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LA Angels (67-40) at NY Yankees (59-48), 4:05 p.m.

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim put all of baseball on notice with the acquisition of first baseman Mark Teixeira. One day later, the New York Yankees made a statement of their own, replacing the injured Jorge Posada with another potential Hall of Fame-caliber catcher in Ivan Rodriguez. The Yankees expect Rodriguez to make his debut on Thursday when they host the first game of a four-game set with the Angels. New York reacted quickly after Posada's season-ending shoulder surgery, trading reliever Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit in exchange for the 14-time All-Star backstop. "(Rodriguez) is a significant upgrade with all due respect to who we got," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "How it works out all remains to be seen, but he's having a good year and we're excited to have the opportunity to believe that we addressed an important area of need." The Yankees fared quite well without Rodriguez in the lineup on Wednesday, avoiding a three-game sweep with a 13-3 rout of Baltimore. They'll look for a repeat against Jon Garland (9-6, 4.30 ERA), who overcame a poor outing in Saturday's 11-6 victory over Baltimore to get the win despite surrendering five runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Anaheim dealt first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steve Marek to Atlanta to acquire Teixeira, who made his debut in Wednesday's 9-2 three-game series-sweeping win over the Red Sox. Teixeira drew a walk but went hitless in four at-bats, but it did not matter as the Angels won for the 10th time in 12 games after the All-Star break. "I'm very excited," Teixeira said. "If you ever get traded, you want to get traded to a team that has a chance to win it all. This is a great team here - great pitching, great defense and timely hitting. This team knows how to win and I'm happy to be a part of it." Andy Pettitte (12-7, 3.76) will be the latest pitcher trying to derail an Angels offense that has scored 80 runs since the break, something he may able to do if he can emulate his last two outings. After holding Oakland to one run and striking out nine on July 20, the lefthander yielded three runs - one earned - and five hits with seven strikeouts in the Yankees' 10-3 over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Arizona (55-52) at LA Dodgers (54-53), 7:10 p.m.

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to pull even atop the National League West Division on Thursday when they open a crucial four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers managed to get back above .500 for the first time since May 27 on Wednesday, claiming a 4-0 victory against the San Francisco Giants as Chad Billingsley earned his first career shutout. The win was the ninth in the last 13 games for Los Angeles, which has held opponents scoreless in four of five contests. The Dodgers have a good chance of continuing their success against the Diamondbacks, who own one of the worst offenses in baseball. Despite holding a one-game lead in the NL West, Arizona ranks near the bottom of the NL in a number of offensive categories, including batting average (13th), home runs (12th) and runs (ninth). But, the Diamondbacks have won five of their last six, outscoring the opposition 37-18 over that span. Staff ace Brandon Webb looks to keep Arizona atop the division. Webb (14-4, 3.14 ERA), who is tied with three others for the major league-lead in wins, earned his third straight victory on Saturday. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner surrendered three runs and four hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out eight en route to a 5-3 victory over the Giants. Derek Lowe (8-8, 3.74) goes for his fourth consecutive win for the Dodgers. Lowe enters the game after his best start, eight scoreless innings, yielding one hit and one walk while striking out four during Saturday's 6-0 victory against the Washington Nationals.

Report: Red Sox Trade Ramirez to Dodgers

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox apparently grew tired of Manny being Manny. The Red Sox traded disgruntled slugger Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team deal completed minutes prior to Thursday's non-waiver deadline, according to a report posted by si.com.

The trade initially was reported by NESN, the Red Sox television station, which stated that Boston received Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay in the deal. The Red Sox have yet to confirm the trade. According to NESN, the Pirates received reliever Craig Hansen and outfielder Brandon Moss from the Red Sox. Pittsburgh also acquired third baseman Andy LaRoche and minor-league pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.

The reported deal came one day after Ramirez criticized the Red Sox in an interview with ESPNDeportes, claiming that he has been mistreated by the defending World Series champs. Ramirez, 36, is batting .299 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI. The 29-year-old Bay will be counted on to fill the power void left by Ramirez in Boston's lineup. Bay is batting .282 with 22 homers and 64 RBI.

"If it's Boston or wherever it might be, that's the silver lining, a little bit of sweet," Bay said Wednesday night. "At this time of year, I would definitely like to be part of that atmosphere."

SoCal MLB Preview

LA Angels (66-40) at Boston (61-47), 4:05 pm

BOSTON (Ticker) -- A day after acquiring slugger Mark Teixeira, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will try to sweep the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday at Fenway Park. Teixeira, who is batting .283 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI, is expected to make his debut with the Angels and bat cleanup behind Vladimir Guerrero. The owners of the best record in the major leagues, the Angels traded first baseman Casey Kotchman and prospect righthander Steve Malek to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday with hopes the two-time Gold Glove winner will propel them to play deep into October. In the first two games against the Red Sox, Anaheim looked like a legitimate championship contender. On Monday, it posted a 7-5 triumph and Tuesday was even more impressive as John Lackey took a no-hitter into the ninth - before surrendering two hits and two runs - en route to a 6-2 win. Boston will turn to ace Josh Beckett (9-7, 3.83 ERA) to erase the possibility of falling three games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (62-44). Beckett faced the Angels on July 19 and was on the losing end of a 4-2 bout. The 28-year-old righthander tossed eight innings on the road, allowing four runs and nine hits while striking out six. Joe Saunders (13-5, 3.10) threw 6 2/3 innings that game, allowing two runs and six hits, but didn't factor in the decision. Saunders, a first-time All-Star, has held opponents to three or less runs in nine of his last 10 starts and is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts against the Red Sox. Anaheim swept Boston in a three-game set in the first series of the second half, enjoying a 20-8 run advantage.

San Francisco (44-62) at LA Dodgers (53-53), 7:10 p.m.

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have surged into contention in the National League West Division on the strength of their pitching. Righthander Chad Billingsley (10-9, 3.26 ERA) tries to lead the Dodgers to their fifth win in six games on Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. Los Angeles enters the series finale one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West thanks to a staff, which ranks first in the NL and third in the majors with a 3.72 ERA and has held opponents scoreless in three of their last four games. Billingsley, who ranks third in the NL with 137 strikeouts, has also been a huge part of the success of the rotation, winning six of his last eight starts while surrendering two runs or fewer five times over that span. The 24-year-old allowed two runs and five hits in 7 2/3 innings, walking three while striking out four en route to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday. Jonathan Sanchez (8-6, 4.46) tries to end a dismal stretch . Sanchez has yet to post a victory in July after winning five of his six starts in June. The 25-year-old lefthander is 0-2 with an 8.47 ERA this month as the Giants have dropped each of his last four outings.

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LA Angels (65-40) at Boston (61-46), 4:05 pm

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Oddly enough, John Lackey's best start this month came against the Boston Red Sox. Lackey takes the hill Tuesday for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looking to duplicate his rare success against Boston in the middle-game of a three-game series. Lackey (8-2, 3.02 ERA) returned from a six-week stint on the disabled list in June and went 6-1 with a 1.44 ERA, but has struggled since. The Angels' ace has won two straight starts, but has a 7.61 ERA in four outings this month. Ironically, Lackey's best effort came against the Red Sox, who have owned him throughout his career. He allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings of an 11-3 win over Boston on July 18 to improve to 2-6 with a 6.01 ERA in 12 starts vs. the Red Sox. While Lackey has struggled against Boston, his team has not. Casey Kotchman and Torii Hunter each homered during a six-run sixth innings as the Angels posted a 7-5 victory on Monday. Anaheim has won six of the seven meetings between the teams and has the best record in all of baseball, prompting Red Sox manager Terry Francona to say, "They might be the class of the American League right now." Clay Buchholz (2-5, 5.81), who opposed Lackey in the last meeting, takes the hill for Boston and is looking to snap a personal three-game skid. Buchholz, who was recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket on July 11, is seeking his first win since May 7. On Wednesday, the 23-year-old righthander allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-3 loss to Seattle.

San Francisco (44-61) at LA Dodgers (52-53), 7:10 p.m.

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The San Francisco Giants got their offense back on track just in time to avoid a fourth straight loss. The Giants look to continue the hit parade on Tuesday when they continue their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Francisco entered Monday's series opener after scoring just eight runs over its previous four games. However, the Giants nearly equaled that number against the Dodgers, who had not allowed a single run in its previous 19 1.3 innings, forging a 7-6 victory to end the Dodgers' three-game winning streak. Fred Lewis, Jose Castillo and starter Kevin Correia all had two RBI for the Giants, who struck for five runs in the fourth inning to forge a 7-0 lead. The Dodgers narrowed the deficit to one before San Francisco's bullpen slammed the door with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, capped by closer Brian Wilson's 28th save of the season. Matt Cain (6-8, 3.82 ERA) tries to continue the strong pitching when he takes the mound for the Giants on Tuesday. Cain snapped a two-game personal losing streak during his last start, registering his first shutout of 2008 during Thursday's 1-0 victory against the Nationals. The 23-year-old righthander allowed just four hits while striking out four without yielding a walk. Jason Johnson (0-0, 2.57) makes his first start of the season when he counters for the Dodgers. The 34-year-old journeyman has surrendered two runs and five hits in seven innings during a pair of relief appearances since being recalled from Class AAA Las Vegas on July 19. Johnson took the roster spot of Takashi Saito after the closer was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 18 with a right elbow sprain.

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LA Angels (64-39) at Baltimore (48-55), 10:35 am

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Orioles aim to snap a 16-game Sunday losing streak when they wrap up a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Orioles, who have lost six straight overall, have not won on Sunday since April 6. Baltimore has a ways to go before reaching the major-league record of 21 straight losses on a specific day. The 1939 St. Louis Browns and 1890 Pittsburgh Innocents both did it on Tuesdays. The Orioles are having trouble winning no matter what day it is, and Garrett Olson (6-5, 6.11 ERA) is not the ideal candidate to put an end to both their streaks. The lefthander 1-4 with an 8.62 ERA in his last eight games and has not won since June 28. Olson isn't the only Baltimore starter struggling. Orioles starters have an ERA of 10.23 during their current five-game skid. On Saturday, rookie Radhames Liz was rocked for six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 11-4 loss. Los Angeles, which has won four straight, hands the ball to Ervin Santana (11-4, 3.37)., who seems to have solved his road woes, as he is 8-1 with a 3.44 ERA in 12 starts away from Angel Stadium this season. Last season, the righthander went 1-10 with an 8.38 ERA on the road.

Washington (38-66) at LA Dodgers (51-52), 1:10 pm

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Casey Blake already is having an effect on the Los Angeles Dodgers' slumping offense. Blake will try and help the Dodgers complete three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals on Sunday. The 34-year-old third baseman was acquired from Cleveland on Saturday for a pair of prospects and had two hits and scored a run in his debut, a 6-0 win. Derek Lowe tossed eight dominant innings and Matt Kemp homered for the Dodgers, who nearly matched their offensive output from the previous three games. Blake was leading Cleveland with a .289 average and 58 RBI prior to the trade. The veteran was acquired to spark an offense that ranks 24th in baseball in runs scored with 435. While the Dodgers have struggled to score, they are nowhere as bad as the Nationals. Washington was held to two hits on Saturday, and is last in baseball with 388 runs. That bodes well for rookie lefthander Clayton Kershaw (0-3, 5.18 ERA), who was knocked around on Tuesday after being recalled from Class AAA Las Vegas. The seventh overall pick of the 2006 draft, Kershaw allowed five runs and 10 hits in three innings of a 10-1 loss to Colorado on Tuesday. Washington, which has lost eight straight here, counters with Jason Bergmann (1-7, 4.21). Bergman is 0-6 with a 3.26 ERA in his last 11 starts. The Nationals have lost 15 of 19 and are owners of the worst record in baseball.

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LA Angels (63-39) at Baltimore (48-54), 4:05 pm

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim keep rolling while the Baltimore Orioles' surprising first half success has caught up to them. The Angels, who own the best record in the majors, take on the struggling Orioles on Saturday with hopes of winning their seventh game in eight tries during the second half. Juan Rivera and Casey Kotchman homered to lead the Angels to a 6-5 victory on Friday, but it wasn't easy. All-Star Joe Saunders threw well until he hit a wall in the seventh and closer Francisco Rodriguez nearly failed to notch his 43rd save. The Orioles lost their fourth game in a row and have fallen into the American League East Division's basement by 3 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays. Jon Garland (8-6, 4.12 ERA) will take the mound for Anaheim with his sights set on improving to 4-0 in seven starts against AL East opponents. Garland is coming off a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox in which he surrendered three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Baltimore will counter with Radhames Liz (4-2, 7.19), who beat the Blue Jays on Monday and will try to erase an awful outing on Friday by starter Brian Burres. Burres recorded five outs in a 6-5 loss to the Angels, a decision that marked the fifth time in his last 11 starts that he's allowed at least two home runs. The southpaw's ERA has gone up by more than two runs (from 3.16 to 5.37) over that span, and he's logged an ERA over 6.00 in each of the last two months (7.20 in June and 6.75 thus far through July). Burres also marked the seventh straight outing that an Oriole starter has been pulled before completing six innings. Melvin Mora hopes to get back on his his recent tear. Mora was 9-for-17 over four games before going 0-for-4 on Friday.

Washington (38-65) at Los Angeles (50-52), 7:10 p.m.

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers rotation has had no trouble against one of the worst offenses in the majors. The Dodgers look to continue that trend on Saturday when they resume their home series against the Washington Nationals. Chad Billingsley allowed just two runs in 7 2/3 innings on Friday, helping the Dodgers claim a 3-2 victory over the Nationals and lower the team's National League-leading ERA to 3.79 this season. Billingsley had no problem shutting down the Nationals lowly offense, which ranks last in the majors this campaign with 388 runs and a dismal .243 batting average. Derek Lowe (7-8, 3.97 ERA) tries to keep Washington in check and help Los Angeles claim its eighth straight home victory against the Nationals when he takes the mound on Saturday. Lowe, who has won all four career starts against Washington, has won each of his last two decisions but allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings on Sunday. The veteran righthander walked three and struck out six, but did not factor in the decision during a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Odalis Perez (3-7, 3.99) faces his former team when he counters for the Nationals. Perez, who was a member of the Dodgers for parts of five seasons beginning in 2002, snapped a personal three-game losing streak despite surrendering five runs and nine hits in five innings during Washington's 15-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

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Los Angeles (62-39) at Baltimore (48-52), 4:05 p.m.

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim own the largest division lead in the majors and their advantage seems to growing by the game. The Angels look to continue their strong play on the road when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. Anaheim, which owns a 10-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West, has won consecutive games and seven of eight. While this contest opens a 10-game road trip, the Angels aren't worried about losing their lead as the team is a major league-best 31-18 away from home. Anaheim is poised to continue that trend when it sends Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.05 ERA) to the mound. Saunders, who has allowed two runs or less in 13 of his 19 starts, is 3-0 lifetime against the Orioles and allowed four runs and 12 hits in five innings during a 6-5 victory over Baltimore on May 4. Brian Burres (7-6, 5.02) tries to help the Orioles end their three-game losing streak. Burres, who went 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his only two career starts against Anaheim last year, is looking to bounce back from a tough outing. The 27-year-old lefthander had a three-game win streak snapped when he allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking four while striking out five during Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Washington (38-64) at LA Dodgers (49-52), 7:40 pm

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After seeing their pitching staff roughed up by the Colorado Rockies, there may be no better time than the present for the Los Angeles Dodgers to play host to one of the worst offenses in the majors. The Dodgers hope to rebound from a disappointing end to their first post-All-Star break road trip on Friday when they face the Washington Nationals. Despite going 3-3 against National League West-leading Arizona (50-51) and third-place Colorado (45-58), Los Angeles left Coors Field with questions about a pitching staff that surrendered 25 runs as the Rockies took two of three. Despite the recent struggles, Los Angeles still sports a 3.81 team ERA, the best mark in the NL. If any pitcher is up to the challenge, it figures to be Chad Billingsley (9-9, 3.32 ERA), who leads the team in wins. However, the righthander took the loss in Saturday's 3-2 loss to Arizona after allowing three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. For Billingsley, who has been afforded 59 runs of support in his 20 starts, it marked the ninth time LA has provided with one run of support or less in an outing. However, he may catch a break against the Nationals, who are the second-lowest scoring team at 386 runs. He'll be opposed by John Lannan (6-9, 3.29), who has received less help. The lefthander has been provided with a league-low 37 runs in 19 starts. He did receive three runs over his six innings of work in Saturday's 8-2 win over Atlanta. Lannan allowed one run and seven hits.

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LA Dodgers (49-50) at Colorado (43-58), 6:05 pm

DENVER (Ticker) -- The All-Star break and a trip to Coors Field appear to be just what the Los Angeles Dodgers needed to get their sluggish offense rolling. The Dodgers attempt to continue their offensive resurgence on Tuesday when they continue their three-game set against the Colorado Rockies. Los Angeles entered the All-Star break last Tuesday with 390 runs, the fifth-worst total in the majors. In 46 of its 95 games leading up to the break, the team scored three runs or less, going 8-38 in those outings. The second half of the season is off to a good start, however, as the Dodgers have found some uncharacteristic offense - scoring 32 runs in four contests and going 3-1 over that span. This resurgence was highlighted by a 16-10 triumph over the Rockies in Monday's series opener at Coors Field, where the Dodgers have scored 41 runs in four games this season. The Dodgers will try to climb back to the .500 mark for the first time since they were 27-27 on May 30 when they send rookie Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 4.42 ERA) to the mound. The team's top prospect, who is still seeking his first major league victory, went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in three minor league starts this month after being optioned on July 2. Colorado will answer with Ubaldo Jimenez (5-9, 4.20), who has a 7.32 ERA in four starts against Los Angeles despite his 2-0 record against the club. The 24-year-old righthander won for the third time in four starts in Thursday's 5-3 win over Pittsburgh after allowing three runs and five hits over seven innings.

Cleveland (44-54) at LA Angels (60-39), 10:05 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday looked nothing like the team that swept the Boston Red Sox in the first series of the second half. The Angels hope to get back on track and build on the best record in the major leagues on Tuesday, after dropping the opener of a three-game set against the Cleveland Indians. Behind the solid pitching of Paul Byrd and solo homers by Andy Marte, Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta, the Indians rolled to a 5-2 triumph. Ervin Santana struck out eight in seven solid innings, but suffered the loss. Jered Weaver (8-8, 4.03 ERA) will take the mound for Anaheim in his first start against the Indians this season. In his career, he is 1-1 with a 5.09 ERA. The 25-year-old righthander has surrendered two runs or less in four straight starts. Cleveland will counter with Matt Ginter (1-0, 0.00), who made his first start since 2005 on July 12 against the Tampa Bay Rays in which he allowed five hits in five scoreless innings. He appears to be the odd-man out of the rotation, though, when Fausto Carmona returns from injury this week. Blake is 9-for-23 over his last six games, while smacking two homers and seven RBI in that span.

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Cleveland (43-54) at LA Angels (60-38), 7:05 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim showed why they own the best record in baseball by sweeping the Boston Red Sox in the first series of the second half. All-Star Ervin Santana will look to keep the Angels rolling when he faces the struggling Cleveland Indians in the opener of a three-game set on Monday. Santana (11-3, 3.34 ERA) has thrown at least seven innings in four of his last five starts and is coming off a dominant outing against the Oakland Athletics in which he struck out 10 in seven scoreless frames. Casey Kotchman hit a two-run double to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning of Sunday's 5-3 victory over Boston and Francisco Rodriguez notched his major league-leading 40th save by pitching a perfect ninth. The Angels outscored the Red Sox, 15-5, in the two wins on Friday and Saturday. Cleveland, though owning the second-worst record in the American League, is coming off a three-game series win over the lowly Seattle Mariners. All-Star Game starter Cliff Lee tossed a complete game and became the AL's first 13-game winner by allowing two runs en route to a 6-2 triumph on Sunday. Paul Byrd (3-10, 5.47) will look to match such production and snap a personal five-game skid. Grady Sizemore leads the AL in home runs and has 22 stolen bases. Teammate Casey Blake was 4-for-10 with a homer and three RBI in the series against Seattle.

Los Angeles (48-50) at Colorado (43-57), 6:05 pm

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies look to continue their winning ways when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of a three-game set at Coors Field on Monday. Colorado is coming off a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend and can match a season high with another victory on Monday. The Rockies outscored the Pirates, 28-9, in the four games, including an 11-3 triumph on Sunday. Kip Wells (1-1, 2.29 ERA) hopes to continue Colorado's momentum when he makes his first start in nearly three months. Wells has been sidelined since April 28 with a blood clot in his right hand. The righthander has struggled in his career against the Dodgers, going 0-3 in five games - four starts - with a 5.88 ERA. Los Angeles won two out of three over the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, including a come-from-behind 6-5 victory on Sunday. The Dodgers scored five runs in the top of the ninth after trailing, 4-1. With the win, Los Angeles (48-50) pulled into a tie with Arizona for first place in the National League West. Winless in his last three starts, Eric Stults (2-2, 2.67) will take the hill for the Dodgers. The 28-year-old lefthander gave up three runs over six innings in his last outing, losing a 3-1 decision to the Florida Marlins with July 11. The Dodgers have won six of the first nine meetings between the two teams this season.

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Boston (57-42) at LA Angels (59-38), 3:05 p.m., ESPN

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox hope to avoid a sweep and end their road woes Sunday when they visit the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the finale of a three-game series. The Red Sox have proven to be nearly unbeatable at Fenway Park this season, posting a major league-best 36-11 record while batting .297 as a team. But the road has not been as kind, with Saturday's 4-2 loss dropping Boston to 21-31 away from Fenway. Boston's team batting average dropped to .268 on the road. The Red Sox were in position to win Saturday, carrying a 2-0 lead into the seventh with ace Josh Beckett on the mound. But Vladimir Guerrero led off the seventh with a solo homer and pinch hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-loaded triple to put the Angels on top, 4-2. The victory was the fourth in a row for Anaheim, which took the series opener, 11-3, on Friday. Boston will try to snap its four-game road losing streak Sunday behind knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-6, 3.60 ERA). The veteran righthander has been one of the best pitchers in the American League over the past two months, going 3-3 with a 2.13 ERA while holding opponents to a .176 batting average over his last nine starts. Anaheim counters with righthander Jon Garland (8-6, 4.20), who had his turn in the rotation pushed back a day due to neck stiffness. Garland has not pitched since allowing seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings to absorb a loss at Oakland on July 11. Garland earned a win at Boston on April 23, allowing four runs in six innings as the Angels went on to a 6-4 victory.

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Boston (57-41) at LA Angels (58-38), 12:55 p.m.

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox will be looking to snap a three-game road slide when they visit the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday. The best home team in the American League at 36-11, the Red Sox have struggled to a 21-30 mark away from Fenway Park, including losses in eight of their last 10. The Angels made it look easy in the series opener on Friday, pounding a rusty-looking Boston club, 11-3. The Red Sox sent seven players to the All-Star Game Tuesday and traveled to Anaheim on Thursday's off day for the beginning of their third West Coast trip of the season. Garret Anderson certainly showed no rust for the Angels, driving in five runs with his first four-hit performance of the season. Ace Josh Beckett (9-5, 3.94 ERA) will try to slow Anderson and turn Boston's road fortunes. The righthander won his last two starts but surrendered five runs in five innings against Minnesota on July 9 - his second shortest outing of the season. Beckett has not faced Anaheim since last season's Division Series, when he he allowed four hits in a shutout, striking out eight and not issuing a walk. The Angels will counter with All-Star lefthander Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.07). The 27-year-old allowed one hit in a scoreless frame Tuesday in the Midsummer Classic, and is 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.

Los Angeles (47-49) at Arizona (47-49), 5:10 p.m

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Hitting coach Don Mattingly is already making an impression on the Los Angeles Dodgers. After pulling into a tie for the top spot in the National League West Division, the Dodgers look to seize sole possession of first place Saturday when they continue their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mattingly, who took over for Mike Easler and made his debut in the dugout on Friday, watched Los Angeles pound four home runs - including two from Nomar Garciaparra and a game-winner by James Loney in the 11th inning - in an 8-7 victory during the series opener. The scoring outburst was unusual for Los Angeles, which entered Friday's game with 65 homers - tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for the second-worst total in the majors - and 390 runs, the fifth-worst mark in baseball. "We want a better approach team wise," Mattingly said. "We want to be able to attack people with what the guys are doing and have an understanding what that pitcher does, not give in to his strengths (and) make him come to us a little bit more. You got some veterans who know what they are doing and other young guys who need to keep refining their game. And that's what we are trying to do." The Dodgers look to continue the hit parade against Diamondbacks starter Dan Haren (8-5, 2.72 ERA). Haren has been outstanding of late, allowing two runs or less in each of his last six outings. The 27-year-old righthander allowed just two runs - one earned - and three hits, walking two while striking out nine but did not factor in the decision during Arizona's 7-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on July 10. Chad Billingsley (9-8, 3.25) looks to to earn his sixth win in his last seven starts when he toes the rubber for the Dodgers. Billingsley has posted a 2.33 ERA in his previous six outings, striking out 38 in 33.1 innings over that span.

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LA Dodgers (46-49) at Arizona (47-48), 6:40 p.m.

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- National League West supremacy is on the line when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. Despite a sub-.500 record, the Diamondbacks hold a one-game edge over the Dodgers. Arizona owned the best record in the majors after the first month of the season, but has gone 27-40 since. Los Angeles had a golden opportunity to take over the top spot before the All-Star break but lost three of four to the Florida Marlins. The Dodgers hope righthander Hiroki Kuroda (5-6, 3.43 ERA) can pull them even. After tossing 16 scoreless frames in his previous two starts, Kuroda did not receive a decision in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Marlins. He gave up three runs and seven hits with five strikeouts. Arizona will counter with lefthander Doug Davis (3-4, 3.80). The 32-year-old Davis has one win since May 23, posting a 1-3 record with a 4.14 ERA in nine starts over that stretch.

Boston (57-40) at LA Angels (57-38),7:05 p.m.

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox enter the second half in control of the American League East , but they have plenty of room for improvement ... especially on the road. The defending World Series champions return from the All-Star break on Friday when they open a series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Boston (57-40) seized a one-half game lead over the struggling Tampa Bay Rays (55-39) on Sunday, forging a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. All-Stars J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia drove in the runs as the Red Sox improved to 36-11 at home. While Boston has been unstoppable at Fenway Park, it wears a 21-29 away record - the second-worst road mark for a first-place team. Fresh off his All-Star MVP award, Drew will try to help the Red Sox reverse that trend. The 32-year-old right fielder is batting .302 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI and has helped fill the void left by an injured David Ortiz, who is eyeing a July 25 return from a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. Rookie Clay Buchholz (2-4, 5.70 ERA) makes his second start for the Red Sox after returning to the rotation following a two-month stint in the minors. Buchholz allowed four runs and five hits while walking five last Friday, but did strike out six en route to a 7-3 loss to the Orioles. John Lackey (6-2, 2.46) counters for the Angels, who own a six-game lead in the AL West . After missing the opening month with a strained triceps, Lackey has bounced back by allowing 11 runs over his first nine starts. However, the 29-year-old righthander has surrendered 11 earned runs in his last two starts, including six and 15 hits in just 5 2/3 innings in his previous outing. He did not factor in the decision though as the Angels rallied for an 11-10 victory against the Texas Rangers on July 10.

MLB All-Star Game Starting Lineups

The following are the lineups for tonight's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York:

National League ---------------
1. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida Marlins
2. Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies
3. Lance Berkman, 1B, Houston Astros
4. Albert Pujols, DH, St. Louis Cardinals
5. Chipper Jones, 3B, Atlanta Braves
6. Matt Holliday, RF, Colorado Rockies
7. Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers
8. Kosuke Fukudome, CF, Chicago Cubs
9. Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs
RHP: Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers

American League ---------------
1. Ichiro Suzuki, CF, Seattle Mariners
2. Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees
3. Josh Hamilton, CF, Texas Rangers
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees
5. Manny Ramirez, LF, Boston Red Sox
6. Milton Bradley, DH, Texas Rangers
7. Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Boston Red Sox
8. Joe Mauer, C, Minnesota Twins
9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox
LHP: Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians

Umpires -------
Home Plate - Derryl Cousins *
1st Base - Ed Rapuano
2nd Base - Tom Hallion
3rd Base - Mark Wegner
Left Field - Greg Gibson
Right Field - Phil Cuzzi
*-crew chief

MLB All Star Game Preview

National League at American League, 5:00 pm, FOX

BRONX, New York (Ticker)- The American League is looking to claim home-field advantage in the World Series for the sixth straight year when it faces the National League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Since 1997, the AL has posted a 10-0-1 record in the Midsummer Classic. The AL Stars have not lost the game since Major League Baseball decided that the winner of the contest would get home-field advantage for their representative in the World Series.

The defending champion Boston Red Sox, who own the second-best record in the AL, have six players on the roster - including starters first baseman Kevin Youkilis, second baseman Dustin Pedroia and left fielder Manny Ramirez. The Red Sox would have had seven members, but designated hitter David Ortiz will not play due to injury.

The New York Yankees will be well-represented at their home ballpark for the Midsummer Classic with perennial All-Stars shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and closer Mariano Rivera on the squad. AL manager Terry Francona admitted that he considered, if only briefly, starting Rivera. "Mariano Rivera may be the greatest reliever of all-time but he's not a starter," Francona said. "I don't think it would be fair to the starters." Francona will send Cleveland Indians lefthander Cliff Lee (12-2, 2.31 ERA) to the mound. Lee is tied for the AL lead in wins with Joe Saunders of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and his ERA ranks third in the majors. "The last season in Yankee Stadium, it's going to be an honor to start the game," Lee said. "It's an honor to be here. To start the game is icing on the cake. I'm completely baffled and privileged to get the honor, so I appreciate it." "There are a lot of pitchers having outstanding years and none measures up to Lee's," Francona said.

Ben Sheets (10-3, 2.85) of the Milwaukee Brewers will try to slow down the AL lineup, which also features Texas' Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley, Minnesota's Joe Mauer and Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki. Sheets was chosen by NL manager Clint Hurdle ahead of Arizona's Brandon Webb, who leads the major leagues in wins with 13. "I know for a fact (Hurdle's) the most popular man in Louisiana," said Sheets, a native of Baton Rouge. "I've never been to Yankee Stadium. I'm just going to try to soak it all in."

The NL lineup will feature plenty of firepower as well. Chicago Cubs rookies Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto will be at the bottom of a lineup that also boasts former MVPs Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves in the No. 4 and 5 spots, respectively.

History of Yankee Stadium Unmatched

By Bob Birge
SportsTicker Staff Writer

Tuesday night's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on the corner of River Avenue and 161st Street in the south Bronx will serve as a farewell tribute to a fabled ballpark in its 84th and final season. Next year, the New York Yankees move into a new facility and even though it's only two blocks away, it won't be the same.

It won't be the same hallowed ground walked on by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and all the other Yankees' legends. But the Yankees were not always the dominant team in New York. During the early part of the 20th Century, the New York Giants ruled the Big Apple, winning 10 pennants in a 20-year span. John McGraw, their fiery manager for 30 years, didn't think much of the upstart Yankees, who shared the Polo Grounds with the Giants for 10 seasons from 1913 through 1922. "The Yankees will have to build a park in Queens or some other out-of-the-way place," McGraw said in 1921, the year the Giants and Yankees played in the first of 14 Subway World Series contested in New York. "Let them go away and wither on the vine."

Things didn't exactly turn out that way. Yankee Stadium became home to the most successful sports franchise in American history. While it lost some of its old-time feel after it was remodeled in the 1970s, the old stadium inspired awe when it opened in 1923 with a seating capacity of 58,000 - unheard of at the time as most stadiums in that era had room for about 30,000 spectators. Yankee Stadium was the first baseball structure with three decks and the first televised World Series game took place there in 1947.

Its primary occupant won championship after championship. During a 44-season span from 1921 until 1964, the Yankees won 29 American League pennants. They won so much that it used to be said that rooting for the Yankees was like rooting for U.S. Steel. In 1958, the author Gay Talese wrote this about the Yankees : "Wall Street bankers supposedly back the Yankees. Smith College girls approve of them. God, Brooks Brothers, and United States Steel are believed to be solidly in the Yankees' corner. The efficiently triumphant Yankee machine is a great institution, but, as they say, who can fall in love with U.S. Steel?"

Yankee Stadium, its capacity eventually increased to 67,000, has hosted 37 World Series, including 10 in the "new" stadium (post-1976). But the Yankees are only part of its legacy. Yankee Stadium hosted countless championship boxing matches, historic college football games between Notre Dame and Army, an epic National Football League title contest in 1958 involving the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants and three Papal visits. A Brazilian soccer player named Edson Arantes Do Nascimento - better known as Pele - even played there as a member of the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in the 1970s.

It all started after the Boston Red Sox sold George Herman "Babe" Ruth to the Yankees in 1920. According to popular legend, Boston owner Harry Frazee, a Broadway producer and director, made the move to finance his play "No, No, Nanette,", although some baseball historians question if that was the real reason for the sale. That season, the third-place Yankees doubled their attendance - outdrawing the second-place Giants by 100,000. McGraw, also a part-owner of the Giants, was enraged. He didn't like that his more established team was getting upstaged and told the Yankees they would have to vacate the Polo Grounds. The co-owners of the Yankees - Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast l'Hommendieu Huston - endeavored to build their own stadium.

On February 6, 1921, the Yankees announced the purchase of 10 acres of property in the Bronx for $675,000 from the estate of William Waldorf Astor. The land was directly across the Harlem River and less than a mile from their old home. A crowd officially listed at 74,200 attended the Yankees' first game at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923. Fittingly, Ruth christened the new ballpark with a three-run home run as the Yankees defeated the Red Sox, 4-1. Due to Ruth's drawing power and larger than life persona in the Roaring Twenties, Yankee Stadium was soon dubbed "The House That Ruth Built". The new stadium should be called "The House That George Built" after current Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

In their initial season at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees won the first of their 26 World Series titles, the most championships of any professional team in North America. During the early years of the dynasty, Ruppert once remarked that his idea of a good afternoon was having the Yankees score eight runs in the first inning and then slowly pull away.

In 1925, Notre Dame's Knute Rockne brought his Fighting Irish to Yankee Stadium for the first of their 20 games against Army. It remained the nation's top rivalry through World War II. Yankee Stadium was where Rockne made his "win-for-the-Gipper" speech at halftime of the 1928 game against Army. It also was the site of the 1946 Notre Dame-Army contest when the powers played to a scoreless tie in what is considered one of the legendary games in college football history.

Starting in the 1920s, Yankee Stadium also hosted 30 championship fights into the 1950s. Perhaps the most memorable was the bout between Joe Lewis and German Max Schmeling on June 22, 1938. With the Nazi party in power in Germany and Europe on the verge of war, the fight took on political and racial overtones. Schmeling beat Lewis, an African-American, two years earlier and was championed by Adolph Hitler. But in the rematch, Lewis gained revenge in stunning fashion, knocking out Schmeling in the first round.

In 1956, Yankee Stadium gained a new tenant as the NFL's New York Giants moved from the Polo Grounds and stayed through the 1973 season. In the 1958 NFL championship, the Johnny Unitas-led Colts beat the Giants, 23-17, in the league's first sudden-death overtime. Although the Super Bowl was still a decade away, that 1958 game is regarded as one of the most influence contests in NFL history and many believe it signaled the arrival of professional football as a major sport. Up until then, the pro game took a back seat to college football.

In 1965, history of a different sort was made at Yankee Stadium as Paul VI celebrate Mass before more than 80,000 as part of the first Papal visit to North America. It likely wasn't the Pope's fault, but by 1965, the Yankees' dynasty was crumbling. That season, the Yankees finished under .500 for the first time in 40 years. The next season, they finished last for the first time since 1912, when they were known as the New York Highlanders. The Babe's house became a ghost town as an unimaginably small crowd of 413 attended a late-season game in 1966.

By the late 1960s, the stadium itself also was showing signs of decay, and not helping matters was the urban blight of the south Bronx. There were even some overtures that CBS - which owned the Yankees at the time - would move the storied team across the Hudson River to New Jersey. Finally, in the middle of 1972, the city bought the team and the Yankee signed a 30-year lease.

In 1973, the team was purchased by an unknown shipbuilder from Cleveland named George M. Steinbrenner, who would get quite a bang for his buck. A franchise he bought for $10 million is now estimated to be worth close to $1 billion. More than 50 years after McGraw suggested the Yankees go play in Queens, they did just that, spending the 1974 and 1975 seasons at Shea Stadium - the home of the National League's New York Mets - while Yankee Stadium was renovated and modernized. The Yankees moved back home in 1976, winning the first of three straight pennants in the "new" stadium. They won World Series titles in 1977 and 1978, then added four more under Joe Torre from 1996-2000.

Despite drawing more than four million the year before, the Yankee announced in 2006 their plans to build a new stadium that will cost in excess of $1 billion. When the new structure opens, much of the existing stadium will be demolished and become parkland. Somewhere, the Babe is crying in his beer.

Photo: Art.com

SoCal MLB Preview

LA Angels (55-38) at Oakland (51-42), 6:05 pm

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Ervin Santana is hoping a start against the Oakland Athletics can help him get back on track. Santana takes the mound for the Angels on Saturday when the club continues a three-game series against the A's. A 25-year-old righthander, Santana (10-3, 3.53 ERA) was selected to his first All-Star game this week although his recent performances have been less than stellar. Santana is 1-0 over his last three starts but has surrendered 12 runs in 20 innings over that span. He allowed six runs and 10 hits in seven innings during his last outing, but still earned the win as the Angels posted a 9-6 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday. There is good news - Santana has dominated Oakland during his career, logging an 8-1 record and 1.49 ERA in 12 lifetime starts against the A's, which includes a1-0 mark and 1.80 ERA in three outings this season. Rookie Dana Eveland (7-5, 3.50) seeks his fourth straight win when he counters for Oakland, which trails the Angels by four games for the top spot in the American League West Division.

Florida (49-44) at LA Dodgers (45-48), 7:10pm

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- With wins in nine of his last 10 starts, Ricky Nolasco has been one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. However, he hasn't come anywhere as close to perfection as Hiroki Kuroda did his last time out. Two of the hotter pitchers in baseball will face off on Saturday when Nolasco and the Florida Marlins continue their four-game series with Kuroda's Los Angeles Dodgers. After his seventh start of the season on May 3, Nolasco (10-4, 3.74 ERA) owned a 1-3 record with a 6.10 ERA. Since that time, the righthander has been one of the best pitchers in the majors as he has rolled to a 5-0 record with a 1.81 ERA over his last six outings. While he hasn't had the prolonged success of Nolasco, Kuroda (5-6, 3.39) is coming off his finest performance in a Dodgers uniform. The rookie righthander dominated Atlanta in Monday's 3-0 win, taking a perfect game into the eighth inning before the Braves' Mark Teixeira opened the frame with a double. It was the only hit allowed by Kuroda, who struck out six to win for the third time in four starts. He's also shown no signs of the right shoulder tendinitis that sidelined him last month. Kuroda, who already owns a win in his only other appearance against the Marlins, will be facing a Florida team that leads the majors in home runs (134) and has hit at least one longball in 13 straight games.

Padres On Deck @ Diamondbacks, Game 1 of 3

SAN DIEGO (33-53) at ARIZONA (43-43), 6:40 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks look to build on a dramatic win when they face the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series Friday. Arizona scored six times in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday for a 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The win returned the National League West-leading Diamondbacks to .500.

The home team hands the ball to Dan Haren (8-4, 2.85 ERA), who seeks his fourth straight winning decision. The winner of the National League Pitcher of the Month Wward for June on Wednesday, Haren, who went 3-0 with an NL-leading 1.32 ERA for the preceding month, allowed a run and five hits in seven inning, but did not earn a decision in a 4-3 loss to Florida last Sunday. The righthander, who was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in December, yielded just three hits while striking out seven against San Diego in a 9-0 win on April 18 for his only decision in four outings vs. the Padres.

San Diego, which has lost 10 of 11 and has the worst record in the majors, counters with Cha Seung Baek (1-3, 5.43). The 28-year-old South Korean, who will making his first career appearance vs. Arizona, gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings in a 4-2 loss to Seattle last Saturday. It was the righthander's third straight losing decision. San Diego is 4-2 against Arizona this season.

Angels First Half Review, 2nd Half Preview

By Zachary Ingraham
SportsTicker Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM

WHAT WENT RIGHT: The rotation has been one of the best in the majors. LHP Joe Saunders is tied for the American League lead with 11 wins and has combined with RHP Ervin Santana for a 20-7 record. After missing the first six weeks of the season, RHP John Lackey posted a 6-1 record with a 1.44 ERA in nine starts. The rotation has done a good job of getting the ball to closer RHP Francisco Rodriguez, who leads the majors with 32 saves in 34 opportunities. After struggling for the first two months, OF Vladimir Guerrero is heating up in June, batting .395 with six home runs and 15 RBI in the month.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The offense has failed to reach its potential. A combination of injuries and underachieving have contributed to the Angels having the 12th ranked offense in the AL. 2B Howie Kendrick and 3B Chone Figgins, who will usually be at the top of the batting order, have both missed significant time this season. Until Guerrero heated up this month, Anaheim's four-man outfield was really struggling offensively. OFs Gary Matthews Jr. and Garrett Anderson are both hitting in the mid-.200's and have combined for just 13 homers.

WHAT'S NEXT: While the Angels could use an extra bat to get the offense rolling, they are usually silent at the deadline and will likely be again this year. Los Angeles will turn its attention to holding off the fiery Athletics in the division race. The club will also hope to get Kendrick and Figgins healthy, which should improve its offensive performance.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: The Angels are 16 games over .500 and own the second best record in the AL, despite having just a plus-nine run differential. ... They are tied for second in the majors with eight shutouts. ... Anaheim has made just 40 errors, which is second best in the majors. ... The Angels rank 27th in the major leagues with a .316 on-base percentage.

SoCal MLB Preview

LA Dodgers (38-44) at Houston (40-43), 5:05 pm

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros have yet to lose to the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. If Wandy Rodriguez continues to pitch at Minute Maid Park like he has this season, it's a trend that should continue. The Astros will try to win their fifth game in as many tries against the Dodgers this season when the teams continue their series on Tuesday. Houston, which has won three straight, will eye four consecutive victories for the first time in nearly two months. The last such streak, which ran from May 9-12, started when the Astros swept a three-game road set against the Dodgers. The Astros' season-long dominance has a good chance to continue as long as Rodriguez (3-3, 2.58 ERA) continues his mastery at home, where he is 2-2 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts, holding opponents to a .189 batting average in those outings. On the road, he is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four turns, allowing the opposition to hit .276. The lefthander was at it again in his last start on Thursday, matching a career high with nine strikeouts while yielding Texas to one run and five hits over eight innings in a 7-2 home victory. He'll be opposed by Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 4.36), who is still searching for his first major league win in his eighth start. The lefthander, who has received only eight runs of support from his offense, allowing two runs and six hits with four walks over four-plus innings in Thursday 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Oakland (45-37) at Los Angeles (49-34), 7:05 pm

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Ervin Santana has done his share of dominating opponents this season. On Tuesday, he'll have to face someone that has been even better. Rich Harden will attempt to maintain his incredible start to the season when the Oakland Athletics continue their three-game series against Santana and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Harden (5-0, 2.15 ERA), whose 11 starts this season match the total he has made in the last two seasons combined, took the mound just 14 times - including 11 starts - during the 2006 and 2007 seasons as shoulder injuries continued to hinder him. A similar path appeared likely for Harden this season when he went to the disabled list yet again with a right shoulder strain after his second start of this season. However, since his return to the mound on April 11, the righthander has been sharp, going 4-0 with a 2.41 ERA. Harden was at his best once again on Thursday, striking out a career-high 11 while allowing two hits and a walk over eight frames in Oakland's 5-0 victory over Philadelphia. With another win on Tuesday, he would become the first A's pitcher in 18 years to open a season with six consecutive victories. Anaheim will counter with Santana (9-3, 3.32), who will attempt to become the fifth American League pitcher to hit the 10-win mark this season. The righthander has been particularly sharp against the A's, against whom he is 8-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 12 games - 11 starts. Santana, however, is coming off an outing at Washington on Wednesday in which he surrendered four runs and four hits with a season-high five walks over six innings in a 5-4 setback. He struck out eight but did not factor into the decision.

LA Angels (27-20) at Toronto (23-24), 4:07 pm
TORONTO (Ticker) - The Toronto Blue Jays look to bounce back in the second of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday. In Tuesday's series opener, John Lackey tossed seven outstanding innings en route to a 3-1 victory for the Angels. Toronto turns to Shaun Marcum (4-2, 2.50 ERA), who pitched just one inning Sunday in a no-decision at Philadelphia due to a four-hour rain delay. In his last outing prior to that, the righthander was on top of his game, tossing eight scoreless frames for a 3-0 win at Cleveland on May 12. Marcum seeks his third consecutive win over Anaheim, which has managed just three runs through 13 frames over two career games against the 26-year-old. Jon Garland (4-3, 4.32) gets the call for the Angels, who own an American League-best 13-9 road mark. A visit to Toronto could be just what the righthander needs, as he owns an impressive 9-2 record with a 4.15 ERA in 15 lifetime meetings against the Blue Jays. He is also undefeated in five appearances at the Rogers Centre.

Cincinnati (21-25) at LA Dodgers (24-21), 7:10 pm
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - Adam Dunn was slowed by the Los Angeles Dodgers the last time out. The Cincinnati Reds' slugger will look to get back on track when the clubs meet in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday. Dunn had tied a franchise record by hitting a home run in five straight games, but was kept in check during a 4-1 loss Tuesday. The 6-6, 275-pound Dunn will be looking to regain his stroke and help the Reds snap a eight-game losing streak here. Overall, the Reds have lost 13 of 16 here and have not won at Chavez Ravine since July 28, 2005. Rookie Johnny Cueto (2-4, 5.75 ERA) will try and help put an end to the Reds' struggles here. Cueto, who has just one win in his last eight starts, yielded three runs and six hits in six innings but did not receive a decision in a 4-3 win over Cleveland on Friday. Los Angeles, which has won five of seven, will send Hiroki Kuroda (1-3, 3.67) to the hill. Kuroda, who is winless in his last eight starts, allowed four runs - three earned - and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 loss to Anaheim on Friday.