First, the non-interleague games:

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Pittsburgh Pirates
C. Vargas (6-4, 5.21) vs. Z. Duke (5-6, 4.52)
- The Diamondbacks were just swept by the Texas Rangers and are owners of a five-game losing streak.  In fact, they’re 1-9 in their last 10 games. I guess you can thank the Jason Grimsley fiasco for this.  Okay, not really because you have to play the games, but I’m sure it’s played some role in the downfall of the D-Backs.  The Pirates were also recently swept by an A.L. team, the Minnesota Twins.  However, they had a chance to win yesterday, but the Pirates’ Oliver Perez committed a critical error in the eighth inning with two outs and Nick Punto hitting a soft grounder that could have ended the inning.  Perez matched up well with Johan Santana as his final numbers show – 7.2 innings pitched, one earned run, five K’s, five hits, and only one walk – but he still lost.  In any case, Duke will try to end the Bucs’ four game skid and get on track to meeting expectations after last year’s very good rookie showing.

Cincinnati Reds @ New York Mets
B. Arroyo (8-3, 2.51) vs. O. Hernandez (4-5, 5.50)
- Wow, so many sweeps… the Reds had it done to them by the defending champion Chicago White Sox over the weekend and have gone 2-8 in their last 10.  The surprising Arroyo has shown that he’s pretty much the real deal and not a flash in the pan like Paul Wilson was a couple of seasons’ ago when he started off 7-0 and ended up being 11-6.  Beating the Mets will go a long way in solidifying his street cred even more.  Since joining the Mets, “El Duque” Hernandez is 2-1 in four starts with a 4.30 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a .238 BAA.  He had a bad start in his only start at Shea as a Met and will be facing a high-powered batting order, but the way the Mets have been playing lately, 8-2 in their last 10, even if Hernandez gets lit up, he could still get the win.

The following interleague games will be played on National League turf.

New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies
R. Johnson (8-5, 5.32) vs. B. Myers (4-3, 3.86)
- Johnson comes back to the National League where he dominated the league as an Arizona Diamondback.  He’s been inconsistent and not as dominating in ’06 and could have a hard time against the Phillies in their home ballpark, where runs are scored a plenty.  The Yanks are 3-7 in their last 10 games.  However, the Phils are worse at 2-8.  Myers is a bit of an enigma, but can pitch with the best of them after finally breaking out last season.  He gets to go up against an injured Yanks lineup missing Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui.

Detroit Tigers @ Milwaukee Brewers
J. Bonderman (6-4, 4.01) vs. D. Davis (4-4, 5.07)
- The Tigers continue to roll and own the majors’ best record at 46-24.  They’re winners of four in a row, including a weekend sweep of the Chicago Cubs.  Yesterday they hit an amazing eight homeruns, four of which came at the expense of the returning Mark Prior.  The Brewers are coming off a sweep of their own, over the struggling Cleveland Indians.  For the Tigers, Bonderman has been steady, but no longer shows that studliness many predicted he would just a couple of seasons ago.  However, it’s not like he’s been horrible.  Not like Davis, anyway.  What happened to Davis?  I really thought he was going to do even better this season from last, both victories-wise and in the secondary numbers, but so far, I’d be wrong.

Oakland Athletics @ Colorado Rockies
D. Haren (6-5, 3.44) vs. B. Kim (3-4, 5.40)
- Ten in a row, ladies and gentlemen.  The Athletics are simply getting it done.  Really, I don’t think I can say anymore about them.  The Rockies have lost four in a row, including being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals.  They’re only playing .500 ball at home (16-16) and I honestly feel good things are going to start to happen led by that young offense… and I’m not just saying that because they play at Coors Field half their games.  Check the numbers and you’ll see Coors isn’t the offensive haven it used to be. 

Los Angeles Angels @ San Francisco Giants
K. Escobar (5-7, 3.62) vs. M. Cain (5-5, 5.35)
- The Angels may be cellar dwellers in the A.L. West and 4-6 in their last 10, but mark my words, Escobar is way better than that.  Sure he’s only 5-7, but look at the secondary numbers.  I’m not saying he’s a pitching stud, but he is better than his record shows.  Cain was supposed to be the N.L.’s version of the Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander – a young pitching prospect with a fair amount of expectations that turns it on after a taste last season.  So far, no go for Cain because he just isn’t Abel.  Okay, shoot me now.

Enjoy the games!