Much of the attention over the next few days will be focused on the many trade rumours flying around, and possibly the odd actual trade, as the non-waiver wire trading window slams shut on Thursday.  That’s good news as there are only six early games to enjoy this week.  Still, there are plenty of important contests going on at some time or another, not least of which being a four-game series from the top of the NL Central.

Monday 28th July – No early games today.  Of the later matches, there’s no doubt which one stands out the most.  The Cubs face the Brewers at Miller Park from 01.05 with CC Sabathia set to start for Milwaukee.  CC has been perfect so far for his new team, going 4-0 in four starts with a 1.36 ERA, but this is the sort of big game that he was really acquired for. 

Tuesday 29th July – No early games again, but several interesting pitching match-ups.  We have to start with the next installment of the Cubs vs Brewers series (01.05), where Carlos Zambrano takes on the Brewers’ other ace: Ben Sheets.  Elsewhere, John Lackey and the Angels face the Red Sox at Fenway (00.05), and the Rays and the Blue Jays square off with Matt Garza and Roy Halladay set to start (00.07).

Wednesday 30th July – Three early games from the American League today.  We start in Toronto at 17.37 as the Rays and the Blue Jays continue their series with Edwin Jackson and John Parrish being the probable pitchers.  At 18.05, it’s another game from the AL East: the Orioles versus the Yankees.  Finally, we head to Oakland to see Sean Gallagher and the A’s take on Brian Bannister and the Royals.

Thursday 31st July – All eyes will be on the MLB news sites as the trading deadline closes at 21.00.  Most teams will be starting their games after the deadline has passed, but there are two early games today, one each from the AL Central and the NL Central.  The junior circuit should serve up a good contest between two top young pitchers, as Justin Verlander and the Tigers face Fausto Carmona and the Indians at the ballpark formerly known as Jacobs Field (17.05). Two hours later, it’s the finale from the four-game series between the Cubs and the Brewers with Rich Harden, still without a win in a Cubs uniform despite pitching brilliantly since his move from the A’s, expected to take the mound.  Later on (03.10), the D-Backs and the Dodgers begin an important four-game series with Brandon Webb and Derek Lowe scheduled to kick things off.

Friday 1st August - The first day of August and that means two-thirds of the regular season have now passed.  Scary how the season seems to fly by, isn’t it?  Anyway, once again we get to spend a Friday evening in the company of the Cubs.  The Pirates are their opponents, with first pitch scheduled for 19.20.

Five’s Wednesday night show begins at 01.40, while NASN’s MLB schedule for the week can be found here.