Most teams in baseball get decent starting pitching from their number one thru three starters. What really separates the very good teams from the also rans is the back end of the rotation.

With off days common the first month of the season, most teams go with a four man rotation, not needing a fifth starter until May.

On Friday, the fourth starters were working all over baseball. It’s worth a look to see who did what, because if you have agood one, things are looking up for your team.

Click below and let’s see what happened.Ted Lilly did everything I thought he would except consistently throw a 90 MPH fastball. Lilly is a man who knows how to pitch and I’ll stick by my prediction that he will be the surprise of the AL this season. He had the Angels mesmerized with his curve ball. He threw fastballs in the 88-90 range and then would come back with a 75 MPH breaking ball. The absolute formula for success.

By beating Aanheim, he showed he could stop one of the top offenses in baseball. Anaheim pounded lefties last season, even though it is early, it was a significant win for the tough minded lefty Friday night. Big plus for Oakland.

David Cone answered Art Howe’s prayers for a well pitched game by going five superb innings against the Expos. Can Cone do it again? I was skeptical to begin with about his chances Friday night, but who knows what he can do. He’s a vet who gets by on guile which counts for something today. Once Pedro Astacio comes back from his arm miseries perhaps Cone can be a fifth starter and give the Mets’ young pitchers time to develop in AAA.

Ryan Franklin went six innings in his 2003 debut for Seattle. Decent job and he should be fine in that spot. The Mariners got a big lift from Kaz Sasaki who struck out four in the ninth to save the game after looking horrible against Oakland on Thursday.

Today Gil Meche pitches against Texas and this is a bigger game than Franklin’s for Seattle. Meche has top of the rotation stuff, is coming back from injuries, and the team needs him to step up and perhaps become the number two guy on the staff. This game should be watched by everyone in the AL West.

John Burkett of Boston did a fine job shutting the weak Orioles down. Five solid innings then the bull pen almost gave the game away. I know we all love to bash the bull pen by committee concept the Red Sox are using, but truthfully their secondary pitching leaves a lot to be desired.

John Halama who has a whammy on the Angels makes his debut for Oakland today against recovering pitcher Jarrod Washburn. If Halama gets hammered by Anaheim, then the boo birds will be out at the Coliseum. Halama is tough on the hill, but lacks great stuff. The division will be watching this game too. If Halama gives the A’s five to six good innings, watch out because Hudson flips the rotation tomorrow. I said 15-5 through the first 20 for the A’s, I’ll stick with it.

David Wells drunk or not, was superb through eight innings against the Devil Rays. Not good news for Boston. Jeff Weaver pitches today for NY and this AL East will be in big trouble if he continues his excellent spring work as the Yankees FIFTH starter.

Tanyon Sturtze, a big loser last season with Tampa Bay, threw quite well for Toronto against the Twins in Minnesota. Righties don’t do well in the Metrodome against the Twins, just ask Tim Hudson, so Sturtze’s game was sensational. Rick Reed was average for the Twins, but he gave them six innings and they were in the game.

Kevin Appier needs about five runs to win a game because once he has to start putting the ball over the plate he is in trouble. His stuff just isn’t that good. Anaheim will struggle in his starts unless they hit for him early in the game.

Esteban Loaiza threw extremely well for the White Sox. His game was a big plus for Chicago because Buerhle and Colon now come up giving Chicago a chance to gain some momentum after their debacle in Kansas City.

How about them Royals? Fourth starter Chris George did beautifully shutting down the toothless Indians. Even so, a 4-0 start for KC should make some folks in the Central take notice because the first three in the rotation can pitch. Nice win for George Friday.

Colby Lewis pitches for Texas today. He is a young man with tremendous potential but will need bull pen help. Not the formula for success with Texas. Lewis is at least capable of keeping Texas in the game which should move him up in the rotation by June if he progresses in his first full season as a big league starter.

Ryan Jensen is on shaky ground for SF. When was the last time he dominated an opponent?

Byung Kim did his job well for Arizona. Don’t you think they could have found some way to make Erubial Durazo happy since the Diamondbacks just can’t generate any offense. Shawn Chacon almost no hit them Friday IN Colorado, which ups his stock immeasurably.

The Astros won with their bull pen once again Brian Moehler is a project and for a pennant contender he will not make the grade.

Jeff Suppan did a nice job as Pittsburgh’s fourth man. If the Pirates keep hitting anything can happen. Don’t count on their offense, but their pitching came through in the first week.

Shawn Estes got rocked in Cincy by the Reds. He just doesn’t get people out. What happened to the once promising lefty?

Joe Roa got lit up by the Pirates. Not a good game for the Phillies righty. He isn’t the answer for a top of the line fourth guy.

Bad news for Dodger haters, Darren Dreifort threw six solid innings for LA before losing it. With proper handling by the manager, he will be a formidable back of the rotation guy this year.

These pitchers seem obscure when compared to the big three on a team, but they are the difference between being in contention or falling into a losing streak and having a long summer.

And we really haven’t even seen the fifth guys yet.

Just wait for the summer.