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Friday’s matchup at Target Field feels bigger than a typical first week game. Both clubs are 2-4, both have played a little below expectation, and both are trying to use this series as a reset spot. The Twins finally got in the win column again with a 5-1 win over Kansas City on Thursday, while the Rays come in after dropping two of three in Milwaukee and have now lost two straight. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET, and this is Minnesota’s home opener. The weather is also part of the handicap. This is not a comfortable hitting environment. Forecasts for Minneapolis have game-time temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s with clouds and some rain nearby,

The Phillies open a three-game set at Coors Field on Friday afternoon, and this is one of those spots where the raw records do not tell the full story. Philadelphia is 3-3 and riding a two-game winning streak after a late comeback win over Washington, while Colorado is 2-4 but just took two of three from Toronto and now gets its home opener in Denver. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET, with NBC Sports Philadelphia and Rockies.TV carrying the game. The market has treated this like a clear Phillies edge, and I get it. Aaron Nola goes for Philadelphia against Michael Lorenzen for Colorado, and the live line has pushed further toward the road side from the opener.

Baltimore opens a weekend set in Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon, and this one looks tighter than the early records alone suggest. Both clubs are 3-3, both sit two games back in their divisions, and both come in with at least a little momentum. The Orioles just took the series finale from Texas 8-3, while the Pirates have won two straight after back-to-back 8-3 wins in Cincinnati. First pitch is set for 4:12 p.m. ET at PNC Park, with local coverage on MASN and SportsNet Pittsburgh and streaming available on MLB.TV. The weather is worth noting because it is warmer than a typical early-April game in Pittsburgh. Forecasts have temperatures around the upper 70s to low 80s around first pitch, with

Milwaukee opens a road series in Kansas City on Friday night with the better early-season profile, and the market has noticed. The Brewers are 5-1, first in the NL Central, and riding a two-game winning streak after an 8-2 win over Tampa Bay on April 1. The Royals are 3-3, second in the AL Central, and coming off a 5-1 loss to Minnesota on Thursday. First pitch is set for 7:40 p.m. ET at Kauffman Stadium on Apple TV. The pitching matchup is also a little different from what this game may have looked like earlier in the day. Milwaukee is lined up with Chad Patrick, while Kansas City is now expected to start Luinder Avila after Michael Wacha was