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Bo Bichette seems to like batting leadoff for the New York Mets. Good thing, because the Mets are going to be without their usual leadoff hitter for a while. Bichette and the Mets will look to continue building a winning streak Friday night when New York hosts the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series. Freddy Peralta (1-2, 4.05 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against the Rockies’ Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 7.48) in a battle of right-handers. The Mets and Rockies were on the opposite ends of 10-8 scores as the host team in the rubber matches of three-game series Thursday. New York outlasted the Minnesota Twins, while Colorado fell to the San Diego Padres. Bichette

The Los Angeles Angels visit the Kansas City Royals on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium, with first pitch set for 7:40 p.m. ET. Los Angeles enters at 12-14 and third in the AL West, while Kansas City is 8-17 and sitting at the bottom of the AL Central. The Angels just snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over Toronto, while the Royals have lost nine of their last ten games. This is not a matchup with a clean favorite. The Royals are a small home favorite even with their recent slide, while the Angels bring the better power profile and a lineup that can change the game quickly. The pitching matchup is Yusei Kikuchi for Los Angeles

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at American Family Field, with first pitch set for 8:10 p.m. ET. Pittsburgh comes in at 14-11 and fourth in the NL Central, while Milwaukee sits 13-11 and fifth in the same division. The standings are tight enough that the fourth and fifth labels are a little misleading. This is still a real division spot, and both teams are within striking range early in the season. The game also gives bettors a strong pitching matchup. Paul Skenes gets the ball for Pittsburgh, while Brandon Woodruff starts for Milwaukee. The Pirates are coming off a 6-1 loss to Texas, and the Brewers have dropped two straight after a close 5-4 loss

The Athletics head to Globe Life Field on Friday night to face the Texas Rangers in an AL West matchup with both teams sitting at 13-12. Texas holds the top spot in the division, while the Athletics are right behind in second, so this is not just another April game. It is early, but these games matter when the division is this tight. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET in Arlington, with Luis Severino scheduled for the Athletics and Nathan Eovaldi going for Texas. The Rangers are favored at home after beating Pittsburgh 6-1 behind Jacob deGrom’s 10-strikeout outing, while the Athletics are trying to respond after a 5-4 walk-off loss in Seattle. The market has Texas around