Preview of Friday's Games (7/8)

Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies
Game Time: 7:05 p.m.
Location: Citizens Bank Park

Standings
WAS: 51-34 (1st in NL East, 2.5 ahead of Atlanta)
PHI: 43-43 (5th in NL East, 8.5 behind Washington)

Pitching Match-up
WAS: Ryan Drese (6-7, 5.27 ERA) Throws Right
PHI: Robinson Tejeda (1-1, 1.96 ERA) Throws Right

In their last series, the Nationals played the last place team in the National League East. Today, they start another series against the last place team in the National League East, but this time it is against the Phillies instead of the Mets.

The Nats, now only 2.5 ahead of Atlanta, will try to keep the Phillies from jumping out of last place while also trying to hold onto their grip on first place.

The Phillies send rookie Robinson Tejeda to the mound. His last outing was fantastic, giving up just two hits in six shutout innings.

The Nationals turn to Ryan Drese, who is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA since being claimed off waivers from Texas on June 10. Drese only gave up four hits in seven shutout innings in his last start.

The Phillies and Nationals have both lost three of four coming into this game.



Boston Red Sox @ Orioles
Game Time: 7:35 p.m.
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Standings
BOS: 48-36 (1st in AL East, 3 ahead of Baltimore)
BAL: 45-39 (2nd in AL East, 3 behind Boston, 0.5 ahead of New York)

Pitching Match-up
BOS: Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 4.15 ERA) Throws Right
BAL: Sidney Ponson (7-6, 5.80 ERA) Throws Right

Game two of this crucial four game series between the O's and BoSox comes tonight, and it doesn't look like this one will be affected by rain.

With three games remaining in the series, the difference between Boston and Baltimore for first place in the American League East is also three games.

All signs point to this game being a slug fest between two of the league's top hitting teams.

Bronson Arroyo will pitch for the Red Sox against Sidney Ponson for the Orioles. Both pitchers have lost their last two decisions.

Ponson sandwiched a solid outing against the Yankees that resulted in a no decision between two horrendous starts in which he got shellacked by Toronto and Cleveland. Arroyo has struggled as well, giving up 10 runs (eight earned) in his last two starts, coincidentally also against Toronto and Cleveland.

The Orioles have a good history against Arroyo. The O's have batted .301 against him, getting 22 hits and scoring 19 runs (15 earned) in 17.2 innings.

Ponson has similarly struggled against Boston. The Sox have batted .315 against him, dealing him an ERA of 6.26.