Game 162 a BIG ONE for Four Teams

Here we are on the last day of baseball's regular season and the AL and NL wildcard races are all tied up. So tonight we get 4 games that will determine whether or not we have an outright winner, or whether we get some bonus baseball tomorrow. Here's a look at your starting pitchers for your contenders in tonight's games:

Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves - 7:00 PM ET

Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.03 ERA) vs Tim Hudson (16-10, 3.23 ERA)

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

The 36 year old Hudson leads the Braves in Wins and in ERA this year and this, his 33rd start of 2011, will be his biggest one yet. Hudson's made 3 starts against the Phillies this season and is 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA against them. However, the Phillies did beat him earlier this month in Philadelphia when he allowed 4 runs on 6 innings in a 6-3 Braves loss. Hudson will be opposed by Joe Blanton who has missed most of the season with an elbow injury. He faced Atlanta once back in May and allowed 2 runs in 5 innings of work before going on the disabled list. The Braves have lost all five of their games against Philadelphia this month.









Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles - 7:00 PM ET

Jon Lester (15-9, 3.49 ERA) vs Alfredo Simon (4-9, 4.85)

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

On paper this looks like a matchup the Red Sox should win. Simon hasn't won since August 23rd against the Twins and is 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in the month of September. However, Lester has lost 3 straight starts and the last time he pitched he allowed 8 runs in just 2 2/3 innings against the Yankees. Lester has only faced the Orioles once this year and that was way back in April. In that start he allowed just 2 runs over 8 innings in a 6-2 Boston win. This will be just the second time in Lester's career that he's started on short rest (less than 4 days between starts). The only other time was against the Angels and he allowed 4 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings in that start.








New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays - 7:00 PM ET

TBD vs David Price (12-13, 3.35 ERA)

Photo Credit: zimbio.com

You read that right. The Yankees haven't announced their starter for today's game yet, though speculation is it will be one of their relievers. David Price is winless in 5 September starts, but he hasn't allowed more than 3 earned runs in any of them. Against the Yankees this year he's 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 4 starts, but when he last faced them in August he was dominant allowing just 1 run in 8 innings.












St. Louis Cardinals vs Houston Astros - 8:00 PM ET

Chris Carpenter (10-9, 3.59 ERA) vs Brett Myers (7-13, 4.31 ERA)

The Cardinals ended a 3-game slide against the Astros last night when they erupted for 13 runs over the final 6 innings to erase an early 5-0 deficit. They now turn the ball over to Chris Carpenter who hasn't lost in the month of September. He's only faced the Astros once this year getting a no decision despite allowing just 2 runs in 7 innings, and while he threw well against them last year posting a 3.22 ERA over 3 starts, the Astros still dealt him 2 of his 9 losses. The big righthander is no stranger to big games starting in 9 playoff games in which he's 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA including a win over the Tigers in the 2006 World Series. He'll be opposed by Brett Myers who's had a disappointing season, but who is 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in the month of September. He has lost both of his starts against the Cardinals this year allowing 8 runs in 14 innings of work.






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