On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups
Los Angeles Angels (24-17) vs. Chicago White Sox (18-20) - 10:05PM Est.
While most of the world knows John Lackey as our very own Pat Lackey's older, harder-throwing, better-smelling, and much smarter estranged brother, he's better known in southern California as the ace of the Angels pitching staff (Pat , on the other hand, was turned down by the Angels when he applied to become the new rally monkey).
Lackey won 19 games for the Angels last season, and helped lead them to another AL West division crown, but he hasn't been available to the team at all this season. Of course, his absence hasn't done much to keep the Angels out of first place out west.
Now, with his return today, the Angels have become even stronger.
Lackey has been out since March 21st with a strained right triceps, and after a couple of rehab starts in the minors, he's finally ready to return to the big leagues tonight. The Angels offense hasn't exactly been lighting up the scoreboard lately, so he's going to have to keep the White Sox lineup in check (which shouldn't be that hard to do) for as long as he can tonight.
I'm not sure what kind of pitch count, if any, Lackey will be working under in his first start of the season, but he is 3-4 with a 4.30 ERA in nine starts against Chicago.
The White Sox will counter with Jose Contreras, as they try to snap a three-game skid after winning four of the previous five. Contreras has pitched surprisingly well for the White Sox this season, as he's only 3-3, but has been the victim of a lineup that can't score runs. The biggest difference for Contreras this season compared to others, is that he's allowed only 2 home runs in 46.2 innings. He's never given up less than 20 in a season, so that means he's either going to set a career low this season, or the Angels are going to hit seven tonight.
Tampa Bay Rays (23-16) vs. New York Yankees (19-21) - 7:10PM Est.
With the Marlins following their seven-game win streak up with two straight losses, that means the Tampa Bay Rays have become the hottest team in baseball. The Rays have won their last six games, and are now the proud owners of the best record in the American League.
More importantly to the team, I'm sure, is that they've now been featured in an On Deck more times in the first month and a half of this season than they were all of last season. Be proud of yourself, Tampa. You've earned it.
While a lot of folks thought the Rays would be better this season, I don't think any of them thought that they'd be this good. The biggest surprise for me has been the way the Rays have played against their division, as they're currently the only team in the AL East with a winning record against the division at 17-11 (those 28 games are also about 10 more than any other team in the division has played).
They're 4-4 against the Yankees this season, and James Shields will look to make that 5-4 tonight. Unfortunately, James is 0-5 with a 7.80 ERA in his career against New York. Mike Mussina goes for the Yankees, and he's won his last four starts to rebound from a very bad start to the season.
Philadelphia Phillies (22-18) vs. Atlanta Braves (19-19) - ESPN - 7:05PM Est.
Tom Glavine has 242 wins in his career as a member of the Atlanta Braves. That's a lot of damn wins, but none of them have come this season, as Glavine is still searching for that first victory since returning to Atlanta this season. It's not all his fault, though, as he's pitched pretty well this season but only has an 0-1 record to show for it.
The good news for Tom is that the Phillies have always been a team he hasn't had trouble picking up victories against. He's 28-17 against them in 64 career starts (that's a lot of starts), and went 2-0 against them in five starts as a Met last season.
The Phillies will send Brett Myers to the mound, and he would like to break out of a funk as well. Myers gave up six runs in 5 innings in his last start, and is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his last four. He's 4-6 with a 4.16 ERA in his career against Atlanta.
Everybody Else
- Rangers vs. Mariners 2:05PM
- Orioles vs. Red Sox 3:05PM
- Indians vs. A's 7:05PM
- Reds vs. Marlins 7:10PM
- Mets vs. Nationals 7:10PM
- Brewers vs. Dodgers 8:05PM
- Cubs vs. Padres 8:05PM
- Royals vs. Tigers 8:10PM
- Twins vs. Blue Jays 8:10PM
- Cardinals vs. Pirates 8:15PM
- Diamondbacks vs. Rockies 9:40PM
- Giants vs. Astros 10:15PM
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