In a perfect world, Rubby De La Rosa and Brad Hand would be making their first major league starts against each other. Unfortunately, the Dodgers and Marlins don’t meet again this season, so we won’t see this match-up any time soon. We do have Guillermo Moscoso against Chris Jakubauskas, trying to set the record for last names with high concentrations of vowels, none of which are e or i.

On a more serious note, the Yankees host the Red Sox with Jon Lester facing Freddy Garcia. Boston trails New York by one game in the AL East, thanks in part to a 5-1 record this season against the Yankees. The are 28-25 against everyone else. Lester pitches on long rest after a streak of poor outings. His biggest problem was control walking 16 in 29 innings, but he also gave up five home runs. One might have caused the other. Garcia’s strikeout rate is back to his career average of 6.5 per nine this season, and his rate of allowing hits dropped with that rise.

The Braves and Marlins each sit four games behind the Phillies as the battle for second place in the NL East commences in Miami. Tommy Hanson takes on the aforementioned Brad Hand. Hanson’s ERA returned to his rookie year levels, as his strikeouts are back up above eight per nine innings. He’s holding opponents to a .121 BA with runners in scoring position, 7 for 58 with 23 K. Hand will be the fourth youngest player in the majors this year, four days younger than Starlin Castro. He struck out a ton of batters in the minor leagues, but was a bit wild. Of course, Hand is tough to get.

Felix Hernandez and Phil Humber own nearly identical ERAs as the Mariners and White Sox continue their series in Chicago. Hernandez gets there though a high strikeout rate that delivers a .223 opposition batting average. Humber possesses the King’s excellent control, but strikes out many fewer batters. Humber’s opposition BA sits at .206, however. I suspect that will rise as the year goes on.

Enjoy!