Labor Day Baseball

What you missed, in a nutshell:

- What does Roger Clemens + Mike Mussina = ? A Yankee loss. Mariners def. Yankees 7-1.

- Five homeruns are great and all, but I think the Padres may have used up their quota for the rest of the season. Padres def. Diamondbacks 10-2.

- 3,000 career strikeouts and a win. Not a bad return for Pedro Martinez. Mets def. Reds 10-4.

- Could we be seeing a return to earlier season form for Jason Bergmann? Nationals def. Marlins 6-3.

- The bullpen strikes again. Devil Rays def. Orioles 9-7.

Other results of note: Indians def. Twins (5-0), Red Sox def. Blue Jays (13-10), Angels def. A's (9-5), Braves def. Phillies (5-1), Astros def. Brewers (9-7), Dodgers def. Cubs (11-3)

News: Roger Clemens was sent for an MRI after yesterday's outing for an inflammed elbow. No word yet on his condition, but he is expected to miss at least one start as a precaution. It makes most sense that Mike Mussina would be slotted into Clemens' spot, but no official announcement has been made ... Andy Phillips is set to undergo surgery today on the fractured pisiform bone in his right wrist. He will miss 4-6 weeks, which will end his regular season with the Yankees and - more than likely - his postseason, though Torre did not rule out contributions from Phillips in October. ... Erik Bedard is not with the Orioles in Florida at the moment. He has expressed a desire to pitch again in 2007, but most fear that his oblique injury will be enough to sideline him for the rest of the season. ... There is a chance that the Padres may choose to start Jake Peavy on three days rest Wednesday as the Padres conclude their series with the Diamondbacks. I would imagine that decision would be made by early today, since Peavy would need some time to prepare. ... There will be some new faces with the Nationals tonight, including two of their top prospects: OF Justin Maxwell and this year's top draft pick LHP Ross Detwiler. Detwiler is not expected to make a start.

As for today's action...

RHP Chris Young (9-5, 2.38 ERA) and the Padres look to maintain their lead over the Diamondbacks as they take on LHP Doug Davis (12-11, 4.09 ERA). Young showed some rust following some lower back issues on August 30th. He lasted just 4.1 innings against the Diamondbacks and allowed five runs on two hits (1 HR) with six walks and three strikeouts. He has an 0-2 record in three starts against the Diamondbacks this season.

Davis took the win against Young on August 30th. He lasted 6.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Davis' only other start against San Diego was back on July 13th. He took the win in that game, going six innings and allowing two runs on five hits (1 HR) with three walks and two strikeouts.

The Yankees need a good pitching performance today, as RHP Chien-Ming Wang (16-6, 3.79 ERA) looks to be the first major league pitcher to 17 wins this season (Beckett also has a chance tonight) against LHP Horacio Ramirez (8-4, 6.55 ERA) and the Mariners. Even with some control problems, Wang no-hit Boston until the 7th inning on August 30th. He pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just one hit with four walks and five strikeouts. Wang won his one start against the Mariners this season back on May 5th. In that game, Wang went eight innings and allowed one run on two hits (1 HR) with no walks and four strikeouts.

Ramirez is coming off of a no decision against the Indians on August 30th. He went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Ramirez recorded the win in his May 13th start against the Yankees. In that game, Ramirez lasted 6.1 innings and allowed one run on five hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Good pitching match-up (wait, didn't I say that last time?) in DC tonight as RHP Shawn Hill (3-3, 2.87 ERA) looks to rebound from his worst outing of the season against LHP Dontrelle Willis (8-14, 5.12 ERA) and the Marlins. Hill took a no decision in his August 29th outing against the Dodgers, more of a credit to what his offense did against Brad Penny than his own performance. He lasted 5.1 innings and allowed six earned runs (seven total) on seven hits (1 HR) with one walk and four strikeouts. Hill is 1-0 in two starts against the Marlins. His last start against Florida was back on May 11th. Hill pitched five no-hit innings but had to be removed because of the injury that would keep him out until August.

Willis is coming off a loss against the Braves with a line worse than Hill's. He also lasted 5.1 innings and allowed six runs, but his came on eight hits (3 HR) with four walks and four strikeouts. In two starts against the Nationals this season, Willis is 1-1. His last start against them came on July 13th. He lost that game, going just 3.2 innings and allowing three earned runs (eight total) on eight hits with three walks and no strikeouts.

LHP Oliver Perez (12-9, 3.39 ERA) and the Mets look to continue where Pedro left off when they take on RHP Matt Belisle (7-8, 5.33 ERA) and the Reds. Perez is coming off of a loss on August 29th against the Phillies. He went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits (2 HR) with five walks and ten strikeouts. Perez took the win in his July 15th start against the Reds. In that one, he went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits (1 HR) with three walks and six strikeouts.

Belisle is coming off of a no decision against the Pirates on August 30th. He went five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts. In his one start against the Mets on July 14th, Belisle earned a no decision. He went seven innings and allowed one run on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 3.62) looks to pick up a rare win both for himself and his team as he takes on LHP Scott Kazmir (11-8, 3.74 ERA) and the Devil Rays. Guthrie is coming off of a loss on August 30th to these same Devil Rays. He lasted six innings in that one and allowed five earned runs (six total) on eight hits (2 HR) with three walks and six strikeouts. In two starts against Tampa Bay, Guthrie is 1-1. He has not won a game since July 27th against the Yankees.

Kazmir defeated Guthrie and the Orioles back on August 30th. He went five innings in that one and allowed four earned runs (five total) on seven hits (2 HR) with three walks and five strikeouts. Kazmir is 2-1 in four starts against the Orioles.

Other Games of Note:
White Sox @ Tigers (Garland vs. Bonderman)
Blue Jays @ Red Sox (Halladay vs. Beckett)
Phillies @ Braves (Lohse vs. Carlyle)
Astros @ Brewers (Backe vs. Villanueva)
Dodgers @ Cubs (Penny vs. Trachsel)
Indians @ Twins (Laffey vs. Slowey)
A's @ Angels (DiNardo vs. Weaver)

Obviously, the big games today are the pennant and wild card competition going head-to-head. San Diego vs. Arizona, for those who care about the NL West, is probably the biggest game of the night. Yankees-Mariners come in second. Phillies-Braves third. Pitching match-up of the night is Halladay vs. Beckett in Boston; should be a major change from last night's game. Sleeper pitcher duels in DC and Florida, with Hill vs. Willis and Guthrie vs. Kazmir.