The schedule shifts to the NL parks this Friday.

Now the games take on a different look as the AL pitchers have to grab a bat.

There is no DH, plus if the pitchers knock somebody down, they may be ducking a few inside fastballs when they come up to bat.

Watch out Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez, the hitters you knocked down over the years will be exhorting their pitchers to give you some well deserved payback.

Who has the edge in the weekend games?

Click “Read More” and we’ll see.

The powerhouse AL teams Seattle, Oakland, New York, and Boston all have more trouble scoring runs in this phase of interleague play because there is no DH in the NL stadiums.

Even though Seattle is light years ahead of San Diego as a team, they will struggle this weekend down in San Diego without the extra hitter in the lineup.

Brett Tomko owes Lou Piniella’s team. Seattle never gave Tomko a full chance when he came over from the Reds for Ken Griffey, Jr. Finally shipping Tomko to San Diego last winter.

Tomko is throwing the ball very well, striking out hitters with a good slider. His opponent Freddy Garcia is on a high right now.

Seattle probably sits Mark McLemore in San Diego and plays Ruben Sierra in leftfield. Seattle has been relying on speed to score runs, losing McLemore takes a weapon away from Lou’s team.

Maybe it’s wishful thinking for A’s fans, but I think the Pads will sneak two wins this weekend in the Border City.

Anaheim will slow Kaz Ishii down Friday night. Ramon Ortiz is pitching the best ball of his career. The Angels have done surprisingly well since their horrid April start.

The Seraphs have won six straight road games against lefties. Ishii, a lefthander, says he is finally in a groove, adjusting to the American game from Japan.

The Angels need the DH. Brad Fullmer may be playing full time this weekend since Scott Spiezio isn’t the longball threat Fullmer is.

In any case, these will be low scoring, whose got the best bull pen type of games.

Troy Percival and Eric Gagne can close any game. There won’t be any ninth inning magic in this series.

The A’s will learn what every road team learns when playing in Pac Bell Park. You better play good defense, keep Barry Bonds in the yard, and score quickly because opponents don’t play catch up very well in San Francisco.

Oakland’s outfield defense will be put to the test. Terrence Long may indeed have a long weekend running balls down in right center field. Lucky for him he moves better laterally then north to south. Triples alley in rightcenter field is where he will be hanging out.

Shinjo has put on a clinic in center all season for the Giants, he may be the difference in this series.

Jason Schmidt is throwing better than anytime in his career. Tim Hudson is a big game pitcher for the A’s.

When these two teams play at Pac Bell, Oakland has had more trouble scoring runs than the Giants.

The A’s don’t play small ball very well. Art Howe will miss writing Dave Justice’s name in the line up, just because he is a threat to make something happen, even though he rarely does.

Both bull pens are somewhat shaky right now. These games will be decided in the late innings which evens the playing field for the A’s.

Howe says ala Brooklyn Dodger manager Charlie Dressen in the 50’s,

“Just keep it close for seven and I’ll think of something”

The Mets started the week pretty well against Cleveland before losing two to the White Sox.

Andy Pettite comes off the DL for his first start in almost two months for the Bombers.

The Mets are 9-6 against lefties and at least have an overall winning record at home in what looks to be a very disappointing year.

Friday’s starter Steve Trachsel wins games he has no business winning. Friday night feels like one of those special Trachsel games.

Without Mariano Rivera the Yanks are vulnerable. Putting DH Nick Johnson on the bench doesn’t help the Yankee offense.

I can’t wait to see who Shawn Estes decks on Saturday as payback for the behavior of Roger Clemens in the World Series two years ago. If Clemens pitches Saturday, he must go down and go down hard, or Estes will forever be tagged as a pitcher who didn’t protect his hitters (MIke Piazza was beaned by Clemens).

In the baseball world, it is a kiss of death to be branded as a coward.

Estes better be careful.

I don’t know who Pedro Martinez has offended in his career, but believe me he has buzzed someone on the Braves. Pedro usually doesn’t pitch in the NL parks during interleague play because he doesn’t want to risk being thrown at during his at bats.

Pedro needs to win his game since he has been less than sharp in his last few outings fueling specualtion that his arm may be bothering him.

Manny Ramirez is on his way back next week, the Red Sox need him because their pitching will hit a wall next month.

Derek Lowe has been fabulous this season, but he has never thrown this many innings before. Lowe probably will start the All Star game for the AL if he continues to dominate in June. After the dream game, watch out.

No team has hit Curt Schilling so far this year. I don’t expect Detroit to touch the big righty either. Things will change when Rick Helling goes to the mound. The Tigers are used to seeing Helling’s 85 MPH fastballs from his days in Texas.

The games will be closer and tighter than last weeks first weekend of interleague play. The bull pens will be a factor, defense will be very important, and the NL will prevail in their home parks.

They usually do.