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Como heads to Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday, April 26, for a Serie A Matchday 34 meeting, with kickoff set for 15:00 local time in Genoa. This is a match with two very different pressures attached to it. Genoa has pushed itself close to safety after back-to-back wins over Sassuolo and Pisa, while Como comes in trying to steady a European push after taking just one point from its last three league matches and falling out of the Coppa Italia in midweek.
That contrast is what makes the handicap interesting. Genoa has a real home-game lift and some momentum now, but Como has been the better side over the full season and still sits in the race for Europe. With Milan and Juventus playing this round as well, Como has a genuine chance to gain ground if it can handle the emotional reset after that cup defeat.
Como vs Genoa Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing anything. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with Como favored at -138, Genoa around +375, and the draw sitting around +240, while the handicap is Como -0.5 and the total is 2.5 goals.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Como | -138 | -0.5 (-145) | O 2.5 (-102) |
| Genoa | +375 | +0.5 (+100) | U 2.5 (-125) |
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Como Betting Form
Como’s season-long profile still looks like the stronger one here. They are averaging 1.61 xG and 1.73 goals per match while allowing just 1.05 xGA and 0.85 goals per game, and the possession share is a huge part of that story at 62%. Cesc Fàbregas has built a side that wants the ball, pushes games into the opponent’s half, and creates a healthy amount of volume, with 14.42 shots per match overall. Even away from home, Como is still at 59% possession with 1.37 xG per match, so the identity usually travels.
The issue is timing. Como comes in a little wobbly, with just one point from its last three league matches and the emotional drain of that Coppa Italia semifinal collapse against Inter still hanging over the week. That matters because the market is asking bettors to back them as a road favorite in a spot where the legs and focus are not guaranteed to be perfect.
Availability is not spotless either. Sergi Roberto remains out, Alberto Moreno is suspended, and both Diego Carlos and Alvaro Morata are unavailable, while Assane Diao was only fit for a short cameo in midweek but was expected to be available for a bigger role here. If the projected shape does settle back into a back four, Nico Paz and Martin Baturina should still be the key creators behind the striker, but there is enough missing depth to make this a slightly less comfortable away-favorite spot than the raw table might suggest.
Genoa Betting Form
Genoa’s numbers are much more modest. They are averaging 1.30 xG, 1.21 goals scored, and 11.85 shots per match, while conceding 1.44 xGA and 1.39 goals per game. The home split is at least more stable, with 1.37 xG for and 1.22 xGA against at Luigi Ferraris, and that is enough to explain why they can be awkward here even against a better technical side. They do not dominate games the way Como does, but they have become more functional in the right spots.
Recent form gives Genoa more life than the season averages do. They have won two straight league matches, are targeting a third consecutive Serie A win, and under Daniele De Rossi they have created a little more belief around home games. That matters in a matchup like this because Genoa is no longer playing with the panic of a team buried in the drop zone. It is playing to finish the job and get survival essentially done.
The squad news is mixed but manageable. Caleb Ekuban and Tommaso Baldanzi were ruled out late, Aaron Martin and Brooke Norton-Cuffy remained sidelined, but Morten Frendrup and Ruslan Malinovskyi were both back available, and Maxwel Cornet had returned to training even if his minutes looked limited. That should help Genoa in midfield, where it needs a sharper counterpunch and a little more composure against Como’s possession.
Como vs Genoa Matchup Breakdown
This match is shaped by a pretty clean stylistic clash. Como wants long spells on the ball, patient build-up, and enough occupation between the lines to let Nico Paz and the supporting midfielders control the tempo. Genoa is more direct and more willing to play without the ball. The possession gap is sharp, 62% for Como against 48% for Genoa, and so is the shot gap, 14.42 per match for Como against 11.85 for Genoa. On process alone, the away side has the stronger case.
Still, this is not just a clean process bet. Genoa at home is materially different from Genoa away, and Como has been a little less overwhelming on the road than at home, where most of its biggest attacking numbers live. Genoa’s home xGA is 1.22, not great but playable, and Como’s away scoring rate drops to 1.44 goals per match. That suggests a game where Como may have more control, but not necessarily complete control.
The competition context matters too. Como is balancing the emotional fallout from a cup elimination while still chasing Europe, and Genoa is coming in lighter after two league wins that pushed it toward safety. There is also a draw-heavy feel to the matchup itself: four of the last five meetings between these clubs have ended level, and Genoa needed a very late equalizer in the reverse fixture. For bettors, that makes the soccer betting guide especially useful here, because game state and price are probably more important than simply asking which side is better overall.
Como vs Genoa Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is still toward Como, because the season-long profile is just stronger. They create more, concede less, keep the ball better, and generally look more comfortable dictating where the match is played. If this game stays calm and tactical, Como should have the better chance of controlling it.
At the same time, I do not love the straight away moneyline at this price. Genoa is playing better, Genoa is at home, and Como is coming off a draining cup loss with a few injuries that trim the margin. The draw feels very live, honestly, and the recent head-to-head pattern only strengthens that thought. If you wanted a side, Como draw no bet would be the safer path, but in the standard markets the total looks cleaner to me.
The under makes sense for a few reasons. Como’s away matches average only 2.25 total goals, Genoa’s home matches 2.53, and both teams have a route to a fairly controlled match. Genoa can sit a bit deeper and counter. Como can own the ball without necessarily turning the game into chaos. The market is already pointing in that direction, and I think it is justified.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 (-125).
Serie A Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting Serie A regularly, one preview helps, but the better approach is comparing a full slate and seeing where different cappers are finding value. ScoresAndStats makes that easier with Serie A picks and today’s soccer picks, especially on weekends when one table-pressure match can look completely different from another.
Transparency matters too. You can compare top sports handicappers, track the handicapper leaderboard, and sort through experts with different styles instead of just riding one opinion. In soccer, that usually matters more than people think, because some bettors are much better with totals and derivatives while others are stronger on sides and match-result markets.
And if you want stronger card-by-card opinions than a free article can give you, premium soccer picks are there too. For bettors who want daily volume, long-term accountability, and a cleaner way to compare experts before locking in a full weekend card, that broader setup is usually more useful than treating any one match in isolation.
Sassuolo head to Stadio Artemio Franchi for a Serie A Matchday 34 meeting that matters more to Fiorentina than the table might first suggest. Fiorentina come into the day 15th on 36 points and are still looking to put real distance between themselves and the bottom three, while Sassuolo sit 10th on 45 points and still have a plausible path to a top-half finish. The home side just drew 1-1 at Lecce, while Sassuolo arrive off a 2-1 win over Como.
That is what makes this matchup a little tricky. Fiorentina’s season-long process has actually been stronger than their standing, but the absences have piled up and the finishing has not always followed the chance creation. Sassuolo are the more comfortable team in the standings, yet they are missing enough pieces of their own that this does not feel like a clean road spot either. It looks like a survival-driven home match against a mid-table side that can still punch back in transition.
Sassuolo vs Fiorentina Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep checking the latest soccer odds before kickoff. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with the draw sitting around +205, and the price has edged slightly toward Fiorentina from the opening number.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sassuolo | +260 | +0.5 (-125) | O 2.5 (-125) |
| Fiorentina | -109 | -0.5 (-109) | U 2.5 (-115) |
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Sassuolo Betting Form
Sassuolo are in better shape than people probably expected a few months ago. They have 45 points through 33 matches, 41 goals scored, and a last-five league run that reads win, loss, win, draw, loss if you stretch back just a little, with the recent 2-1 win over Como giving them some momentum. The bigger picture says they are a decent attacking mid-table side with some flaws behind the ball: 34.73 xG, 47.59 xGA, 10.55 shots per match, 3.76 shots on target per match, and only 44.5% average possession. That profile usually translates into a team that is comfortable playing faster and more directly than the opponent.
That direct threat is still there even without Domenico Berardi, who is suspended, because Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Laurienté remain the key attacking pieces. Pinamonti leads the club with eight league goals, and Laurienté has eight assists. The problem is that Sassuolo are missing Berardi plus Daniel Boloca, Darryl Bakola, Edoardo Pieragnolo, and Fali Candé, which trims both their creativity and some of their defensive depth. So yes, there is enough quality for Sassuolo to score here, but there is also enough damage on the team sheet to make them hard to trust as a road side.
Fiorentina Betting Form
Fiorentina’s league position looks rough, but the underlying numbers are far more respectable. Through 33 Serie A matches, they had 38 goals, 45 conceded, 48.96 xG, 45.60 xGA, 429 total shots, 116 shots on target, and 51.8% possession. That is not the statistical profile of a typical 15th-place team. It looks more like a side that has controlled enough of its matches to deserve better, then failed to turn that into wins often enough. Their recent league form reflects that frustration too: draw, win, win, draw, win, draw.
The injury list is the main reason the season has felt stuck. Fiorentina are without Moise Kean, Robin Gosens, Fabiano Parisi, Tariq Lamptey, and Niccolò Fortini, while Marin Pongračić is suspended. That is a real hit to both the left side and the central defensive rotation. Still, the current setup gives them enough technical quality to work with. David de Gea starts behind a back four, and the likely attacking trio has leaned toward Jack Harrison, Albert Gudmundsson, and Manor Solomon. At home, with survival pressure rising, that should be enough to push the game rather than sit off it.
Sassuolo vs Fiorentina Matchup Breakdown
This matchup really comes down to control versus incision. Fiorentina are the more ball-dominant side by season profile, sitting at 51.8% possession with a much stronger xG difference than Sassuolo. Sassuolo, on the other hand, have scored more actual goals than Fiorentina despite creating less xG and having far less possession. That usually points to a team that is more dangerous in broken phases, more willing to attack space quickly, and more comfortable letting the match breathe a little.
From Fiorentina’s side, the obvious edge is territory. At home they should see more of the ball, and Sassuolo’s depleted defensive group gives the hosts a chance to sustain pressure through wide entries and second balls. But the missing names matter. Without Kean and Gosens, the attack loses some vertical threat and some of its usual box presence. That is why Fiorentina’s recent performances have often looked a little neat without being ruthless enough.
From Sassuolo’s side, the best path is probably transition and early service into Pinamonti, with Laurienté attacking the weaker side of Fiorentina’s back line. Fiorentina’s numbers suggest they should create enough chances to win, but Sassuolo’s season has been built on taking the moments they do get. In a game like this, where the home team has more pressure and the away team has a freer role, that can matter a lot. A good general expert betting guide is useful in exactly this kind of spot, where the better team and the better price are not automatically the same thing.
Sassuolo vs Fiorentina Predictions and Best Bets
My side lean is Fiorentina, but not aggressively. The market move toward the hosts makes sense. Their season-long process is better, the home setup matters, and the survival angle gives them the sharper competitive need. Sassuolo are solid enough in transition to stay live, yet the missing Berardi and the defensive absences make it harder to trust them for 90 minutes away from home.
The total is where I think the cleaner value sits. On paper, this could look like an over because Sassuolo games have had some chaos in them and both teams have enough attacking talent to score. But Fiorentina’s recent matches have often come down to control without much finishing margin, and Sassuolo are missing enough creators that their best route is more selective than constant. With Fiorentina carrying the bigger burden, I think the first instinct will be to avoid a reckless match rather than invite one.
There is a fair case for Fiorentina moneyline if you want the straight side. I just think the number is a little less attractive than the game script. Fiorentina should have more ball, more field position, and more reason to keep the match under control. Sassuolo can definitely score, but this feels more like a 1-0 or 2-0 home script than a fully open exchange.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 (-115).
Serie A Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
For bettors building out a full Sunday card, the best place to start is today’s Serie A picks. That keeps the slate competition-specific and makes it easier to compare this match with the rest of the league board. If you want a faster shortlist before digging into every game, best soccer bets this week is a useful second stop.
For transparency and track record, check the top sports handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard. Soccer betting gets a lot easier when you can compare styles, records, and recent form instead of following one loud opinion.
And if you want a stronger conviction play instead of a free lean, premium soccer picks is the natural next step. Fiorentina vs Sassuolo is exactly the kind of match where price, timing, and market choice matter as much as the teams themselves.
Celta de Vigo visit Villarreal on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Estadio de la Cerámica in a La Liga match with real European stakes on both sides. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM ET, and Villarreal enter as the home favorite with a chance to move even closer to locking up Champions League football.
Villarreal come in 19-8-5 and have been one of the stronger sides in Spain over the full season. They are not just protecting a top-four position at this point. They are trying to close the job, avoid late drama, and keep pressure on the teams around them in the upper part of the table. At home, that gives this match a pretty clear favorite profile.
Celta are 11-10-11 and still alive in the race for European qualification, but the recent form has cooled off. They have taken only a small return from the last several matches, and the injury list is not helping. Still, Celta have been a dangerous away side this season, so this is not a spot where Villarreal can simply coast.
Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal Odds
These are the current 3-way betting lines for Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing a wager.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celta de Vigo | +295 | +0.5 (-120) | O 2.5 (-140) |
| Villarreal | -110 | -0.5 (-118) | U 2.5 (+110) |
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Celta de Vigo Betting Form
Celta have been one of the more interesting road teams in La Liga this season, but this is a difficult version of the matchup for them. They can play with bravery, they can press, and they are not afraid to attack through quick combinations instead of sitting in a passive low block. That helps them as an underdog, especially when the opponent wants to take control early.
The problem is the current personnel situation. Carl Starfelt, Matías Vecino, Williot Swedberg, and Miguel Román are all out, and Iago Aspas is not expected to handle a full 90 minutes. That changes Celta’s attacking rhythm. Aspas can still give them a moment, a pass, a final-third read that most players do not see. But if his minutes are managed, Celta may need to survive long stretches without their best attacking organizer.
From a betting perspective, Celta +0.5 is tempting because their away profile has been strong enough to respect. But the recent form and injuries make it hard to fully trust. If they cash that handicap, it probably comes through a controlled, competitive match where they limit Villarreal’s central entries and find one goal in transition or from a set piece.
Villarreal Betting Form
Villarreal are in a strong position, and this is the kind of home match they should expect to win if they want to finish the Champions League job cleanly. Marcelino’s side has been balanced, direct when needed, and efficient enough in the final third to punish teams that lose concentration around the box.
Gerard Moreno’s role matters here. He was managed recently with this match in mind, and when he is sharp, Villarreal’s attack has more patience and better decision-making. Santi Comesaña returning to the starting mix also gives Villarreal more midfield control, which could be important against a Celta side that likes to compete through pressure and quick passing.
There are still a few injury concerns for Villarreal, with Ayoze Pérez and Pau Cabanes unavailable and Santiago Mouriño doubtful. Even so, the home side has more stability than Celta right now. The price is not massive, but Villarreal -0.5 makes sense because they do not need margin. They just need the win.
Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal Matchup Breakdown
This matchup should come down to whether Celta can turn the game into something loose. Villarreal are more comfortable when they can settle into possession, move the ball through midfield, and let Moreno or the wide players find spaces between the lines. If they get that rhythm, Celta may spend a lot of time defending around their own box.
Celta’s best path is pressure and transition. They need to force Villarreal into rushed build-up, win second balls, and attack before the home side resets defensively. That is easier said than done at La Cerámica, especially with several attacking and midfield absences, but Celta have shown enough away from home to make that threat real.
The total is interesting because the Over is heavily juiced. Celta matches can open up, and Villarreal have the attacking quality to score multiple goals at home. But with Celta missing pieces and Villarreal likely happy to control the match if they lead, I think there is at least some argument for a more measured game than the Over price suggests. Bettors comparing side, spread, and total can use a broader soccer betting guide to understand why a short home spread may carry cleaner value than chasing goals at a heavy number.
The table context leans toward Villarreal. They have a clear prize in front of them and a home-field chance to take another major step toward Champions League qualification. Celta need points too, but their current squad situation makes it harder to chase the game if they fall behind.
Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Villarreal to win, and I think the spread is the cleanest way to play it. The home side has better form, better health, and more direct motivation tied to the Champions League race. This is not a match where I need Villarreal to dominate for 90 minutes. I just need them to be the more reliable team in the key moments.
Celta are dangerous enough to make this uncomfortable. Their away form deserves respect, and if Villarreal start slowly, the underdog can absolutely hang around. But the missing pieces for Celta make their margin for error smaller. Without full access to Aspas and with several absences behind him, chance creation could be inconsistent.
The total leans Over based on the market, but I am not eager to lay -140. Villarreal could win 2-1 and clear it, sure. But a 1-0 or 2-0 home win also fits the motivation and game-state profile. Villarreal do not need chaos if they get ahead.
At this price, I prefer the team with the stronger home setup and clearer path to three points. Celta can compete, but Villarreal should have enough control, attacking quality, and urgency to get the result.
Best Bet: Villarreal -0.5 (-118).
La Liga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
La Liga betting can be tricky this late in the season because motivation is not the same for every team. Some clubs are chasing Champions League spots, others are fighting for Europe, and some are simply trying to manage tired legs. Bettors can compare today’s soccer picks and broader soccer betting angles before locking in a side, spread, or total.
ScoresAndStats gives bettors a way to compare experts instead of relying on one opinion. You can review top sports handicappers, track long-term results on the handicapper leaderboard, and see which experts are producing profit across different leagues and betting styles.
For bettors looking beyond free analysis, premium soccer picks can help identify stronger positions across the full card. A match like Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal is a good example. The favorite makes sense, but the real value comes from choosing the right price and the right market.
This Sunday match at El Sadar is one of those late-season league spots where the pressure is obvious on both sides, just in different ways. Osasuna are at home in Pamplona for a 6:30 p.m. local kickoff and still need a few more points to fully settle the survival conversation, even if the table gives them a little more breathing room than Sevilla. Sevilla, meanwhile, come into this one in real trouble after slipping into the relegation zone, so the urgency is not subtle anymore.
Osasuna have gone three league matches without a win, but the home profile is still strong enough to respect. They have been hard to beat at El Sadar for a while now, and this is still a team that can lean on Ante Budimir, Aimar Oroz, and a fairly direct final-third approach when the crowd gets behind them. Sevilla’s situation is more fragile. The away form has been poor, the margin for error is tiny, and the overall tone around the club feels a lot more desperate than patient.
Sevilla vs Osasuna Odds
These are the current betting lines for this match, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before kickoff. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with Osasuna priced as a small home favorite and the total leaning under.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sevilla | +295 | +0.5 (-120) | O 2.5 (+110) |
| Draw | +235 | N/A | N/A |
| Osasuna | -100 | -0.5 (-102) | U 2.5 (-143) |
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Sevilla Betting Form
Sevilla’s overall numbers are not awful in isolation, which is part of why they can be a frustrating team to price. They average 1.27 xG per match and 1.25 xGA, they keep a bit more of the ball than Osasuna at 52% average possession, and they still generate just over 11 shots per game. On paper, that profile says mid-table stability. The problem is that the road split tells a harsher story. Away from home, Sevilla concede 1.88 goals per match, win only 25% of the time, and have lost six of their last 10 away league games.
The recent results have not helped. Their last five league matches read as losses to Levante, Real Oviedo, Valencia, and Barcelona, with the one bright result being a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid. That is not enough to erase the bigger concern, which is that Sevilla’s matches keep turning against them once they have to defend sustained pressure. Luis García Plaza has treated this trip like a final, and the likely setup points to changes in the back line and midfield as he looks for a steadier shape.
There is also some uncertainty in the availability picture. Marcao is out, César Azpilicueta was still not ready, and the projected XI has been fluid, with a few different versions circulating before kickoff. That uncertainty matters in a road match where Sevilla probably need to survive the first wave before they can settle into their possession game.
Osasuna Betting Form
Osasuna are easier to trust in this spot because the home split is clean. Their season-long numbers at El Sadar are solid: 1.59 xG for, 1.27 xGA, 1.73 goals scored per home match, 1.13 conceded, and 14 shots per game. They have also scored in 100% of their home league matches, which is one of the more useful betting signals in this matchup because Sevilla have kept an away clean sheet only 19% of the time.
The recent form is mixed rather than bad. Osasuna lost 1-0 at Athletic, drew with Betis and Alavés, and beat Girona in the run before that. It is not a hot streak, but it is steadier than Sevilla’s run, and the home numbers over the last 10 league matches are even better: five wins, four draws, one loss, with 1.8 goals scored and 1.2 conceded per game. That kind of profile is exactly why the market is willing to make them a favorite here even without a glamorous league position.
Lineup-wise, Osasuna get a couple of useful pieces back. Alejandro Catena returns from suspension, and the likely shape is a 4-2-3-1 with Budimir leading the line and Oroz working underneath. Iker Benito remains out, but compared with Sevilla, the home side looks a bit more settled, and that matters in a match that could easily turn tense and scrappy.
Sevilla vs Osasuna Matchup Breakdown
This is one of those matchups where the possession numbers can trick you a little. Sevilla usually keep more of the ball, but that has not translated into reliable road control. They average 52% possession on the season, yet still concede 1.88 goals per away match and have a losing away record. Osasuna are more comfortable without long sterile spells on the ball. They are lower-possession, more direct, and much more dangerous at home when Budimir gives them a target and Oroz can find second balls around the box.
The shot profile nudges the same way. Osasuna average 14 shots and 5.07 on target per home match, while Sevilla take 11.13 shots and 3.31 on target away. That is not a massive gap, but in a game where Osasuna also defend better at home than Sevilla do on the road, it becomes meaningful. I think that is the heart of the handicap case. Osasuna do not need to dominate possession to create the better chances.
There is also a very real emotional angle here. Sevilla need points to climb out of danger, so the urgency is obvious, but sometimes that kind of pressure makes road matches tighter rather than sharper. Osasuna have their own pressure too, because they are not mathematically safe and still see this as a huge game, but the environment is much more favorable for them. If you like framing spots like this through pricing, game state, and home-away splits, the soccer betting guide is useful for that kind of bigger-picture read.
The total makes sense as a lower-scoring market. Under 2.5 is carrying the stronger price, and that fits a match where Osasuna are likely to be more comfortable controlling risk once ahead, while Sevilla may be cautious early because they cannot afford to hand over a cheap opener. Maybe it opens up late if Sevilla are chasing, but the baseline script still leans toward a tighter game than a wide-open one.
Sevilla vs Osasuna Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Osasuna on the side. The home split is better, the lineup looks more settled, and Sevilla’s away defending has just been too loose for too long. The price is not huge, which tells you the market still respects Sevilla’s talent level, but I think the matchup favors the home side more than the name-brand gap suggests. At El Sadar, Osasuna have been a much more reliable betting team than Sevilla have been on the road.
I also think the game script favors Osasuna a bit more than the raw table does. They do not need to take big risks here. If they score first, the whole match tilts toward their preferred setup, with Budimir available for hold-up play and Sevilla forced into more direct attacks than they probably want. Sevilla can still create, yes, but the away version of this team has not shown enough control in those chasing spots
On the total, I lean under 2.5. That is partly price, partly matchup. Osasuna’s home defense is respectable, Sevilla’s road attack is not explosive enough to scare me into the over, and this has the feel of a game where both teams know one mistake could shape the whole evening. A 1-0 or 2-0 type of result feels more natural than a back-and-forth shootout.
If you wanted a secondary angle, Osasuna to win with the under tied in makes some sense, but the cleaner play is still the home side on the straight 3-way number. They have the more trustworthy environment, the cleaner recent profile, and the better road-home contrast in the matchup.
Best Bet: Osasuna 3-way moneyline (-100).
LaLiga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting this Sunday slate, it helps to compare more than one angle before locking in a card. The today’s soccer picks page is a good place to start because it lets you sort through side, total, and derivative ideas across leagues instead of forcing one opinion too quickly.
The bigger edge is transparency. You can compare top sports handicappers, study the handicapper leaderboard, and see who is actually finding value over time rather than just riding a hot week. That matters in soccer, where home-away splits and market pricing often matter more than public perception.
And if you want a stronger card than the free board offers, premium soccer picks are there for that next step. In a match like Sevilla against Osasuna, where the right bet comes more from context and game script than star power, having a few trusted viewpoints usually makes the process better.
Elche C. F. heads to Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere on Sunday, April 26, for a LaLiga Matchday 32 match with kickoff set for 10:15 AM ET. This is a pure survival spot. Real Oviedo sits 20th at 6-16-10, Elche is 17th at 8-13-11, and there are only a handful of matches left for both sides to fix the table. Oviedo has at least shown life lately, taking seven points from its last three league matches, while Elche comes in off back-to-back wins that pulled it just above the drop.
That is what makes this one tricky. Oviedo is the more desperate team and gets the home crowd, but Elche has been the slightly steadier side overall and carries more attacking production into the match. At the same time, Elche still has not won away in league play this season, so the market is treating this as a narrow home-lean game rather than a spot to trust the road side.
Elche C. F. vs Real Oviedo Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before placing anything. This is a 3-way moneyline market, with the draw priced at +240, while Real Oviedo is a short home favorite and the total is sitting at 2.5 goals.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elche C. F. | +200 | +0.5 (-175) | O 2.5 (+102) |
| Real Oviedo | +125 | -0.5 (+120) | U 2.5 (-128) |
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Elche C. F. Betting Form
Elche’s overall record is not pretty, but the attack has been a little more functional than Oviedo’s. Through 32 league matches, Elche has scored 42 goals, averages 11.06 shots per match, and puts 3.94 on target. The team has also taken eight points from its last five league games, which is one reason this matchup feels tighter than the standings gap alone.
The big problem is the away split. Elche is 0-4-11 on the road, which is probably the single most important number in the handicap. That away profile keeps pulling bettors back from a full road-upset case, even after recent wins. The style is still possession-first under Eder Sarabia, and Elche has shown it can control stretches with the ball, but away from home the finishing and defensive balance have both been less reliable.
Team news is not especially harsh for Elche compared with Oviedo. Diangana and Aguado were due back in the mix, and the main reported absence was Boayar. That helps because Elche may need its depth late if this becomes the kind of tense, low-margin match the market expects.
Real Oviedo Betting Form
Oviedo’s season numbers are blunt. They are bottom of the table, have scored only 25 league goals, and average 9.88 shots with 3.31 on target per match. Even at home, the profile is pretty cautious: 4 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses, with home matches averaging only 1.44 total goals and just 19% of those games clearing 2.5. That low-event home split is a big reason the total is shaded under.
Still, the current form is better than the season-long record. Oviedo has picked up seven points from its last three league matches and recently blasted Celta 3-0, which is not something a dead team does by accident. The recent improvement matters because this is no longer just a bad bottom-side profile. It is a bad bottom-side profile that has started to show some bite.
The squad situation is mixed. Nico Fonseca is back from suspension and expected to help in midfield, but Luka Ilic, Álex Forés, and Dendoncker were all reported absent, and Guillermo Almada was expected to rotate after the physical drain of the last round. That probably pushes Oviedo toward a more practical match rather than a wide-open one. .
Elche C. F. vs Real Oviedo Matchup Breakdown
This matchup looks like control against urgency. Elche is more comfortable having the ball and trying to dictate possession, while Oviedo is more likely to treat this like a scrap and lean on the stadium, second balls, and direct moments. That contrast matters because Elche has scored more across the season, but Oviedo’s home games have consistently stayed tight and low scoring.
The biggest angle for the side is simple enough: Elche has not won away all season. That is hard to ignore, even with the better attacking numbers. On the other side, Oviedo’s biggest issue is obvious too: it does not create enough clean chances over 90 minutes, and its season-long attack has been one of the weakest in the league. So the match sits in that awkward middle ground where both sides have a real flaw that limits confidence.
Competition context matters here as much as tactics. Oviedo needs the win more desperately because it is still in 20th, but Elche is not safe either and cannot really afford to open the game recklessly on the road. That is why the total makes sense. Survival matches this late in the season often get tight, and a broader sports betting strategy guide is useful in spots like this where pressure and game script can matter more than pure quality.
Elche C. F. vs Real Oviedo Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean on the side is Real Oviedo, but only slightly. The home edge, the recent uptick, and Elche’s 0-4-11 away record all point that direction. If you are backing Oviedo, though, you are really betting on context and venue more than clean superiority. The season-long numbers still do not make Oviedo look trustworthy enough to go overboard with the home side.
The total is the cleaner read for me. Oviedo’s home matches average just 1.44 goals, only 19% of them have gone over 2.5, and the game state here should be cautious for long stretches because neither side can really afford a reckless loss. Elche has more attacking upside than the home team, yes, but its away record says a lot of those trips still turn into hesitant, frustrating matches.
I also think the pressure pulls this toward a lower-event script. Oviedo will want the crowd and the urgency to matter, but not at the cost of opening itself up. Elche should be happy enough to stay compact, own some possession, and wait for its chances rather than turn this into a track meet. Maybe it lands 1-0 either way. Maybe 1-1. That general shape feels more likely than a loose 2-2.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 (-128).
LaLiga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting matches like this regularly, one preview helps, but the bigger edge usually comes from comparing the full board and seeing where different cappers are finding value. ScoresAndStats makes that easier with today’s soccer picks and its running look at the best soccer bets this week, especially on weekends where survival matches and title-race matches are sharing the same slate.
Transparency matters too. You can compare top sports handicappers, check the handicapper leaderboard, and sort through different betting styles instead of blindly following one opinion. In soccer, that matters a lot because some bettors specialize in low-total spots like this while others lean much more aggressively into sides and derivatives.
And if you want stronger card-by-card opinions than a free article can give you, buy expert picks is there too. For bettors who want volume, accountability, and a cleaner way to compare experts before locking in a weekend ticket, that broader setup is usually more useful than treating any one match in isolation.
Rayo Vallecano host Real Sociedad at Estadio de Vallecas on Sunday, April 26, with kickoff set for 14:00 local time in La Liga. This is a meaningful Matchday 32 spot for both clubs. Rayo come in 13th on 36 points after beating Espanyol 1-0, while Real Sociedad sit eighth on 41 points after a 1-0 home loss to Getafe. Sociedad already have European football secured through their Copa del Rey win, but they are still chasing a higher finish, while Rayo are still close enough to the bottom that every point matters.
The mood around the home side is better than it was a couple of weeks ago. Rayo have taken four wins, four draws, and two losses across their last 10 matches, and Vallecas has been a real stabilizer, with the club taking 66% of its league points at home. Real Sociedad’s form is a little harder to read because the cup final changed everything. They beat Atlético Madrid to lift the Copa del Rey, then came straight back into league play and lost to Getafe after what looked like a pretty obvious emotional and physical drop.
There is a schedule wrinkle on both sides, too. Rayo are heading into a big home stretch that also includes a Conference League semifinal first leg against Strasbourg, while Sociedad are still working through the after-effects of that cup triumph and the compressed calendar around it. So this is not just a clean league handicap. It is a league handicap with fatigue, rotation pressure, and motivation layered on top.
Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest soccer odds before kickoff because this market is priced tight and can move quickly once final team news settles. The current board makes Real Sociedad a slight away favorite on the handicap, with a low total sitting at 2.5 goals.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Sociedad | +152 | -0.5 (+140) | O 2.5 (-125) |
| Rayo Vallecano | +178 | +0.5 (-200) | U 2.5 (-102) |
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Real Sociedad Betting Form
Real Sociedad’s recent numbers are decent on the ball, but a little less convincing where it counts. Across their last 10 matches, they have four wins, four losses, and two draws while averaging 1.9 goals from 12.2 attempts and 4.1 shots on target. They are still seeing 54.3% possession on average, which tells you the structure is there, but they are also allowing 1.9 goals per match in that same span. That is not the profile of a fully stable road favorite.
The team news matters here as well. Sociedad are without Gonçalo Guedes and Jon Karrikaburu, while Igor Zubeldia and Álvaro Odriozola are also out, and Luka Sučić has been carrying a knee issue. On the positive side, Sergio Gómez is back available, and Caleta-Car and Aritz are options, which should help steady the back line. The likely attacking shape still points toward Takefusa Kubo, Ander Barrenetxea, and Mikel Oyarzabal carrying most of the threat.
What makes Sociedad tricky to price is the contrast between their technical control and their emotional context. They just went through a draining cup final and the celebrations that followed, then lost to Getafe in a league match where the hangover looked real. That does not mean they cannot respond here. It just means the cleanest version of Sociedad may not be the version that shows up in Vallecas.
Rayo Vallecano Betting Form
Rayo are playing the more reliable low-event football right now. Over their last 10 matches, they have four wins, two losses, and four draws, averaging 1.2 goals from 14.1 attempts and 4.9 shots on target. Just as important, they are allowing only 0.8 goals per match in that stretch, with opponents averaging only 11.1 attempts and 3.4 shots on target. That is a strong defensive trend for a team in this part of the table.
The home context matters a lot. Vallecas has carried them, and the club has taken 66% of its league points there. The last match against Espanyol felt like a good example of the formula. Sergio Camello found the goal, and Dani Cárdenas came up with a decisive save late. It was not flashy, but it was controlled enough, and that is usually what Rayo want.
Rayo also get a couple of key defensive pieces back. Florian Lejeune and Nobel Mendy return after suspension, which is important because Augusto Batalla is suspended and Álvaro García, Luiz Felipe, and Randy Nteka remain out. The likely setup still looks coherent, with Andrei Ratiu, Lejeune, Mendy, and Chavarría behind a midfield that should lean on Pathé Ciss and Unai López, while Camello is expected to lead the line again.
Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano Matchup Breakdown
This is a really interesting style clash because the teams arrive here with similar possession comfort but very different recent defensive outcomes. Sociedad’s last-10 sample shows 54.3% possession and decent shot generation, but also a leaky defensive return. Rayo’s last-10 sample shows 52.0% possession, more total attempts, and far better defensive suppression. So even if Sociedad are the shinier technical side, Rayo are the team currently doing a better job of keeping matches under control.
The venue pushes the handicap even closer. Rayo have been significantly better at home than away, and Vallecas tends to turn matches into sharper, more physical, more transition-heavy contests. That matters against a Sociedad side that are still coming off cup-driven schedule stress and a midweek league loss. It also matters because Rayo themselves are balancing a Conference League semifinal on the horizon, which makes a measured, risk-aware game state more likely than an open one.
I also think the goalkeeper and box-control angle leans toward a lower total. Cárdenas just delivered a decisive performance against Espanyol, and Alejandro Remiro’s latest league outing ended with only an own goal beating him. Neither side looks naturally built for a wild 3-2 script here, especially when the pressure points are so obvious and both teams have reasons to value game management over chaos. A general expert betting guide is useful in exactly these spots, where the better bet is often about game state rather than just the better team.
Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano Predictions and Best Bets
My side lean is Rayo with protection, not Sociedad outright. The market already tells you this is close, and I think that is fair. Rayo’s recent defensive numbers are better, the home split is better, and the emotional setup is cleaner. Sociedad still have more individual quality in the front four, but they are not arriving in a spot where I want to pay a premium for that edge.
The total is the angle I like more. Rayo’s recent matches have been controlled, low-margin games, and their last 10 suggests a team limiting both shot quality and shot volume well. Sociedad have had more attacking output, but they have also been more vulnerable defensively, and that usually pushes them toward a more cautious away setup in this kind of road match. With both clubs carrying schedule noise, I do not think either side will be in a rush to make this wide open.
There is a fair draw argument too, maybe more than the moneyline prices suggest, because the game has the feel of something that could sit level for long stretches. But if I am choosing one market, I would rather trust the pace and structure than pick a winner. Vallecas should make it uncomfortable, Sociedad should still have enough quality to avoid total control from the hosts, and that combination points me toward a lower-scoring match first.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 (-102).
La Liga Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you want a broader read on the board before locking in this match, today’s soccer picks is the best place to start. It helps to compare this match against the rest of the Sunday card instead of treating it in isolation. The best soccer bets this week page is useful too when you want a quicker shortlist rather than a full slate.
For transparency, compare records and styles on the top sports handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard. Soccer betting gets easier when you can separate league specialists from broader market players and track who is actually producing over time.
And if you want a stronger conviction play instead of a free lean, premium soccer picks is the natural next step. This is exactly the kind of match where price, timing, and market choice matter almost as much as the teams themselves.
Red Sox play first game under new management in series finale vs. Orioles
The Boston Red Sox barely had a chance to enjoy a big day of success on the field before there was an overhaul of the coaching staff.
They’ll go into Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the host Baltimore Orioles with Chad Tracy as interim manager after the firing of Alex Cora was revealed hours after Saturday’s game.
Several of Cora’s staff members were also let go, so the positivity from a 17-1 whipping of the Orioles on Saturday probably has been dashed in the visiting clubhouse. Tracy has been managing Boston’s top affiliate, Triple-A Worcester, since 2022.
Lopsided results have defined the first two games of the series between the Red Sox and Orioles.
The Red Sox lost 10-3 in Friday night’s series opener. Cora noted the encouraging turnaround in comments following Saturday’s result.
“That happened (Friday) night and then we showed up (Saturday),” Cora said. “We did a lot of good things. We still have to be better in certain areas.”
The Red Sox were the second-to-last team in the American League to reach the 10-win mark this season, so perhaps that led to Cora’s dismissal. Boston is 10-17.
“We’ve got a chance to win the series (Sunday). That’s the most important thing,” Cora said prior to the firing being announced. “I keep saying get to .500. … You win series and you keep moving and we have a chance to do that.”
Aside from Cora, at least five other members of the coaching staff won’t be on hand for Sunday’s game.
Meanwhile, Baltimore had a two-game winning streak snapped.
“Any loss is tough,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “I wouldn’t say it’s any more tough. It’s a loss. And then, you move on, we play (Sunday). We have a chance to come out and win the series.”
Boston will send left-hander Connelly Early (1-1, 2.88 ERA) to the mound. He’s coming off his lone loss Tuesday against the New York Yankees, though he has been consistent in multiple ways. He has recorded 24 strikeouts in 25 innings this season while walking multiple batters in each of his five outings.
In Early’s three road assignments, he has given up one run in each game. He’ll be facing the Orioles for the first time.
Baltimore will call on right-hander Kyle Bradish (1-2, 3.96), who also has worked 25 innings this season. He has posted 28 strikeouts and he also has dealt with control snags, issuing three walks in four of his outings.
Bradish dodged trouble in Monday’s no-decision at Kansas City, where he allowed 10 hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings.
Bradish faced Boston last August in his first game back following 2024 surgery, giving up two runs in six innings while taking the loss. Overall, he’s 1-5 with a 6.92 ERA versus the Red Sox.
The Orioles used left-hander Keegan Akin on Saturday for his 2026 debut after he was activated from the injured list. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning before failing to record an out in the ninth and charged with six runs.
Still, Akin’s availability in the big picture could be a positive for Baltimore.
“He’s a guy that we were counting on coming into the season and him going down there in spring training was tough,” Albernaz said. “But the rest of the guys in the bullpen stepped up, so now adding Akin, it definitely raises the floor of our ‘pen.”
Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill made his first game appearance since April 8 by going 1-for-4 and scoring a run in Saturday’s game. He had been on the concussion injury list.
He was thrilled to be back in action, though the result wasn’t favorable.
“It sucks to be on the losing side, but we know what this offense is capable of,” O’Neill said.
–Field Level Media
With skid over, Phillies look to build on win, take series at Braves
Now that the Philadelphia Phillies have ended their 10-game losing streak, they’ll try to do on Sunday what no one else has done this season — win a series against the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies beat the Braves 8-5 in 10 innings on Saturday to square the three-game series in Atlanta. The Braves are 7-0-1 in series this season, including a three-game sweep of Philadelphia last week, and have the best record in the National League.
“We needed it for sure,” Philadelphia first baseman Bryce Harper said. “Got to keep working. Obviously, we were in a bad stretch, so to get a win is huge. Got to keep doing it.”
The pitching matchup for the rubber game features Atlanta’s Chris Sale (4-1, 2.79 ERA) against Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola (1-2, 5.06).
Sale is looking for a repeat performance from April 18, when he beat the Phillies 3-1. Sale pitched a season-long seven innings and allowed only one run on five hits and one walk. He matched his season high with seven strikeouts. Sale has allowed one or fewer runs in four of his five starts.
“He threw the ball really well, using all his pitches,” Atlanta catcher Jonah Heim said. “That’s what future Hall of Famers do — they go out against division rivals and they give their best effort. It was a lot of fun to be behind the plate for.”
Sale has made eight career starts against the Phillies, going 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA. He faced Philadelphia three times in 2025 and went 1-0 with a 3.24 ERA.
Nola did not face the Braves when the teams met last week. In his most recent start on Monday against the Chicago Cubs, he was removed after pitching only 4 1/3 innings, his shortest stint of the season. He allowed five runs on six hits and four walks, striking out five in a 5-1 loss.
“After the first inning, it just seemed like (Nola) had trouble getting ahead, trouble commanding his fastball,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said afterward. “Wasn’t landing his breaking ball. I don’t know if the ball was a little slick or what. Four walks, kind of uncharacteristic for Aaron. It was a tough one for him.”
Nola has made 38 career starts against Atlanta, the most against any opponent, and posted a 17-11 record with a 3.65 ERA. He made one appearance against the Braves last season and earned a victory in a 19-4 Philadelphia win.
The Phillies had 11 hits in Saturday’s win, with only one starter failing to get a hit. Harper was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a two-run single in the 10th inning to produce the go-ahead runs.
“I’m just trying to get something to hit hard,” Harper said. “I feel good at the plate right now.”
Atlanta’s Michael Harris II was back in the starting lineup as the designated hitter. He went 2-for-4, upping his average to .333, and drove in two runs. But his absence in center field was felt. His replacement, Eli White, slipped on the wet grass in the eighth inning, leading to Kyle Schwarber’s triple. He scored on Harper’s sacrifice fly.
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. continues to struggle. He was 0-for-4, dropping his average to .226. He walked in the seventh and stole second base but was picked off by Jose Alvarado to end the threat.
–Field Level Media
Guardians need to cut down on defensive lapses vs. Blue Jays
The visiting Cleveland Guardians could use improved fielding Sunday afternoon to help their chances in the rubber match of the three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays took the middle game of the three-game series on Saturday 5-3 with some help from some shaky Guardians defense.
Guardians second baseman Juan Brito let Daulton Varsho’s grounder squirt past him for an RBI single in Toronto’s three-run sixth.
“We should have been out of that inning with maybe one run scoring,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We had a tough inning defensively. It happens.”
Brito has had other defensive lapses but Vogt said he will keep playing him.
“He’ll be out there again Sunday,” Vogt said. “He’s continuing to work. … and, you know, this turf maybe hops a little different, but we’ve got to be better. We’ve got to catch the ball, and we’re going to continue to work defensively. We need to get better. That’s clear, and we’re going to do that.”
Left fielder George Valera also had an adventurous day. He overran Myles Straw’s fifth-inning fly that dropped for a double down the left-field line. Valera’s sliding attempt came up short in the sixth on Andres Gimenez’s two-run, two-out double on the left-field line.
Right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-3, 6.20 ERA) is the scheduled starter Sunday for the Guardians. He has not faced the Blue Jays.
Toronto is slated to start Patrick Corbin (0-0, 3.68). He is 1-1 with a 4.44 ERA in five career starts against Cleveland. Right-hander Dylan Cease was originally named to start Sunday but he was moved to Monday to face the Boston Red Sox to give him an extra day after a 110-pitch outing on April 20.
Steven Kwan was out of the Guardians lineup for the second consecutive game on Saturday. He was given a scheduled day off on Friday to provide a break from the artificial turf at Rogers Centre and was used as a ninth-inning defensive replacement.
Kwan was in the lineup for Saturday but was a late scratch because of a stiff neck.
“This is independent of yesterday,” Vogt said. “We put him in the game Friday and he was fine.”
Kwan said he woke up with a stiff neck.
With Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman removed from the closer’s role, Louis Varland pitched a shaky ninth Saturday to pick up the save. He allowed a run, three hits and a walk before ending the game with two strikeouts.
“Louis has the mentality to do that,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He has great numbers. It’s not going to be perfect and it’s not going to be perfect for anyone, so I hope people have a little bit of sympathy for Hoffman. This is not easy. “
Toronto put Nathan Lukes on the injured list with a strained left hamstring and promoted outfielder Yohendrick Pinango from Triple-A Buffalo.
Lukes suffered the injury running out a first-inning double on Friday and left the game immediately.
“He’s kind of week-to-week,” Schneider said. “It feels like anyone who’s playing good is not allowed to play anymore.”
Pinango was batting .288/.370/.488 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 22 games at Buffalo.
“He hits the ball hard,” Schneider said. “The way the hitting guys talk about it is that he has some bad intentions at the plate. He’s not just trying to touch it.”
–Field Level Media
Struggling Kodai Senga seeks better form during Mets-Rockies doubleheader
No player better symbolizes the topsy-turvy nature of the New York Mets than right-hander Kodai Senga.
On Sunday, the Mets will look to the 33-year-old starting pitcher to snap his slump and help New York avoid falling into another tailspin when it hosts the Colorado Rockies in a doubleheader.
Senga (0-3, 8.83 ERA) and fellow right-hander Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.67) are expected to start for the Mets. The Rockies will counter with left-hander Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.23) in Game 1 and an opener ahead of right-hander Chase Dollander (2-2, 2.88).
The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Saturday, when Senga was slated to oppose Quintana.
The Rockies need only a split to win the series. That’s because they claimed Friday’s opener, 4-3, when Michael Lorenzen tossed seven strong innings and Troy Johnston delivered what proved to be the decisive two-run single in the seventh inning.
The loss halted a two-game winning streak for the Mets, who snapped a 12-game losing streak with Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. At 9-17, New York entered Saturday’s play tied with the Kansas City Royals for the second-worst record in the majors. Only the National League East-rival Philadelphia Phillies (8-18) are worse.
The Mets’ season-opening slide could be considered a continuation of the struggles they endured over the final three-plus months of last season. New York had the best record in the bigs at 45-24 through June 12, but they missed the playoffs after stumbling to a 38-55 mark — the fifth-worst in the game — the rest of the way.
The Mets’ skid began the day after Senga suffered a right hamstring injury covering first base on June 12, 2025. Senga, who was 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts when he got hurt, only missed a month. But that was enough to ruin his rhythm as he went 0-3 with a 5.90 ERA in his final nine starts before ending the season with Triple-A Syracuse.
Senga opened this year allowing four runs over 11 2/3 innings in his first two starts, but he has surrendered 14 runs (13 earned) over 5 2/3 innings in his last two starts. That includes seven runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings in his most recent appearance on April 17, when he took the defeat in the Mets’ 12-4 road loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Senga’s start was pushed back from Thursday so he could throw two side sessions.
“This is a guy that’s very meticulous about his work and his mechanics and things like that,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday afternoon. “Just got to go out there and do it.”
Lorenzen’s longest outing of the season helped the Rockies improve to 11-16 and move into position to earn their third series win of the season.
When the Rockies finished 43-119 last season, they didn’t win their first series until a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins on June 1-3 — a trio of wins that improved their record to 12-50. Colorado didn’t post its third series win until winning two of three against the Minnesota Twins on July 18-20.
The win Friday — secured when converted starter Antonio Senzatela got the final five outs while facing just four batters thanks to getting Mark Vientos to line into an inning-ending double play in the eighth — also improved the Rockies to 4-6 in one-run games this season. Colorado was 3-7 in its first 10 one-run games last season — a stretch that spanned the first 46 games.
“Any time you are winning more games than last year, there is going to be better energy,” said Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, who replaced Bud Black as skipper last year following Colorado’s 7-33 start. “They are playing well right now.”
McLean didn’t factor into the decision in his most recent start last Tuesday, when he gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings as the Mets fell to the visiting Minnesota Twins, 5-3. He did fan 10 hitters without a walk.
Quintana took the loss in his most recent start last Monday night, when he allowed six runs (four earned) over five innings as the Rockies fell to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, 12-3.
Dollander, who has served as a reliever in all six of his appearances this year, took the defeat last Tuesday after giving up one run over a season-high six innings in the Rockies’ 1-0 loss to the visiting San Diego Padres.
Senga is 2-0 with a 1.47 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies. McLean has never opposed Colorado.
Quintana, who pitched for the Mets from 2023-24, is 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA in five starts against his former club. Dollander absorbed the defeat in his lone previous start against New York last June 8, when he allowed five runs over three innings in the Rockies’ home 13-5 loss.
–Field Level Media
