Post by Fish Troll on Apr 23, 2007 13:19:03 GMT -5
Peek at the Week: Rivalries abound
All eyes on Buehrle; Big Unit and Soriano expected to return
By Jim Molony / MLB.com
The weather is warming up (finally!) and so is the action as the coming week features several compelling matchups as well as the expected returns of Randy Johnson and Alfonso Soriano.
On Monday all eyes will be on Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, who will make his first start since no-hitting Texas when he faces Kansas City and Gil Meche at Kauffman Stadium.
Buehrle, who came within a walk of a perfect game against the Rangers, has allowed just one hit over his last 15 innings and faced the minimum 27 batters against Texas by picking off Sammy Sosa from first base after the walk. Buehrle owns a 15-6 career record and 3.26 ERA against the Royals, including 7-4 record at Kauffman Stadium.
Meche, however, hasn't allowed an earned run in his last two starts (14 innings) and has allowed one earned run or less in three of four starts.
Division rivalry clashes dot the schedule, with three-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees, Cubs and Cardinals and Giants and Dodgers.
Here's the rundown ...
Brewers at Cubs, Monday-Wednesday: The Brewers, who entered play Sunday in first place in the National League Central, make their first Wrigley Field visit of the season after dropping two of three to the Cubs at Miller Park from April 6-8. Claudio Vargas opposes Carlos Zambrano in the series opener, with Jeff Suppan facing Cubs lefty sensation Rich Hill on Tuesday. Monday also marks the return of Alfonso Soriano to the Cubs. Wednesday's finale will see Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets against Chicago lefty Ted Lilly.
Indians at Twins, Monday-Tuesday: The Twins swept Seattle on the road to improve to 10-5, the best record in the American League, then split the first two games of a three-game weekend set at Kansas City. The Twins will open a four-game homestand with two games against Cleveland in the first meeting of the two AL Central powers. Cleveland lefty Jeremy Sowers will go against Twins right-hander Carlos Silva in the opener while Fausto Carmona of the Indians draws Minnesota ace Johan Santana on Tuesday.
Tigers at Angels, Monday-Tuesday: Another two-gamer pitting two strong teams favored by many to reach the playoffs this season. Mike Maroth will start Monday against Jered Weaver while Jeremy Bonderman will go in the second game on Tuesday against John Lackey. The Angels finished their worst road trip (1-7) in six years last week and have lost Howie Kendrick to the disabled list while slugger Vladimir Guerrero has been slowed by a sore right wrist.
Astros at Phillies, Monday, April 23: The makeup game for last week's rainout in Philadelphia, this one-shot meeting will pit Chris Sampson of the Astros against Adam Eaton of the Phillies. The struggling Phillies stranded 131 baserunners during their first 13 games, the most by a Phillies team through that many games since 1970.
Giants at Dodgers, Tuesday-Thursday: The Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball at 13-5 (entering Sunday), swept a three-game series at AT&T Park from April 6-8 and will try to extend their lead in this three-game set at Dodger Stadium. Matt Morris faces Derek Lowe in the opener.
Padres at Diamondbacks, Tuesday-Thursday: It's a clash of two of the better pitching staffs thus far when San Diego visits Chase Field for a three-game set against Arizona. Jake Peavey, 3-0, looks to stay unbeaten on Wednesday. Tuesday's matchup is an interesting pairing of two veteran lefties: David Wells of the Padres against Randy Johnson of Arizona. It will be the first start of the season for Johnson.
Red Sox at Yankees, Friday-Sunday: One week after their exciting series at Fenway Park, the two AL East powers meet again, this time in the Bronx for another three-game weekend set.
Cubs at Cardinals, Friday-Sunday: The defending World Series champions have the worst home record in baseball (1-6) and will try to turn things around at Busch Stadium when they meet the Cubs for a weekend series. After this weekend the two teams won't meet again until May 21.
Dodgers at Padres, Friday-Sunday: It's a big week for NL West pairings, and what better way to close out the weekend than a three-game series between two NL West contenders, the Dodgers and Padres at PETCO Park?
Twins at Tigers, Friday-Sunday: The first meeting of the two 2006 playoff teams from the AL Central. The Twins are on a roll while the Tigers have been struggling.
Brewers at Astros, Friday-Sunday: The two teams currently running first and second, respectively, in the NL Central. April is coming to a close, and in three of the last four years -- and seven of the last 10 -- the team leading the NL Central through play of April 30 wound up winning the division. The exceptions were 2004 (Cubs and Houston tied at 13-9, Astros were the NL Wild Card that year); 2002 (Reds 16-9 in April) and 2001 (Cubs 15-9 in April).
Milestone of the week: With 407 career home runs, Carlos Delgado needs one more to pass Duke Snider for 40th place on the all-time list.
Factoids of the week: Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who turned 24 years old on Wednesday, April 18, has 108 career home runs. Only four active players had more home runs before turning 24: Ken Griffey Jr. (132), Alex Rodriguez (128), Andruw Jones (120) and Albert Pujols (114).
Also: Pittsburgh's Jason Bay hit his 100th career homer Wednesday, making him just the sixth Canadian player to reach that mark in Major League history. Larry Walker (368), Matt Stairs (220), Jeff Heath (194), Corey Koskie (124) and George Selkirk (108) were the others.
Observation of the week: Milwaukee's J.J. Hardy became the first shortstop in franchise history to hit four homers in three games when he accomplished that feat over the weekend. Pretty impressive, especially considering the Brewers had a guy named Robin Yount playing the position for many years.
Jim Molony is a writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
All eyes on Buehrle; Big Unit and Soriano expected to return
By Jim Molony / MLB.com
The weather is warming up (finally!) and so is the action as the coming week features several compelling matchups as well as the expected returns of Randy Johnson and Alfonso Soriano.
On Monday all eyes will be on Chicago White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, who will make his first start since no-hitting Texas when he faces Kansas City and Gil Meche at Kauffman Stadium.
Buehrle, who came within a walk of a perfect game against the Rangers, has allowed just one hit over his last 15 innings and faced the minimum 27 batters against Texas by picking off Sammy Sosa from first base after the walk. Buehrle owns a 15-6 career record and 3.26 ERA against the Royals, including 7-4 record at Kauffman Stadium.
Meche, however, hasn't allowed an earned run in his last two starts (14 innings) and has allowed one earned run or less in three of four starts.
Division rivalry clashes dot the schedule, with three-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees, Cubs and Cardinals and Giants and Dodgers.
Here's the rundown ...
Brewers at Cubs, Monday-Wednesday: The Brewers, who entered play Sunday in first place in the National League Central, make their first Wrigley Field visit of the season after dropping two of three to the Cubs at Miller Park from April 6-8. Claudio Vargas opposes Carlos Zambrano in the series opener, with Jeff Suppan facing Cubs lefty sensation Rich Hill on Tuesday. Monday also marks the return of Alfonso Soriano to the Cubs. Wednesday's finale will see Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets against Chicago lefty Ted Lilly.
Indians at Twins, Monday-Tuesday: The Twins swept Seattle on the road to improve to 10-5, the best record in the American League, then split the first two games of a three-game weekend set at Kansas City. The Twins will open a four-game homestand with two games against Cleveland in the first meeting of the two AL Central powers. Cleveland lefty Jeremy Sowers will go against Twins right-hander Carlos Silva in the opener while Fausto Carmona of the Indians draws Minnesota ace Johan Santana on Tuesday.
Tigers at Angels, Monday-Tuesday: Another two-gamer pitting two strong teams favored by many to reach the playoffs this season. Mike Maroth will start Monday against Jered Weaver while Jeremy Bonderman will go in the second game on Tuesday against John Lackey. The Angels finished their worst road trip (1-7) in six years last week and have lost Howie Kendrick to the disabled list while slugger Vladimir Guerrero has been slowed by a sore right wrist.
Astros at Phillies, Monday, April 23: The makeup game for last week's rainout in Philadelphia, this one-shot meeting will pit Chris Sampson of the Astros against Adam Eaton of the Phillies. The struggling Phillies stranded 131 baserunners during their first 13 games, the most by a Phillies team through that many games since 1970.
Giants at Dodgers, Tuesday-Thursday: The Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball at 13-5 (entering Sunday), swept a three-game series at AT&T Park from April 6-8 and will try to extend their lead in this three-game set at Dodger Stadium. Matt Morris faces Derek Lowe in the opener.
Padres at Diamondbacks, Tuesday-Thursday: It's a clash of two of the better pitching staffs thus far when San Diego visits Chase Field for a three-game set against Arizona. Jake Peavey, 3-0, looks to stay unbeaten on Wednesday. Tuesday's matchup is an interesting pairing of two veteran lefties: David Wells of the Padres against Randy Johnson of Arizona. It will be the first start of the season for Johnson.
Red Sox at Yankees, Friday-Sunday: One week after their exciting series at Fenway Park, the two AL East powers meet again, this time in the Bronx for another three-game weekend set.
Cubs at Cardinals, Friday-Sunday: The defending World Series champions have the worst home record in baseball (1-6) and will try to turn things around at Busch Stadium when they meet the Cubs for a weekend series. After this weekend the two teams won't meet again until May 21.
Dodgers at Padres, Friday-Sunday: It's a big week for NL West pairings, and what better way to close out the weekend than a three-game series between two NL West contenders, the Dodgers and Padres at PETCO Park?
Twins at Tigers, Friday-Sunday: The first meeting of the two 2006 playoff teams from the AL Central. The Twins are on a roll while the Tigers have been struggling.
Brewers at Astros, Friday-Sunday: The two teams currently running first and second, respectively, in the NL Central. April is coming to a close, and in three of the last four years -- and seven of the last 10 -- the team leading the NL Central through play of April 30 wound up winning the division. The exceptions were 2004 (Cubs and Houston tied at 13-9, Astros were the NL Wild Card that year); 2002 (Reds 16-9 in April) and 2001 (Cubs 15-9 in April).
Milestone of the week: With 407 career home runs, Carlos Delgado needs one more to pass Duke Snider for 40th place on the all-time list.
Factoids of the week: Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who turned 24 years old on Wednesday, April 18, has 108 career home runs. Only four active players had more home runs before turning 24: Ken Griffey Jr. (132), Alex Rodriguez (128), Andruw Jones (120) and Albert Pujols (114).
Also: Pittsburgh's Jason Bay hit his 100th career homer Wednesday, making him just the sixth Canadian player to reach that mark in Major League history. Larry Walker (368), Matt Stairs (220), Jeff Heath (194), Corey Koskie (124) and George Selkirk (108) were the others.
Observation of the week: Milwaukee's J.J. Hardy became the first shortstop in franchise history to hit four homers in three games when he accomplished that feat over the weekend. Pretty impressive, especially considering the Brewers had a guy named Robin Yount playing the position for many years.
Jim Molony is a writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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