What to watch for in today's games
Though today features just 10 games across the Majors, there will still be plenty of action worth keeping an eye on. The slate will be highlighted by two former Cy Young Award winners taking the mound, one of whom hopes to stay undefeated, while the other aims to notch his first victory.
Here are four things to watch for:
Cole leads Pirates into Keystone clash: PIT @ PHI, 7:05 p.m. ET
Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole will look to continue his strong start to the season when he takes the hill in today's series opener against the in-state rival Phillies. Cole has been one of the bright spots for the Pirates so far this season, racing out to a 4-1 start to go along with a 2.27 ERA through six outings. He's held the opponent to one earned run or fewer in four of his six starts.
Sabathia goes for first win: NYY @ TB, 7:10 p.m. ET
The top two teams in the American League East open a three-game set today as the Rays welcome the rival Yankees to Tropicana Field. The Yanks are sitting atop the division despite former Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia beginning the year 0-5 with a 5.45 ERA through his first six starts.
Sabathia will take another shot at collecting his first win today, though he is just 2-5 with a 6.91 ERA in seven starts against the Rays since the start of 2013. The Rays will counter with right-hander Alex Colome, who has put up a 1.80 ERA in winning each of his two starts this season. He's struck out 10 batters and walked zero over 10 innings.
Upstart contenders battle in Chicago: NYM @ CHC, 8:05 p.m. ET
The National League East-leading Mets travel to the North Side of Chicago to open a four-game series with the Cubs. The series opener offers quite the pitchers' duel, as reigning NL Rookie of the Year Award winner Jacob deGrom will square off against Cubs ace Jon Lester.
deGrom has picked up right where he left off last year, putting up a 2.95 ERA through six starts. He's pitched at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer in four of those six outings. Lester, meanwhile, has started to turn things around after a slow start. He's won back-to-back starts, pitching seven innings in each, while lowering his season ERA from 6.23 to 4.04 in the process.
Greinke tries to stay undefeated: MIA @ LAD, 10:10 p.m. ET
Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke has been his usual dominant self to start 2015, going 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA through his first six starts. The former Cy Young Award winner pitched at least six innings each time out and has allowed zero earned runs in three of his six outings. After having his start pushed back a day due to Saturday's postponement, he'll look to continue that success today when he takes the hill against Tom Koehler and the Marlins.
As for Koehler, he's off to a rocky start this year, particularly on the road. He comes into today's start at Dodger Stadium with an 8.59 ERA in three road starts this season compared to a 2.45 ERA in three home starts.