MLB Opening Day receives blessing from Mother Nature
Following a long, cold winter across the country, it's nice to see that the weather will apparently cooperate with Major League Baseball for Opening Day 2010.
The first Monday of the 2009 season saw two of the 13 games canceled due to weather. This year it looks as though all 13 Opening Day games will get played.
Pittsburgh and Oakland stand the best chances of seeing wet stuff that could threaten the contests between the Dodgers, Pirates and Mariners, A's. But those two games should get played.
Milwaukee also has some rain in the forecast for later today, but the afternoon game between the Rockies and Brewers should not be in too much danger, and Miller Park has a roof if it needs one.
Note: All times listed below are Eastern. Forecasts current as of 8 a.m. (ET) April 5.
Phillies at Nationals (+170, 7½)
1:05 p.m. - Nationals Park
Starting Pitchers: Roy Halladay (17-10, 2.79) vs. John Lannan (9-13, 3.88)
Weather: More sun than clouds, (20% rain), afternoon high upper-70s, wind SSE 10-15 (1B bag out to LF corner)
Cardinals at Reds (+130, 7½)
1:10 p.m. - Great American Ball Park (ESPN)
Starting Pitchers: Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24) vs. Aaron Harang (6-14, 4.21)
Weather: Mostly cloudy (20% t-storms), afternoon high in low-to-mid 70s, wind SW 10-15 (RF corner across to LF corner)
Marlins at Mets (-120, 7)
1:10 p.m. - Citi Field
Starting Pitchers: Josh Johnson (15-5, 3.23) vs. Johan Santana (13-9, 3.13)
Weather: Sun and clouds, afternoon highs in upper-60s, wind SE 10-20 (out to LF).
Dodgers at Pirates (+130, 8½)
1:35 p.m. - PNC Park
Starting Pitchers: Vicente Padilla (12-6, 4.46) vs. Zach Duke (11-16, 4.06)
Weather: Morning showers (30%), partly cloudy in afternoon, high in mid-70s, wind SSW 10-15 (RF in to LF corner)
Indians at White Sox (-165, 9)
2:05 p.m. - U.S. Cellular Field (ESPN2)
Starting Pitchers: Jake Westbrook (0-0, 0.00) vs. Mark Buehrle (13-10, 3.84)
Weather: Mostly sunny, afternoon highs in low-70s, wins W 5-10 (1B bag out to LF)
Blue Jays at Rangers (-140, 9)
2:05 p.m. - Rangers Ballpark
Starting Pitchers: Shaun Marcum (0-0, 0.00) vs. Scott Feldman (17-8, 4.08)
Weather: Cloudy and humid, but no rain, highs in low-to-mid 80s, wind S 15-20o (in from RF to 3B)
Rockies at Brewers (-125, 7½)
2:10 p.m. - Miller Park
Starting Pitchers: Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47) vs. Yovani Gallardo (13-12, 3.73)
Weather: Clear but turning cloudy with increased chance of rain as daylight ends, temps reaching upper-60s, wind WSW 10-15 (from LF out to RF corner, unclear on roof situation in this one)
Tigers at Royals (-115, 7)
4:10 p.m. - Kauffman Stadium
Starting Pitchers: Justin Verlander (19-9, 3.45) vs. Zach Grienke (16-8, 2.16)
Weather: Partly cloudy in afternoon, highs near 80, wind SSE 20-30 (RF foul line out to LF, LF corner)
Cubs at Braves (-130, 8)
4:10 p.m. - Turner Field (ESPN)
Starting Pitchers: Carlos Zambrano (9-7, 3.77) vs. Derek Lowe (15-10, 4.67)
Weather: Sunny with first-pitch temp in low-to-mid 80s, wind WSW 5-10 (out to right-center)
Padres at Diamondbacks (-185, 8)
5:10 p.m. - Chase Field
Starting Pitchers: Jon Garland (11-13, 4.01) vs. Dan Haren (14-10, 3.14)
Weather: Sunny, no chance for rain, temps in mid-70s, wind SW 10-20+ (from 3B dugout out to right-center)
Giants at Astros (+115, 7)
7:05 p.m. - Minute Maid Park (ESPN2)
Starting Pitchers: Tim Lincecum (15-7, 2.48) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-6, 4.12)
Weather: Mostly sunny, no rain, first-pitch temp in mid-to-upper 70s, wind SSE 10-20 (out to right-center, roof should be open)
Twins at Angels (-130, 8½)
10:05 p.m. - Angel Stadium (ESPN2)
Starting Pitchers: Scott Baker (15-9, 4.37) vs. Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75)
Weather: Rainy day gives way to clear skies in evening, game-time temp in upper-50s, wind NW 10-15 (in from LF)
Mariners at Athletics (+110, 7)
10:05 p.m. - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Starting Pitchers: Felix Hernandez (19-5, 2.49) vs. Ben Sheets (0-0, 0.00)
Weather: Rain most of Monday into early evening before clearing (30% at game time), first-pitch temp around 50 and dropping, wind NW 5-10 (in from LF to 1B)
Following a long, cold winter across the country, it's nice to see that the weather will apparently cooperate with Major League Baseball for Opening Day 2010.
The first Monday of the 2009 season saw two of the 13 games canceled due to weather. This year it looks as though all 13 Opening Day games will get played.
Pittsburgh and Oakland stand the best chances of seeing wet stuff that could threaten the contests between the Dodgers, Pirates and Mariners, A's. But those two games should get played.
Milwaukee also has some rain in the forecast for later today, but the afternoon game between the Rockies and Brewers should not be in too much danger, and Miller Park has a roof if it needs one.
Note: All times listed below are Eastern. Forecasts current as of 8 a.m. (ET) April 5.
Phillies at Nationals (+170, 7½)
1:05 p.m. - Nationals Park
Starting Pitchers: Roy Halladay (17-10, 2.79) vs. John Lannan (9-13, 3.88)
Weather: More sun than clouds, (20% rain), afternoon high upper-70s, wind SSE 10-15 (1B bag out to LF corner)
Cardinals at Reds (+130, 7½)
1:10 p.m. - Great American Ball Park (ESPN)
Starting Pitchers: Chris Carpenter (17-4, 2.24) vs. Aaron Harang (6-14, 4.21)
Weather: Mostly cloudy (20% t-storms), afternoon high in low-to-mid 70s, wind SW 10-15 (RF corner across to LF corner)
Marlins at Mets (-120, 7)
1:10 p.m. - Citi Field
Starting Pitchers: Josh Johnson (15-5, 3.23) vs. Johan Santana (13-9, 3.13)
Weather: Sun and clouds, afternoon highs in upper-60s, wind SE 10-20 (out to LF).
Dodgers at Pirates (+130, 8½)
1:35 p.m. - PNC Park
Starting Pitchers: Vicente Padilla (12-6, 4.46) vs. Zach Duke (11-16, 4.06)
Weather: Morning showers (30%), partly cloudy in afternoon, high in mid-70s, wind SSW 10-15 (RF in to LF corner)
Indians at White Sox (-165, 9)
2:05 p.m. - U.S. Cellular Field (ESPN2)
Starting Pitchers: Jake Westbrook (0-0, 0.00) vs. Mark Buehrle (13-10, 3.84)
Weather: Mostly sunny, afternoon highs in low-70s, wins W 5-10 (1B bag out to LF)
Blue Jays at Rangers (-140, 9)
2:05 p.m. - Rangers Ballpark
Starting Pitchers: Shaun Marcum (0-0, 0.00) vs. Scott Feldman (17-8, 4.08)
Weather: Cloudy and humid, but no rain, highs in low-to-mid 80s, wind S 15-20o (in from RF to 3B)
Rockies at Brewers (-125, 7½)
2:10 p.m. - Miller Park
Starting Pitchers: Ubaldo Jimenez (15-12, 3.47) vs. Yovani Gallardo (13-12, 3.73)
Weather: Clear but turning cloudy with increased chance of rain as daylight ends, temps reaching upper-60s, wind WSW 10-15 (from LF out to RF corner, unclear on roof situation in this one)
Tigers at Royals (-115, 7)
4:10 p.m. - Kauffman Stadium
Starting Pitchers: Justin Verlander (19-9, 3.45) vs. Zach Grienke (16-8, 2.16)
Weather: Partly cloudy in afternoon, highs near 80, wind SSE 20-30 (RF foul line out to LF, LF corner)
Cubs at Braves (-130, 8)
4:10 p.m. - Turner Field (ESPN)
Starting Pitchers: Carlos Zambrano (9-7, 3.77) vs. Derek Lowe (15-10, 4.67)
Weather: Sunny with first-pitch temp in low-to-mid 80s, wind WSW 5-10 (out to right-center)
Padres at Diamondbacks (-185, 8)
5:10 p.m. - Chase Field
Starting Pitchers: Jon Garland (11-13, 4.01) vs. Dan Haren (14-10, 3.14)
Weather: Sunny, no chance for rain, temps in mid-70s, wind SW 10-20+ (from 3B dugout out to right-center)
Giants at Astros (+115, 7)
7:05 p.m. - Minute Maid Park (ESPN2)
Starting Pitchers: Tim Lincecum (15-7, 2.48) vs. Roy Oswalt (8-6, 4.12)
Weather: Mostly sunny, no rain, first-pitch temp in mid-to-upper 70s, wind SSE 10-20 (out to right-center, roof should be open)
Twins at Angels (-130, 8½)
10:05 p.m. - Angel Stadium (ESPN2)
Starting Pitchers: Scott Baker (15-9, 4.37) vs. Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75)
Weather: Rainy day gives way to clear skies in evening, game-time temp in upper-50s, wind NW 10-15 (in from LF)
Mariners at Athletics (+110, 7)
10:05 p.m. - Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Starting Pitchers: Felix Hernandez (19-5, 2.49) vs. Ben Sheets (0-0, 0.00)
Weather: Rain most of Monday into early evening before clearing (30% at game time), first-pitch temp around 50 and dropping, wind NW 5-10 (in from LF to 1B)
