Probable Pitchers - Monday, March 31

by Jonah Birenbaum
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Here is a look at the probable pitchers for Monday's action around the majors.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates

RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-13, 4.34 ERA) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (16-8, 3.02 ERA)

Liriano fashioned a 1.47 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP over 11 starts at PNC Park in 2013

Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers

RHP James Shields (13-9, 3.15 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.46 ERA)

Royals DH Billy Butler is hitting .441/.506/.588 with two home runs in 77 plate appearances against Verlander

Washington Nationals at New York Mets

RHP Stephen Strasburg (8-9, 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Dillon Gee (12-11, 3.62 ERA)

Mets 3B David Wright is 1-for-9 (.111) with four strikeouts in his career against Strasburg

Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers

LHP Cliff Lee (14-8, 2.87 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Scheppers (6-2, 1.88 ERA)

Scheppers is making his first career start Monday at Globe Life Park

Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers

RHP Julio Teheran (14-8, 3.20 ERA) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (12-10, 4.18 ERA)

Teheran held right-handed hitters to a .204/.264/.317 line last season, surrendering eight home runs in 393 plate appearances

Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles

LHP Jon Lester (15-8, 3.75 ERA) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (16-7, 3.71 ERA)

Tillman yielded 24 home runs over 18 starts at Camden Yards in 2013, averaging 1.96 per nine innings

Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox

RHP Ricky Nolasco (13-11, 3.70 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (11-14, 3.07 ERA)

Twins 1B Joe Mauer is hitting .278/.316/.333 with one double in 19 career plate appearances against Sale

St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds

RHP Adam Wainwright (19-9, 2.94 ERA) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (5-2, 2.82 ERA)

Wainwright owns a 4.58 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP over 11 career appearances -- including nine starts -- at Great American Ball Park

Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays

RHP R.A. Dickey (14-13, 4.21 ERA) vs. LHP David Price (10-8, 3.33 ERA)

Dickey owns a 2.79 ERA over seven career appearances -- including five starts -- at Tropicana Field, holding opponents to a .188/.253/.289 line

Colorado Rockies at Miami Marlins

LHP Jorge De La Rosa (16-6, 3.49 ERA) vs. RHP Jose Fernandez (12-6, 2.19 ERA)

Fernandez authored a 1.50 ERA over his final 18 starts in 2013, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings

San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks

LHP Madison Bumgarner (13-9, 2.77 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy (5-11, 4.53 ERA)

Giants OF Hunter Pence is 7-for-13 (.538) with two doubles, one triple, and one home run in his career against McCarthy

Cleveland Indians at Oakland Athletics

RHP Justin Masterson (14-10, 3.45 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (5-3, 2.67 ERA)

Opponents have hit .306/.390/.524 against Masterson at O.co Coliseum, where the right-hander owns a 7.71 ERA over 30 1/3 career innings

Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels

RHP Felix Hernandez (12-10, 3.04 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver (11-8, 3.27 ERA)

Weaver crafted a 2.25 ERA over his final six starts in 2013, holding opponents to a .212/.255/.338 line

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