**Cardinals (Marquis) at Phillies (Lidle)**

–Sportsbook.com installed St. Louis as a $1.22 road ‘chalk’ over Philadelphia, with the total set at 10 ½ ‘under’ (minus 115). This contest is scheduled to begin at 3:05 p.m. ET.

–St. Louis hurler Jason Marquis gets his first starting assignment of the young season after posting a 13-14 ledger last year in 32 starts with a 4.13 ERA. The right-hander was a modest 7-7 in 16 road starts, going 103 1/3 innings while yielding 49 runs on 97 hits with 36 walks and 46 strikeouts for a 3.48 ERA.

–The seven-year veteran fell to the Phillies last year in his lone start against them as a $1.10 road underdog, 7-4. Marquis was reached for four runs on seven hits with six walks and a strikeout over four innings. The combined 11 runs went ‘over’ the nine-run closing total.

–Philadelphia right-hander Cory Lidle went 13-11 last year in 31 starts with a 4.53 ERA, including a 5-5 home record and 5.79 ERA in 14 outings.

–The 34-year-old faced the Cardinals twice last year, going a combined 11 1/3 innings while surrendering six runs (two earned) on 11 hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Philadelphia triumphed as a $1.06 home underdog, 7-5, while losing as a $1.60 road ‘dog, 6-5. The ‘over’ cashed both times.

**Diamondbacks (Batista) at Rockies (Francis)**

–Sportsbook.com lists Colorado as a $1.22 home favorite over Arizona, with the total set at 10 ½ ‘over’ (minus 115). This National League West contest is slated to start at 8:35 p.m. ET.

–Arizona’s Miguel Batista returns to the Diamondbacks after spending a couple seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Dominican Republic native was relegated to bullpen duty north of the border, going 5-8 last year in 71 games with a 4.10 ERA.

–The right-hander recorded 31 saves in 39 opportunities, encompassing 74 2/3 innings while surrendering 39 runs (34 earned) on 80 hits (nine home runs) with 27 walks and 54 strikeouts.

–Batista has not started against the Rockies the previous few seasons.

–Colorado’s Jeff Francis posted a 14-12 ledger last year in 33 starts along with a 5.68 ERA. The southpaw claimed a solid 8-4 Coors Field record and 4.88 ERA in 15 home endeavors, tossing a combined 86 2/3 innings while yielding 48 runs on 107 hits with 25 walks and 62 strikeouts.

–Francis had Arizona’s number last year, going 4-0 in five starts with the Rockies winning as a $1.22 home favorite, 8-1, a $1.28 home ‘chalk,’ 18-3, a $1.29 road ‘dog, 14-7, and as a $1.10 road ‘dog, 7-1. The British Columbia native received a no-decision in Colorado’s setback to the Diamondbacks as a $1.18 road ‘dog, 5-2.

**Tigers (Robertson) at Rangers (Dickey)**

–Sportsbook.com has this American League tilt listed as a ‘pick,’ with the total set at 10 ½. First pitch is scheduled for 8:04 p.m. ET.

–Detroit left-hander Nate Robertson has a clean slate after struggling to a 7-16 record last year in 32 starts coupled with a 4.48 ERA. The Wichita State product had a harder time on the road, going 4-10 with a 5.55 ERA in 18 starts that entailed 108 2/3 innings and 72 runs on 118 hits.

–The 28-year-old went 1-0 against the Rangers last year in two starts, surrendering a combined four runs (three earned) on 13 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over 14 1/3 innings. The Tigers prevailed as a $1.35 road underdog, 2-0, and as a $1.15 home ‘dog,6-5.

–Texas pitcher R.A. Dickey went 1-1 last year in four starts while carrying a 6.26 ERA. The late-season call-up tossed a combined 23 innings, allowing 17 runs (16 earned) on 20 hits with 17 walks and 11 strikeouts.

–The righty also appeared in five games from the bullpen, but did not start against the Tigers last season.

**Athletics (Loaiza) at Mariners (Meche)**

–Sportsbook.com opened Oakland as a $1.08 road ‘chalk’ over Seattle, with the total listed at 8 ½. This American League West affair is scheduled to begin at 10:05 p.m. ET.

–Esteban Loaiza gets the starting nod for Oakland after going 12-10 last year in 34 starts along with a 3.77 ERA. The Mexico native pitched for the Washington Nationals last season after splitting the 2004 season with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees.

–The right-hander went 6-4 last year as the home hurler, with a solid 2.86 ERA in 110 innings by allowing 36 runs on 96 hits.

–Loaiza has not started a game against the Mariners the last few seasons.

–Seattle’s Gil Meche toes the rubber fresh off a 10-8 campaign and 5.22 ERA in 26 starts last season. The veteran right-hander also carried a 6-2 Safeco Field record in 13 starts despite owning an inflated 5.13 ERA.

–Meche fell to the Athletics last season as a $1.80 road underdog, 6-2, yielding three runs (one earned) on four hits with six walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. The combined eight runs slithered ‘under’ the 8 1/2-run closing total.