**Pirates (Duke) at Diamondbacks (Batista)**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Arizona as a $1.20 home ‘chalk’ over Pittsburgh, with the total listed at nine ‘over’ (minus $1.20). This National League tilt is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. ET.

–Pittsburgh pitcher Zach Duke (2-5, 4.19 ERA) heads to the hill mired in a personal three-game losing funk after suffering Friday’s setback to Cleveland as a $1.75 road underdog, 4-1. The 6-foot-2 southpaw tossed seven innings, yielding three runs on four hits (one home run) with six walks and six strikeouts.

–The combined five runs failed to topple the eight-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 5-1-1 his previous seven starts.

–Duke, a two-year veteran, has never started against the Diamondbacks.

–Arizona’s Miguel Batista (3-2, 4.78 ERA) is off back-to-back no decisions despite having some difficulties in Friday’s affair versus Atlanta. The right-hander was reached for five runs on eight hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts over six innings.

–The Diamondbacks eventually outlasted the Braves as a $1.00 home underdog, 10-9, while the combined 19 runs soared ‘over’ the 9 1/2-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 6-2-1 in his last nine starts.

–Batista fell to the Pirates May 9 as a $1.22 road favorite, 3-0, surrendering three runs on eight hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings. The three runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total.

**Braves (Thomson) at Padres (Young)**

–LVSC has San Diego as a $1.15 home favorite over Atlanta, with the total set at 7 ˝. This contest is slated to start at 10:05 p.m. ET.

–Atlanta’s John Thomson (1-3, 2.58 ERA) escaped with Friday’s no-decision against Arizona despite tossing a lackluster 5 2/3 innings. The McNeese State product allowed seven runs (six earned) on eight hits (one home run) with three walks and a strikeout.

–The Braves ended up dropping that contest as a $1.10 road ‘chalk,’ 10-9, while the combined 19 runs eclipsed the 9 1/2-run closing total. The ‘over’ has occurred his last three starts.

–Thomson received a no-decision versus the Padres April 16 despite tossing six scoreless innings on just one hit with no walks and six strikeouts. Atlanta ended up dropping that contest as a $1.45 home favorite, 4-3, while the combined seven runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total.

–San Diego starter Chris Young (3-2, 3.58 ERA) has recorded three no decisions his previous four starts. The towering 6-foot-10 hurler picked up a no-decision versus Seattle Friday after going six innings and yielding three runs on six hits (three home runs) with two walks and five strikeouts.

–The Padres ended up dropping that contest as a $1.02 road underdog, 7-4, while the combined 11 runs eclipsed the eight-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 3-1 his past four outings.

–Young beat the Braves last season as a $1.42 home ‘chalk,’ 7-3, tossing seven scoreless innings on two hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The combined 10 runs slithered ‘over’ the nine-run closing total.

**Yankees (Johnson) at Red Sox (Clement)**

–LVSC installed Boston as a $1.20 home ‘chalk’ over New York, with the total listed at 10 ˝ ‘over’ (minus $1.20). ESPN will provide coverage of this American League East contest beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET.

–New York southpaw Randy Johnson (5-4, 5.62 ERA) has struggled his last three starts, going 0-2 with a no-decision. The towering left-hander finagled a no-decision versus the Mets Friday despite being tagged for six runs on eight hits (two home runs) with three walks and five strikeouts over five innings.

–The Yankees dropped that contest as a $1.33 road favorite, 7-6, while the combined 13 runs toppled the 9 1/2-run closing total. The ‘over’ is now 4-1 his previous five starts.

–‘The Big Unit’ was roughed up by the Red Sox May 9 as a $1.42 home ‘chalk,’ 14-3, lasting just 3 2/3 innings while allowing seven runs (two earned) on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts. The combined 17 runs easily toppled the 9 1/2-run closing total.

–Boston hurler Matt Clement (4-3, 5.36 ERA) has alternated wins and losses his last five starts after dumping Philadelphia Friday as a $1.10 road underdog, 5-3. The 31-year-old tossed 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts.

–The combined eight runs failed to eclipse the 10-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to improve to 4-1 his past five performances.

–Clement went 1-1 versus the Yankees last year in three starts, going a combined 13 innings while being reached for nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits (two home runs) with 12 walks and 15 strikeouts. The Red Sox triumphed as a $1.29 road underdog, 17-1, while falling as a $1.40 road ‘dog, 4-3, and as a $1.02 home ‘dog, 7-4. The ‘over’ was 2-1 during those three games.

**Orioles (Benson) at Mariners (Washburn)**

–LVSC lists Seattle as a $1.15 home favorite over Baltimore, with the total set at eight ‘over’ (minus $1.25). This matchup is slated to begin at 10:05 p.m. ET.

–Baltimore hurler Kris Benson (6-3, 3.86 ERA) improved to 4-1 his last five starts after dumping Washington Friday as a $1.08 road ‘chalk,’ 5-1. The righty went the complete-game route on five hits (one home run) with two walks and three strikeouts.

–The combined six runs went ‘under’ the 8 1/2-run closing total, ending a string of seven consecutive ‘over’ outings.

–Benson, who pitched for the New York Mets the previous few years, has not started against the Mariners the last few seasons.

–Seattle southpaw Jarrod Washburn (2-5, 3.81 ERA) has his sights on his first victory of the month after recording Friday’s no-decision versus San Diego. The Wisconsin native went six innings, yielding two runs on five hits (one home run) with two walks and three strikeouts.

–The Mariners eventually won that contest as a $1.08 home favorite, 7-4, while the combined 11 runs toppled the eight-run closing total. The ‘over’ has occurred his previous two outings after going ‘under’ five times in a row.

–Washburn beat the Orioles last year as a $1.08 road ‘chalk,’ 7-6, going 6 1/3 innings while being reached for one run on eight hits (one home run) with a walk and three strikeouts. The combined 13 runs eclipsed the nine-run closing total.