On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.
Oakland Athletics (51-46) at New York Yankees (52-45) - 1:05 PM ET
In case yesterday's Yankee starter Joba Chamberlain needs a role model to help him make a more seamless transition from reliever to starter, he need look no further than across the diamond at today's Oakland starter, Justin Duchscherer. "Duke" is 10-5 with a 1.82 ERA after making the transition, and has been keeping the Athletics in the race even after guys like Rich Harden and Joe Blanton were sent packing. But with Duchscherer looking for a long term deal, could he be the next to go? Just as Duchscherer would be looking to cash in on his best season, Billy Beane may be looking to cash in as well, as Duchscherer is a free agent after this season.
But in the meantime, Duchscherer will try like heck to prevent a Yankee sweep as he goes up against Andy Pettitte.
Milwaukee Brewers (54-43) at San Francisco Giants (40-57) - 4:05 PM ET
Chances are you didn't see it, but Prince Fielder hit a bomb into the water in San Francisco yesterday that went so far that ... if I didn't know any better ... I'd think Prince was eating burgers again. But I'm sure that Prince is finding his protein from other sources (like peanuts). The best part about Prince's home run was Bob Uecker's call saying the home run had sent "the sailboats scurrying" ... and the corresponding video only showed one boat and it barely bothered to move. Now before you think I'm getting on Uecker, I understand that it was a euphemism. Still, it took "juuuuuuust a bit outside" to a new level, and I got a chuckle out of it.
I shudder to think how far Fielder will hit one today if he gets a hold of a Tim Lincecum fastball.
Los Angeles Dodgers (47-50) at Arizona Diamondbacks (48-49) - 4:10 PM ET
The Tigers and Orioles have a combined record one half game better than the combined records of the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. But when those two teams play today, it's a run of the mill game between third and fourth place teams who are a combined 17.5 games out of first place. But life in the N.L. West means that a game between teams that are under .500 qualifies as a titanic struggle for supremacy in the division. Parity is beautiful, and so is today's pitching matchup between Derek Lowe, whose ERA has gone down more than a run in the last month and a half, and Brandon Webb, who's ... y'know, pretty good.
Everyone else:
- Phillies at Marlins 1:10 ET
- Mets at Reds 1:15 ET
- Tigers at Orioles 1:35 ET
- Nationals at Braves 1:35 ET
- Blue Jays at Rays 1:40 ET
- Cubs at Astros 2:05 ET
- Royals at White Sox 2:05 ET
- Rangers at Twins 2:10 ET
- Padres at Cardinals 2:15 ET
- Pirates at Rockies 3:05 ET
- Indians at Mariners 4:10 ET
- Red Sox at Angels 6:05 ET
