On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.
Philadelphia Phillies (41-29) at St. Louis Cardinals (41-29) - 2:15 PM ET
Sometimes the best matchup of the day is so obvious that it smacks you in the face. The Phils and Cards are that matchup. Sure, it helps when it's at the top of the scoreboard because it's the only N.L. game of the bunch. But with both teams being 41-29 (the Phillies are four games in first place yet the Cardinals are three and a half behind first if you can believe that), and with the series going the way it is (the Phillies winning 20-2 the first game while the Cardinals come back to win a pitcher's duel one day later), this is definitely the game of the day. It's the game of the day even if today's starter Brett Myers has stunk up the joint this season.
Texas Rangers (34-35) at New York Mets (32-34) - 1:10 PM ET Doubleheader
Two games are always better than one, so this twinbill makes the cut. And it will be interesting to see how tired some of the Rangers will be after using the tarp as a slip n' slide during Saturday night's rainout. But the big question continues to be the day-to-day job status of Willie Randolph. If the Mets somehow get swept by the Rangers in today's DH, will Randolph even make the roadtrip to Anaheim and Colorado? As ridiculous as a day to day re-evaluation of someone's job seems, that's life in the big city.
Boston Red Sox (43-28) at Cincinnati Reds (33-37) - 1:15 PM ET
Other than the pitching duel between Josh Beckett and Homer Bailey, I want to see if any players demand that any home run balls that Ken Griffey Jr. may hit today be returned to Griffey for free. Most likely, nobody will care about these baseballs, but some are suggesting the guy who caught Griffey's 600th "do the right thing" and give the ball to Griffey, including Marlins outfielder Luis Gonzalez. Because heaven forbid anybody else besides players and owners make money off baseball. Tell you what: when a player listens to a fan who asks him to fore go extra millions to stay in the city he's been playing in instead of going to a new town as a free agent, then I'll expect fans to give away milestone home run balls to the players who hit them. Until then ...
Everyone else:
- Dodgers at Tigers 1:05 ET
- Padres at Indians 1:05 ET
- Cubs at Blue Jays 1:07 ET
- Pirates at Orioles 1:35 ET
- Marlins at Rays 1:40 ET
- Twins at Brewers 2:05 ET
- Yankees at Astros 2:05 ET
- Rockies at White Sox 2:05 ET
- Athletics at Giants 4:05 ET
- Royals at Diamondbacks 4:10 ET
- Nationals at Mariners 4:10 ET
- Braves at Angels 8:05 ET
