Adam Wainwright

Cardinals SP Adam Wainwright pitched well for the third straight start since coming off the DL on Tuesday at Arizona. He allowed one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two to pick up the victory. Wainwright hasn't gone more than six innings in any of his three starts since returning from a sprained middle finger on his right hand. He has a 2.08 ERA during that stretch, though, and again looks like a must-start in all leagues. His next start is scheduled for Monday against the Cubs.

A Couple Pitchers to Pitch

Pitch

Joe Saunder

Jon Lester-At Home against Baltimore

John Danks-White Sox need a Win

Carlas Zambrano-First start after missing a start, watch his mechanics and pitch count

Livan Hernandez

Anibal Sanchez-he has been looking ok since being called up. Also playing Triple A Atlanta

Zack Greinke-Should get a win at home against struggling Oakland

Manny Parra-Against the Mets will be a big test for the young rookie pitcher

Glen Perkins- He has won 10-of his last 11.

Cole Hammels-Against Washington. This is the Start of the NIGHT.

Tim Lincecum-NL Strikeout leader against Colorado in Coors field.

Adam Wainwright- He is 1-1 since the finger injury

Ditch

Clayton Kershaw-WOW, Did not think he would be back in the Majors.

James Shields

James Shields got his 12th victory of the year while pitching 7 innings of 6-hit, 1-run ball. The lone score against him came in the in the 6th inning when Brian Roberts lead off with a single and finally scored on Kevin Millar's fielders choice grounder to third. That was the only run to be scored against Shields all day. In the effort, Shields picked up only 1 strikeout on the day.

Shields matched his career high in wins on Sunday during his 79th career start. His 2.41 ERA is second to Cliff Lee in homer ERA in 2008, and is ranked 4th in the majors this year. Shields has now won 7 out of his 9th starts at home, and for his short career, Shields is 20-8, with a 3.19 ERA in 49 home starts. Shields is also throwing 14 pitches per inning, ranked 5th fewest in the AL.
Let's put Shields year so far in prospective with his current AL rankings: He is ranked 5th in innings pitched this season with 184.2 innings. Shields is also 6th in strikeout/walks ratio, and 8th in walks/9 innings in the AL.

Two Start Pitchers for Week 23

American League
Joe Saunders, Paul Byrd, Jon Lester*, Clayton Richard or John Danks*, Cliff Lee, Justin Verlander, Chris Lambert*, Zack Greinke, Glen Perkins, Sidney Ponson, Mike Mussina, Carlos Silv or Ryan Feieranbend, Matt Garza, Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy*, David Purcey
National League
Two starts: Randy Johnson, Mike Hampton, Charlie Morton, Jason Marquis*, Carlos Zambrano*, Josh Fogg, Jorge de la Rosa, Josh Johnson, Roy Oswalt, Greg Maddux, Ben Sheets, Manny Parra, Johan Santana, Kyle Kendrick or Cole Hamels*, Ian Snell, Chris Young, Chae-Seung Baek, Jonathan Sanchez, Joel Pineiro or Adam Wainwright*, Tim Redding, John Lannan