If you’re staying in tonight and Saturday evening telly drives you up the wall, have no fear. There are six early MLB games to enjoy.

Two games start at 18.05: the Tigers against the White Sox and the Braves against the Nationals.  After Dontrelle Willis left the game early with an injury, the Tigers’ bullpen pitched heroically last night to beat their AL Central rivals 5-2. Jim Leyland will be hoping Justin Verlander can pitch a gem as Detroit look for their third win of the season. Gavin Floyd, who got the win against the Tigers a week ago, pitches for Chicago. In the other contest, John Smoltz takes the mound for the Braves with John Lannan getting the start for the Nats.

Five minutes later, the Brewers and the Mets start their game at Shea in a top pitching match-up that needs no hype to sell it to you. Ben Sheets + Johan Santana = unmissable baseball action.

There are two exciting games in prospect starting at 20.55. Fans of the Yankees and the Red Sox will already have their latest clash pencilled into their diaries. Mike Mussina starts for the Yanks against Josh Beckett at Fenway. Meanwhile, many non-Yankees/Red Sox fans will probably be glad that there is a good alternative to the much-hyped AL East rivalry on offer. The reigning NL champion Rockies take on the best team in baseball right now: the Arizona Diamondbacks. Franklin Morales makes his first start at Chase Field for Colorado, while Dan Haren starts for the 8-2 D-Backs.

Ten minutes later, Todd Wellemeyer and the Cardinals play the third of a four-game series against Matt Cain and the Giants.

Nine other games take place throughout the night, ranging from the Cubs versus the Phillies at 00.05 to the Padres against the Dodgers at 03.10.