With Bobby Valentine’s interview on hold, the Marlins host the Padres with Mat Latos facing Anibal Sanchez. Latos has pitched nearly 36 more innings than last season, but is one walk short of his 2009 total. His lower walk rate combined with a higher strikeout rate brought his ERA down from 4.62 to 2.93. Sanchez is 1 1/3 innings over his 2009 total, with six fewer home runs and 15 fewer walks.

The White Sox go for their 12th straight win. Their last 12 game winning streak came in 1961. Ryan Dempster and the Cubs try to stop it as John Danks attempts to keep it going. Dempster has not pitched well in day games this season, a poor split to have if you twirl for the Cubs. He’s 1-4 with a 4.83 ERA under the sun, while posting a 2.17 ERA at night. Nine of his 14 home runs allowed came during the day, so watch to see if the White Sox take him deep. Danks is the opposite, with a 2.31 day ERA, and only one of his six home runs came in afternoon games.

There are three game pitching matchups late, starting with Jon Lester against Tim Lincecum in San Francisco. Since the start of the 2008 season, Tim and Jon rank 1st and 3rd respectively in winning percentage among pitchers with 40 decisions. Over that time, Tim owns a higher strikeout rate, but Jon is catching up as over the last two seasons he’ struck out more than a batter an inning. Lester holds a higher ERA, but he doesn’t have the run support issues of Lincecum, either.

Roy Oswalt takes on Tommy Hunter as the battle of Texas concludes. Roy is 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA on the road this season, which should look very attractive to teams in pitchers parks who might wish to acquire the ace. Hunter has three quality starts in four outings since returning from the disabled list, and allowed just one home run in his 23 1/3 innings of work.

Finally, Andy Pettitte faces Clayton Kershaw as the Yankees and Dodgers play the rubber game of their series. Pettitte pitched the best two year stretch of his career when Torre took over the Yankees. This season, if he can keep up the pace, should prove to be the best of his career in terms of ERA and quite possibly wins. Kershaw should have been a prime Verducci Effect candidate, but so far, so good as the Dodgers seem to be limiting him to about six innings a start.

Enjoy!