Expert Baseball Picks and Previews

The Athletics visit the Houston Astros on Friday night at Daikin Park, with first pitch set for 8:10 PM ET. The Athletics enter at 30-32 and third in the AL West after dropping a 7-6 game to the Chicago Cubs. They still took two of three at Wrigley Field, and their road form remains better than their overall record. Houston

The Kansas City Royals visit the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Target Field, with first pitch set for 8:15 PM ET. Kansas City enters at 24-38 and fifth in the AL Central after taking Thursday’s series opener 8-6. The Royals are still having a poor season, but they have now won three of their last four games. Minnesota comes

The Cleveland Guardians visit the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Field, with first pitch set for 8:15 PM ET on Apple TV. Cleveland enters at 36-28 and first in the AL Central after a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees. The Guardians won the series in the Bronx, but their offense was held to two hits

The Cincinnati Reds visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night at Busch Stadium, with first pitch set for 8:15 PM ET. Cincinnati enters at 31-30 and fifth in the NL Central after dropping its last series against the Kansas City Royals. The Reds have enough power to compete, but their pitching has been hard to trust. St. Louis comes

The Milwaukee Brewers visit the Colorado Rockies on Friday night at Coors Field, with first pitch set for 8:40 PM ET. Milwaukee enters at 37-23 and first in the NL Central, but the Brewers have dropped two straight after splitting a four-game series with the Giants. Colorado comes in at 24-39 and fifth in the NL West. The Rockies lost

The Washington Nationals visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at Chase Field, with first pitch set for 9:40 PM ET. Washington enters at 31-32 and third in the NL East after being swept by the Miami Marlins. The Nationals have lost three straight, and their offense went quiet in the series finale. Arizona comes in at 33-29 and third

The New York Mets visit the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Petco Park, with first pitch set for 9:40 PM ET. New York enters at 27-35 and fifth in the NL East after a 7-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. The Mets still have major lineup and rotation injuries, but that win gave them a needed offensive response.

The Los Angeles Angels visit the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is set for 10:10 PM ET. The Angels enter at 24-39 and fifth in the AL West, but they are coming off an 11-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers come in at 40-23 and first in the NL

The Boston Red Sox visit the New York Yankees on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, with first pitch set for 7:05 PM ET. Boston enters at 26-35 and fifth in the AL East after an 8-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox have struggled to score consistently, but they do bring Sonny Gray into this rivalry opener in