Scouting Report

Thursday, May 16 | All times ET

@ Reds @ Brewers | Miller Park | 1:05 p.m.
C. Reitsma (R) 2-0, 3.18 vs. B. Sheets (R) 3-3, 4.57

Scouting report:
The Reds are 5-1 in Reitsma's last six starts, including his victory Saturday against St. Louis. He was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee last season. Sheets, who has yet to allow a Miller Park homer in 2002, is trying to win his third consecutive decision for the first time since last June.

@ Twins @ Royals | Kauffmann Stadium | 2:05 p.m.
K. Lohse (R) 2-2, 5.54 vs. C. George (L) 0-3, 4.07

Scouting report:
The Tony Pena era is under way, and George is hoping it helps him in the win column. He has failed to last six innings or more so far, but has received three or fewer runs from his team in three of his five starts. Lohse impressed us his last time out, a no-decision in which he gave the Yankees only two runs over 6.1 innings of a home loss.

@ Marlins @ Rockies | Coors Field | 3:05 p.m.
J. Tavarez (R) 1-2, 8.68 vs. M. Hampton (L) 1-5, 6.85

Scouting report:
That April 30 shutout was a short-lived breakout for Hampton. He has lost two in a row again, including a lackluster start in front of his former Mets fans. Charles Johnson is 0-for-11 against him, but Mike Redmond lights him up (7-for-13). Tavarez pitched for the Rockies in 2000 and won a career-high 11 games then -- he knows how to pitch in thin air.

@ Braves @ Giants | Pacific Bell Park | 3:35 p.m.
J. Marquis (R) 2-2, 5.70 vs. J. Schmidt (R) 0-0, 6.59

Scouting report:
Will this be the old Jason Schmidt who came up strong for Atlanta? We don't know, but we know one thing has changed. He's switching to jersey No. 29, which he wore for SF last season. Schmidt has worn No. 22 his last four starts. Marquis came back in a huge way, beating San Diego Saturday and hitting a home run to help his cause.

@ A's @ Red Sox | Fenway Park | 7:05 p.m.
B. Zito (L) 3-2, 4.34 vs. F. Castillo (R) 2-3, 3.79

Scouting report:
Boston fans hope to see Castillo win at Fenway for the first time this season. He has a loss and a no-decision in previous home starts. The A's were trying Wednesday to avoid losing a fifth consecutive series, and they close this one out with Zito. He won his last start against Toronto and is 3-0 after a loss this season. Zito was 1-1 against Boston in 2001.

@ Orioles @ Indians | Jacobs Field | 7:05 p.m.
C. Maduro (R) 2-3, 4.35 vs C. Sabathia (L) 3-4, 6.31

Scouting report:
This marks the last meeting of the season between these teams, and it'll take some work to set up another meeting in October. Tribe starters had worked at least six innings in each of the last nine starts through Tuesday, but Sabathia lost his last outing to K.C. when A.J. Hinch's three-run homer broke a scoreless tie.

@ Angels @ Tigers | Comerica Park | 7:05 p.m.
S. Schoeneweis (L) 2-4, 5.08 vs. J. Weaver (R) 2-5, 3.33

Scouting report:
Of all the Thursday games, here's our favorite matchup. Weaver hasn't allowed a home run in his last 54 innings, spanning eight games. The last Tiger to go longer was Mark Fidrych in 1977. Weaver faces an Angels team that is running up scores at an alarming rate. Schoeneweis is 3-0 with a 2.56 ERA lifetime against the Tigers, including 1-0 last season.

@ D-Rays @ Yankees | Yankee Stadium | 7:05 p.m.
R. Rupe (R) 3-4, 4.84 vs. D. Wells (L) 5-1, 4.53

Scouting report:
Wells hasn't started against Tampa Bay since 2000, a no-decision while with Toronto. He is 4-1 against the Rays in his career, and is looking to start a season 6-1 for the fourth time in his career (1993, 1998 and 2000). Rupe has lost his last three outings but struck out nine in each of the last two.

@ Mariners @ Blue Jays | Skydome | 7:05 p.m.
J. Pineiro (R) 3-0, 2.25 vs. J. Miller (R) 2-1, 6.97

Scouting report:
You can't enjoy pitching now much more than Pineiro, who merely has beaten the Yankees and Red Sox in his last two starts. Nice addition to the rotation. Prokopec never has faced the Mariners, and will close out this series before the Jays head down to Oakland.

@ Rangers @ White Sox | Comiskey Park | 8:05 p.m.
K. Rogers (L) 4-1, 2.60 vs. D. Wright (R) 3-4, 6.59

Scouting report:
Rogers quickly got back on track last Friday by beating Detroit with eight scoreless innings. Wright is still recovering from the 19-0 beating Anaheim hit him with that same day. Grounders to short have been automatic outs for Sox opponents, as Royce Clayton had the longest active AL errorless streaks (67 games) through Tuesday by players at that position.

@ Pirates @ Astros | Astros Field | 8:05 p.m.
J. Fogg (R) 5-1, 2.47 vs. R. Oswalt (R) 4-2, 2.50

Scouting report:
Fogg has beaten Randy Johnson, Hideo Nomo and now Oswalt in his last start, so we'll see what Roy Wonder can do in this quick rematch against Pittsburgh's rookie phenom. Fogg walked none Saturday, and both of the batters Oswalt walked scored. Oswalt has lost two of his last three.

@ Phillies @ D-Backs | Bank One Ballpark | 9:35 p.m.
D. Coggin (R) 0-1, 7.65 vs. R. Johnson (L) 6-1, 1.95

Scouting report:
Johnson opens the D-Backs' homestand against the same Philly team that handed him a no-decision Saturday at The Vet. Big Unit hasn't won since April 26 -- a scratched start (sore back), a loss to Pittsburgh and then the ND. He gave up four runs on eight hits in seven innings at The Vet and left with the lead, but the Phils tied it in the ninth.

@ Mets @ Padres | Qualcomm Stadium | 9:05 p.m.
A. Leiter (L) 4-2, 1.94 vs. B. Lawrence (R) 4-2, 3.19

Scouting report:
Fresh off his victory over ex-Met Mike Hampton and the Rockies, Leiter hopes to break out of this pattern of win one, lose one. One break for him is the absence of Phil Nevin, who is 8-for-19 against him. Lawrence left early in losing his last start at Atlanta, but the Padres are 4-0 at home when he's on the mound.

@ Expos @ Dodgers | Dodger Stadium | 10:10 p.m.
T. Ohka (R) 3-2, 3.82 vs. K. Brown (R) 2-3, 3.45

Scouting report:
Is Kevin Brown back? He allowed just three hits over seven innings and won a combined shutout Saturday on the road against a red-hot Florida team. The Expos start their only series of the season at Chavez Ravine, and last year they won both season series against L.A. Ohka had a no-decision last season in his only career start against the Dodgers, allowing three earned runs in five innings. <img border="0" title="" alt="" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />