A number of All-Star arms return to the mound for the first time since the mid-summer classic on Saturday afternoon. Topping the list are Ben Sheets, Carlos Zambrano, Aaron Cook, Dan Haren, Roy Halladay, and Joe Saunders.
Sheets and Zambrano will both try to lead their teams to much-needed wins Saturday when the Brewers face the Giants and the Cubs take on the Astros. Sheets, who started the All-Star Game and pitched two shutout innings, went 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA through the first half.
The Giants will send Jonathan Sanchez (8-5, 3.97) to the mound. Zambrano also pitched two shutout innings in the All-Star Game. He was 10-3 with a 2.84 ERA in the first half. Opposing Zambrano for Houston will be Wandy Rodriguez (4-3, 3.48).
The Cubs are five games up on the Brewers in the NL Central, and at they're a 1/3 favorite to win the division, while Milwaukee is a 5/2 underdog. Check out all the divisional future odds and World Series future odds at and other quality sportsbooks.
Cook had a very good first half with an 11-6 record and a 3.57 ERA for the disappointing Rockies. Cook threw three innings on Tuesday night, allowing four hits and walking three, but he didn't allow a run to the AL. Cook's emergence as the Rockies' new ace wasn't enough to keep them in contention in the first half.
Colorado is going to need another huge second-half run reminiscent of last season to get back to the playoffs. That's why they're a 10/1 dog to win the West at . On Saturday the Rockies will look for a win versus rookie Yoslan Herrera (0-0, 12.46) and the Pirates.
Haren will be on the mound for the Diamondbacks on Saturday versus the Dodgers. Haren (8-5, 2.72) pitched two shutout innings in the All-Star Game and even though his record doesn't show it he entered the break red-hot with a 3-1 mark and a 1.45 ERA in his last nine starts.
Arizona entered the weekend with only a one-game lead on the Dodgers in the West and this one could go down to the wire. Over at the oddsmakers have Arizona and Los Angeles both listed as 1/1 co-favorites to win the division.
Opposing Haren for the Dodgers on Saturday will be Chad Billingsley (9-8. 3.25), who was 4-1 in his last five starts before the break.
In the AL Halladay (11-6, 2.71) leads the Blue Jays against Tampa Bay's Matt Garza (7-5, 3.96). Halladay only pitched one inning in the All-Star Game, allowing one hit and no runs. In his last three starts Halladay is 3-0, which includes a pair of complete-game shutouts.
The Jays' playoff hopes could be dead unless they quickly get it going in the second half, as they sit well behind Boston in the East. Tampa Bay is slumping after losing their last seven games before the break. The Rays are 1/1 to take the East at , while the Jays are a 200/1 longshot.
The Red Sox send Josh Beckett (9-5, 3.94) to the mound on Saturday versus the Angels' All-Star Saunders (12-5, 3.07). Saunders, who pitched one shutout inning on Tuesday, had an excellent first half for someone who wasn't even guaranteed a rotation spot in spring training.
Beckett wasn't his usual dominant self in the first half after some early back trouble, but he could be a big part of the Sox running away with the East if he gets back in form. The Sox lead the East futures at 4/7, while the Angels are heavy favorites in the West at 1/20 after Oakland continued dismantling their starting rotation.