Starting Five: Rolling With Dice-K

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That Daisuke Matsuzaka has momentum.

The enigmatic Red Sox right-hander who spent three months on the disabled list is 2-0 since returning. He followed up six shutout innings against the Angels earlier this week by allowing three runs over 5 1/3 innings against Baltimore Sunday.

Matsuzaka has a 2.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings in his return, further strengthening his case to be the fourth starter in Boston's playoff rotation when the postseason begins next month and showing how formidable the Red Sox can be when their pitching is rolling.

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"When we throw quality starts we've been in pretty much every game," Boston catcher Jason Vartitek said. "It's a big part of how we win."

The Red Sox went 16-2 against the Orioles this season.

From the Trainer's Room ...
The Phillies' increasingly shallow bullpen could be down another pitcher. Brett Myers has soreness in the back of his right shoulder and will not accompany his club to Florida this week so he can have the injury examined in Philadelphia. Myers indicated to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com that the injury is not serious:

Myers, reached by telephone, said, "I don't think it's real serious. I have some stiffness and tightness and they want me to go get it checked out."

Either way, the Phillies can ill afford to lose another piece of their relief corps.

Numbers Game ...
The Rays beat Roy Halladay for the fourth time this year Sunday, becoming the first team ever to hand that many losses to the Blue Jays ace in one season.

"Beating him four times in your life is tough," said Tampa Bay's Gregg Zaun, who spent five years in Toronto as Halladay's catcher. "Four times in one year is pretty amazing. He's unbelievable. He's by far the best in the game."

In Their Own Words ...
"We needed this one. You play here and the Twins get the first two, they sniff sweep. I've seen it a few times." -- Nate Robertson, who earned his second win of the year to help the Tigers avoid a sweep at the Metrodome. Detroit will now take a three-game -- instead of one-game -- lead over Minnesota into the final two weeks of the season. The Tigers host a four-game set with the Twins from Sept. 28-Oct. 1 that will likely decide the division.

Advance Scouting ...
It could be clinch day in Anaheim Monday, and it's not the Angels who can secure an October berth. The Yankees' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is one, and they'll take their first crack at officially qualifying for the postseason in Orange County. New York and Los Angeles will match left-handers (10:05 PM ET), with Andy Pettitte going for the Bronx Bombers against Joe Saunders for the Halos. Even if they lose, the Yankees could still clinch with a Rangers loss in Oakland. (10:05 PM ET).