Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 12:35 PM ET
After a rain delay of more than 2 1/2 hours pushed back the start of
Wednesday night’s 11-inning contest, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have
less than 11 hours to recover before trying to avoid a three-game road
sweep against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon. Monday’s season
opener – a 5-2 win by the Reds – was also delayed 35 minutes in the top
of the sixth inning, and there is a 45-50 percent chance of more
precipitation during the series finale.
NY Mets at Washington 1:05 PM ET
New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey returns to the mound Thursday for
his first regular-season start in nearly 20 months when he opposes
Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg in a marquee matchup to close out a
three-game series in the nation's capital. Harvey missed all of 2014
following Tommy John surgery, which interrupted what figures to be an
inevitable ascension to the top of the pitching ranks.
Minnesota at Detroit 1:08 PM ET
It has been a long time since the Minnesota Twins have scored a run in a baseball game that matters, considering the Twins were shut out in their 2014 season finale and have yet to score in two games in 2015. Minnesota hopes to at least reach home plate when it wraps up a three-game series Thursday at Detroit, after the Tigers posted 4-0 and 11-0 victories in the first two matchups.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 2:10 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals reached the World Series last season despite a less-than-explosive offense, but they appear poised to become a more complete team in 2015. The Royals hope to continue their hot hitting when they aim for a three-game sweep of the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Cleveland at Houston 2:10 PM ET
After exchanging 2-0 victories in the first two games of the season, the host Houston Astros and Cleveland Indians wrap up their three-game set Thursday afternoon. The Indians took Wednesday's contest behind solo homers from Carlos Santana and Mike Aviles to back 6 1/3 outstanding innings from Carlos Carrasco.
Texas at Oakland 3:35 PM ET
The Oakland Athletics had plenty of roster turnover during the offseason, but some things haven’t changed a bit. The Athletics are 2-1 heading into Thursday’s series finale against the visiting Texas Rangers thanks largely to a starting rotation that appears to be in midseason form.
San Francisco at San Diego 6:40 PM ET
After watching the Padres’ anemic offense last season, San Diego fans are understandably excited about Thursday’s home opener against the San Francisco Giants. Outfielders Justin Upton and Matt Kemp are just two of the new faces for the Padres, who will be greeted by a sell-out crowd at Petco Park after dropping two of three in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
Boston at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies still have not manufactured much offense through the first two games of the season, but they have a chance to capture their opening series with the visiting Boston Red Sox when the teams square off Thursday night. Philadelphia was trounced 8-0 in Monday's opener before bouncing back with a 4-2 triumph Wednesday, thanks in large part to Jeff Francoeur's three-run homer.
Toronto at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
CC Sabathia makes his return to the mound Thursday as the New York
Yankees host Toronto in the rubber match of a three-game set. Sabathia
has not pitched in the regular season since May 10, 2014, when a knee
issue wiped away the rest of the year as part of an injury-marred
campaign for the Yankees rotation.
