MOTN!

Matchups of the Night!

 

I guess I do not need to mention anything more than that...

 

Cubs v. Phillies again tonight and two former teammates are on the mound as Rich 'Balsa Wood' Harden takes on Smolderin' Joe Blanton in Philadelphia.  Needless to say, Harden has been a disappointment to the Chicago Cubs since being acquired.  However, Harden is 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA away from Wrigley this season and just came off a 6 inning 1 unearned run, 3-hit display against the LOLNats.  Blanton has been much more impressive lately, coming off back to back 7+ inning outings.  He is pitching on 10 days rest and in holds a team high 10 quality starts.  Maybe tonight the Cubs won't check out after 3 innings.

 

Ryan 'The Big' Sadowski will take the mound once again for the San Francisco Giants as they look to rebound against Derek Lowe and the Atlanta Braves who thrashed them last night 11-3.  Sadowski has looked good in his only 3 starts of the season, going 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA.  Lowe looks to perform up to expectations in the second half and is coming off a 6 inning display against the Mets that, without one bad inning which resulted in three runs, was a great performance.  This will be a good test for Sadowski as the Giants look to regain the lead in the NL Wild Card race from fellow division opponent...

 

Colorado, who sends Aaron Cook to the mound tonight in the best pitching match up of the day.  Max Scherzer will be on the hill for the struggling Diamondbacks who are looking to salvage some of the season, or maybe just survive it.  Scherzer has posted a quality start in 5 of his last 6 starts, including one at Colorado on June 23rd when he went 6 innings giving up 3 earned runs while striking out 5 and walking one. Cook was lit up in every category his last start out by the Padres except in runs (9 hits, 3 walks, 2 k's over 6 innings).

 

Other things to keep an eye on...Rick Porcello matches up against Garret Olsen as the Tigers take on the Mariners.  Josh Beckett heads to the mound to continue his hot streak after Red Sox losses and will face 23 year old Tommy Hunter.  Last, but not least, Cliff Lee will be auditioning to teams tonight when he faces the Blue Jays and Brett Cecil in Toronto.

 

Enjoy.