Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
That Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins' Opening Day starter, has looked nothing like the 15-game winner he was last year. After Nolasco was pounded for eight runs in two innings by the Rays on Friday night, Nolasco was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans.
''That's not the Ricky Nolasco we saw last season. Before it gets any worse let's try to get him better. Obviously, he is not the same,'' Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.Nolasco is 2-5 with a 9.07 ERA. The Marlins, strapped for pitching, asked Nolasco to make this start on three days' rest. They probably won't do that again.
From the Trainers Room ...
Right-hander Rich Harden was placed on the disabled list for the seventh time in his career, and first with the Cubs. Harden is out with a "mid-back strain." He felt the discomfort during his bullpen session on Wednesday in St. Louis. Harden has been on the DL at least once in five consecutive seasons. The last time he was out with a back problem was in 2006, when he missed about six weeks.
Numbers Game ...
Michael Cuddyer became the second Twins player to hit for the cycle this season, following Jason Kubel, who did it in April. The last time a team had two players hit for the cycle in one season was 2003, when Vladimir Guerrero and Brad Wilkerson each did it for the Expos.
In Their Own Words ...
"I got lucky. I made the right contact and the ball went to the right place." -- Orioles reliever Danys Baez, who came to bat in the 12th inning against the Nationals and picked up his first major league hit on a dribbler that rolled about 30 feet down the third-base line. Baez, who got his hit with two outs and no one on, ended up sparking the winning rally. Brian Roberts and Adam Jones followed with doubles.
Advance Scouting ...
Yes, the A's and Diamondbacks are both buried toward the bottom of their respective divisions, and they'll probably be playing in front of 15,000 people at the Coliseum (9:05 PM, ET), but the starting pitchers will each be facing their former teams. Dan Haren takes the mound for the Diamondbacks while Edgar Gonzalez will make his first start for the A's.
