mlb mon notes

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The Blue Jays visit Clearwater on Monday for a day game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Toronto's Gustavo Chacin will make his second start and third appearance of the spring, and he'll be matched up against Philly's Brett Myers. Chacin cemented a spot in the rotation late in the week, when the Jays tabbed Miguel Batista as their closer.

The Orioles host the American League East rival Red Sox on Monday and will start right-hander Daniel Cabrera, who has not pitched since March 5 against Washington. Left-hander Bruce Chen, who is competing for the final spot in the rotation, will follow Cabrera.

Cabrera pitched three scoreless innings against the Nationals, but his scheduled outing Wednesday against the Twins was rained out.



The Mets play the Indians on Monday in Winter Haven and Tuesday in Port St. Lucie. Martinez will make his second exhibition start Monday. He pitched in simulated game conditions Wednesday because the Mets game was rained out. Kenny Stark is scheduled to start for Cleveland on Monday.


This will be a busy travel week for the Marlins, who head to Fort Myers on Monday to face the Twins. Dontrelle Willis, 1-0 while not allowing a run in the spring, makes his third Grapefruit League start. The D-Train hasn't given up a run in eight spring innings. Joe Mays, 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA, starts for the Twins.


Right-hander Chan Ho Park, who retired the final seven hitters he faced in his last start, will get the ball on Monday when the Rangers play the Angels in Tempe.

Paul Byrd will draw the start for the Angels.


Left-hander Joe Kennedy (1-0, 1.80 ERA, two starts), the projected Opening Day starter, will start against Arizona on Monday at Tucson Electric Park, but the real competition begins once Kennedy leaves.

Kennedy will be followed by left-hander Brian Fuentes, then by right-hander Chin-hui Tsao -- two of the prime competitors for the closer job. Tsao (.182 batting average against, zero earned runs) has better stats than Fuentes (.400 average against, four earned runs in two innings pitched), but as of late last week, Hurdle was reluctant to declare Tsao a leader in the race for the job

Former Japanese league star Eddie Gaillard, a right-handed non-roster candidate, has experienced control problems in official Spring Training (three walks, six earned runs in two innings pitched) and in intrasquad action, and he has dealt with right knee inflammation. A dark horse candidate is right-handed non-roster candidate David Cortes (1-0, four shutout innings).

Ryan Dempster, projected to be the fifth starter in the Cubs' rotation, is scheduled to start Monday against the Chicago White Sox.


he Nationals play a Monday afternoon game against the Dodgers at Space Coast Stadium. Tomo Ohka, who missed most of last season with a fractured right radius, will make his second exhibition start of the spring.

The last time Ohka pitched was Thursday against the Indians. He tossed three shutout innings and gave up one hit and struck out three.

Jon Rauch, who is a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, will pitch one to three innings, while reliever Hector Carrasco will make his first appearance since being involved in a one-car accident on Wednesday night. Carrasco suffered minor neck, left shoulder and left wrist bruises.


Derek Lowe starts Sunday's "A" game for the Dodgers against the Florida Marlins, which will be preceded by a "B" game at 10 a.m. PT, with Wilson Alvarez starting for the Dodgers.

Alvarez, playing catch-up after missing several days with the flu, pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts in his only appearance. Elmer Dessens, slowed by a calf muscle, will also pitch in the "B" game

The Braves will complete a two-game series against the Cardinals on Monday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Roger Dean Stadium. John Thomson will be looking to continue a strong spring. In his first two starts, the right-hander has allowed two hits over five scoreless innings.

Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan should see most of the Braves' starters in Monday's contest. With two consecutive road games against the Cardinals, Cox brought all of his position players on this trip


he Yankees return to Legends Field on Monday night, where they will take on the Pirates for the third time this exhibition season.

Carl Pavano will take the mound for his third outing of the spring on Monday. Torre said that the right-hander has been beating himself up over his performances in his first two games.

Pavano hasn't allowed a run in five innings this spring, giving up seven hits without walking a batter. Although the numbers look good, he hasn't been happy with his mechanics.