**Rockies (Cook) at Phillies (Lieber)**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed Philadelphia as a $1.75 home ‘chalk’ over Colorado, with the total listed at 10 ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This contest is scheduled to begin at 3:05 p.m. ET.

–Colorado pitcher Aaron Cook (1-3, 3.67 ERA) is mired in a personal two-game losing skid since Saturday’s setback to San Francisco as a $1.00 home underdog, 6-4. The right-hander was reached for five runs (three earned) on 12 hits (three home runs) with a walk and two strikeouts over six innings.

–The combined 10 runs failed to eclipse the 11 1/2-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 3-1.

–Cook fell to Philadelphia earlier this year (April 16) as a $1.18 home underdog, 1-0. The 6-foot-3 hurler tossed eight innings, allowing the lone run on six hits (one home run) with a walk and three strikeouts. The lone run never seriously threatened the 11 1/2-run closing total.

–Philadelphia counters with veteran Jon Lieber, hoping the righty can improve his dismal 0-4 record and unsightly 7.99 ERA. The South Alabama product fell to Florida Friday as a $1.75 home ‘chalk,’ 4-3.

–In seven innings, the 36-year-old surrendered four runs on six hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. The combined seven runs went ‘under’ the 9 1/2-run closing total.

–Lieber fell to Colorado April 15 as a $1.17 road favorite, 10-6, yielding seven runs on 10 hits (one home run) with no walks and a strikeout over 6 1/3 innings. The combined 16 runs eclipsed the 11-run closing total.

**Red Sox (Beckett) at Indians (Byrd)**

–LVSC has Boston listed as a $1.35 road favorite over Cleveland, with the total set at nine ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This American League tilt is slated to start at 7:05 p.m. ET, with ESPN2 providing coverage.

–Boston’s Josh Beckett (3-0, 2.54 ERA) finagled a no-decision against Toronto Friday after opening the season with three straight victories. The Texas native went 7 1/3 innings versus the Blue Jays, allowing five runs on five hits (three home runs) with two walks and three strikeouts.

–The Red Sox eventually dropped that affair as a $1.18 road ‘chalk,’ 7-6, while the combined 13 runs went ‘over’ the 8 1/2-run closing total. The ‘under’ had occurred his first three outings.

–Beckett, his first year in Boston, has not started against the Indians the previous few seasons.

–Cleveland pitcher Paul Byrd (2-2, 9.15 ERA) has alternated wins and losses his first four starts after Saturday’s setback to Kansas City as a $2.00 road favorite, 11-5. The Louisiana State product lasted just three innings and was reached for seven runs on six hits with a pair of walks.

–The combined 16 runs toppled the 10-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 4-0 when Byrd is on the hill.

–The 35-year-old was 1-1 against Boston last year in two starts as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, going a combined 14 2/3 innings while surrendering four runs on 12 hits (one home run) with two walks and six strikeouts. The Angels triumphed as a $1.42 road underdog, 3-0, while falling as a $1.07 home favorite, 5-1. The ‘under’ occurred each time.

**Orioles (Benson) at Blue Jays (Janssen)**

–LVSC opened Baltimore as a $1.10 road ‘chalk’ over Toronto, with the total set at 10 ‘over’ (minus $1.20). This AL East matchup is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.

–Baltimore hurler Kris Benson (2-2, 3.70 ERA) puts his unblemished 2-0 road record and nifty 2.92 ERA on the line. The 6-foot-4 hurler has alternated wins and losses his first four starts after Friday’s victory over New York as a $1.56 road underdog, 6-5.

–The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one home run) with three walks and four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The combined 11 runs slithered ‘over’ the 10-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash his third straight start.

–Benson, a member of the New York Mets the last two seasons, has not started against Toronto the previous few years.

–Toronto’s Casey Janssen will be making his major-league debut with this contest. The UCLA product was selected as the sixth top prospect by Baseball America in the Blue Jays’ organization.

–The right-hander was promoted twice last year during his stint in the minors, tossing a combined 152 2/3 innings while recording 139 strikeouts and just 21 walks. Janssen made 26 starts last season, and held the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 24 of those outings.