Baseball Tonight 7-31-06

Cuz the deadline has passed, so there's nothing else to do.

• Boston Red Sox (62-41 1st AL East David Wells 0-1 8.64) vs. Cleveland Indians (45-58 4th AL Central Paul Byrd 7-6 4.71)-David Wells decided he didn't need a minor league rehab assignment, he's ready to face Major League competition now. Wells has only pitched 8.1 innings this season because of injuries. He faces a Cleveland club he's 20-4 with a 3.52 ERA against in his career. Word is Wells was out drinking all night last night, and has a good hangover going, so there's a possible no-hitter in the works tonight!! Oh wait, no there isn't. Wells will get rocked, and the Indians will win. (TV-ESPN 7:05PM Est.)
• Chicago Cubs (43-61 5th NL Central Mark Prior 0-4 6.60) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (53-51 2nd NL West Brandon Webb 11-4 2.64)-The Cubs just swept the St. Louis Cardinals in a 4 game series. Unfortunately for the Cubs, the Cardinals have now left town, and they will probably return to their losing form. They also traded Todd Walker and Greg Maddux today. They do have Mark Prior going to the mound tonight, who was pulled from a game last week in which he had a no-hitter going against the Mets. So maybe Mark is finally turning things around. The Diamondbacks send out NL Cy Young front runner Brandon Webb to stop the Cubs run. Webb was knocked around a bit by Philadelphia on Wednesday, but is 3-0 with a 1.88ERA against the Cubs in his career. I'm taking the D-Backs tonight. (TV-Local 8:05PM Est.)
• Los Angeles Angels (54-50 2nd AL West Ervin Santana 11-4 4.25) vs. Oakland Athletics (55-50 1st AL West Dan Haren 7-9 3.89)-The AL West has become the closest division in baseball, with the last place Mariners only 3.5 games back. This series in Anaheim will have big implications as to which team will go to the playoffs, as Oakland holds the narrowest of margins over the Angels right now. The Angels roughed up Curt Schilling and the Red Sox last night on ESPN,and took 2 of 3, but failed to add a Miguel Tejada or Alfonso Soriano today. Still they have been playing very well lately and send one of their best pitchers to the mound tonight. The A's won yesterday's game against the Blue Jays thanks to a three run homer by Milton Bradley in the bottom of the ninth after Huston Street blew a save in the top of the ninth. I think tonight will be a low scoring game with the Angels just edging out Oakland and taking over first place....for now. (TV-Local 10:05PM Est.)

Last Night:0-3 (L-White Sox, Tigers, Cardinals)

Season:20-19