@ Blue Jays @ Yankees | Yankee Stadium | 7:05 p.m.
L. Prokopec (R) 1-1, 10.29 vs. M. Mussina (R) 3-0, 1.66
Scouting report:
Julia Roberts loves her life right now, and Mussina is loving his. Moose is on top of his game, and as the Yankees MVP so far he notched a dominating victory April 9 at SkyDome: eight innings, two hits allowed. He was 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA against the Jays last season. What can we say about Right Hand Luke? How about: Nice outing last week at Tampa Bay ... and try to forget that last start April 10 against the Bombers.
@ Phillies @ Pirates | PNC Park | 7:05 p.m.
V. Padilla (R) 2-1, 0.90 vs. J. Fogg (R) 2-0, 0.64
Scouting report:
Phillies @ Fogg sounds kind of like a fictional character, but he has been very much the real deal so far this season. At least against the Cubs. Fogg beat Chicago in each of his first two starts, going seven innings both times and allowing only one run over those 14 innings. In Padilla, he's matched up against another righty who has been a pleasant surprise, coming off a victory Saturday against Cincinnati (eight scoreless innings).
@ Mets @ Expos | Olympic Stadium | 7:05 p.m.
S. Trachsel (R) 1-2, 2.45 vs. T. Armas Jr. (R) 1-2, 5.12
Scouting report:
Flashback to last Sunday afternoon at Shea: Roberto Alomar borrows a bat from Mike Piazza and then homers his first two times up against Armas. We especially remember the 12-pitch at-bat in the third inning. Tony's ready for payback. That game marked Trachsel's first victory of the season, as he scattered six hits over 6.2 workmanlike innings and survived his own shaky infield.
@ Orioles @ Devil Rays | Tropicana Field | 7:15 p.m.
C. Maduro (R) 1-1, 6.30 vs. T. Sturtze (R) 0-2, 7.56
Scouting report:
Maduro turned in a good one Sunday at Chicago, scattering seven hits over six innings for his first 2002 victory. Sturtze, getting little production behind him, was the loser Saturday against Toronto and is looking to break the ice this season. If he can last into the sixth inning, Tampa Bay fans have to hold their breath. That inning has been no man's land for the Devil Rays, who had been outscored 26-6 in that frame entering Thursday's game.
@ Marlins @ Braves | Turner Field | 7:35 p.m.
R. Dempster (R) 0-0, 3.22 vs. D. Moss (L) 0-0, 4.15
Scouting report:
Because Kevin Millwood pitched four innings Tuesday -- after Greg Maddux's early exit -- and Jason Marquis pitched Thursday, the Braves didn't decide to start Moss until Friday afternoon. Gary Sheffield (left wrist) is hoping to be back in the lineup for this series after sitting out to recuperate.
@ Tigers @ White Sox | Comiskey Park | 8:05 p.m.
S. Sparks (R) 0-1, 2.33 vs. D. Wright (R) 1-1, 5.87
Scouting report:
The White Sox have been hot, but the last time we saw Wright, he was leaving after just two poor innings in a home defeat against Baltimore. Sparks had a no-decision Sunday at Minnesota, and the Tigers are 0-3 when he starts. Of course, that was before they started winning games.
@ Red Sox @ Royals | Kauffman Stadium | 8:05 p.m.
P. Martinez (R) 1-0, 6.91 vs. D. May (L) 0-0, 4.15
Scouting report:
Imagine how this Red Sox bunch could look if Pedro Martinez settles into his usual groove. This series will be tough. Before the N.Y. vanquishing, Boston was roughed up at home by the Royals -- most notably by Chuck Knoblauch. May had a no-decision last Saturday in Cleveland, lasting 4.1 innings in a loss.
@ Cardinals @ Brewers | Miller Park | 8:05 p.m.
M. Timlin (R) 0-0, 0.93 vs. R. Quevedo (R) 0-1, 6.75
Scouting report:
Garrett Stephenson was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back, and Travis Smith was expected to play understudy. Now it will be reliever Mike Timlin making the emergency start -- and his first start since 1991 when he was with Toronto. The Cardinals will likely use the "committee" approach in this game.
@ Indians @ Twins | Metrodome | 8:05 p.m.
C. Sabathia (L) 2-0, 2.79 vs. K. Lohse (R) 0-1, 11.74
Scouting report:
The first 5,000 fans to the Metrodome get a free CD on Best Buy Free Music Friday, and we're sure it won't be a highlight video of Lohse's last outing. He pitched 3.1 innings to lose at Cleveland. C.C. Big is coming off a big victory, allowing just one earned run over six innings last Friday to beat Kansas City.
@ Giants @ Astros | Astros Field | 8:05 p.m.
L. Hernandez (R) 3-0, 1.88 vs. S. Reynolds (R) 2-1, 4.76
Scouting report:
Livan is starting to look like the right-hander who led Florida to the World Series title in '97. He has command of his pitches and just dusted Milwaukee over seven innings last Sunday. Reynolds won at St. Louis his last time out. Barry Bonds is just 1-for-8 against him, but Jeff Kent is 10-for-14 with two homers in their matchups and ready to pounce.
@ Angels @ A's | Network Associates Col. | 10:05 p.m.
J. Washburn (L) 0-2, 6.00 vs. M. Fyhrie (R) 0-0, 0.00
Scouting report:
Fyhrie was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to take the roster spot of Mark Mulder, who is on the DL (forearm tightness). Fyhrie has made seven Major League starts, all with these Angels in 1999. He is 0-4 with a 6.42 ERA in those starts and 0-7 overall in The Show, but he didn't allow a run in 17 innings most recently with Sacramento. Washburn was chased in the fifth last Friday against Oakland and suffered the loss.
@ Rangers @ Mariners | SAFECO Field | 10:05 p.m.
K. Rogers (L) 0-0, 2.65 vs. P. Abbott (R) 1-0, 8.22
Scouting report:
Abbott was the winning pitcher last Saturday at Texas, scattering seven hits over five innings. The Mariners are 3-0 when he starts. Rogers started the next day, and left with a no-decision after giving up just one earned run over six quality innings.
@ Rockies @ D-Backs | Bank One Ballpark | 10:05 p.m.
D. Neagle (L) 1-1, 6.11 vs. T. Stottlemyre (R) 0-1, 9.00
Scouting report:
We're ready to watch Stottlemyre try it again. After a disappointing comeback performance April 9 at San Diego, he missed his last turn because of flu-like symptoms. The D-Backs won in Neagle's last start against them Saturday, but he wasn't involved in the decision, allowing five earned runs.
@ Padres @ Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | 10:10 p.m.
B. Lawrence (R) 2-0, 1.66 vs. H. Nomo (R) 1-2, 2.60
Scouting report:
Let the festivities begin. Friday has been declared "Dodger Day" in recognition of the 40th anniversary of one of baseball's most beautiful parks. Fans will choke on their Dodger dogs if they don't see a reversal of what happened last Sunday, though. Lawrence beat Nomo, 1-0, in a great pitchers' duel at Qualcomm.
