Sunday, May 26 | All times ET
@ Yankees @ Red Sox | Fenway Park | 8:05 p.m.
M. Mussina (R) 6-2, 4.14 vs. D. Oliver (L) 4-3, 4.20
Scouting report:
Moose will try to close out the series on a positive note for the Bombers. He came through as an emergency starter last go-round, replacing El Duque with 6.2 innings of one-run ball to beat Toronto. The Yanks have won his last four starts. Oliver isn't striking out many, and the Red Sox are 0-3 in his last three starts.
@ Indians @ Blue Jays | Skydome | 1:05 p.m.
B. Colon (R) 5-3, 2.79 vs. L. Prokopec (R) 2-6, 6.55
Scouting report:
Colon hasn't lost since April 28, and has strung together four consecutive quality starts since then. Darrin Fletcher is 8 for 21 with a homer against him. With Barry Lyon sent to the minors, Left Hand Luke closes out the series in search of a victory after back-to-back losses against Seattle and New York. It's his first appearance against Cleveland.
@ Marlins @ Mets | Shea Stadium | 1:10 p.m.
A. Burnett (R) 5-4, 3.50 vs. J. D'Amico (R) 3-4, 3.38
Scouting report:
The longest trip in Marlins history mercifully comes to a close here. Burnett, one of four Marlins to give up a grand slam on the trek, has lost both previous starts on the trip after mowing down opponents. D'Amico lost his last outing Tuesday at Philadelphia but it was a quality start to follow his two-hitter at L.A.
@ Giants @ Rockies | Coors Field | 3:05 p.m.
R. Jensen (R) 4-3, 3.06 vs. J. Jennings (R) 4-2, 4.56
Scouting report:
Jensen's three-game winning streak ended last Sunday against Florida, but he made a quality start nonetheless and continues to help carry the Giants. The Rockies have the bats going and have won the last three games Jennings started. Barry Bonds, who was trying to pass Mark McGwire this weekend, has one homer in six at-bats against Jennings.
@ Devil Rays @ A's | Network Associates Col. | 4:05 p.m.
J. Kennedy (L) 3-3, 3.41 vs. B. Zito (L) 4-2, 3.92
Scouting report:
Tampa Bay winds up its monster trip against the same Barry Zito who has tried to hold this A's rotation together. Zito was hit hard early in his last start and escaped with a no-decision in Oakland's loss. Give Kennedy credit: He has won at New York and Seattle in his last two starts, respectively. The last one was a four-hit shutout to even his record.
@ Tigers @ White Sox | Comiskey Park | 2:05 p.m.
A. Bernero (R) 0-0, 0.00 vs. T. Ritchie (R) 3-5, 4.09
Scouting report:
Bernero is scheduled to make his first appearance of the season for Detroit. Ritchie will have to watch out for Dmitri Young, who is an amazing 12 for 24 -- all singles -- against him. Bobby Higginson is just 1 for 10 against Ritchie, who has lost his last three starts.
@ Rangers @ Royals | Kauffman Stadium | 2:05 p.m.
D. Davis (L) 3-5, 4.45 vs. D. May (L) 0-2, 6.97
Scouting report:
Davis has had plenty of rest lately because of off-days in the schedule, and the Rangers hope that will help him return to form. He has lost three in a row, failing to last at least six in any of them. May's last start was a May 18 loss at Cleveland (4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER).
@ Rangers @ Royals | Kauffman Stadium | 2nd game
I. Valdes (R) 3-5, 3.88 vs. M. Asencio (R) 0-0, 7.47
Scouting report:
Valdes starts this portion of the doubleheader and is due to win based on his see-saw trend. He lost Tuesday at Minnesota, giving up five earned runs in as many innings. He owns Neifi Perez: 4 for 26, 3 K. It would be nice to have a roof for this series; the first two games were affected by rain. Fans get to bring cameras onto the field before the game, and Asencio will try to finish the series with smiles.
@ Phillies @ Expos | Olympic Stadium | 1:35 p.m.
V. Padilla (R) 6-3, 2.57 vs. J. Vazquez (R) 2-2, 2.63
Scouting report:
Padilla is emerging as one of the NL's best starters, but now we'll see if he can help them establish momentum on the road. The NL East is there for the taking, and the road has been their weak spot. Vazquez has three consecutive quality starts, but no-decisions in his last two outings. Scott Rolen is 12 for 36 with 2 dingers against him.
@ Padres @ Brewers | Miller Park | 2:05 p.m.
D. Tankersley (R) 0-0, 3.63 vs. N. Figueroa (R) 1-2, 4.95
Scouting report:
The Tank was almost unstoppable in his first two starts with the club, but last Tuesday he was hit hard at Colorado. He left with his third consecutive no-decision (5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 HR). Figueroa closes out the homestand before the Brewers' trip to L.A., which means he misses that Dodger club that roughed him up for two homers in five innings last Tuesday.
@ Cardinals @ Pirates | PNC Park | 1:35 p.m.
J. Simontacchi (R) 2-0, 2.37 vs. J. Fogg (R) 5-2, 2.75
Scouting report:
The rise of the Cardinals in May can be traced to the arrival of Simontacchi from the minors. He came up to help rescue a depleted rotation, and has run off three brilliant starts. Simontacchi beat Houston with seven innings of one-run ball Tuesday. Fogg, the previous phenom du jour, is starting to struggle a bit, coming off a loss at Chicago (6 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 K).
@ Reds @ Braves | Turner Field | 1:05 p.m.
C. Reitsma (R) 3-0, 2.59 vs. G. Maddux (R) 4-2, 3.08
Scouting report:
The Reds love what they have gotten from Reitsma -- five consecutive quality starts, and four club victories in those outings. Maddux has four consecutive quality starts, but the Expos won his last outing Tuesday. In case you're wondering, Junior Griffey is 3 for 6 (no homers) against him the last three years.
@ Cubs @ Astros | Astros Field | 7:05 p.m.
J. Bere (R) 1-7, 6.80 vs. C. Hernandez (L) 4-2, 3.38
Scouting report:
This has become a critical problem for Bere, but it's worth noting that in his last five consecutive losses, the Cubs have scored just one run in three of those games. Watch out for Craig Biggio, who is 12 for 29 with a homer against him. Hernandez has quality starts in each of his last five outings, but the last one was a 3-1 loss Tuesday at St. Louis.
@ Orioles @ Mariners | SAFECO Field | 4:35 p.m.
R. Lopez (R) 5-0, 1.94 vs. J. Moyer (L) 3-2, 4.64
Scouting report:
Moyer might just take his frustration out on the Orioles, who were 0-14 at SAFECO through Friday. After going four consecutive starts with a no-decision, he threw a marvelous four-hit complete game Tuesday -- but lost to Tampa Bay, 1-0. Lopez will have something to say about it. He had a no-decision in his last outing against Barry Zito and the Orioles, but has been otherwise unstoppable.
@ Twins @ Angels | Edison Field | 4:05 p.m.
E. Milton (L) 6-3, 5.28 vs. K. Appier (R) 5-1, 2.96
Scouting report:
Milton is on pace for a 20-win season after some shaky moments in April, and enters this series finale on a two-game winnings streak. He owns Troy Glaus: 3 for 15, 1 HR. Appier is looking as good as he ever did in Kansas City, as Anaheim has won each of his last five starts -- all quality outings.
@ Dodgers @ D-Backs | Bank One Ballpark | 4:35 p.m.
K. Brown (R) 2-3, 3.30 vs. R. Johnson (L) 8-1, 2.07
Scouting report:
We've waited all week for this one. Brown has pitched four consecutive quality starts and last season gave up just two earned runs in 13 innings over two starts vs. Arizona. The bullpen failed him Tuesday in Milwaukee. Big Unit is back on track and back in double-digit strikeouts. He dominated San Francisco Tuesday and hasn't allowed a homer to Shawn Green in 24 at-bats. <img border="0" title="" alt="" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />