Baseball Tonight 7-28-06

Cuz it's Friday, you ain't got no job, and you ain't got shit to do.

• Boston Red Sox (61-39 1st AL East Jon Lester 5-0 3.04) vs. Los Angeles Angels (52-49 2nd AL West Kelvim Escobar 6-9 3.88)-Jon Lester, a rookie lefthander, has yet to lose a game for the Red Sox this season. He's been a huge reason why the Red Sox have been able to hold onto first place in the AL East. Tonight, he goes against one of the hottest teams in baseball, the Angels. The Angels have won 17 of their last 22, and are now within a half game of the Oakland Athletics. The Angels have Kelvim Escobar on the mound who, despite a 3.88ERA, is only 6-9. The Angels still need to add a bat to their lineup. I'm taking the Red Sox tonight. (TV-Local 7:05PM Est.)
• Atlanta Braves (48-53 2nd NL East Horacio Ramirez 5-3 4.04) vs. New York Mets (60-41 1st NL East Pedro Martinez 7-4 3.45)-Tonight is Pedro's first start since his annual midseason vacation. Pedro needed the break after starting the season 5-0, and going 2-4 after. The Mets haven't been playing as well as earlier this season, just avoiding being swept at home by the Cubs. The Braves have cooled off after a 5-0 start after the break, losing 4 of their last 7. Still they are only 5.5 games out of the Wild Card spot, a pretty admirable feat considering their start this year. Tonight I think the rest helps Pedro, and the Mets take the win. (TV-TBS 7:35PM Est.)
• Minnesota Twins (59-41 2nd-t AL Central Francisco Liriano 12-2 1.93) vs. Detroit Tigers (68-33 1st AL Central Zach Miner 6-2 4.07)-MLB's best team faces its hottest team tonight at the Twinkie Dome. Just over a month and a half ago the Twins were written for dead, and now they're a half game out of the AL Wild Card spot. They send their three best to the mound this weekend (Liriano, Radke, Santana) starting with Liriano tonight. The Tigers will go with their own youngster, Zach Miner, who has done an excellent job since being called up to replace Mike Maroth after Maroth was put on the DL. I honestly think the Twins are going to sweep this series. Not only are they playing excellent all around baseball right now, but they're getting all the breaks too. Which of course is what happens when you're going good. Oh, and they're phenomenal at home. Liriano leaves the Tigers lineup shaking their heads tonight. (TV-Local 8:10PM Est.)

Last Night:1-2 (W-Orioles, L-Cardinals Blue Jays)

Season: 18-12