Rain Delay Thursday

I've been patiently awaiting the start of the US Open since the Masters in April. I got up at 10, turned on ESPN for the start of their live coverage, and was only allowed to suffer for 20 minutes of Chris Berman announcing golf before Mother Nature decided that listening to Boomer call yet another sporting event was 'cruel and unusual punishment'.

Anyways there is baseball to be played so lets take a look at some of the highlights that could be...

I am obligated to start with the first game of the day...Braves v. Reds, which features Tommy Hanson's 3rd career start pitching against Matt Maloney who is also making his 3rd career big league start. Hanson's second start was better than his first (which was a 7 run (6 earned) which feaured 3 home runs against the BrewCrew, to be fair he had a perfect first 3 innings. Maloney on the other hand was the victim of bad luck in his second start, when his Reds were rendered importent against former #1 overall pick Luke Hochevar who needed just 80 pitches to complete the game. Hanson has the stuff of an ace while Maloney, called up to fill in for the injured Edinson Volquez, has solid AAA numbers this season..4-3 2.00 ERA 67.1 IP 58 K's 9 BB's with a 1.03 WHIP. Should be a good game between two good young pitchers.

There is a good duel going on in Minnesota today, with the Pirates Zach Duke (7-4) faces off against Nick Blackburn(5-2) and the Twins. Duke is 10th is ERA+ (132) and is putting together a decent year, even though he doesnt strike out many batters (4.5/9 innings), he doesnt walk many (2.032/9 innings which is 5th in the NL) and he is more a ground ball pitcher than a flyball pitcher. Blackurn has also put up a very nice start to the season with a 3.31 ERA (125 ERA+) and is essentially a very similar pitcher to Duke. He doesnt strike out many, only 3.9/9 innings, but he walks only a handful (2.6/9 innings). He was 5th in the AL last year in walks allowed per 9 innings. Should be a good control pitchers duel.

The last game the has my interest in terms of pitching duels is a late game, Dodgers v. Athletics. This features the surprising Vin Mazzaro and Randy Wolf. Mazzaro started his MLB career with 17 2/3 scoreless innings, and after 3 starts has given up only 3 runs in 19 2/3 innings, while striling out 9 and walking 5. His whip is .966 and his ERA+ is a whopping 301. It might have something to do with that 96 mph 2-seamer he has. Randy Wolf has not put up the same numbers as Mazzaro, but he certainly has not disapointed in LA this season, going 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA while stiking out 6.8/9 and walking only 2.5/9. Should be another fun pitches duel at a nice little pitchers park out in LA.

Other games to keep an eye on...

The Red Sox go for a sweep by sending Jon Lester to the mound to face the dissapointing Ricky Nolasco.

North Side v. South Side at 2:20 ET when the Pale Hose send Gavin Floyd to the mound to face off against Carlos Zambrano and the Cubbies.

The two streaking teams of each league as the Rays send Matt Garza to the mound to face off against Ubaldo Jimenez and the Rockies out at Coors Field.

Enjoy!