4/2/2025
GameScore is a rating, on a 0-100 scale, of how important or watchable a game should be. It factors in the potential impact of a game on the playoff race, as well as the current makeup of the rosters. SP Score rates the game in terms of the starting pitcher matchup (it isn’t perfectly 0-100, but 100 is the max). Adj. GS is a combination of the two, 75% GameScore and 25% SP Score. It’s my early attempt at adjusting for pitchers, which should provide more variety on a daily basis. All times Eastern.
It’s Ace Day, so several games are getting positive bumps. Good day for baseball ahead.
12:40 - Rangers (J. Leiter) at Reds (H. Greene) - 55 - Cincy will be thirsty for some runs today after getting Madduxed by Nathan Eovaldi last night. Leiter will try to build on an encouraging first start. Greene has an extra day of rest, off an impressive opener where he threw 99. Both these pitchers are prone to mistakes, but the stuff is excellent.
1:10 - Royals (C. Ragans) at Brewers (F. Peralta) - 64 - Both these aces had disappointing opening days, but that’s March baseball. Both look to get back to normal today. And even when they’re not at their best, they’re still pretty good.
1:10 - Pirates (P. Skenes) at Rays (R. Pepiot) - 65 - I would argue the Pirates are off to MLB’s most disappointing start. Yes, I’m aware of the Braves, despite my best efforts, but the Pirates have played the Marlins and Rays, two projected last place clubs, and have just a single victory to show for it. For a team whose hopes of being an upstart contender were already fringy to begin with, it’s not a start they’ll easily afford. No better way to put it behind them than with a Paul Skenes start. Pepiot was dazzling in his first start, at least as dazzling as one can really be against the Rockies.
1:15 - Angels (Y. Kikuchi) at Cardinals (S. Gray) - 55 - Are the Angels playing “Stay” by Lisa Loeb after every Kikuchi strikeout, in keeping with one of MLB’s best recent traditions?
The 4-1, 1st Place Angels should embrace any and all fun they can while this little ride lasts, and hope it’s real enough to… stay.
2:10 - Twins (P. Lopez) at White Sox (S. Burke) - 47
3:07 - Nationals (M. Gore) at Blue Jays (E. Lucas) - 38
3:35 - Cubs (J. Taillon) at Athletics (J. Springs) - 55 - Springs was excellent against the Mariners, but the Cubs lineup is probably going to be a bit tougher.
Game of the Day
4:10 - Tigers (T. Skubal) at Mariners (L. Castillo) - 88 - I know, this series has swept the GotD picks all week, but one was an editorial choice, while the others have featured some of the game’s best pitchers. Casey Mize outdueled Logan Gilbert yesterday, and just like that, the Tigers are in first place just two games into the post-Dodgers portion of the schedule (see, Braves, there IS an other side to this storm). Granted, it’s a 4-way tie in one of baseball’s worst divisions, but first is first. The Mariners (2-4) are reeling a bit, haven’t hit at all, and now they have to get it together against Skubal. Good luck with that.
4:10 - Giants (L. Roupp) at Astros (F. Valdez) - 79 - Roupp makes his first start this season, and 5th of his career. He came up as a starter, but he has yet to show the ability to handle the workload of one - even last year, he debuted with the Giants as a starter and moved to the bullpen, where he was very good. He had good stuff in camp, so there’s optimism. And there’s an ace opposing him in a game of relative importance. Nice game if you’re tired of watching Mariners strike out this week.
4:10 - Guardians (B. Lively) at Padres (D. Cease) - 58 - Pitchers with surnames that are opposites!
4:40 - Mets (C. Holmes) at Marlins (C. Gillispie) - 36
6:35 - Red Sox (G. Crochet) at Orioles (Z. Eflin) - 85 - The Red Sox are 1-4, and they need to get some things right in a hurry (ahem, Devers). Crochet going from the merely good he was on opening day to the death star he’s capable of being would be a nice way to do just that. This continues to be a series that matters, and today’s is the best pitching matchup it’ll offer.
6:45 - Rockies (K. Freeland) at Phillies (Z. Wheeler) - 44
7:05 - Diamondbacks (Z. Gallen) at Yankees (C. Rodon) - 63 - Gallen was pretty bad in his last start. Rodon was far from it. Both have tougher assignments today.
8:38 - Braves (B. Elder) at Dodgers (B. Snell) - 53 - I’m a little bullish on Elder this season, what with the uptick in velo he showed in spring. But “a little bullish on Elder” means relative to the old Elder, not “I’m ready to see him go pitch for pitch with Blake Snell.” Yeesh.