The outcome of Monday’s games certainly tightened up the Wild Card races as well as setting the stage for more surprises today.

The Yankees, suddenly looking vulnerable late in the game face Toronto, while Boston tries to right the ship against a knuckleballer Steve Sparks in Detroit.

Randy Johnson needs to win, what else is new, to snap an Arizona losing streak and Jon Leiber hopes he can fool the Braves for the second time in a week.

The A’s throw another lefty at the Devil Rays and Baltimore tries to beat one of the best righties in the league, Joel Pineiro.

Here’s what I think today.Rick Helling didn’t have much last night in Pac Bell. Arizona is extremely vulnerable to lefthanders. Southpaw reliever Chad Zerbe came in to rescue Ryan Jensen and snuffed out any hope of a comeback by the Snakes.

Randy Johnson is better than Giants starter Russ Ortiz. The Diamondbacks will need fewer runs to get the job done today. Ortiz is a mystery as to why he doesn’t win more often. Arizona had chances to get back into the game last night, but couldn’t come up with the clutch hit. Today Russ Ortiz’ control issues should help the Diamondbacks get more runners on base and hence one or two well timed hits will turn the game in their favor.

The A’s throw another lefty at Tampa Bay. It really isn’t fair matching Mark Mulder up against Jorge Sosa, an untested rookie. I saw Sosa in spring training and he opened everyone’s eyes one afternoon in Maryvale, the home of the Brewers spring games.

You see, Sosa came into the game in the seventh inning, the scouts were sitting back and relaxing, not expecting very much from this Rule V draftee. All of a sudden he was throwing 98 MPH with movement. Everyone looked at each other in amazement. A few days later, Sosa moved onto Tampa Bay because Milwaukee didn’t want to keep the kid on their roster all year.

Tampa Bay has allowed the converted position player (outfielder) to progress slowly, but in his last start he threw a two hitter against Anaheim for seven innings.

The A’s eat up young throwers like Sosa. He is 23 and has a world of potential. Against the patient A’s, his pitch count will soar by the fourth inning and his night will end. He is similar to Seattle’s Rafael Soriano, a hard thrower who really hasn’t learned how to pitch and unfortunately has to do it in the major leagues.

Mark Mulder gets more confident each start and should be an easy winner today on getaway night. Maybe Eric Chavez will break out of his slump against Sosa since Chavez loves to hack at fastballs, he’ll see a few.

Jeff Weaver gets another crack at Toronto. They have hit him hard in two starts this season. Toronto gets on these rolls at home from time to time, I think it has to do with the visiting teams not being comfortable on artificial turf. In either case, Toronto is capable of winning again today against a Yankee team that needs a complete game from Weaver. Pete Walker has had his good moments this season, but he will need a lot of relief to get this job done.

Boston didn’t get enough off of Jose Lima (three runs) before knocking him out last night. Wayne Gomes blew the game for the Sox in extra innings, the first of many that he will let slip away. The Sox aren’t hitting (they actually are thinking of bringing in Mo Vaughn), and face a knuckleballer Steve Sparks who can be dominating at times. Boston lit Sparks up once this year and I have a feeling they will do it again.

The game of the day matches Eric Milton against Jarrod Washburn. Milton simply owns the Angels and Minnesota can be slowed by a top lefty, which Washburn is.

Unbelievably, Anaheim crushed Milton in his last start against them, but it was an aberration. Washburn has had two nice starts against the Twins this season.

Could this be a 2-1 or 3-2 game, it sure looks like one. If it goes to the bull pen, the Twins have a big edge.

Andy Benes is back for St. Louis. Benes has had a nice career. When he was on top of his game he could only pitch five good innings. What can the Cards expect tonight? Get the bull pen ready Tony, you’ll need them early.

Montreal has traded for eveything in sight except for what they really need, a closer. Last night’s meltdown was another example of how poor their late inning game really is. Manager Frank Robinson said after the game last night that he is taking the blame for the eight run ninth inning the Phillies put up.

Huh, maybe I missed something, but I didn’t see Robinson’s name in the box score. Is Jeff Shaw still available?

Tony Armas, Jr is a terrific young pitcher, but he better go nine tonight. This one will end up in the Expos favor because the Phillies pen is worse than Montreal’s.

The Mets are at .500. Mark this date in case they decide they are done sleepwalikg through the season. Pitching is still the name of the game and they have it. I still see a run coming from the Mets. Al Leiter can win today in a close game with Josh Beckett.

Some of my other favorites are going today. Elmer Dessens for Cincy, Roy Oswalt for Houston, Jon Leiber for the Cubs, Joel Pineiro for Seattle, and any lefty against Texas (today it is that well known southpaw, Darrel May in KC).

Yesterday was pretty good, today may have more suprises.