It’s a slow start to the week for early games as all of the contests on Monday and Tuesday will be played under lights.\u00c2\u00a0 However, Wednesday comes to our rescue for the second week in a row with a host of very promising pitching match-ups.\u00c2\u00a0 We then have two early games on Thursday before the Marlins and the Cubs start the Bank Holiday weekend off in style on Friday.\u00c2\u00a0 All times are listed in British Summer Time.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Technical note: I like to include the pitching match-ups in the\u00c2\u00a0guide, but they can change\u00c2\u00a0in between publication and the game being played. Every now and then we also get a bonus day game or two on account of a night game being rained out and then made up the following day as part of a double-header (as happened last week with the Twins and Red Sox).\u00c2\u00a0 I’ve tried\u00c2\u00a0updating the main text in the past but this gets a bit fiddly, so last week I added any changes into the comments box and that seemed to work quite well.<\/em><\/p>\n Treat this as a guide to how the week ahead looks on Monday morning and then check the comments for any updates as the week progresses.<\/em><\/p>\n Monday 27<\/strong><\/p>\n There are no early games, but there are plenty of aces toeing the rubber later on.\u00c2\u00a0 Reigning AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee hasn’t had a great start to the season (1-3), but maybe a game against the red hot Red Sox will bring out the best in him. Sabathia matches up against Justin Verlander as the Yankees head to Detroit, while Dutch pitcher Shairon Martis tries to improve his record to 3-0 as the Nationals face the Phillies. All three games begin at five past midnight.\u00c2\u00a0 Elsewhere, Oswalt and Cueto are the scheduled pitchers for the Astros-Reds game (00.10) and the Dodgers rekindle their rivalry with the Giants (03.15).<\/p>\n Tuesday 28<\/strong><\/p>\n We draw a blank again tomorrow.\u00c2\u00a0 In the later games, Cole Hamels returns to the mound after leaving his previous start early due to being hit on the arm by a come-backer. He takes on John Lannan and the Nationals (00.05).\u00c2\u00a0 It should be a cracker between the Cubs and the D-Backs at Chase Field as Carlos Zambrano and Dan Haren take the mound (02.40), while Chad Billingsley goes for win number five on the season against the Giants (03.15).<\/p>\n Wednesday 29<\/strong><\/p>\n 17.35. Angels @ Orioles – Palmer (1-0), Uehara (2-1) Live baseball at last and we have several exciting pitching match-ups with starters coming off excellent outings. The Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo pitched his first ever complete game against the Astros last Friday.\u00c2\u00a0 Josh Johnson shut down the Phillies’ offense over seven innings the same night, but saw his hard work go to waste thanks to the Marins’ ‘closer’: Matt Lindstrom.\u00c2\u00a0 He will hope for more support against the Mets and he may well need it as Johan Santana struck out ten in his last start against the Nationals.\u00c2\u00a0 Meanwhile the White Sox will be weary of Erik Bedard, who has looked very impressive so far this season.<\/p>\n Thursday 30<\/strong><\/p>\n 19.05. A’s @ Rangers – Braden (2-2), Feldman (1-0) We’ve got two games from the American League on Thursday.\u00c2\u00a0 Dallas Braden is the A’s number one pitcher, although that’s really by default.\u00c2\u00a0 Still he picked up a win last time out against the Rays, helping Oakland to snap a five-game losing streak.\u00c2\u00a0 Scott Feldman found life as a reliever to be a strain.\u00c2\u00a0 The Rangers are hoping he’s better suited to starting.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n As for the Blue Jays and the Royals, Kyle Davies pitched quite well over his first three starts before being tagged for eight runs by the Tigers on Saturday.\u00c2\u00a0 Burres\u00c2\u00a0should his second start of the season for Toronto.<\/p>\n Friday 1<\/strong><\/p>\n 19.20. Marlins @ Cubs – Taylor (0-1), Harden (2-1)<\/p>\n The first day of May brings us a day game from Wrigley.\u00c2\u00a0 The starters should be Graham Taylor and Rich Harden. Taylor lasted just 3.2 innings in his Major League debut last Saturday against the Phillies.\u00c2\u00a0 When healthy, Harden is one of the most exciting pitchers to watch in the Majors, so fingers crossed he’s on top form for this one.<\/p>\n
\n18.05. Pirates @ Brewers – Snell (1-2), Gallardo (2-1)
\n18.10. Marlins @ Mets – Johnson (2-0), Santana (3-1)
\n19.05. Mariners @ White Sox – Bedard (2-1), Floyd (2-2)
\n20.10. Padres @ Rockies – Correia (0-1), Cook (0-1)
\n20.40. Cubs @ D-Backs – Dempster (1-0), Davis (1-3)<\/p>\n
\n19.10. Blue Jays @ Royals – Burres (0-1), Davies (1-1)<\/p>\n