in first 5 innings: 3-7-2
— He is 1-1, 3.15 in three starts vs Cincinnati

— Houston won its last five games.
— Astros are 36-33 on road.
— Astros are 6-3 in last nine series openers.
— under 19-12 last 31 games
— scored run in first inning: 41-137
— record in first 5 innings: 65-52-20
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 2-2-4

— Aguiar is 1-0, 6.42 in three starts.
— Reds are 3-0 in his starts.
— over 3-0
— allowed run in first inning: 1-3
— record in first 5 innings: 1-1-1
— He hasn’t pitched against the Astros

— Reds lost 11 of last 17 games.
— They’re 33-39 at home.
— Reds are 10-6 in last 16 home series openers.
— over 9-5 last 14 games
— scored run in first inning: 36-138
— record in first 5 innings: 60-58-20
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 9.2-9-7.2

Detroit (70-68) @ San Diego (78-61)
— Tigers haven’t maned a starter

— Detroit won 15 of last 20 games.
— Tigers are 35-34 on road.
— Tigers are 5-2 in last seven road series openers.
— under 5-1 last six games
— scored run in first inning: 40-138
— record in first 5 innings: 57-60-21
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 3-1-4

— Musgrove is 1-0, 1.66 in his last four starts.
— San Diego is 8-6 in his starts.
— under 6-0 last six
— allowed run in first inning: 5-14
— record in first 5 innings: 4-5-5
— He is 0-1, 3.86 in two starts vs Detroit.

— Padres are 9-8 in their last 17 games.
— They’re 37-32 at home.
— Padres are 9-3 in last 12 series openers.
— under 3-1 last four games.
— scored run in first inning: 40-139
— record in first 5 innings: 60-61-18
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 4-3.2-4

Boston (70-67) @ NY Mets (73-64)
— Bello is 2-1, 2.49 in his last four starts.
— Red Sox are 9-2 in his last 11 starts.
— over 8-4 last 12 starts
— allowed run in first inning: 8-25
— record in first 5 innings: 16-7-2
— He hasn’t pitched against the Mets.

— Red Sox are 3-8 in last 11 games.
— They’re 39-29 on road.
— Red Sox are 12-10 in road series openers.
— under 6-2 last eight games
— scored run in first inning: 46-137
— record in first 5 innings: 69-50-18
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 4-2-4

— Severino is 2-0, 2.41 in his last three starts.
— Mets are 10-6 in his last 16 starts.
— over 3-1 last four starts
— allowed run in first inning: 2-26
— record in first 5 innings: 13-10-2
— He is 5-7, 4.06 in 14 starts vs Boston.

— New York is 12-6 in its last 18 games.
— Mets are 35-33 at home.
— Mets are 9-1 in last 10 home series openers.
— under 4-1 last five home games
— scored run in first inning: 34-136
— record in first 5 innings: 63-54-20
— bullpen IP last 3 days: 3.2-4-2

Jack Flaherty (LAD) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI)

Since his first start of 2024 against the Guardians (5 2/3 IP, 2 BB, 1 K), Eduardo Rodriguez has shown solid command (15 2/3 IP, 3 BB, 15 K) and generated pitch modeling ratings (76 Stuff+, 110 Location+, 98 Pitching+, 3.93 botERA) comparable to prior seasons.

Moreover, his velocity has steadily increased in each outing, going from 91.2 to 92.1 mph across four appearances, reaching his average level from last season (92.2 mph).

The rest of season projections remain high on Rodriguez – putting his projected FIP range between 3.78 and 4.10.

While that's a comparable range as Jack Flahery (projected 3.71 to 4.07), the latter has undoubtedly been the better pitcher this season (3.28 xERA, 26.3% K-BB%, 96 Stuff+, 104 Location+, 103 Pitching+, 4.03 botERA), while continuing to excel since the trade deadline (28 1/3 IP, 34 K, 7 BB, 3.49 ERA, 3.50 xFIP).

Offensively, the Dodgers are as healthy and dangerous as they have been all year – with a 129 wRC+ (4th in MLB) as a team since Max Muncy returned to the lineup on August 19.

Still, the Diamondbacks offense has been surging for the entire second half, with an MLB-best 133 wRC+ as a team, including a 131 wRC+ – one spot ahead of the Dodgers since August 19, a stretch without Ketel Marte.

Corbin Carroll (1.042 OPS, 173 wRC+ in August) has put a dismal first half (.635 OPS, 79 wRC+) behind him. Teammates including Joc Pederson (203 WRC+), Eugenio Suarez (135), Lourdes Gurriel (130), Jake McCarthy (140), Geraldo Perdomo (117), and Adrian Del Castillo (158) have all provided significant second-half contributions to compensate for injuries to Marte and Christian Walker.

Trend: CHC is 14-3 (+9.38 units) as a favorite in the -145 to -165 range by starter Jameson Taillon in the last five seasons
System Match: PLAY CHICAGO CUBS (-155 vs. PIT)

OAK letdown after series vs. TEXAS: 11-19 (36.7%) -9.23 units, ROI: -30.8%
System Matches: FADE OAKLAND (+120 vs. SEA)

(901) ST LOUIS (69-68) at (902) MILWAUKEE (80-57)
Trend: STL more Under during the day (23-33 O/U)
System Match: PLAY UNDER the total (o/u at 7.5)

(903) LOS ANGELES-NL (82-55) at (904) ARIZONA (77-60)
Trend: LAD better vs. LH starters (30-14, +3.06 units)
System Match: PLAY LA DODGERS (-142 at AZ)

(907) CHICAGO-AL (31-107) at (908) BALTIMORE (79-59)
Trend: BAL slight Over vs. AL Central/West (31-18 O/U)
System Match: PLAY OVER the total (o/u at 8)

(909) CLEVELAND (78-59) at (910) KANSAS CITY (75-63)
Trend: KC better at home (41-28, +7.90 units)
System Match: PLAY KANSAS CITY (-115 vs. CLE)

(911) MINNESOTA (74-62) at (912) TAMPA BAY (67-69)
Trend: TB trending Under vs. AL Central/West (19-33 O/U)
System Match: PLAY UNDER the total (o/u at 8)

(913) SEATTLE (69-68) at (914) OAKLAND (59-78)
Trend: SEA bad on the road (28-40, -19.95 units)
System Match: FADE SEATTLE (-142 at OAK)

(915) NEW YORK-AL (79-58) at (916) TEXAS (65-72)
Trend: TEX trending Under at home (23-43 O/U)
System Match: PLAY UNDER the total (o/u at 9)

(919) DETROIT (70-68) at (920) SAN DIEGO (78-61)
Trend: SD slight Over at home (41-26 O/U)
System Match: PLAY OVER the total (o/u at 7.5)

(901) ST LOUIS (69-68) at (902) MILWAUKEE (80-57)
Trend: MIL is 5-10 (-11.45 units) in September/October with starter Freddy Peralta in the last three seasons
System Match: FADE MILWAUKEE (-175 vs STL)

Trend: MIL is 5-8 (-6.45 units) vs St Louis with starter Freddy Peralta in the last five seasons
System Match: FADE MILWAUKEE (-175 vs STL)

(903) LOS ANGELES-NL (82-55) at (904) ARIZONA (77-60)
Trend: Jack Flaherty is 4-6 (-2.65 units) in road games against NL West opponents
System Match: FADE LA DODGERS (-142 at AZ)

(905) PITTSBURGH (63-73) at (906) CHICAGO-NL (71-66)
Trend: CHC is 14-3 (+9.38 units) as a favorite in the -145 to -165 range by starter Jameson Taillon in the last five seasons
System Match: PLAY CHICAGO CUBS (-155 vs. PIT)

(909) CLEVELAND (78-59) at (910) KANSAS CITY (75-63)
Trend: Gavin Williams is 2-4 (-4.89 units) this season vs divisional opponents
System Match: FADE CLEVELAND (-108 at KC)

(917) HOUSTON (75-62) at (918) CINCINNATI (65-73)
Trend: HOU is 12-4 (+6.12 units) as a road favorite within line range of -140 to -160 with starter Justin Verlander in the last five seasons
System Match: PLAY HOUSTON (*if they fall into this line range, -162 currently*)

(921) BOSTON (70-67) at (922) NEW YORK-NL (73-64)
Trend: BOS is 6-2 (+4.85 units) on the road against NL with starter Brayan Bello
System Match: PLAY BOSTON (+102 at NYM)