Baseball Tonight 7-26-06

Cuz they don't televise NFL mini-camps.

• Cleveland Indians(44-55 4th AL Central C.C. Sabathia 7-6 3.73) vs. Detroit Tigers (67-33 1st AL Central Justin Verlander 12-4 2.77)-Things are getting quite comfortable in the Motor City as the Tigers have built up their division lead to 7.5 games. Today, they start Justin Verlander, who's 5-0 with a 1.77 ERA in his last 7 starts. The Indians counter with their ace, C.C. Sabathia. With an ERA as low as 3.73, Sabathia has run into some tough luck, getting little help from the bullpen and little run support to only be 7-6. So far, this series has been high scoring. On Monday the Tigers scored 5 in the first inning en route to a 9-7 victory. Last night the Indians scored 7 in the first, and went on to win 12-7. What that means is this afternoon's game will be a 3-1 affair. The Tigers get the three, and the victory. (TV-ESPN 12:05PM Est)
• Los Angeles Dodgers (47-54 5th NL West Brad Penny 10-4 3.23) vs. San Diego Padres (53-47 1st NL West Jake Peavy 4-10 5.15)-The Dodgers have lost 7 in a row and are in danger of knocking themselves out of the NL West race. The Padres have won three in a row since temporarily surrendering the NL West lead to the Giants for a day and are now back out in front. The Dodgers will rely on NL All Star starter Brad Penny to put an end to their slump. Penny lost his last start, but only gave up 2 runs in 6IP in a 2-0 loss to St. Louis. Peavy, meanwhile, has been awful this season. In his last eight starts he's 0-5 with a 6.52 ERA. Still, the Padres have won 7 of 10 with the Dodgers this season, including all 4 games at Chavez Ravine. However, you're only as good as your next starting pitcher, so I'm taking the Dodgers this afternoon. (TV-Local 3:10PM Est.)
• Oakland Athletics (51-49 1st place (t) AL West Danny Haren 6-9 4.02) vs. Boston Red Sox 61-38 1st AL East Kyle Snyder 2-1 7.02)-The Athletics are currently on a 3-game losing streak, and because of it are in danger of falling from first to third place with a loss today. They are tied with the resurgent Angels for first, and only a half game ahead of the Rangers. Haren has been pretty shaky of late, going 0-3 with a 8.47 in his last three starts. The Red Sox counter with Kyle Snyder, who has done pretty well since being acquired from the Kansas City Royals. Though last week the A's roughed Snyder up for 5 runs in 4.2IP. It's incredibly tough to sweep a team, especially at home, and I see the Oakland lineup celebrating the fact that neither Beckett or Schilling are on the mound and simply outscoring the Red Sox today. Taking Oakland in a slugfest. (TV-Local 3:35PM Est.)

Last Night:3-0 (W-Cubs, Twins, Reds)

Season: 15-9

What Else Is On?

• Dazed and Confused (8PM Est. E!)-"That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age." Seriously, Matthew McConaughey IS Wooderson. He didn't even realize they were filming this movie. He just thought he was hangin out.
• America's Got Talent (8PM Est. NBC)-Cuz you need your daily fix of The Hoff!

That's it. TV sucks.