The Cardinals took two of three from the Astros, but tough times may be ahead for their starting pitchers.With Woody Williams on the DL, Bud Smith who had major control problems this spring, will be recalled for the start this Thursday. Darryl Kile and Garrett Stephenson are both coming off surgeries and will be questionable until they regain their arm strength. Andy Benes, a medical marvel to be pitching at all, holds down the fourth spot. Matt Morris threw 125 pitches Sunday and will be held back until this Friday, giving the righty an extra day’s rest. Not good news.

The Cards blew a three run ninth inning lead on Sunday and eventually lost the game in extra innings. The mystery of why Jason Isringhausen was not summoned in the ninth has been solved. Isringhausen threw one inning in non save situations, Thursday and Friday. He warmed up Saturday, but wasn’t used by Tony LaRussa. When it came to crunch time on Sunday, Izzy was unavailable. This was the scenario that Art Howe dealt with for two years, wondering when his closer would be available. Mike Timlin better stay warm.

John Smoltz worked out of a first and third, none out situation in the ninth inning on Monday to preserve Kevin Millwood’s win. Smoltz got in immediate trouble, but popped up Scott Rolen and then punched out the next two hitters to save the game. Smoltz doesn’t panic.

The A’s are vulnerable to good lefthanded pitching. They have faced three lefty starters this year who have held them to seven runs in nineteen innings of work. Only the best lefthanders can hold the A’s down for the count. They stay close until someone gets on and then the big hit follows. I’m sure the Yankees thought of this when they signed David Wells to go along with Andy Pettitte.

Texas hasn’t hit a lefty yet. The Rangers are 0-3 against lefties, scoring 5 runs in 22.3 innings against lefty starters. Texas faces one of the best AL lefties next in Barry Zito.

The Royals may be the worst of all against lefties. Mark Buerhle and Eric Milton have pitched a combined 13 innings against KC yielding 7 hits and no runs. Those are the only two lefties they have faced so far in 2002, so we’ll have to see what happens when Mike Sweeney heats up.

Cleveland on the other hand is now 3-0 against lefties. Travis Fryman has come back and appears to be an effective righthanded power hitter. The Tribe has beaten Jarrod Washburn, Mark Redmond, and Eric Milton.

The Toronto rotation is in shambles, meaning Buck Martinez may be the next manager to go. Opening day starter, Chris Carpenter is on the DL. Roy Halliday is looking good, then it falls apart with Brian Cooper, Luke Prokopec, Scott Eyre, and Brandon Lyon.

I don’t care how much they hit, with that pitching Buck’s day’s are numbered. He is keeping the seat warm for A’s bench coach Ken Macha.

Due to the rainout Sunday, Jon Leiber pitches today for the Cubs, pushing Kerry Wood back one day.

If the Padres could face Arizona’s Brian Anderson every day, they would be in the pennant race.

The Mariners came back to win their fourth game of the season Monday night. This is the third time they have had to rally from a deficit late in the game to win. Two things, why are they in trouble all the time with their deep pitching ( no clutch hitting from Jeff Cirillo) and two, this team is very dangerous with the game on the line (Ichiro and Olerud). I still don’t think it’s a good sign in the long run.

Not having Troy Percival to close makes the late innings very shaky for the Halos. Anaheim still can’t hit consistently, but their starting pitching is above average.

Hideo Nomo versus Russ Ortiz, Giants versus Dodgers, the fog rolls in, good baseball for the fans. The weather can’t help Rich Aurillia’s sore groin. The Giants are getting a lot of sore leg muscles, maybe the trainer should take notice.