Monday baseball

What you missed in a nutshell:

- DeSalvo? Igawa? Karstens? A new face, like Steven White? It doesn't look like it will be Ian Kennedy. But good chances are it's not going to be Mike Mussina either. We should know more tomorrow. For tonight...yikes. Tigers def. Yankees 16-0. Yes, seriously.

- Jake Peavy owns you. And he owes Geoff Blum a nice dinner after this one. Padres def. Diamondbacks 3-1. Usual 9th inning drama for Hoffman. It just wouldn't be the same if he sat everybody down.

- Pitcher Brian Lawrence hits an RBI single for the Mets but still loses the game. How is that fair? Phillies def. Mets 9-2.

- Wily Mo Pena fouls a 3-2 pitch off his ankle and on the very next pitch hits a homerun. He had to leave the game afterwards. If those heroics don't inspire you to victory, nothing will! ... Oh, wait. Dodgers def. Nationals 5-4.

Other results of note: Braves def. Mariners (13-2), Indians def. Twins (8-3), Angels def. Mariners (6-0), Giants def. Rockies (4-1)

Coming up tomorrow...

The match-up may not have the division implications it usually has, but it's still a big game when LHP Andy Pettitte (11-7, 3.69 ERA) takes on RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (13-10, 3.76 ERA) and the Red Sox. Pettitte comes into this game with a five game winning streak. His last start against the Angels was brilliant: seven innings with only one earned run on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. In four starts against Boston this season (he pitched one game in relief back in April), Pettitte is 1-1. His last start against the Sox was on June 3rd. Pettitte didn't have a good outing in that one, lasting just 4.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Matsuzaka is coming off of a loss against Tampa Bay on August 22nd. Yes, against Tampa Bay, but it was a tough luck loss. Matsuzaka went six innings and allowed just two earned runs on two hits (1 HR) with four walks and eight strikeouts. Against the Yankees this season, Matsuzaka is 2-0 in two starts. Both starts were back in August, and in both starts Matzuaka allowed over three runs. Only one homerun though, back on April 22nd to Derek Jeter. (That was the game where Chase Wright gave up four homeruns in a row. Oh dear.)

LHP Tom Glavine (11-6, 4.32 ERA) and the Mets look to take one back from the Phillies as they're scheduled to take on the penciled-in RHP Adam Eaton (9-8, 6.36 ERA) who would be coming off of rebah assignment. Glavine took a no decision in his August 23rd start against the Padres. He went just five innings and allowed six runs on eleven hits with three walks and one strikeout. In three starts against the Phillies this season, Glavine has a 2-0 record. Each of those outings yielded three runs or fewer. His last start against the Phillies was a no decision on June 5th, where Glavine went seven innings and allowed two earned runs on eight hits.

If Eaton makes the start tomorrow, it will be his first major league appearance since August 11th against the Braves. He lasted just three innings in that game, allowing six earned runs on eight hits (2 HR). In two games against the Mets this season, Eaton is 2-0. His last start was on June 6th, where he allowed two earned runs on five hits (1 HR - Beltran).

RHP Daniel Cabrera (9-13, 5.10 ERA) is back on the mound for the first time since that 30-3 debacle against the Rangers as the Orioles take on RHP Jason Hammel (1-4, 7.43 ERA) and the Devil Rays. To be fair to Cabrera, while he was bad in his August 22nd outing, he wasn't historically bad, leaving after allowing six earned runs in five innings. Mussina would have loved that line for the Yankees on Monday night... In three starts against the Devil Rays this season, Cabrera is 3-0. His last start against them came on August 3rd. Cabrera's better half was out in force that night, lasting seven innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Hammel is comming off of a loss against the A's on August 23rd. He lasted just three innings and allowed six earned runs on five hits (1 HR) with five walks and two strikeouts. This will be Hammel's first start against the Orioles this season.

One NL Cy Young candidate took the win on Monday night. Now, it's time for the Padres to try to rough up a rival, as RHP Justin Germano (6-7, 4.24 ERA) takes the hill against RHP Brandon Webb (14-8, 2.63 ERA) and the Diamondbacks. Germano is coming off of a no decision in the wild August 23rd game against the Mets. He went five innings and allowed three earned runs (four total) on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. In one start against Arizona this season, Germano is 0-1. He lasted five innings back on July 31st, with four earned runs (2 HR - Drew, Young) on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Webb's scoreless inning streak ended on August 22nd, but he still took the win against the Brewers by going seven innings and allowing just two earned runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. In four starts against the Padres this season, Webb is 1-1. His last start was a win on July 31st against Germano. Webb pitched seven shutout innings with only three hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts.

Finally, RHP Jason Bergmann (2-5, 4.56 ERA) makes his triumphant return for the Nationals as he takes on RHP Chad Billingsley (8-4, 3.48 ERA) and the Dodgers. Bergmann's last major league appearance was back on July 24th. He lasted 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits (1 HR) with one walk and one strikeout. It will be Bergmann's first start against the Dodgers this season. He is taking over for John Lannan in the rotation.

Billingsley earned his first win in exactly one month when he beat the Phillies on August 23rd. He lasted seven innings while allowing one earned run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. This will be Billingsley's first start against the Nationals this season.

Other games of note:
Braves @ Marlins (Smoltz vs. VandenHurk)
Twins @ Indians (Bonser vs. Westbrook)
Brewers @ Cubs (Suppan vs. Hill)
Cardinals @ Astros (Looper vs. Williams)
Tigers @ Royals (Robertson vs. Bannister)
Angels @ Mariners (Santana vs. Weaver)