Sunday, April 28 | All times ET
D-Backs @ Marlins | Pro Player Stadium | 1:05 p.m.
C. Schilling (R) 4-1, 2.68 vs. J. Beckett (R) 0-1, 2.55
Scouting report:
We think this will be a terrific matchup. Beckett is in phenom form and due to break out, and Schilling bounced back easily in Atlanta from his only 2002 setback. Watch out for Derrek Lee, who is 11-for-21 with five homers against Schilling.
Astros @ Braves | Turner Field | 1:05 p.m.
C. Hernandez (L) 2-2, 2.36 vs. A. Lopez (R) 1-1, 4.50
Scouting report:
Lopez will be reinstated for this start after making one rehab outing for Double-A Greenville. His last appearance for Atlanta was April 7 in relief, but he has been out with a strained groin muscle. The Braves almost never have a losing month, but going into Saturday they needed to win two of their last three for normalcy. Hernandez looked good Tuesday at Florida but had a no-decision.
Devil Rays @ Red Sox | Fenway Park | 1:05 p.m.
J. Kennedy (L) 1-1, 4.91 vs. F. Castillo (R) 1-1, 3.80
Scouting report:
Castillo will try to throw the first no-hitter at Fenway Park since ... about 3:30 ET the day before. Throw in Pedro Martinez's no-no bid a couple days earlier, and Castillo has a tough act to follow. Kennedy beat Minnesota Tuesday, lasting five innings.
Brewers @ Mets | Shea Stadium | 1:10 p.m.
B. Sheets (R) 1-3, 4.62 vs. J. D'Amico (R) 2-1, 2.22
Scouting report:
This has been reunion week for those involved in Brewers-Mets transactions, and we'll see D'Amico face his former club now. He is looking good and beat Matt Morris and the Cardinals Tuesday at Shea. Sheets was wild his last time out at Montreal and has lost four in a row since his strong 2002 debut.
Giants @ Reds | Cinergy Field | 1:15 p.m.
K. Rueter (L) 2-1, 1.93 vs. J. Haynes (R) 2-2, 5.95
Scouting report:
Barry Bonds is 6-for-13 with three homers off Haynes, so we'll see if Bonds finishes this trip with some noise. Both pitchers won Tuesday with quality showings. Reuter can tie for sixth place on the all-time San Francisco victory list.
Padres @ Pirates | PNC Park | 1:35 p.m.
B. Tollberg (R) 0-3, 9.51 vs. J. Anderson (L) 2-2, 4.91
Scouting report:
Anderson is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against San Diego. He is coming off an eight-run shellacking from the Dodgers at home. Tollberg is still looking for that first W, and the odds are getting better as Klesko & Co. continue to heat up at the plate.
Cardinals @ Expos | Olympic Stadium | 1:35 p.m.
M. Morris (R) 4-1, 3.00 vs. T. Ohka (R) 2-1, 4.15
Scouting report:
Morris has been the stabilizer for the decimated Cardinal staff, but he is coming off his first 2002 loss on this trip at New York. Ohka was the seventh pitcher used by Montreal Friday, throwing the 11th and giving up the losing run. We'll see if that affects the decision to start him here as scheduled.
Orioles @ Royals | Kauffman Stadium | 2:05 p.m.
S. Erickson (R) 2-2, 4.60 vs. B. Rekar (R) 0-1, 15.75
Scouting report:
This is Rekar's second start since his contract was purchased last Sunday, and the Red Sox beat him up in four innings that day. He was 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA against Baltimore last season. Erickson faced the Red Sox two days after Rekar and ground-balled them to death, winning with a strong six-inning outing.
Twins @ Tigers | Comerica Park | 2:05 p.m.
B. Radke (R) 2-2, 6.84 vs. M. Redman (L) 0-3, 7.40
Scouting report:
Look for Radke to bounce back from his Tropicana twister Tuesday, when he was chased in the fourth. Take away Redman's four-run second inning, and he pitched well in his April 12 loss against his former Twins teammates. He is still looking for that first victory.
Dodgers @ Cubs | Wrigley Field | 2:20 p.m.
K. Ishii (L) 4-0, 3.57 vs. J. Bere (R) 1-2, 7.27
Scouting report:
Ishiimania may be a few more victories away, but so far he has anchored the Dodgers' rise to NL West contention. Bere has been a big part of the Cubs' problems, failing to go three innings in either of his last two starts. Brian Jordan has one homer in seven at-bats against Bere.
Phillies @ Rockies | Coors Field | 3:05 p.m.
R. Wolf (L) 1-0, 6.89 vs. J. Jennings (R) 1-2, 4.95
Scouting report:
Jennings, making his first start against Philly, has pitched well in both of his losses. That includes the one Tuesday at Cincinnati, a quality start against a hot club. These teams will meet again next week at The Vet and then not again until 2003.
Blue Jays @ Angels | Edison Field | 4:05 p.m.
B. Lyon (R) 1-2, 6.75 vs. S. Schoeneweis (L) 1-3, 7.33
Scouting report:
Schoeneweis has lost his last three appearances after a nice season start, and the last outing was especially rough: 2 1/3 IP, 7 H, 7 ER at Seattle. We finally saw Lyon win Tuesday, giving up just four hits and an earned run at Texas.
White Sox @ A's | Network Associates Col. | 4:05 p.m.
T. Ritchie (R) 2-1, 2.67 vs. T. Hudson (R) 2-2, 2.29
Scouting report:
These guys are coming off great outings Tuesday, but Hudson wasn't as fortunate as Ritchie. Hudson allowed just four hits in a complete game, but Jorge Posada's homer was enough to beat him. Ritchie shut Cleveland down at The Jake with a three-hitter over eight innings.
Yankees @ Mariners | SAFECO Field | 4:35 p.m.
O. Hernandez (R) 3-1, 1.24 vs. J. Moyer (L) 3-1, 4.20
Scouting report:
We love watching these teams play, and the Yankees' last game on this trip figures to be a gem. Moyer, now on a three-game winning streak, was 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts against New York in 2001. El Duque had a no-decision in his only start against the M's last season.
Indians @ Rangers | Ballpark in Arlington | 8:05 p.m.
B. Colon (R) 3-2, 3.78 vs. I. Valdes (R) 1-3, 4.12
Scouting report:
What's happened to the ace who won the first game of the MLB schedule? Well, maybe Colon just hates to face the White Sox, who beat him back-to-back after he started 3-0. A-Rod (10-for-26, two doubles, one homer) will be glad to see him, but Rusty Greer (3-for-29) won't. Valdes didn't have much run support in losing Tuesday to Toronto.
<img border="0" title="" alt="" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />