The Los Angeles Angels now know their starting pitchers for the first four games of their series against the New York Yankees. On Wednesday, manager Mike Scioscia said that John Lackey will pitch Game 1, Joe Saunders will pitch Game 2, Jered Weaver will pitch Game 3 and Scott Kazmir will pitch Game 4.
Lackey will face a lot of pressure in Game 1. If the Angels want to advance to the 2009 World Series, they will need to quiet the confidence that the Yankees currently hold. To do so, Los Angeles really needs to win the first game of the …read more

Scott Kazmir, a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, will be traded to the Los Angeles Angels — according to numerous online reports including one on MLB.com. In return, the Rays will reportedly receive minor leaguers Matthew Sweeney and Alexander Torres.
Prior to the 2009 baseball season, Kazmir signed a three-year deal worth $28.5 million. However, he has underperformed this year for Tampa Bay. In 20 starts, he has an ERA of 5.92 ERA and a record of 8-7.
Despite his poor season, the Angels can use all the help they can get in their starting rotation. Dealing with a variety …read more

Last year, the Tampa Bays Rays made an improbable run to the 2008 World Series. This year, the Rays are dealing with five different injuries to key players.
Akinori Iwamura, Second Baseman
This weekend, Akinori Iwamura was when trying to turn a double-play. Tests showed that he tore an ACL and the native of Japan will be forced to miss the rest of the season.
Troy Percival, Closer
Due to tendinitis, Troy Percival could very well have thrown his final pitch in the major leagues. While he hasn’t made an announcement, many sources close to the team think that he could be at the …read more

Ryan Howard showed in Game 4 why he is such a feared hitter.
The Philadelphia Phillies, after their 10-2 win, are now one win away from winning the 2008 World Series and being declared the 2008 baseball champions. Leading in the series 2-1 coming into Game 4, the Phillies dominated in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the best out of seven series.
The big star on Sunday night was none other than Ryan Howard, the slugging first baseman for the Phillies. Howard hit two home runs and finished the game 3-4 with walk and five RBIs.
Howard wasn’t the …read more

Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays is known as a big-time baseball talent (and that guy whose name sounds like he may be Eva’s twin brother). In the first game of his postseason life, Longoria hit two homers to lead the Rays to a 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Longoria finished the game 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs, three RBIs and those two home runs. His homers came in the second and third inning against White Sox pitcher Javier Vazquez.
The pitching star for the Rays, who are in the playoffs for the first time in franchise …read more

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees on Thursday to send the Yankees into last place. The Rays won the game 5-2 behind a strong pitching performance from Scott Kazmir and a two-run homerun by backup catcher Shawn Riggans.
The Yankees are now 20-22 and in last place in the AL East. The Rays, with a record of 24-17, are in first place.
How can the Yankees turn save their season?
1. Get Healthy
The Yankees are dealing with a number of injuries at the moment. Most prominently, the team is without Hall of Fame third baseman …read more