What to expect in the major leagues today:
Hitless again?
On July 26, Rays right-hander Matt Garza fired the first no-hitter in franchise history by shutting down the Tigers at Tropicana Field. Tonight, he will face Detroit again, this time at Comerica Park.
Matt Garza will have a tougher time shutting down the Tigers’ offense tonight.
In that no-no, Garza walked only one while striking out six. On that night, the Tigers were without second baseman Carlos Guillen and third baseman Brandon Inge, both of whom have returned from the disabled list (outfielder Magglio Ordonez remains sidelined).
Sponsored link: Tigers tickets available
Now it is Tampa Bay that is battling injuries, with starters Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis on the disabled list. With so much rotation uncertainty, the Rays need another strong effort from Garza.
NLCS rematch
The Phillies and Dodgers have met in the NLCS the past two years, but a third consecutive meeting is unlikely. Thanks to its improved play recently, despite several of their key players being on the disabled list, Philadelphia has positioned itself for a possible playoff run. However, Los Angeles faces a sizeable deficit in both the NL West and wild-card races.
The teams will continue their three-game series at Citizens Bank Park tonight, and trading deadline acquisition Roy Oswalt will try again for his first win with the Phillies. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in his first two starts since being acquired from Houston.
Lack of support
Royals right-hander Zack Greinke recently made headlines when he questioned the franchise’s ability to win before his contract expires in 2012. His frustration is understandable, as the reigning AL Cy Young award winner has suffered from a lack of run support the past two seasons.
Greinke will aim for win No. 8 tonight against the Angels. Starting for Los Angeles is a pitcher with a legitimate gripe of his own. Jered Weaver has an MLB-best 171 strikeouts and a sub-.300 ERA but is just 11-7.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Hitless again?
On July 26, Rays right-hander Matt Garza fired the first no-hitter in franchise history by shutting down the Tigers at Tropicana Field. Tonight, he will face Detroit again, this time at Comerica Park.
Matt Garza will have a tougher time shutting down the Tigers’ offense tonight.
In that no-no, Garza walked only one while striking out six. On that night, the Tigers were without second baseman Carlos Guillen and third baseman Brandon Inge, both of whom have returned from the disabled list (outfielder Magglio Ordonez remains sidelined).
Sponsored link: Tigers tickets available
Now it is Tampa Bay that is battling injuries, with starters Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis on the disabled list. With so much rotation uncertainty, the Rays need another strong effort from Garza.
NLCS rematch
The Phillies and Dodgers have met in the NLCS the past two years, but a third consecutive meeting is unlikely. Thanks to its improved play recently, despite several of their key players being on the disabled list, Philadelphia has positioned itself for a possible playoff run. However, Los Angeles faces a sizeable deficit in both the NL West and wild-card races.
The teams will continue their three-game series at Citizens Bank Park tonight, and trading deadline acquisition Roy Oswalt will try again for his first win with the Phillies. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in his first two starts since being acquired from Houston.
Lack of support
Royals right-hander Zack Greinke recently made headlines when he questioned the franchise’s ability to win before his contract expires in 2012. His frustration is understandable, as the reigning AL Cy Young award winner has suffered from a lack of run support the past two seasons.
Greinke will aim for win No. 8 tonight against the Angels. Starting for Los Angeles is a pitcher with a legitimate gripe of his own. Jered Weaver has an MLB-best 171 strikeouts and a sub-.300 ERA but is just 11-7.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Bottom feeders?
Both NL Central contenders are trying to take advantage of soft spots in their schedules. The Cardinals outscored the last-place Pirates 21-2 during a three-game sweep this past weekend and will play the finale of a three-game series against the Astros tonight.
St. Louis is leaning on Chris Carpenter after getting hammered by the Astros on Tuesday.
St. Louis, which lost 18-4 to the Astros on Tuesday and 9-4 on Monday, will have Chris Carpenter on the mound, though Houston handed him one of his three losses this season. Starting for the Astros: newly acquired J.A. Happ, who shut down Milwaukee this past Friday to win in his Astros debut.
Meanwhile, the Reds will try to win the rubber game of their three-game set against the Pirates before heading to Wrigley Field this weekend. Ten-game winner Johnny Cueto, who is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh this season, will start for Cincinnati.
Milestone watch
With Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez still stuck on 599 career homers, it is fair to wonder whether the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista will reach the 600-homer plateau before A-Rod. OK, maybe not, but Bautista does lead the majors in homers this season.
If A-Rod is unable to go deep tonight against the Jays—right-hander Shaun Marcum will start for Toronto—it would add some intrigue to this weekend’s series against Boston. A-Rod would have four games at Yankee Stadium to hit No. 600 against New York’s biggest rivals.
Masterful Masterson
Prior to making the trip to the Bronx, Boston will host Cleveland for two more games. Tonight, former Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson will start for the Indians. Masterson is just 3-10 with a 5.55 ERA this season but he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Red Sox back in June in his most impressive outing of the season.
Boston will counter with Jon Lester, who was roughed up (six earned runs in six innings) by Cleveland in the teams’ previous series.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Bottom feeders?
Both NL Central contenders are trying to take advantage of soft spots in their schedules. The Cardinals outscored the last-place Pirates 21-2 during a three-game sweep this past weekend and will play the finale of a three-game series against the Astros tonight.
St. Louis is leaning on Chris Carpenter after getting hammered by the Astros on Tuesday.
St. Louis, which lost 18-4 to the Astros on Tuesday and 9-4 on Monday, will have Chris Carpenter on the mound, though Houston handed him one of his three losses this season. Starting for the Astros: newly acquired J.A. Happ, who shut down Milwaukee this past Friday to win in his Astros debut.
Meanwhile, the Reds will try to win the rubber game of their three-game set against the Pirates before heading to Wrigley Field this weekend. Ten-game winner Johnny Cueto, who is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts against Pittsburgh this season, will start for Cincinnati.
Milestone watch
With Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez still stuck on 599 career homers, it is fair to wonder whether the Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista will reach the 600-homer plateau before A-Rod. OK, maybe not, but Bautista does lead the majors in homers this season.
If A-Rod is unable to go deep tonight against the Jays—right-hander Shaun Marcum will start for Toronto—it would add some intrigue to this weekend’s series against Boston. A-Rod would have four games at Yankee Stadium to hit No. 600 against New York’s biggest rivals.
Masterful Masterson
Prior to making the trip to the Bronx, Boston will host Cleveland for two more games. Tonight, former Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson will start for the Indians. Masterson is just 3-10 with a 5.55 ERA this season but he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Red Sox back in June in his most impressive outing of the season.
Boston will counter with Jon Lester, who was roughed up (six earned runs in six innings) by Cleveland in the teams’ previous series.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Something has to give
The second half hasn’t been kind to the Mets and Dodgers, both of whom continue to see their respective division deficits climb. But there has to be a winner when the teams go head to head in the third game of their four-game set tonight at Dodger Stadium. The game will be especially critical for the Mets, as righthander Mike Pelfrey will attempt to bounce back from his nightmare outing Monday. Pelfrey allowed six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings against Arizona, throwing a whopping 74 pitches in the process. Since improving to 10-2 with a 2.71 ERA on June 25, Pelfrey is 0-3 with a 12.88 ERA.
A possible farewell
Righthander Roy Oswalt, the center of plenty of trade speculation, will make perhaps his final start for the Astros this evening at Minute Maid Park. And it could be memorable for another reason: Oswalt needs one win to tie Joe Niekro for the franchise’s all-time lead at 144. That win won’t come easy against the high-scoring Reds, who beat Oswalt in April. In that outing, Oswalt surrendered only three earned runs in seven innings while striking out seven. The big blow was Joey Votto’s two-run, two-out homer off Oswalt in the seventh inning.
Latos intolerant?
The "no pepper" rule definitely will be in effect at PNC Park tonight when Padres righthander Mat Latos takes the mound. Latos will be making his first start since coming off the disabled list with a sore side; he suffered the injury when he stifled a sneeze. The 10-game winner certainly has a favorable matchup in his return, as the Pirates rank near the bottom of the majors in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Latos leads all major league starters with a .193 batting average allowed.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Something has to give
The second half hasn’t been kind to the Mets and Dodgers, both of whom continue to see their respective division deficits climb. But there has to be a winner when the teams go head to head in the third game of their four-game set tonight at Dodger Stadium. The game will be especially critical for the Mets, as righthander Mike Pelfrey will attempt to bounce back from his nightmare outing Monday. Pelfrey allowed six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings against Arizona, throwing a whopping 74 pitches in the process. Since improving to 10-2 with a 2.71 ERA on June 25, Pelfrey is 0-3 with a 12.88 ERA.
A possible farewell
Righthander Roy Oswalt, the center of plenty of trade speculation, will make perhaps his final start for the Astros this evening at Minute Maid Park. And it could be memorable for another reason: Oswalt needs one win to tie Joe Niekro for the franchise’s all-time lead at 144. That win won’t come easy against the high-scoring Reds, who beat Oswalt in April. In that outing, Oswalt surrendered only three earned runs in seven innings while striking out seven. The big blow was Joey Votto’s two-run, two-out homer off Oswalt in the seventh inning.
Latos intolerant?
The "no pepper" rule definitely will be in effect at PNC Park tonight when Padres righthander Mat Latos takes the mound. Latos will be making his first start since coming off the disabled list with a sore side; he suffered the injury when he stifled a sneeze. The 10-game winner certainly has a favorable matchup in his return, as the Pirates rank near the bottom of the majors in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Latos leads all major league starters with a .193 batting average allowed.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
See you in October?
The Phillies and Cardinals, two perennial playoff teams, are fighting for their postseason lives. With plenty on the line, they will start a four-game series in St. Louis tonight. Philadelphia leads the season series 3-1, having held the Cardinals to fewer than three runs in three of those games. Jayson Werth, who has gone deep twice, was one of six Phillies to homer against St. Louis pitching in a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park in May. But the slugger to watch is Ryan Howard, a St. Louis native who is a career .381 hitter with seven homers and 29 RBIs in 17 games at Busch Stadium (and a .367-14-44 hitter in 34 games against the Cardinals overall).
Wild West
One of baseball’s great rivalries will be renewed tonight when the Dodgers host the Giants. With both teams in pursuit of the first-place Padres in the four-team NL West race, this is a vital series for the Los Angeles and San Francisco. It has been a one-sided affair this season, however, with LA winning five of the six games between the teams, including a three-game sweep at AT&T Park last month. Dodgers outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have combined for four homers, 11 RBIs and a .382 average (13-for-34) against San Francisco pitching this season. Meanwhile, Juan Uribe and Eugenio Velez have combined to drive in 10 of the Giants’ 24 runs against LA.
Postseason push
The Rangers haven’t reached the postseason since 1999, and the Tigers have been there just once (a World Series loss in 2006) since 1987. Both teams are in good position to end those droughts as they kick off a three-game series in Detroit tonight. This series will feature a couple of Triple Crown and MVP contenders in Texas’ Josh Hamilton and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
See you in October?
The Phillies and Cardinals, two perennial playoff teams, are fighting for their postseason lives. With plenty on the line, they will start a four-game series in St. Louis tonight. Philadelphia leads the season series 3-1, having held the Cardinals to fewer than three runs in three of those games. Jayson Werth, who has gone deep twice, was one of six Phillies to homer against St. Louis pitching in a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park in May. But the slugger to watch is Ryan Howard, a St. Louis native who is a career .381 hitter with seven homers and 29 RBIs in 17 games at Busch Stadium (and a .367-14-44 hitter in 34 games against the Cardinals overall).
Wild West
One of baseball’s great rivalries will be renewed tonight when the Dodgers host the Giants. With both teams in pursuit of the first-place Padres in the four-team NL West race, this is a vital series for the Los Angeles and San Francisco. It has been a one-sided affair this season, however, with LA winning five of the six games between the teams, including a three-game sweep at AT&T Park last month. Dodgers outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have combined for four homers, 11 RBIs and a .382 average (13-for-34) against San Francisco pitching this season. Meanwhile, Juan Uribe and Eugenio Velez have combined to drive in 10 of the Giants’ 24 runs against LA.
Postseason push
The Rangers haven’t reached the postseason since 1999, and the Tigers have been there just once (a World Series loss in 2006) since 1987. Both teams are in good position to end those droughts as they kick off a three-game series in Detroit tonight. This series will feature a couple of Triple Crown and MVP contenders in Texas’ Josh Hamilton and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera.
Even more quickly than the Yankees went from the observation deck to the probable landing spot for Cliff Lee, the Rangers swooped in and claimed the ace as their own Friday afternoon.
To get Lee, a pending free agent, and reliever Mark Lowe, the Rangers had to part with a talented quartet of future talent. Seattle acquired first baseman Justin Smoak, pitcher Blake Beavan, reliever Josh Lueke and second baseman/outfielder Matt Lawson.
Cliff Lee will bolster a Texas rotation that is ranked toward the bottom of the league.
The addition of Lee improves the Rangers, but, ultimately, it doesn’t knock the Yankees off their perch atop the American League. The new balance of power in the AL:
1. Yankees. As disappointed as New York might be about being this close to acquiring Lee, the solace is that it didn’t need him. A reunited Lee-CC Sabathia duo would have been the best 1-2 rotation punch in the majors, but even without Lee, the Yankees have the majors’ sixth-best rotation ERA at 3.79. If they had traded for Lee, the Yankees would have had to deal Javier Vazquez or move Phil Hughes back to the bullpen in order to create a rotation opening for their latest ex-Indian Cy Young award winner. If New York has a pressing need, it is at DH. With the news that Nick Johnson suffered a setback in his rehab from wrist surgery, another bat would be nice. But, again, that would be more of a luxury than a necessity.
2. Rays. Their June swoon is behind them, but 14 of the Rays’ first 20 games after the break are against the Yankees, Tigers and Twins. Although Tampa Bay was rumored to be in the Lee sweepstakes and have a couple of struggling starting pitchers, it needs another bat to avoid another cold spell. The Rays’ DH spot has been a revolving door alls season (see: Pat Burrell and Hank Blalock, both of whom have been released), and center field also is ripe for an upgrade with B.J. Upton struggling. Although he would add another lefthanded bat to a lefty-heavy heart of the order, the Nationals’ Adam Dunn would fit nicely at DH.
3. Rangers. If it wasn’t already, Texas is now the clear favorite to win the AL West. The Rangers enter Friday night’s play with a 5 1/2-game lead over the Angels, and the pickup of Lee helps the Rangers as much as it hurts the Angels. Texas already had one of the majors’ best offenses, but despite improvement from its rotation, pitching remained a huge question mark. Team president Nolan Ryan made no secret of his desire to acquire a veteran workhorse with No. 1 starter ability. And Ryan’s Rangers just got that in Lee, who is a complete-game machine and is battle-tested in September and October. But one pitcher isn’t guaranteed to improve the Rangers’ rotation –- 19th in the majors with a 4.27 ERA — enough to pass the powerhouse Yankees and Rays. And the trade of Smoak creates a void at first base.
4. Red Sox. Though they were able to withstand them for a time, the injuries finally are catching up to Boston. The good news is that some of the banged-up players -– Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Victor Martinez –- should be ready to return shortly after the All-Star break. The bad news is that the Red Sox can’t afford to fall further behind in the AL East and wild card races. With Jacoby Ellsbury still out and Mike Cameron unable to play every day, Boston’s biggest void is in the outfield. And with the Phillies possibly dangling Jayson Werth, the Red Sox should get involved.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Even more quickly than the Yankees went from the observation deck to the probable landing spot for Cliff Lee, the Rangers swooped in and claimed the ace as their own Friday afternoon.
To get Lee, a pending free agent, and reliever Mark Lowe, the Rangers had to part with a talented quartet of future talent. Seattle acquired first baseman Justin Smoak, pitcher Blake Beavan, reliever Josh Lueke and second baseman/outfielder Matt Lawson.
Cliff Lee will bolster a Texas rotation that is ranked toward the bottom of the league.
The addition of Lee improves the Rangers, but, ultimately, it doesn’t knock the Yankees off their perch atop the American League. The new balance of power in the AL:
1. Yankees. As disappointed as New York might be about being this close to acquiring Lee, the solace is that it didn’t need him. A reunited Lee-CC Sabathia duo would have been the best 1-2 rotation punch in the majors, but even without Lee, the Yankees have the majors’ sixth-best rotation ERA at 3.79. If they had traded for Lee, the Yankees would have had to deal Javier Vazquez or move Phil Hughes back to the bullpen in order to create a rotation opening for their latest ex-Indian Cy Young award winner. If New York has a pressing need, it is at DH. With the news that Nick Johnson suffered a setback in his rehab from wrist surgery, another bat would be nice. But, again, that would be more of a luxury than a necessity.
2. Rays. Their June swoon is behind them, but 14 of the Rays’ first 20 games after the break are against the Yankees, Tigers and Twins. Although Tampa Bay was rumored to be in the Lee sweepstakes and have a couple of struggling starting pitchers, it needs another bat to avoid another cold spell. The Rays’ DH spot has been a revolving door alls season (see: Pat Burrell and Hank Blalock, both of whom have been released), and center field also is ripe for an upgrade with B.J. Upton struggling. Although he would add another lefthanded bat to a lefty-heavy heart of the order, the Nationals’ Adam Dunn would fit nicely at DH.
3. Rangers. If it wasn’t already, Texas is now the clear favorite to win the AL West. The Rangers enter Friday night’s play with a 5 1/2-game lead over the Angels, and the pickup of Lee helps the Rangers as much as it hurts the Angels. Texas already had one of the majors’ best offenses, but despite improvement from its rotation, pitching remained a huge question mark. Team president Nolan Ryan made no secret of his desire to acquire a veteran workhorse with No. 1 starter ability. And Ryan’s Rangers just got that in Lee, who is a complete-game machine and is battle-tested in September and October. But one pitcher isn’t guaranteed to improve the Rangers’ rotation –- 19th in the majors with a 4.27 ERA — enough to pass the powerhouse Yankees and Rays. And the trade of Smoak creates a void at first base.
4. Red Sox. Though they were able to withstand them for a time, the injuries finally are catching up to Boston. The good news is that some of the banged-up players -– Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Victor Martinez –- should be ready to return shortly after the All-Star break. The bad news is that the Red Sox can’t afford to fall further behind in the AL East and wild card races. With Jacoby Ellsbury still out and Mike Cameron unable to play every day, Boston’s biggest void is in the outfield. And with the Phillies possibly dangling Jayson Werth, the Red Sox should get involved.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
All-Star auditions
Stephen Strasburg gets his last opportunity to prove he’s worthy of being an All Star.
The All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday, but a couple of NL starters will be on the mound today hoping to impress. In Colorado, Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, the front-runner to start for the NL, can cement his status as he goes for win No. 15 against the Giants. In his only start against San Francisco this season, Jimenez threw a complete-game shutout. Meanwhile, Nationals rookie Stephen Strasburg will have one more chance to impress NL All-Star manager Charlie Manuel when he faces the Mets. Strasburg finally appeared human in his recent outing, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks in a loss in Atlanta.
Hittable Hanson
After a dominant rookie campaign in 2009, Braves righthander Tommy Hanson has hit the second rough patch of his sophomore season. In his past two outings (at White Sox, vs. Tigers), Hanson has failed to pitch four innings and has posted a 17.19 ERA. On May 20, Hanson was pounded for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings but responded by going 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his next five outings (prior to his current struggles). The first-place Braves hope Hanson can regroup and begin another impressive run when he faces the Marlins at Turner Field this afternoon.
Road Reds
Cincinnati’s season-long 11-game road trip—it won’t play at Great American Ball Park again until July 16—will continue this afternoon at Wrigley Field. The NL Central-leading Reds will turn to righthander Johnny Cueto, who has allowed one earned run in his past two starts (15 innings). However, for the second time this season, Cueto failed to record a strikeout in his most recent outing. This series is a homecoming for Reds skipper Dusty Baker, who managed the Cubs from 2003-06 and took the team to the NLCS in ’03.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
All-Star auditions
Stephen Strasburg gets his last opportunity to prove he’s worthy of being an All Star.
The All-Star rosters will be announced Sunday, but a couple of NL starters will be on the mound today hoping to impress. In Colorado, Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, the front-runner to start for the NL, can cement his status as he goes for win No. 15 against the Giants. In his only start against San Francisco this season, Jimenez threw a complete-game shutout. Meanwhile, Nationals rookie Stephen Strasburg will have one more chance to impress NL All-Star manager Charlie Manuel when he faces the Mets. Strasburg finally appeared human in his recent outing, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks in a loss in Atlanta.
Hittable Hanson
After a dominant rookie campaign in 2009, Braves righthander Tommy Hanson has hit the second rough patch of his sophomore season. In his past two outings (at White Sox, vs. Tigers), Hanson has failed to pitch four innings and has posted a 17.19 ERA. On May 20, Hanson was pounded for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings but responded by going 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his next five outings (prior to his current struggles). The first-place Braves hope Hanson can regroup and begin another impressive run when he faces the Marlins at Turner Field this afternoon.
Road Reds
Cincinnati’s season-long 11-game road trip—it won’t play at Great American Ball Park again until July 16—will continue this afternoon at Wrigley Field. The NL Central-leading Reds will turn to righthander Johnny Cueto, who has allowed one earned run in his past two starts (15 innings). However, for the second time this season, Cueto failed to record a strikeout in his most recent outing. This series is a homecoming for Reds skipper Dusty Baker, who managed the Cubs from 2003-06 and took the team to the NLCS in ’03.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Lucky No. 13?
This afternoon’s series finale between the Rockies and Twins at Target Field will feature quite a pitching pairing. Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who is 12-1, will match up against Minnesota ace Francisco Liriano, who is 6-3 and hasn’t lost since May 20. Jimenez is coming off his worst start of the season, though rain was a factor in his three-run, five-walk outing against the Blue Jays this past Friday. In that win, his ERA "skyrocketed" from 0.93 to 1.16. Meanwhile, Liriano has delivered back-to-back, double-digit strikeout efforts against the A’s and Braves. The lefthander has a 2.00 ERA in five home starts, compared to a 3.63 ERA in seven road starts.
First-inning follies
Try as he might, Cubs righthander Randy Wells can’t shake his early-game jitters. In 13 starts this season, Wells has an 11.25 ERA in the first inning, despite allowing only one homer in that frame. He has lost his past five decisions overall and hasn’t won since April 30. This afternoon at Wrigley Field, Wells will be opposed by a pitcher who has been nearly as cold. Since throwing his perfect game on May 9, A’s righthander Dallas Braden is 0-4 with a 4.75 ERA in his past six starts. Braden hasn’t started since June 9 because of tennis elbow.
The future is here
Pirates fans have grown accustomed to the team dealing its veteran players prior to the July 31 nonwaiver deadline, but there aren’t many veterans left to part with at this point. In fact, the lineup now is dominated by highly touted young players, many of whom were called up recently. That group includes left fielder Jose Tabata, third baseman Pedro Alvarez and second baseman Neil Walker. The new-look Pirates will wrap up a three-game series with the White Sox at PNC Park tonight.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Lucky No. 13?
This afternoon’s series finale between the Rockies and Twins at Target Field will feature quite a pitching pairing. Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who is 12-1, will match up against Minnesota ace Francisco Liriano, who is 6-3 and hasn’t lost since May 20. Jimenez is coming off his worst start of the season, though rain was a factor in his three-run, five-walk outing against the Blue Jays this past Friday. In that win, his ERA "skyrocketed" from 0.93 to 1.16. Meanwhile, Liriano has delivered back-to-back, double-digit strikeout efforts against the A’s and Braves. The lefthander has a 2.00 ERA in five home starts, compared to a 3.63 ERA in seven road starts.
First-inning follies
Try as he might, Cubs righthander Randy Wells can’t shake his early-game jitters. In 13 starts this season, Wells has an 11.25 ERA in the first inning, despite allowing only one homer in that frame. He has lost his past five decisions overall and hasn’t won since April 30. This afternoon at Wrigley Field, Wells will be opposed by a pitcher who has been nearly as cold. Since throwing his perfect game on May 9, A’s righthander Dallas Braden is 0-4 with a 4.75 ERA in his past six starts. Braden hasn’t started since June 9 because of tennis elbow.
The future is here
Pirates fans have grown accustomed to the team dealing its veteran players prior to the July 31 nonwaiver deadline, but there aren’t many veterans left to part with at this point. In fact, the lineup now is dominated by highly touted young players, many of whom were called up recently. That group includes left fielder Jose Tabata, third baseman Pedro Alvarez and second baseman Neil Walker. The new-look Pirates will wrap up a three-game series with the White Sox at PNC Park tonight.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
The second round of interleague play begins this afternoon when the Cubs host the White Sox in a series that certainly lacks some luster compared to previous seasons. Much of the intrigue will center around which veterans each team will try to deal before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline.
You can make a case that Cubs-White Sox actually is the least appealing matchup of the weekend. The only other interleague series that pits two sub-.500 teams (Nationals-Indians) will involve rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg.
Despite a couple of clunkers, however, there are some appealing pairings. A look at this weekend’s five interleague matchups between teams at .500 or better:
Ben Francisco figures to see time at DH.
Phillies at Red Sox
Boston won two of three at Philadelphia during the first round of interleague play last month and leads the series 16-5 since 2004. As usual, both teams are in playoff contention this season, though neither would be in the postseason if the regular season ended today.
DH matters: With the DH in play at Fenway Park, Ben Francisco figures to benefit the most. Greg Dobbs, Ross Gload and Wilson Valdez also could get more playing time if the Phillies use the DH to rest Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
Matchup to watch: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. the Phillies’ hitters (Saturday). Philadelphia’s offense, which still isn’t up to par, nearly hit rock bottom when Dice-K held them without a hit for 7 2/3 innings on May 22 at Citizens Bank Park.
Interleague intrigue: The Red Sox’s .801 OPS during interleague play is the best in the majors since the interleague play began in 1997.
Braves at Twins
The NL East leaders will make their first visit to Target Field to take on the AL Central leaders. Both teams rank in the top 10 in ERA, but the pitchers will be put to the test with Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Troy Glaus and Jason Heyward, among others, ready to take their cuts.
DH matters: Nate McLouth is banged up after his collision with Jason Heyward in the outfield Wednesday, so he could handle the DH duties for Atlanta (if he doesn’t land on the disabled list). Either way, Eric Hinske should get more at-bats than usual. To reduce his wear and tear, Chipper Jones also could DH, with Omar Infante starting at third base.
Matchup to watch: Tim Hudson vs. Jim Thome (tonight). The Twins’ DH is 9-for-16 (.563) with four homers, four walks, nine RBIs and a 2.057 OPS against the Braves’ righthander in his career.
Interleague intrigue: The Twins’ 134 interleague wins are tied with the Yankees’ for the most all-time.
Angels at Dodgers One month ago, the Los Angeles teams were a combined six games under .500 and 8 1/2 games out of first place. The Dodgers will begin the freeway series with a one-game lead in the NL West, while the Angels are 1 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West. The Angels and Dodgers have split the season series the past two years, but the difference this year could be pitching. The Dodgers’ staff ERA is more than a half-run better than the Angels’.
DH matters: Because of his balky knees, the Angels’ Hideki Matsui can’t play in the outfield on back-to-back days. But any playing time in left field will be an improvement over last season, when Matsui played solely at DH for the Yankees.
Matchup to watch: Jered Weaver vs. the Dodgers’ outfielders (Sunday). The righthander has a 2.94 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers and a 0.55 ERA in three outings at Dodger Stadium. And he has had noteworthy success against Andre Ethier (2-for-14), Manny Ramirez (2-for-12) and Matt Kemp (2-for-7).
Interleague intrigue: The Dodgers’ .254 interleague batting average is the lowest in the majors.
Barry Zito faces his former team.
A’s at Giants
San Francisco’s anemic offense managed only one run in a three-game at Oakland in May, and both teams rank in the bottom third of the majors in runs scored. Pitching will dominate, and the team can get deliver the key late-inning hit will have the edge.
DH matters: Although he has gone deep only twice this season, Jack Cust led the A’s in homers in each of the previous three seasons. And his 229 RBIs in that span are 51 more than any of his Oakland teammates. Without the DH, Cust is unlikely to play all three games.
Matchup to watch: Barry Zito vs. his former team (Saturday). In four career starts against the A’s, Zito is 0-4 with an 8.85 ERA. That includes a six-run pounding he took at Oakland last month.
Interleague intrigue: The A’s 107 saves during interleague play are the most among major league teams.
Blue Jays at Rockies After a surprisingly strong start, Toronto is showing signs of fading, having lost five of its past eight games (and losing a couple of games in the AL East standings in the process). Colorado, which went 8-2 from May 22 through June 1, also has slumped recently, having lost three of four against last-place Houston this week and six of its past eight games overall.
DH matters: Adam Lind, who hit .305 with 35 homers and 114 RBIs in 2009, is struggling this season (.213-8-31). He most likely will be the odd man out, though he could get at least one start in the outfield at the expense of Fred Lewis.
Matchup to watch: Blue Jays hitters vs. Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez (Saturday). The NL Cy Young award front-runner has allowed only two homers this season. The Blue Jays have hit more homers (98) than any other major league team.
Interleague intrigue: The Rockies’ 5.14 ERA during interleague play is the worst in the majors.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
The second round of interleague play begins this afternoon when the Cubs host the White Sox in a series that certainly lacks some luster compared to previous seasons. Much of the intrigue will center around which veterans each team will try to deal before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline.
You can make a case that Cubs-White Sox actually is the least appealing matchup of the weekend. The only other interleague series that pits two sub-.500 teams (Nationals-Indians) will involve rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg.
Despite a couple of clunkers, however, there are some appealing pairings. A look at this weekend’s five interleague matchups between teams at .500 or better:
Ben Francisco figures to see time at DH.
Phillies at Red Sox
Boston won two of three at Philadelphia during the first round of interleague play last month and leads the series 16-5 since 2004. As usual, both teams are in playoff contention this season, though neither would be in the postseason if the regular season ended today.
DH matters: With the DH in play at Fenway Park, Ben Francisco figures to benefit the most. Greg Dobbs, Ross Gload and Wilson Valdez also could get more playing time if the Phillies use the DH to rest Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
Matchup to watch: Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. the Phillies’ hitters (Saturday). Philadelphia’s offense, which still isn’t up to par, nearly hit rock bottom when Dice-K held them without a hit for 7 2/3 innings on May 22 at Citizens Bank Park.
Interleague intrigue: The Red Sox’s .801 OPS during interleague play is the best in the majors since the interleague play began in 1997.
Braves at Twins
The NL East leaders will make their first visit to Target Field to take on the AL Central leaders. Both teams rank in the top 10 in ERA, but the pitchers will be put to the test with Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Troy Glaus and Jason Heyward, among others, ready to take their cuts.
DH matters: Nate McLouth is banged up after his collision with Jason Heyward in the outfield Wednesday, so he could handle the DH duties for Atlanta (if he doesn’t land on the disabled list). Either way, Eric Hinske should get more at-bats than usual. To reduce his wear and tear, Chipper Jones also could DH, with Omar Infante starting at third base.
Matchup to watch: Tim Hudson vs. Jim Thome (tonight). The Twins’ DH is 9-for-16 (.563) with four homers, four walks, nine RBIs and a 2.057 OPS against the Braves’ righthander in his career.
Interleague intrigue: The Twins’ 134 interleague wins are tied with the Yankees’ for the most all-time.
Angels at Dodgers One month ago, the Los Angeles teams were a combined six games under .500 and 8 1/2 games out of first place. The Dodgers will begin the freeway series with a one-game lead in the NL West, while the Angels are 1 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West. The Angels and Dodgers have split the season series the past two years, but the difference this year could be pitching. The Dodgers’ staff ERA is more than a half-run better than the Angels’.
DH matters: Because of his balky knees, the Angels’ Hideki Matsui can’t play in the outfield on back-to-back days. But any playing time in left field will be an improvement over last season, when Matsui played solely at DH for the Yankees.
Matchup to watch: Jered Weaver vs. the Dodgers’ outfielders (Sunday). The righthander has a 2.94 ERA in six career starts against the Dodgers and a 0.55 ERA in three outings at Dodger Stadium. And he has had noteworthy success against Andre Ethier (2-for-14), Manny Ramirez (2-for-12) and Matt Kemp (2-for-7).
Interleague intrigue: The Dodgers’ .254 interleague batting average is the lowest in the majors.
Barry Zito faces his former team.
A’s at Giants
San Francisco’s anemic offense managed only one run in a three-game at Oakland in May, and both teams rank in the bottom third of the majors in runs scored. Pitching will dominate, and the team can get deliver the key late-inning hit will have the edge.
DH matters: Although he has gone deep only twice this season, Jack Cust led the A’s in homers in each of the previous three seasons. And his 229 RBIs in that span are 51 more than any of his Oakland teammates. Without the DH, Cust is unlikely to play all three games.
Matchup to watch: Barry Zito vs. his former team (Saturday). In four career starts against the A’s, Zito is 0-4 with an 8.85 ERA. That includes a six-run pounding he took at Oakland last month.
Interleague intrigue: The A’s 107 saves during interleague play are the most among major league teams.
Blue Jays at Rockies After a surprisingly strong start, Toronto is showing signs of fading, having lost five of its past eight games (and losing a couple of games in the AL East standings in the process). Colorado, which went 8-2 from May 22 through June 1, also has slumped recently, having lost three of four against last-place Houston this week and six of its past eight games overall.
DH matters: Adam Lind, who hit .305 with 35 homers and 114 RBIs in 2009, is struggling this season (.213-8-31). He most likely will be the odd man out, though he could get at least one start in the outfield at the expense of Fred Lewis.
Matchup to watch: Blue Jays hitters vs. Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez (Saturday). The NL Cy Young award front-runner has allowed only two homers this season. The Blue Jays have hit more homers (98) than any other major league team.
Interleague intrigue: The Rockies’ 5.14 ERA during interleague play is the worst in the majors.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Last season, the Rockies were 20-29 heading into June; the Angels were 25-24. They each went 72-41 from June 1 on, resulting in a postseason berth for each. Only the Yankees (74-38) were better during that span.
Both Colorado and Los Angeles are off to similar starts this season, but which is more likely to get hot, make a 2009-like run and reach the postseason?
Ryan Fagan says the Rockies are primed to duplicate their 2009 success, while Chris Bahr makes his case for the Angels:
The Angels need Erick Aybar to get comfortable in the leadoff role.
The Angels, Sporting News‘ preseason pick to win the AL West for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, are struggling to reach .500. But that also was the case at this time last season, when they won the division by 10 games. Expect a similar turnaround this season, and expect it to happen soon. Starting Friday, the Angels play 10 consecutive games against the Mariners and Royals.
Three reasons to believe in the Angels’ ability to reverse their fortunes:
Transition: The Angels lost a trio of major contributors — Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins, John Lackey — to free agency this past offseason, so some struggles should have been anticipated. The Lackey-less rotation, which goes five deep but lacks a true No. 1, finally has shown improvement recently. Now, the team needs Erick Aybar to get comfortable in the leadoff role and Maicer Izturis to step up at the hot corner. Expecting a seamless, overnight transition in each of the aforementioned situations was unrealistic. The season is 162 games long, not 50, and Los Angeles already has played its worst stretch of baseball.
Division: The Rangers and A’s have failed to capitalize on the Angels’ slow start. As poorly as Los Angeles has played, it is only five games behind Texas and two behind Oakland. Not exactly insurmountable deficits, especially given the questions about Oakland’s staying power and the Rangers’ late-season fade in 2009. Also worth noting: The Angels are 4-2 against the A’s and have 17 games remaining against the Rangers. The best way to make up ground is with head-to-head wins, and L.A. will have plenty of opportunities to do so.
Mike Scioscia: Nothing against Jim Tracy, who helped spark the Rockies’ amazing run last season after replacing Clint Hurdle, but Scioscia is a two-time AL Manager of the Year who has a World Series championship on his resume. He did arguably his best managerial job of his career last season, rallying the team after the tragic death of Nick Adenhart. There will be no panic this season, and Scioscia has shown the ability to push the right buttons.
Are there concerns? Of course. Scott Kazmir must find his form, Hideki Matsui has to prove his poor May is the result of a slump and not an overall decline, the third base situation must get settled (Brandon Wood was an absolute offensive mess before his convenient trip to the disabled list Tuesday — the same day Izturis was activated), and Brian Fuentes must put an end to his habit of turning the ninth-inning into an adventure. But the Angels still are the most talented team in the A.L. West, and they will prove it by October.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Last season, the Rockies were 20-29 heading into June; the Angels were 25-24. They each went 72-41 from June 1 on, resulting in a postseason berth for each. Only the Yankees (74-38) were better during that span.
Both Colorado and Los Angeles are off to similar starts this season, but which is more likely to get hot, make a 2009-like run and reach the postseason?
Ryan Fagan says the Rockies are primed to duplicate their 2009 success, while Chris Bahr makes his case for the Angels:
The Angels need Erick Aybar to get comfortable in the leadoff role.
The Angels, Sporting News‘ preseason pick to win the AL West for the sixth time in the past seven seasons, are struggling to reach .500. But that also was the case at this time last season, when they won the division by 10 games. Expect a similar turnaround this season, and expect it to happen soon. Starting Friday, the Angels play 10 consecutive games against the Mariners and Royals.
Three reasons to believe in the Angels’ ability to reverse their fortunes:
Transition: The Angels lost a trio of major contributors — Vladimir Guerrero, Chone Figgins, John Lackey — to free agency this past offseason, so some struggles should have been anticipated. The Lackey-less rotation, which goes five deep but lacks a true No. 1, finally has shown improvement recently. Now, the team needs Erick Aybar to get comfortable in the leadoff role and Maicer Izturis to step up at the hot corner. Expecting a seamless, overnight transition in each of the aforementioned situations was unrealistic. The season is 162 games long, not 50, and Los Angeles already has played its worst stretch of baseball.
Division: The Rangers and A’s have failed to capitalize on the Angels’ slow start. As poorly as Los Angeles has played, it is only five games behind Texas and two behind Oakland. Not exactly insurmountable deficits, especially given the questions about Oakland’s staying power and the Rangers’ late-season fade in 2009. Also worth noting: The Angels are 4-2 against the A’s and have 17 games remaining against the Rangers. The best way to make up ground is with head-to-head wins, and L.A. will have plenty of opportunities to do so.
Mike Scioscia: Nothing against Jim Tracy, who helped spark the Rockies’ amazing run last season after replacing Clint Hurdle, but Scioscia is a two-time AL Manager of the Year who has a World Series championship on his resume. He did arguably his best managerial job of his career last season, rallying the team after the tragic death of Nick Adenhart. There will be no panic this season, and Scioscia has shown the ability to push the right buttons.
Are there concerns? Of course. Scott Kazmir must find his form, Hideki Matsui has to prove his poor May is the result of a slump and not an overall decline, the third base situation must get settled (Brandon Wood was an absolute offensive mess before his convenient trip to the disabled list Tuesday — the same day Izturis was activated), and Brian Fuentes must put an end to his habit of turning the ninth-inning into an adventure. But the Angels still are the most talented team in the A.L. West, and they will prove it by October.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Roy Oswalt has pitched well this season but received little run support.
Although Astros ace Roy Oswalt has requested a trade, getting a deal done won’t be easy. The righthander has veto power and just under $30 million remaining on his contract (excluding the $16 million team option for 2012). The perfect match: an out-of-division contender that can afford the commitment and satisfy Houston’s desire for young talent in return.
Three possible fits:
Dodgers
Why Oswalt makes sense: The rotation has been much improved of late but still lacks a veteran No. 1 starter. Oswalt would take a ton of pressure off Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley and eliminate the need to depend heavily on Vicente Padilla. Pitching in spacious Dodger Stadium would appeal to Oswalt.
Stumbling block: The pending divorce of the team’s owners has tied up the purse strings — part of the reason Los Angeles didn’t acquire an ace this past offseason.
Rangers
Why Oswalt makes sense: The workhorse is exactly what Rangers president Nolan Ryan craves. The move from one Texas team to another would be a smooth one, and though Rangers Ballpark in Arlington isn’t pitcher-friendly, neither is Minute Maid Park. In any case, run support no longer would be a concern.
Stumbling block: The team’s pending sale — to a group that includes Ryan — has tied up the finances. Assuming that is cleared up, Texas should have some money to spend.
Mets
Why Oswalt makes sense: With John Maine and Jon Niese on the disabled list and Oliver Perez banished to the bullpen, New York is in desperate need of starters. And Oswalt would be an outstanding complement to lefthander Johan Santana. Like the Dodgers, the Mets neglected to add the top-of-the-rotation arm they needed during the offseason.
Stumbling block: The last-place Mets aren’t exactly contenders, which could scare away Oswalt. But they aren’t completely buried, either, and Carlos Beltran — a former teammate of Oswalt in Houston — should be back eventually.
The dark horses
Nationals
Why Oswalt makes sense: He’d be the perfect mentor for Stephen Strasburg and bring immediate legitimacy to a rotation that still is a weakness.
Stumbling block: Washington, though an up-and-coming franchise, isn’t a bona fide contender yet and plays in a loaded division. Thus, Oswalt could exercise his no-trade clause to block the deal.
Reds
Why Oswalt makes sense: Cincinnati has earned contender status more quickly than most expected, and the contracts of Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang will come off the books after this season (freeing up money). A rotation of Oswalt, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman would be impressive.
Stumbling block: The Astros are far from eager to have Oswalt haunt them in head-to-head meetings in the future.
The others
As mentioned, Oswalt probably won’t be interested in leaving one non-contender for another. So, you can cross plenty of teams (Orioles, Pirates, Mariners, etc.) off the list of would-be suitors. And even plenty of this season’s contenders probably will shy away from the chance to acquire Oswalt. Here’s why:
AL East
Rays: Their rotation already is stellar, they plan to slash payroll after this season, and they have to try to re-sign Carl Crawford or Carlos Pena.
Yankees: Never count them out, but the Yankees have little need and have shown financial restraint lately.
Blue Jays: They just dumped Roy Halladay’s big contract.
Red Sox: They have too much long-term money tied up in John Lackey and Josh Beckett.
AL Central
Twins: Minnesota has shed the small-market label, but it just gave Joe Mauer a monstrous deal.
Tigers: Detroit just paid big bucks to extend Justin Verlander’s contract, and it was cautious with its spending this past offseason.
White Sox: Oswalt and Jake Peavy are friends, but Chicago probably can’t afford both (and might be spooked by Peavy’s subpar performance since trading for him).
AL West
Angels: Their rotation already is loaded, though partially with underachievers.
A’s: Ben Sheets was their pricy rotation acquisition. Don’t expect Oakland to throw much more money around.
NL East
Phillies: Philadelphia’s most pressing need is to find money to re-sign Jayson Werth. Plus, the Phillies just sacrificed plenty of young talent for Cliff Lee and then Halladay.
Braves: It’s possible, but Atlanta would be better off spending for a bat. Plus, the Braves already are saddled with Derek Lowe’s big contract.
Marlins: Florida just broke the bank to extend Josh Johnson’s contract.
NL Central
Cardinals: Houston probably would balk at an intra-divisional deal, and St. Louis has to save for Albert Pujols’ next contract.
Cubs: An Oswalt deal is a possibility, especially if the new ownership group wants to make a splash. But Chicago likely would have to move Carlos Zambrano (and his big contract) first.
NL West
Padres: Much like Toronto with Halladay, San Diego just dumped Jake Peavy and his big contract.
Giants: They already have four excellent starting pitchers and need to spend to add offense.
Rockies: Finally healthy, their rotation is solid. Plus, Coors Field might not appeal to Oswalt.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Roy Oswalt has pitched well this season but received little run support.
Although Astros ace Roy Oswalt has requested a trade, getting a deal done won’t be easy. The righthander has veto power and just under $30 million remaining on his contract (excluding the $16 million team option for 2012). The perfect match: an out-of-division contender that can afford the commitment and satisfy Houston’s desire for young talent in return.
Three possible fits:
Dodgers
Why Oswalt makes sense: The rotation has been much improved of late but still lacks a veteran No. 1 starter. Oswalt would take a ton of pressure off Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley and eliminate the need to depend heavily on Vicente Padilla. Pitching in spacious Dodger Stadium would appeal to Oswalt.
Stumbling block: The pending divorce of the team’s owners has tied up the purse strings — part of the reason Los Angeles didn’t acquire an ace this past offseason.
Rangers
Why Oswalt makes sense: The workhorse is exactly what Rangers president Nolan Ryan craves. The move from one Texas team to another would be a smooth one, and though Rangers Ballpark in Arlington isn’t pitcher-friendly, neither is Minute Maid Park. In any case, run support no longer would be a concern.
Stumbling block: The team’s pending sale — to a group that includes Ryan — has tied up the finances. Assuming that is cleared up, Texas should have some money to spend.
Mets
Why Oswalt makes sense: With John Maine and Jon Niese on the disabled list and Oliver Perez banished to the bullpen, New York is in desperate need of starters. And Oswalt would be an outstanding complement to lefthander Johan Santana. Like the Dodgers, the Mets neglected to add the top-of-the-rotation arm they needed during the offseason.
Stumbling block: The last-place Mets aren’t exactly contenders, which could scare away Oswalt. But they aren’t completely buried, either, and Carlos Beltran — a former teammate of Oswalt in Houston — should be back eventually.
The dark horses
Nationals
Why Oswalt makes sense: He’d be the perfect mentor for Stephen Strasburg and bring immediate legitimacy to a rotation that still is a weakness.
Stumbling block: Washington, though an up-and-coming franchise, isn’t a bona fide contender yet and plays in a loaded division. Thus, Oswalt could exercise his no-trade clause to block the deal.
Reds
Why Oswalt makes sense: Cincinnati has earned contender status more quickly than most expected, and the contracts of Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang will come off the books after this season (freeing up money). A rotation of Oswalt, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman would be impressive.
Stumbling block: The Astros are far from eager to have Oswalt haunt them in head-to-head meetings in the future.
The others
As mentioned, Oswalt probably won’t be interested in leaving one non-contender for another. So, you can cross plenty of teams (Orioles, Pirates, Mariners, etc.) off the list of would-be suitors. And even plenty of this season’s contenders probably will shy away from the chance to acquire Oswalt. Here’s why:
AL East
Rays: Their rotation already is stellar, they plan to slash payroll after this season, and they have to try to re-sign Carl Crawford or Carlos Pena.
Yankees: Never count them out, but the Yankees have little need and have shown financial restraint lately.
Blue Jays: They just dumped Roy Halladay’s big contract.
Red Sox: They have too much long-term money tied up in John Lackey and Josh Beckett.
AL Central
Twins: Minnesota has shed the small-market label, but it just gave Joe Mauer a monstrous deal.
Tigers: Detroit just paid big bucks to extend Justin Verlander’s contract, and it was cautious with its spending this past offseason.
White Sox: Oswalt and Jake Peavy are friends, but Chicago probably can’t afford both (and might be spooked by Peavy’s subpar performance since trading for him).
AL West
Angels: Their rotation already is loaded, though partially with underachievers.
A’s: Ben Sheets was their pricy rotation acquisition. Don’t expect Oakland to throw much more money around.
NL East
Phillies: Philadelphia’s most pressing need is to find money to re-sign Jayson Werth. Plus, the Phillies just sacrificed plenty of young talent for Cliff Lee and then Halladay.
Braves: It’s possible, but Atlanta would be better off spending for a bat. Plus, the Braves already are saddled with Derek Lowe’s big contract.
Marlins: Florida just broke the bank to extend Josh Johnson’s contract.
NL Central
Cardinals: Houston probably would balk at an intra-divisional deal, and St. Louis has to save for Albert Pujols’ next contract.
Cubs: An Oswalt deal is a possibility, especially if the new ownership group wants to make a splash. But Chicago likely would have to move Carlos Zambrano (and his big contract) first.
NL West
Padres: Much like Toronto with Halladay, San Diego just dumped Jake Peavy and his big contract.
Giants: They already have four excellent starting pitchers and need to spend to add offense.
Rockies: Finally healthy, their rotation is solid. Plus, Coors Field might not appeal to Oswalt.
Chris Bahr is a senior editor for Sporting News. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
