MLB: What to watch on April 2, 2026
Here are today's MLB games, ordered by watchability, based on how interesting the teams and starting pitchers look. Higher is better. For more information, read this post.
| Score | Time (PT) | Visitors | Score | Home | Score | Starter (V) | Score | Starter (H) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.4 | 1:10p | Toronto Blue Jays | 8.0 | Chicago White Sox | 4.9 | Dylan Cease | No data | Sean Burke | No data |
| 10.1 | 6:40p | Atlanta Braves | 7.7 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2.6 | Reynaldo López | No data | Ryne Nelson | No data |
| 9.7 | 6:45p | New York Mets | 5.8 | San Francisco Giants | 3.6 | David Peterson | No data | Robbie Ray | No data |
| 9.1 | 11:10a | Minnesota Twins | 4.1 | Kansas City Royals | 4.1 | Taj Bradley | No data | Cole Ragans | No data |
Notes:
- Pitcher 'no data': Pitchers only have a pNERD score once they've started at least one game and have at least 20 innings pitched. I also show 'no data' when I can't correctly link a starting pitcher with their stats.
- Generated by the mlb-watchability project on GitHub.
Detail
Toronto Blue Jays @ Chicago White Sox, 1:10p
Summary
Dylan Cease returning to face his former team is the main event here, and his debut with Toronto was sharp enough to make this worth a look. The Blue Jays bring a strong tNERD (7.97 — among the best in today's slate) built on solid batting runs, excellent fielding, and a luck component suggesting they've been underperforming their underlying numbers and are due for better results.
After Cease pitched lights out in his debut with the Blue Jays, there's genuine curiosity about whether he can keep it up — and doing it against the team that developed him adds some narrative texture. He held hitters to a .150 batting average and retired 12 batters in Toronto's win over the Athletics. Neither pitcher has a pNERD score yet (too early in the season for reliable underlying stats), so take the pitching component with a grain of salt.
On the other side, Burke had to pitch in Milwaukee and struck out five in four innings, but allowed four runs and let the Brewers hit .368 off him. The White Sox tNERD gets a boost from their young roster and low payroll, but their bullpen and offense have been genuinely rough — the team is already 1-5, and 2026 feels long already. Cease vs. his old club gives this game its legs.
(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)
Recommended broadcasts: TV, Toronto Blue Jays (3.10); radio, Chicago White Sox (2.57)
Toronto Blue Jays
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | 5.4 | 6.1% | -0.7 | 3.2 | 1.6 | $306.1M | 30.1 | 5.0 | 3.10 | 2.39 | — | — |
| Z-score | 0.93 | -0.37 | -0.89 | 1.62 | 0.45 | 1.18 | 0.99 | 1.52 | 1.40 | 0.01 | — | — |
| tNERD | 0.93 | -0.37 | -0.89 | 1.62 | 0.45 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.52 | 0.70 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 7.97 |
Chicago White Sox
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | -5.2 | 8.2% | -0.4 | -0.9 | -3.9 | $105.8M | 27.1 | -2.0 | 1.82 | 2.57 | — | — |
| Z-score | -0.88 | 0.81 | -0.56 | -0.42 | -1.09 | -1.11 | -1.76 | -0.65 | -1.11 | 0.39 | — | — |
| tNERD | -0.88 | 0.81 | -0.56 | -0.42 | -1.09 | 1.11 | 1.76 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.19 | 4.00 | 4.93 |
Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays
No detailed stats available
Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox
No detailed stats available
Atlanta Braves @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:40p
Summary
Atlanta brings a well-rounded, legitimate ballclub into Chase Field, while Arizona is still sorting out a battered rotation — and both starting pitchers enter with thin enough track records this season that the gNERD score leans almost entirely on the teams themselves.
The Braves (4-2) are the clear watchability engine here, with a tNERD of 7.68 that sits well above the historical average of 5.23. Their fielding and bullpen are both genuine strengths, and a positive luck score suggests they may actually be underperforming their underlying numbers — which is a good sign going forward. López held the Royals to just one run over six innings in his season debut, though he has pitched just 11 innings dating back to last season, so there's real uncertainty about what you're getting. On the other side, Nelson is eager to bounce back after a tough season debut against the Dodgers, who tagged him for four earned runs in 4.2 innings. Arizona's tNERD of 2.61 — below today's range floor — reflects a brutal baserunning unit and a shaky bullpen, compounded by multiple pitchers already on the injured list. At a gNERD of 10.14, this sits right at the historical median — a perfectly watchable game if you like the Braves, less so if you were hoping for a compelling pitching matchup.
(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)
Recommended broadcasts: TV, Atlanta Braves (2.36); radio, Atlanta Braves (2.36)
Atlanta Braves
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | 2.3 | 8.0% | -0.5 | 2.9 | 3.1 | $249.8M | 30.5 | 3.0 | 2.36 | 2.36 | — | — |
| Z-score | 0.40 | 0.70 | -0.67 | 1.47 | 0.87 | 0.54 | 1.36 | 0.90 | -0.05 | -0.06 | — | — |
| tNERD | 0.40 | 0.70 | -0.67 | 1.47 | 0.87 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.90 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 7.68 |
Arizona Diamondbacks
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | 0.7 | 6.9% | -1.6 | 1.5 | -1.7 | $231.6M | 30.2 | 0.0 | 2.19 | 1.92 | — | — |
| Z-score | 0.13 | 0.08 | -1.90 | 0.77 | -0.47 | 0.33 | 1.08 | -0.03 | -0.39 | -0.99 | — | — |
| tNERD | 0.13 | 0.08 | -1.90 | 0.77 | -0.47 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 2.61 |
Reynaldo López, Atlanta Braves
No detailed stats available
Ryne Nelson, Arizona Diamondbacks
No detailed stats available
New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants, 6:45p
Summary
I need to search for Robbie Ray, but I've hit the search limit for this turn. Let me work with what I have and note that both pitchers have pNERD scores of 0.00, meaning no statistical data is available for either.
This is a solid but unspectacular early-season matchup, lifted mainly by the Mets' broadcaster ratings and a walk-year storyline for David Peterson — though with no pitcher statistical data available for either starter, the on-mound quality is genuinely an unknown. Robbie Ray, returning to the Giants after extensive injury troubles, adds some intrigue on the San Francisco side.
The gNERD of 9.69 sits just below the historical median and roughly in the middle of today's narrow range (9.13–11.45), so this isn't a game that jumps off the schedule. The Mets' tNERD (5.79) is the more interesting half of the equation: their bullpen grades out positively, and a luck score of 0.90 suggests they've been underperforming their underlying numbers and could be due for some positive regression. Peterson is pitching in his final season before free agency, and whether he can stay consistent for a full year is the central question around him. He collapsed down the stretch in 2025, posting an 8.42 ERA over his final nine starts, making this a legitimate prove-it year. The Giants, meanwhile, sport a low barrel rate (z-score of -2.18) and below-average batting runs — this is not an offense that figures to light up a scoreboard — but their fielding grades out well, and their radio broadcast crew is genuinely above average. Both pitchers carry pNERD scores of 0.00 due to missing data, so you're essentially flying blind on the mound quality. Watch if you're a Mets fan with a rooting interest in Peterson's redemption arc; otherwise, there are likely better options today.
(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)
Recommended broadcasts: TV, New York Mets (3.32); radio, San Francisco Giants (3.49)
New York Mets
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | -1.7 | 6.1% | -0.1 | -0.6 | 1.5 | $374.9M | 29.9 | 3.0 | 3.32 | 3.05 | — | — |
| Z-score | -0.28 | -0.37 | -0.22 | -0.27 | 0.43 | 1.97 | 0.85 | 0.90 | 1.82 | 1.41 | — | — |
| tNERD | -0.28 | -0.37 | -0.22 | -0.27 | 0.43 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.90 | 0.91 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 5.79 |
San Francisco Giants
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | -8.7 | 2.9% | 0.6 | 2.0 | -2.1 | $228.3M | 29.6 | 1.0 | 3.20 | 3.49 | — | — |
| Z-score | -1.48 | -2.18 | 0.56 | 1.02 | -0.58 | 0.29 | 0.49 | 0.28 | 1.59 | 2.34 | — | — |
| tNERD | -1.48 | -2.18 | 0.56 | 1.02 | -0.58 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.28 | 0.79 | 1.17 | 4.00 | 3.59 |
David Peterson, New York Mets
No detailed stats available
Robbie Ray, San Francisco Giants
No detailed stats available
Minnesota Twins @ Kansas City Royals, 11:10a
Summary
Two pitchers with pNERD scores of 0.00 means we're flying blind statistically, but the Taj Bradley storyline alone gives this game a reason to watch — a 25-year-old with legitimate front-of-rotation stuff trying to prove his new team right.
Both teams come in with nearly identical tNERD scores (4.15 and 4.11), landing a gNERD of 9.13 — the lowest of today's games and just below the historical median. Neither team's barrel rate, baserunning, or bullpen numbers inspire confidence: the Twins are off to an unfortunate 1-3 start, and both bullpens are net negatives. The Royals' barrel rate is notably low, which cuts both ways — less power, but also fewer crooked numbers.
The real draw here is Bradley. When the Twins acquired him from Tampa Bay at last year's trade deadline, they were betting on a version of Bradley that once looked like one of the most electric young starters in baseball. In his season debut, he allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out nine across 4⅓ innings. His fastball averaged 97.4 mph, up over a full mile per hour from last season. The pNERD of 0.00 simply reflects a lack of accumulated data — not a lack of talent.
Cole Ragans also gets a 0.00 pNERD for the same reason, so we're watching two pitchers whose underlying numbers are still being written. Worth a look if you're curious whether Bradley's early-season velocity bump is real.
(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)
Recommended broadcasts: TV, Minnesota Twins (2.30); radio, Kansas City Royals (2.22)
Minnesota Twins
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | 0.0 | 7.8% | -0.5 | -1.1 | -1.9 | $122.1M | 28.9 | 1.0 | 2.30 | 2.06 | — | — |
| Z-score | 0.01 | 0.59 | -0.67 | -0.52 | -0.53 | -0.92 | -0.06 | 0.28 | -0.17 | -0.69 | — | — |
| tNERD | 0.01 | 0.59 | -0.67 | -0.52 | -0.53 | 0.92 | 0.06 | 0.28 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 4.15 |
Kansas City Royals
| Batting | Barrel% | BaseR | Fielding | Bullpen | Payroll | Age | Luck | TV | Radio | C | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw stat | 1.6 | 4.8% | 0.8 | 1.0 | -3.1 | $184.5M | 29.7 | 1.0 | 2.11 | 2.22 | — | — |
| Z-score | 0.28 | -1.10 | 0.79 | 0.52 | -0.86 | -0.21 | 0.62 | 0.28 | -0.54 | -0.36 | — | — |
| tNERD | 0.28 | -1.10 | 0.79 | 0.52 | -0.86 | 0.21 | 0.00 | 0.28 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | 4.11 |
Taj Bradley, Minnesota Twins
No detailed stats available
Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
No detailed stats available
- ← Previous
MLB: What to watch on April 1, 2026