Another good matchup in Boston as Justin Verlander faces Tim Wakefield. Verlander is on a pace to allow about ten home runs over 200 innings. He allowed 21 in 2006 in 186 innings. Wakefield tries to match Dan Haren's performance of last night to reclaim the AL ERA lead. Lefties who make contact against Wakefield are doing a poor job this year, batting just .155 when not striking out.

The Twins find themselves four games back of the second place Indians as the two teams open a series in Cleveland. Ramon Ortiz takes the hill against Paul Byrd. Ortiz, a pitcher with good control during his career, lowered his walk rate to a more Minnesota like one every five innings. His strikeouts, however, are also very low, meaning he's very dependent on the Twins defense. Byrd's even more extreme in his free passes, issuing one every 10 innings.

And in probably the most important start of the night, Felix Hernandez returns to the mound to face Kelvim Escobar. Let's hope this goes better than Liriano's return in 2006. In that one, Francisco needed Tommy John surgery after two innings. So far this season, righties are just 1 for 32 against Hernandez. Escobar is hot in May, allowing just one run in sixteen innings and averaging eight in his two starts.

Enjoy!

Correction: Fixed Verlander's first name.