Expert MLB Picks and Previews

Washington heads into Tuesday night at 3-1, and that fast start suddenly looks a little more real after Monday’s 13-2 thumping in Philadelphia. The Nationals are not just sneaking through games, either. They have already won three road games, they have gotten production throughout the lineup, and they have looked cleaner than expected for a club that entered the year

Boston heads into Daikin Park on Tuesday night trying to stop a three-game skid, while Houston comes in on a three-game heater after Monday’s 8-1 win in the series opener. First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET in Houston, with NESN and Space City Home Network carrying the broadcast. The Red Sox enter at 1-3 and sit fifth in

Detroit heads into Tuesday night at 2-2 after dropping Monday’s opener 9-6, so this is already a useful early test for a club that looked sharp in its first series at San Diego and then got punched back in Arizona. The Tigers are a half-game off the AL Central lead, while the Diamondbacks are 1-3 and still trying to clean

Cleveland heads into Tuesday night at 3-2 and sitting second in the AL Central, while Los Angeles is 3-1 and still on top of the NL West even after Monday’s 4-2 loss in the series opener. First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, with SportsNet LA and Guardians.TV carrying the game. The opener

San Francisco heads back into PETCO Park on Tuesday night for Game 2 of this series after finally getting in the win column with Monday’s 3-2 result, the first big-league managerial win for Tony Vitello. First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m. ET, with MLB.TV carrying the stream and regional coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area and Padres.TV. The bigger

The Yankees and Mariners are back at it Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park, with first pitch set for 9:40 p.m. ET. New York comes in 3-1 and tied for first in the AL East, while Seattle is 3-2 and sitting a half-game off the AL West lead after taking Monday’s opener 2-1 on a walk-off. It is on TBS nationally,

Minnesota heads to Kauffman Stadium on Monday for Kansas City’s home opener, with both teams trying to build off a much-needed win to close the opening weekend. The Twins are 1-2 after dropping two of three in Baltimore, while the Royals are also 1-2 after salvaging the finale in Atlanta. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET, and the

Texas heads to Camden Yards on Monday night after taking two of three in Philadelphia, while Baltimore stays home after doing the same against Minnesota. Both clubs are 2-1, so this is a good early measuring-stick series between teams that already checked one important box by winning their opening matchup. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. ET in Baltimore,

Chicago heads to loanDepot park on Monday night still looking for its first win after getting swept in Milwaukee, while Miami returns at 3-0 after finishing off a three-game sweep of Colorado with a walk-off homer on Sunday. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and the probable starters are Davis Martin for the White Sox and Chris Paddack