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Thursday, May 31 Go to:  

  Jacobs Field | 7:05 PM ET
DET Justin Verlander, RHP (5-1, 2.71)
Tigers (30-23) 		  @   CLE C.C. Sabathia, LHP (7-1, 3.54)
Indians (33-19)

Scouting Report:
Tigers: Verlander admittedly didn't have his best stuff, but he still left with a 3-2 lead in his start on Saturday against the Indians. He exited after six innings and 105 pitches, watching as the bullpen couldn't hold onto the lead in a 6-3 loss. Verlander would like to get later into games and said the easiest way to decrease his pitch count is to cut down his walks. He walked four against the Indians and will again oppose C.C. Sabathia in the opener of a four-game series.

Indians: Sabathia was effective in victory against the Tigers on Saturday and gets another chance in this rematch with Justin Verlander, which serves as the opener of a four-game series. Sabathia walked just one -- the second-to-last batter he faced -- and gave up six hits and three runs over seven innings in the 6-3 win. The runs Sabathia did give up came on a broken-bat home run, a double-play groundout and a sacrifice fly.


  Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 7:05 PM ET
LAD Mark Hendrickson, LHP (2-2, 3.62)
Dodgers (31-22) 		  @   WSH Micah Bowie, LHP (1-2, 3.91)
Nationals (22-32)

Scouting Report:
Dodgers: Hendrickson dug himself a hole early against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing back-to-back homers to Aramis Ramirez and Mark DeRosain the second inning. His seven home runs allowed leads Dodgers pitchers. The Cubs scored two more in the fourth on four soft hits. Hendrickson is winless in his past four starts with a 6.86 ERA.

Nationals: Bowie will face the Dodgers for the third time in his career. On Friday, Bowie pitched five innings and gave up two runs on four hits against the Cardinals. Bowie was able to pick up his first win as a starter since Sept. 23, 1999, when he was with the Cubs. It was his first overall victory since 2002, when he was a member of the Athletics.


  PNC Park | 7:05 PM ET
SD Greg Maddux, RHP (4-3, 4.20)
Padres (30-22) 		  @   PIT Shawn Chacon, RHP (1-0, 3.38)
Pirates (23-29)

Scouting Report:
Padres: Maddux was the winning pitcher against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, allowing three runs (all earned) on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander shut out the Brewers until the sixth inning, when they scored three runs. Maddux was much improved compared to his previous start last Saturday in Seattle, where he left after 3 2/3 innings.

Pirates: In his first start since being named the team's fifth starter, Chacon proved to be almost as ineffective as Tony Armas, whom he replaced. Chacon lasted just 3 2/3 innings and needed 80 pitches to make it that far. Only 41 of those pitches were thrown for strikes, as Chacon struggled to locate his fastball and issued five walks. Chacon is 3-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 15 career appearances (seven starts) against the Padres.


  Rogers Centre | 7:07 PM ET
CWS Mark Buehrle, LHP (2-1, 3.86)
White Sox (24-25) 		  @   TOR Roy Halladay, RHP (4-2, 4.37)
Blue Jays (25-28)

Scouting Report:
White Sox: Make it five straight starts now for Buehrle without being able to pick up career victory No. 100, as the left-hander earned a no-decision Friday against Tampa Bay. Buehrle allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings, although three of those runs came on Elijah Dukes' game-tying homer with two outs in the seventh. Since beating Kansas City on April 23, Buehrle has one loss and four no-decisions. Buehrle has a 2-1 lifetime record and 3.71 ERA against the Blue Jays and will be matched up against Toronto ace Roy Halladay in the series opener.

Blue Jays: This will be the Toronto ace's first start since undergoing an emergency appendectomy and going on the disabled list. Halladay was originally supposed to be sidelined for four to six weeks, but he makes his comeback nearly three weeks to the day after the surgery. In his last start, on May 10th, Halladay pitched five innings and gave up seven earned runs in a loss to the Red Sox.


  Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
SF Matt Cain, RHP (2-4, 3.23)
Giants (25-27) 		  @   NYM Orlando Hernandez, RHP (2-1, 2.13)
Mets (34-18)

Scouting Report:
Giants: Cain has had a hard time earning wins this season, but he's throwing good games. In his last start, Cain held the Rockies to one hit in the first five innings and exited with the lead in the sixth after allowing two runs but was left with no decision. When Cain faced the Mets earlier this season he allowed four earned runs on 10 hits in seven innings.

Mets: Hernandez, who has been on the disabled list seven times in his career, hopes to be able to make his second straight start in this game after returning from injury on Friday. Hernandez was masterful in throwing six shutout innings against the Marlins. He allowed just two hits and walked none. Better yet, Hernandez reported feeling fine the next day. Of course, Hernandez seems to thrive on pitching in Miami, his offseason home. He's unbeaten there, though this game will be at Shea Stadium.


  Minute Maid Park | 8:05 PM ET
CIN Bronson Arroyo, RHP (2-5, 4.01)
Reds (21-33) 		  @   HOU Woody Williams, RHP (1-7, 5.65)
Astros (21-31)

Scouting Report:
Reds: Arroyo allowed 10 earned runs on nine hits with five walks and two strike outs in three innings spanning the two-inning appearance against the Nationals on May 21 and the first inning of his start against the Pirates on Saturday. He left after four innings Saturday having allowed six earned runs on seven hits with four walks for his second consecutive loss.

Astros: Williams allowed four runs in five innings in his start against the D-backs on Friday in a game the Astros eventually lost, 13-3. Williams faced the minimum nine batters over the first three innings, but fell apart in the fourth as Arizona sent nine men to the plate. Williams was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth after 81 pitches.


  Miller Park | 8:05 PM ET
FLA Wes Obermueller, RHP (1-3, 5.28)
Marlins (26-28) 		  @   MIL Claudio Vargas, RHP (3-1, 4.01)
Brewers (30-24)

Scouting Report:
Marlins: Obermueller's last start was his first speed bump since replacing the injured Ricky Nolasco in Florida's rotation. He allowed eight hits, three walks and seven runs in four innings to take the loss against the Mets. It was the first time in five starts this season that Obermueller allowed more than three earned runs.

Brewers: Vargas was handed his first loss of the season at PETCO Park. The ace was in trouble as soon as the game started. He allowed two runs in the first inning and surrendered a total of four (all earned) on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings against the Padres. Vargas threw 101 pitches.


  Coors Field | 9:05 PM ET
STL Brad Thompson, RHP (3-1, 4.73)
Cardinals (21-29) 		  @   COL Aaron Cook, RHP (4-1, 4.11)
Rockies (25-28)

Scouting Report:
Cardinals: Thompson continues to go deeper into ball games, throwing 96 pitches his last time out against the Nationals. The only problem for Thompson was that 96 pitches only got him through 5 1/3 innings. He admitted after the game he didn't have his best stuff, but he still managed to put together a solid enough start to pick up a victory. The righty will face the Rockies for the second time this season. Thompson made his first start of the year against Colorado on May 8, going five innings and giving up one run on six hits.

Rockies: Mixing all three of his pitches and pitching on an uncomfortable night to hit at AT&T Park, Cook threw the Rockies' first complete game of the season and held the Giants to five hits in a 6-1 victory. Cook has won four straight decisions, two shy of his career high.


  Angel Stadium of Anaheim | 10:05 PM ET
BAL Brian Burres, LHP (2-2, 3.27)
Orioles (26-27) 		  @   LAA Kelvim Escobar, RHP (6-2, 2.64)
Angels (33-21)

Scouting Report:
Orioles: Burres returned to the rotation on Saturday after missing his last scheduled start due to an off-day and pitched a and career-high six innings in a three-hit win over Oakland. He retired the first 10 A's to step to the plate, and Nick Swisher's solo home run in the fourth inning was the only run Burres allowed. His second win of the season was his best performance in three starts since replacing injured Adam Loewen in the starting rotation.

Angels: Using his wide assortment of pitches, including a killer splitter, Escobar tamed the Bronx Bombers on Saturday for seven innings, holding them to one earned run on six hits and one walk while striking out eight. Nearly unhittable in his previous outing at home against the Dodgers -- allowing no runs on three hits over eight innings -- Escobar now has a streak of 21 consecutive scoreless frames at Angel Stadium. He's 12-4 with nine saves and a 3.76 ERA in 33 career games against Baltimore.


  Safeco Field | 10:05 PM ET
TEX Vicente Padilla, RHP (2-7, 5.77)
Rangers (19-34) 		  @   SEA Cha Seung Baek, RHP (2-2, 4.60)
Mariners (25-24)

Scouting Report:
Rangers: Padilla is coming off a loss to the Red Sox on Saturday night, when he yielded five hits, six runs (five earned) and three walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Rangers are 2-9 when Padilla starts. He is 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA with opponents hitting .316 on the road. Earlier this season at Seattle, Padilla went six innings, giving up six hits and six runs (four earned) in a losing effort.

Mariners: Baek is coming off a victory on Saturday over the Royals in which he struck out a career-high seven in seven-plus innings. Baek allowed five hits, all singles, and one unearned run, with no walks, lowering his ERA from 5.50 to 4.60. Baek has pitched at least 6 1/3 innings in five of his seven starts, including a complete-game victory on May 9 at Detroit, giving up just two runs on three hits.