Two things are abundantly clear in the American league. The White Sox are in dire need of help with their bull pen and the A’s and Mariners are going to have a classic battle all season long for supremacy in the AL West.Today things get interesting as the teams dip into the third and fourth starters on the pitching staffs. I firmly believe that the way the back end of the rotation pitches, is critical to a team’s season long success. If Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling win 20 games each, the Diamondbacks still need quality starts from Todd Stottlemyre, Brian Anderson, and Rick Helling.

Corey Lidle simply was crushed by Texas early in the season last year. Today, he needs to give the A’s 7 innings as the Oakland pen needed six pitchers to get the final nine outs last night. Is it my imagination, but isn’t Jeff Tam struggling to get outs these days?

Doug Davis, a Bay Area native and a pupil now of Hall of Famer, Nolan Ryan (Texas spring training instructor) has pitched well against the A’s. Lefties hit him better than righties and the A’s Carlos Pena, Jeremy Giambi, and Dave Justice may again have a good afternoon against Davis. The ball travels a lot better during day games in Oakland.

Shawn Estes goes for the Mets. Estes loved pitching in the old park in Pittsburgh. Maybe the air in the Steel City agrees with him. The Mets will watch him closely since he will be sky high for his first NY start. I predict a big day for Estes.

Joe Mays versus Roy Halliday. Mays follows Radke and Milton. Like the A’s, the Twins first three give the team a chance to win every time out. Halliday was outstanding when he came back to the big leagues last July. Toronto is quietly counting on him to ease into the ace’s role on this team. Good match up.

The Devil Rays have flame throwers in the pen. Paul Wilson had a great start last night. Somehow, this team closed well last year and is 2-0 in 2002. Jose Lima will give up a couple of bombs today for the Tigers.

Ryan Jensen follows Livan Hernandez and Russ Ortiz. Now it’s Arizona’s chance to watch the back of the Giants rotation. The Dodgers throw their sleeper, Odalis Perez. Former Braves usually don’t do well away from pitching coach Leo Mazzone, but this kid can pitch. If the Dodgers don’t walk Barry Bonds in all situations today, it will be another long night for the Bums. Maybe the fact that Perez is a lefty will help slow the Giants star.

Pitchers that will have a significant impact on their teams pennant chances throwing today are Juan Cruz for the Cubs against the Reds, Brad Penny, (has he matured enough), for the Marlins, Terry Adams, (how’s his elbow?), for the Phils, and Jason Marquis, the next big Atlanta star for the Braves.

Andy Benes hasn’t shown he can throw more than five innings in a game for the past year. The Cardinals used the pen last night for five innings, they better be ready today for four more, at least.

How about Kerry Wood? Ten strike outs in the fifteen outs he recorded. 104 pitches in five innings. He is my Cy Young choice in the NL. Watch out Randy and Curt.