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New York heads into Wrigley Field on Saturday looking for a better response after getting hit 12-4 in Friday’s opener. The market still sees this game as tight, though, with the Mets at -102 and the Cubs at -118. That tells you the opener did not completely reshape the handicap, but it definitely adds pressure to the way bettors read this matchup. When one side just gave up 12 runs and still comes back close to a pick’em, the market is basically saying the bigger story is the full-game setup, not just one ugly result. That makes this one more interesting than it looks at first glance. Chicago clearly has momentum after Friday, and Wrigley can be a place where

Cincinnati heads into Target Field on Saturday after stealing Friday’s opener 2-1, and that result matters because it immediately puts pressure on Minnesota to respond at home. The Reds come in as a +116 underdog, while the Twins are sitting at -139, which tells you the market still sees Minnesota as the steadier full-game side despite dropping the first game of the series. That is usually where a matchup gets interesting for bettors. The team that just won is still getting plus money, and the team that just lost is still being asked to justify favorite status. That is the whole handicap here. Friday’s opener stayed tight, the scoring environment looked controlled, and now the question becomes whether that was

Kansas City goes back into Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon after dropping Friday’s opener 4-2, and the market still has New York priced as the clear side to beat. The Royals are sitting at +139, the Yankees at -166, with a total of 8.0 that suggests a fairly controlled scoring script unless the game gets loose late. First pitch comes with New York trying to build on a solid home win, while Kansas City is trying to prove it can stay competitive enough in this park to make the underdog number matter. If you are comparing it with the rest of the slate, this is one of the more pricing-sensitive spots on the day’s MLB game previews. That is really

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson hit the foul ball that caused manager Craig Albernaz to suffer a broken jaw and seven facial fractures on Monday. Jackson gave fans something more pleasant to talk about Friday night when he hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning off reliever Connor Brogdon, capping a 6-4 comeback win for the Orioles against the Guardians in Cleveland. The four-game series will continue Saturday evening when Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer (0-0, 3.60 ERA) opposes Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (2-1, 2.38). Cleveland won the opener 4-2 on Thursday. “For me, it’s just about making the most of opportunities, whether it’s pinch hitting or starting,” said Jackson, who is batting .317 with five homers and