Colorado Rockies @ Pittsburgh Pirates
J. Jennings (6-7, 3.64) vs. Z. Duke (6-8, 5.15)
What happened to Zach Duke?  Luckily he’s still young enough to turn it around in his career after being dubbed as a pitcher on the rise.  However, will he be able to turn it around THIS season?  I just don’t know, especially with today’s matchup against the hard-hitting Rockies.  At least, they were hard-hitting last night.

Washington Nationals @ Florida Marlins
R. Ortiz (6-8, 4.95) vs. A. Sánchez (2-0, 4.50)
Last time out, Anibal Sanchez matched up against the Rocket, Roger Clemens and won the duel.  Certainly Sanchez can outpitch Ramon Ortiz.  Sanchez is part of a young Florida staff that can be really good in the future.  Florida is seven games out of the wild card (forget about the N.L. East) and conceivably make the playoffs through youthful exuberance.  Although, Hanley Ramirez getting hurt last night could put a damper on that.

Philadelphia Phillies @ San Diego Padres
J. Lieber (3-7, 5.56) vs. M. Thompson (3-2, 4.30)
Jon Lieber could be on his way out and I’m sure he’d love to be in that situation.  Rumored to be leaving Philly before the trade deadline, Lieber has been vocal and letting his thoughts be known about the clubhouse atmosphere and the organization and they weren’t kind words.  The Phils need to win today’s game in order to break even on their West Coast trip.

Milwaukee Brewers @ San Francisco Giants
D. Davis (5-6, 4.77) vs. M. Morris (8-7, 4.23)
Doug Davis had a very good June and is having a so-so July.  The key to Davis’ success?  Keeping his walks down, which he is not doing this month - 11 walks versus 12 K’s in 20.0 innings.  Meanwhile, Matt Morris has been really good in the past month and looking like he did in his prime with the St. Louis Cardinals.

New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
S. Trachsel (9-4, 4.57) vs. A. Harang (10-6, 3.51)
Aaron Harang is suspect.  Okay, I’m totally joking, but a friend of mine in a fantasy baseball league told me that someone in another league made the argument that Harang is suspect (can’t help thinking of Ben Affleck interviewing for Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting).  That is hardly the case as Harang is simply fulfilling his potential after several seasons in the league.  Harang is good and could shut down the Mets in today’s game.  Steve Trachsel has been good for the Mets, not spectacular or as good as Harang, but solid.  But I’m sure the guy who said Harang was suspect would tell you that Trachsel just plain old stinks!

Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs
R. Clemens (1-3, 2.96) vs. G. Maddux (7-10, 4.99)
This is a great matchup between two future first-ballot Hall of Famers.  Both have won over 300 games, but have done it in different ways.  Roger Clemens blows batters away, while Greg Maddux methodically deconstructs them.  Both are obviously past their prime, although Clemens is still just as effective as anyone in the game.  Maddux is declining, but still better than at least three-quarters of the other pitchers in the bigs.

Atlanta Braves @ St. Louis Cardinals
J. Shiell (0-0, 0.00) vs. C. Carpenter (8-4, 2.85)
The Braves are making some big noise lately, winning seven games in a row.  They’d make some real progress in the N.L. East if only the Mets would lose.  Can the Braves continue to make progress?  Not without a better bullpen and certainly the hit parade has to be put a stop because they’ve just been slamming the Cardinals.  Look for Chris Carpenter to make some noise of his own and slowing the Braves’ roll.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Arizona Diamondbacks
D. Lowe (7-6, 3.98) vs. M. Batista (8-5, 4.94)
Uh oh, Jeff Kent just went on the DL with an oblique problem.  It looks like the youngsters will need to keep doing it without the old man, but they’ve proven to be capable, although their 3-7 slide in their last 10 games and the N.L. West leading San Diego Padres 7-3 record in their last 10 doesn’t help the Dodgers make any headway in the division.