The home runs might be flying out of major-league ballparks, but this is still turning into another banner year for pitchers. The under went 11-3-1 on Wednesday; three of the games ended 1-0, and the Cardinals needed a walk-off homer by Colby Rasmus to beat the Giants 2-1 in the 10th. Matt Cain took the loss, which means he’s nowhere to be found on this week’s Top 10 money list.
Top 10 paying teams
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (49-29, 16.14 units)
2. Boston Red Sox (48-30, 10.96 units)
3. Los Angeles Angels (42-34, 9.45 units)
4. Colorado Rockies (41-36, 7.87 units)
5. San Francisco Giants (42-35, 7.86 units)
6. Texas Rangers (42-35, 7.46 units)
7. Detroit Tigers (43-35, 5.60 units)
8. Florida Marlins (41-39, 4.02 units)
9. Milwaukee Brewers (42-36, 3.49 units)
10. Cincinnati Reds (38-38, 3.24 units)
Top 10 paying pitchers
1. Matt Palmer, L.A. Angels (9-2 team record, 10.64 units)
2. Tim Wakefield, Boston (12-3, 9.33 units)
3. Josh Johnson, Florida (13-4, 8.89 units)
4. Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay (11-4, 7.99 units)
5. Jason Marquis, Colorado (11-5, 7.86 units)
6. Josh Beckett, Boston (12-4, 6.41 units)
7. Rich Hill, Baltimore (7-2, 5.85 units)
8. Eric Stults, L.A. Dodgers (7-2, 5.85 units)
9. Andy Pettitte, N.Y. Yankees (12-4, 5.61 units)
10. Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (11-4, 5.60 units)
This weekend's top 10 storylines
1. Manny Ramirez to return to Dodgers lineup Friday night
2. Cardinals 3B Mark DeRosa out “a few days” with sprained wrist
3. Justin Morneau uncertain for Minnesota after leaving game with groin injury
4. Adrian Gonazlez (strained knee) back at first base for Padres
5. Rangers name Frank Francisco closer
6. White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez leaves game; will have X-rays on injured finger
7. Pirates trade Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett to Washington for Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan
8. Pirates trade Eric Hinske to Yankees for two minor leaguers
9. Mariners 3B Adrian Beltre undergoes surgery for bone spur in his shoulder; out 6-8 weeks
10. Red Sox put Mike Lowell (hip) on DL
This weekend's top 10 games to bet on
1. Sunday: Tampa Bay at Texas (8:05 p.m. Eastern, ESPN)
Viewers of Sunday Night Baseball will get up close and personal with the Rays, who are 7-1 in their last eight games. No. 4 breadwinner Jeff Niemann takes the mound for the visitors against Derek Holland (1-5 team record, -4.53 units).
2. Friday: L.A. Dodgers at San Diego (10:05 p.m.)
As mentioned, this is Manny Ramirez’ first scheduled game back after serving a 50-game suspension for steroids. Padres starter Chad Gaudin (6-6, +1.32 units) one-hit the Rangers over eight innings last Sunday in Arlington.
3. Sunday: Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m., TBS)
The Brew Crew remains 3.5 games up on the Cubs (37-38, -9.37 units), who have lost seven of their last 10 and are 16-24 since mid-May.
4. Saturday: N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (4:05 p.m., FOX)
The Mets are going with AAA-Buffalo call-up Fernando Nieve (3-1, 2.97 units), who was outstanding in his first three starts last month before failing to get out of the third inning Sunday in Milwaukee.
5. Friday: Seattle at Boston (7:10 p.m.)
No. 2 money man Tim Wakefield twirls for the Red Sox against “King” Felix Hernandez (11-5, +4.77 units) in what should be a classic pitcher’s duel.
6. Saturday: Detroit at Minnesota (4:10 p.m., FOX)
It’s not just the move to Comerica Park that has energized Edwin Jackson (9-7, +1.47 units). He has a 2.94 ERA for the Tigers at home and a 2.12 ERA on the road.
7. Sunday: Baltimore at L.A. Angels (3:35 p.m.)
Rich Hill is seventh on our money list despite a 7.08 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. The Orioles came back from a nine-run deficit to beat Boston 11-10 in his last start on Tuesday.
8. Friday: Toronto at N.Y. Yankees (1:05 p.m.)
The Yankees (45-32, -2.41 units) are the hottest team in the league right now with a seven-game winning streak. A.J. Burnett (9-6, +1.87 units) faces his former team; Brian Tallet (6-9, -3.53 units) responds for Toronto.
9. Sunday: St. Louis at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m.)
This is the first outing for Chris Carpenter (5-6, -2.43 units) since he had his string of seven quality starts broken by the Giants last Monday.
10. Saturday: Houston at San Francisco (4:05 p.m.)
The last time we saw Tim Lincecum (10-6, +1.01 units), he was throwing a two-hitter against the Cardinals on Sunday. That was his third complete game in four starts.
