Cactus League Notes
Sox/Pirates
The Sox play the Pirates at Bradenton today with Bronson Arroyo getting the nod. Can't find Pirates starters?
Jays/Minnesota
The Twins play host to Toronto at 12:05 p.m. today. Righthanders Brad Radke and Roy Halladay are the scheduled starters.
Reds/Phillies
The Reds will welcome the Phillies to Ed Smith Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. ET tilt. Left-hander Jesus Sanchez (1-1, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for Cincinnati against Philadelphia right-hander Kevin Millwood (0-2, 15.95 ERA). David Bell went 1-for-4 in a minor league game on Thursday, and will travel to Sarasota for the game against the Reds.
Mtl/Houston
Can't find starters.
Balt/LA
The Orioles make their lone trip to Vero Beach on Friday to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Matt Riley is slated to start against Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo.
Det/Cards
The Tigers make their longest trip of the spring down to Jupiter, where they'll take on the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:05 p.m. ET. Gary Knotts makes another start in his case for the fifth spot in the rotation. Matt Morris will make his next-to-last start today against Detroit
Marlins/Mets
The Marlins will start Carl Pavano Friday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie. New York is going with Tyler Yates.
Yates, considered a longshot at the start of spring training, clearly has outpitched the other candidates, from former 20-game winner Scott Erickson to first-round draft pick Aaron Heilman. His 0.64 ERA is the second-lowest in the Grapefruit League to the Dodgers' Odalis Perez (0.60) and better than such household names as the Astros' Andy Pettitte (0.66) and the Red Sox' Derek Lowe (0.98).
"He's looked awesome," catcher Vance Wilson said. "He'll be able to get big-league hitters out, whether it's in the rotation or out of the bullpen. He's going to be a big asset."
Mike Piazza added, "With the way he's throwing, no question."
