Baseball Tonight 8-30-06

Only Mother Nature could keep the Tigers from losing their grip on the AL Central last night - and me from a 2-1 evening.

• Oakland Athletics (76-56 1st AL West Barry Zito 14-8 3.64) vs. What's Left of the Boston Red Sox (71-61 2nd AL East Curt Schilling 14-6 3.95)-Oakland goes for the sweep today over the Red Sox, who will be without David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Wily Mo Pena and David Wells. Wells is reportedly about to be traded, not something a team that considers itself in the hunt would do, especially when their biggest problem is pitching. Schilling takes the mound tonight just one strikeout shy of 3,000 in his career. Hopefully that milestone will be enough for him tonight, as I don't expect the makeshift Red Sox lineup to give him much support against Zito. Take Oakland. (3:35PM Est.)
• Arizona Diamondbacks (64-68 4th NL West Claudio Vargas 10-8 5.14) vs. San Diego Padres (67-65 2nd NL West Mike Thompson 3-5 5.07)-Well, last night the Padres were able to finally pass the Reds for the Wild Card lead. Tonight they start the process of trying to hold onto it. Rookie Mike Thompson takes the mound; he hasn't won a game since June 20th. The Padres are also one of the likely destinations for the aforementioned David Wells. They could use him this afternoon, cuz I'm taking Arizona. (6:40PM Est.)
• Minnesota Twins (76-54 3rd AL Central Boof Bonser 3-4 5.18) vs. Kansas City Royals (48-85 5th AL Central Luke Hudson 6-5 5.94)-The Twins weren't able to hold onto the Wild Card lead for long, losing 2-0 last night at home to the lowly Royals. The Twins' red hot bats of last week have cooled considered; they've managed only 1 run in their last two games. But there is hope: Luke Hudson has been rocked in his last 2 road starts. Something tells me the Piranhas get their fill tonight. Taking the Twinkies. (8:10PM Est.)

Yesterday: 1-1 (W-Oakland L-Angels)

Season: 64-55