As we were stressing a few days ago, it’s always nice to get off to a good start. And there are some pitchers who are a little more accommodating than others in that regard.

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Let’s explore who might “dent the dish” first, recognizing that we’d have to have good reason to overcome the visiting team, which bats first.

MLB Props Picks for Saturday’s Action

Athletics vs. Rangers Props Picks

OAKLAND ATHLETICS TO SCORE FIRST VS. TEXAS RANGERS

Starting Pitchers: James Kaprielian (OAK) vs. Jordan Lyles (TEX)

Odds to Score First: A’s -225 / Rangers +170

Time: 7:05 PM ET

Well, how much could you really expect from the Texas Rangers in this situation? They are dead last in the majors in first inning runs per game, and next to last in runs per game in both the second and third innings.

The Rangers actually scored first when Jordan Lyles started against the Athletics six days ago, although it should be noted that Texas was the visitor and indeed scored a run in the opening stanza (surprise, surprise). Eventually Lyles got roughed up, allowing six runs on ten hits and four walks before being removed with one out in the sixth inning.

Lyles has allowed the opposition to hit .303 in the first inning, and it’s not as if he warms up considerably after that. In fact, when you look at his OPS for the first four innings, you see .804, .881, .998 and .852.

James Kaprielian has been a more reliable pitcher at home than on the road, but he definitely does not get off to slow starts. Of the 106 batters he has faced in the first or second inning, only 15 of them have reached base safely on a hit, and he’s yielded just four runs in 28 innings of work. So we’re okay with laying this price.

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Dodgers vs. Mets Props Picks

LOS ANGELES DODGERS TO SCORE FIRST VS. NEW YORK METS

Starting Pitchers: Walker Buehler (LA) vs. Taijuan Walker (NY)

Odds to Score First: Dodgers -200 / Mets +155

Time: 7:10 PM ET

The Mets have been kind of disappointed in what they’ve gotten out of Taijuan Walker since the All-Star Game, which he was chosen to participate in.

Over his last five starts, he’s compiled a 9.54 ERA, and after dropping four straight decisions he’s been busted down to a record of 7-7.

In facing 89 first inning batters, he’s given up eight extra base hits and an opponents’ batting average of .266. But he has walked nine hitters in the first innings of his 21 starts.

Admittedly his numbers blew up because of his July 18 outing against Pittsburgh, when he gave up six runs and got just one man out.

But how much of a reason is there to go against Walker Buehler and the Dodgers in this prop? While it is true that he has allowed four first inning homers, he has also limited opponents to a combined .150 average in the first two innings.

The Mets could conceivably piece together something against him early, since he does struggle with control over the first two stanzas (walking one out of every 9.3 batters over that time), we need a more compelling reason to go with the home-standing Mets, who score almost a quarter of a run less per game than L.A. in first inning action.

Cardinals vs. Royals Props Picks

ST.LOUIS CARDINALS TO SCORE FIRST VS. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Starting Pitchers: Jon Lester (STL) vs. Brad Keller (KC)

Odds to Score First: Cardinals -165 / Royals +130

Time: 7:10 PM ET

We were looking for the appropriate spot for an underdog; do you think this might be the place? Jon Lester has been around so long it’s hard to believe he’s “only” 37. He has gotten rocked in six of his last seven starts. And apparently it does take some time to get the blood circulating.

Lester has made 18 starts this season. He has surrendered 22 runs on 25 hits in the first inning. Six of the hits have been homers. All told, his foes have racked up a .991 OPS against him while he’s trying to get the first three outs.

But bettors may know that Brad Keller has been about as bad as that. Of the 117 batters who have faced hi in the first inning, 48 of them have gotten on base.

Both of these guys are less permissive in the second inning, and then they blow up in the third. Opponents are hitting .359 against Lester in the third inning, while Keller gives up a .330 average.

This could be like one of those heavyweight fights where whoever lands first wins. And in that respect, well, the Cards come to bat first.

And for what it’s worth, in 76 plate appearances against the KC hitters he is likely to face on Saturday night, Lester has surrendered just four extra base hits.

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Yankees vs. White Sox Props Picks

CHICAGO WHITE SOX TO SCORE FIRST VS. NEW YORK YANKEES

Starting Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (NY) vs. Dylan Cease (CHI)

Odds to Score First: Yankees -135 / White Sox +105

Time: 7:10 PM ET

The last time Dylan Cease faced the Yankees, it took the Bronx Bombers until the fifth inning to dent the dish against him. But when they did, they REALLY did – five runs and out of the game.

Cease has actually been pretty tough at home, with a 2.20 ERA and yielding an OPS of just .596. And there is certainly nothing to indicate catastrophe early (.215 OBA over first three innings).

Not that Jameson Taillon has been very permissive early on in games. And he has a 1.25 ERA in his last seven starts. But the Yankees have been anemic enough in scoring first inning runs (25th in the majors) that this may be a dog worth a shot.

Read our betting guide teaching you how to win MLB first team to score props.