Wednesday, May 8 | All times ET
@ Cardinals @ Cubs | Wrigley Field | 2:20 p.m.
M. Morris (R) 4-2 3.06 vs. J. Cruz (R) 0-5, 2.81
Scouting report: Morris may have pitched his best game of the season Friday, but unfortunately it coincided with Damian Moss' near-no-hitter and resulted in a no-decision. Tough-luck Cruz still failed to win a decision the same night at L.A., but at least the Cubs finally won one of his starts. Think he'd like to have that 8-0 lead that Kerry Wood was given early on Tuesday?
@ Indians @ Orioles | Oriole Park | 7:05 p.m.
D. Baez (R) 3-3, 4.50 vs. S. Erickson (R) 3-2, 3.45
Scouting report: This wraps up the series until we see them again next week at The Jake. The Orioles have won their last three games when Erickson started, the last two against K.C. Former teammate Brady Anderson (34 at-bats) and Jim Thome (30) each have three homers against him. Baez lost his last time out against Texas because of a three-run fourth inning.
@ Rockies @ Expos | Olympic Stadium | 7:05 p.m.
S. Chacon (R) 2-4, 5.94 vs. C. Pavano (R) 2-3, 5.20
Scouting report:
Chacon is looking for his first 2002 road victory and hasn't been so hot away from Coors Field. He is 2-8 with a 5.44 ERA in his career on the road. Pavano did not face the Rockies last year and is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three career games against them. Watch out for Todd Helton, who has his best success against Montreal.
@ Astros @ Phillies | Veterans Stadium | 7:05 p.m.
T. Redding (R) 1-2, 8.18 vs. B. Duckworth (R) 2-2, 5.06
Scouting report: Duckworth is 2-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three games at The Vet this season, and the Phillies have won all three. He's coming off an impressive victory over Colorado. Last August he held Houston to one hit over seven innings in his best 2001 start. Redding broke through Thursday against Montreal with a two-hit, one-run victory over six innings.
@ Padres @ Marlins | Pro Player Stadium | 7:05 p.m.
B. Tomko (R) 2-2, 2.50 vs. K. Olsen (R) 0-2, 5.12
Scouting report: The Cubs cooled off Tomko last weekend, but he has a history of bouncing back from big homer games. He also has a history of getting hit hard by Charles Johnson: 4-for-13, 3 HR. And C.J. is red-hot, so watch out. Tomko has won both career starts against Florida, but hasn't faced the Marlins since 1998. Florida will go with Olsen and then bring Hansel Izquierdo in to start the series finale Thursday.
@ Dodgers @ Braves | Turner Field | 7:35 p.m.
O. Perez (L) 3-1, 1.75 vs. K. Millwood (R) 2-3, 4.27
Scouting report:
We told you here at MLB.com that it's become the "Odalis Perez trade", overshadowing the Sheffield-Jordan part of the swap. Perez brings baseball's best walks-per-9IP ratio: 0.6. The Dodgers have won his last four starts, although he took a no-decision Thursday in a great outing against Cincinnati. Millwood didn't face L.A. in 2001 but is 5-2 with a 2.50 ERA in eight career appearances against the Dodgers.
@ Brewers @ Reds | Cinergy Field | 7:10 p.m.
N. Neugebauer (R) 1-3, 4.15 vs. J. Rijo (R) 2-1, 3.46
Scouting report:
In his last start before he turns 37 on Monday, Rijo will face a Brewers team that wasn't even in the same league back when he was among the N.L.'s elite. But when he faced the Brewers last Aug. 17, it was his first action back after six years and he pitched two scoreless innings in relief. Now he's coming off a pounding by the Giants. The Brew Crew wasted a fine outing by Neugebauer Friday, when he gave up just four hits and one run over 6IP ... only to see Florida come back and win, 8-4.
@ Giants @ Mets | Shea Stadium | 7:10 p.m.
K. Rueter (L) 4-1, 1.74 vs. S. Estes (L) 1-3, 4.38
Scouting report:
It's reunion time for Estes in this potential playoff-preview series. He followed up that near-ho-hitter April 26 against Milwaukee by being hammered in his last outing at Arizona. We'll see how much he learned about Barry Bonds ... and vice-versa. Reuter has won his last four starts and is going for No. 100 in his career, but he is 0-5 all-time against New York -- the only N.L. club he hasn't beaten.
@ Yankees @ Devil Rays | Tropicana Field | 7:15 p.m.
R. Clemens (R) 4-2, 4.34 vs. D. James (R) 0-2, 4.50
Scouting report:
The Rocket is on a roll. Clemens has won his last three starts and now leads the league with 47 strikeouts. He is 6-3 all-time against Tampa Bay, including 1-0 last season. James finally gave the Rays what they needed Friday, but his seven-inning, one-run, four-hit outing was a no-decision as Boston won, 3-2.
@ Royals @ Twins | Metrodome | 8:05 p.m.
J. Affeldt (L) 1-0, 2.53 vs. B. Radke (R) 3-2, 6.25
Scouting report:
Affeldt came in from the bullpen to make his first start Friday, allowing just one earned run and four hits over four innings. Radke ended a drought Friday with another victory over Detroit, getting enough run support in a so-so outing.
@ White Sox @ Rangers | The Ballpark | 8:05 p.m.
M. Buehrle (L) 5-2, 3.53 vs. D. Davis (L) 3-2, 4.17
Scouting report:
Buehrle is regaining his early-April form, shutting down Oakland last Friday with one run allowed over 6.2 innings. Davis also bounced back that day to beat Cleveland, after three consecutive starts in which the Rangers lost. No current Sox player has taken him deep.
@ Pirates @ D-Backs | Bank One Ballpark | 9:35 p.m.
K. Wells (R) 4-1, 4.50 vs. C. Schilling (R) 6-1, 3.18
Scouting report:
The Pirates survived Randy Johnson; can they do it again against Schilling? He has won three in a row this season, and is 11-6 all-time against Pittsburgh. The Bucs lost to him last August at BOB, but then beat him six days later in Pittsburgh. Wells has won three consecutive decisions.
@ Tigers @ Angels | Edison Field | 10:05 p.m.
N. Cornejo (R) 1-3, 5.87 vs. K. Appier (R) 3-1, 2.88
Scouting report:
The Tigers gave Cornejo a 4-0 lead in his last start, but their 2001 Minor League Pitcher of the Year blew it in an 8-4 loss at Minnesota. Appier has won his last three decisions and has not allowed a run over his last two starts.
@ Red Sox @ A's | Network Associates Col. | 10:05 p.m.
J. Burkett (R) 2-0, 2.00 vs. E. Hiljus (R) 3-1, 4.25
Scouting report:
Both of these pitchers have been outstanding of late. Hiljus won at Yankee Stadium his last time out, allowing just one run in five innings. He has won his last three decisions. The Red Sox have won all three of Burkett's starts since he came back late, although he was left with a no-decision Friday at Tampa Bay.
@ Blue Jays @ Mariners | SAFECO Field | 10:05 p.m.
M. Smith (R) 0-2, 9.00 vs. F. Garcia (R) 4-2, 3.63
Scouting report:
That's five consecutive Garcia starts that have resulted in Seattle victories, including four consecutive decisions to his credit. The last two were gems against New York in which he allowed zero and two runs each over eight innings. This guy is on fire, but beware Carlos Delgado. He is 9-for-21 with three homers against Garcia. <img border="0" title="" alt="" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />