Three early games games tonight offer not only good pitching but also impact three AL races, the East, Central and Wild Card. The Red Sox start us off with a visit to Baltimore as Dice-K Matsuzaka takes on Eri-K Bedard. The two rank 1-5 in the AL in strikesouts, and with the number of Red Sox fans who usually travel to Baltimore for games, I'm sure competing K signs will be out tonight. The Orioles won each of Bedard's last nine starts.

In what could be a matchup we'll be seeing for years to come, Phil Hughes takes the Yankees to Cleveland to face Fausto Carmona. Hughes is making his fourth ML start. He was hit a bit in his first and third, but his second was great. And despite an ERA over 5.00 at the moment, his strikeouts, walks and home run numbers are all good. For some reason, Carmona's pitched much better in day games, so that might work to the Yankees advantage.

Then in Detroit, Oakland comes to town with Joe Blanton opposing Jordan Tata. Tata has not produced a 'tater in his twelve innings pitched. Detroit knocked Joe around the only time they faced him this year, scoring five runs on nine hits.

The NL East also produces a good matchup as the Braves visit the Phillies and Chuck James faces Cole Hamels. James allowed twenty home runs so far, but seventeen came with the bases empty, helping keep his ERA under 4.00. Hamels has the same MO, twenty four home runs allowed, twenty with the bases empty. One difference, however, is that Hamels does a better job of keeping runners off base to begin with, while James is tougher once runners each base, especially in scoring position.

Finally, in what only can be described as the ultimate "veteran presence" game, Matt Morris returns to San Francisco to face the Giants and Russ Ortiz. I thought Russ was dead, but it was just a strained right forearm. If this game doesn't end 13-12, it's only because the two offenses are so poor they can't even hit the slow, straight stuff.

Enjoy!