Baseball in the Daytime: 4-22-09

After a single-game Patriot's Day special to start the week, and no pre-evening contests yesterday, day baseball is back with four matches for your Wednesday. Catch the jumps after the detail, or something to that effect, and take note, while you're there, just why any and all things prediction-related should be left to Cecil the Soothsayer.

Marlins @ Pirates, 11:35 Central: Ricky Nolasco and Paul Maholm are your starters in today's only pre-noon extravaganza. The home team has won two in a row and hovers a few notches above .500, while the visiting Floridians have, um, the best record -- 11-3 -- in baseball? I imagine nobody predicted such success. Maholm looks for win number three while Nolasco seeks his second. Catch the action on DirecTV 721, XM 183.

A's @ Yankees, 12:05: Due northish, it's lefty Brett Anderson for the visiting Athletics, and CC Sabathia gets the nod for the Bronx Bombers. Anderson, the 21 year-old lefty is still hungry for his first victory heading into his third big-league start, while King Happy Meal will attempt victory number two on the season. Oakland currently sits in third in a bizarre A.L. West, while the Yankees have been surging of late, bumping themselves within a game and-a-half of first-place Toronto. DirecTV has this one on 722 and 723. XM does its thing on channel 176.

Rockies @ Diamondbacks, 2:40: It'll be Dan Haren vs. Jorge de la Rosa this afternoon in Arizona. Both clubs have struggled thus far, and neither starter has logged a victory. The Rockies' lefty hasn't looked terrible, and has a decent history against Arizona, while Haren has an impressive 1.89 E.R.A., having given up only four runs through three starts and generating 17 Ks and 3 BBs in 19 innings pitched. DirecTV 724 has the cures for your ails. XM adds some elixir on 184.

Padres @ Giants, 2:45: Last but not least, we'll see the 2-0 righty Chris Young on the hill for San Diego, while the Giants call on 0-2 lefty Barry Zito. The Pads, another surprise, are but a half-game back of L.A. in the West, while Zito and his 10-even E.R.A. hasn't helped San Francisco much in their four wins, eight losses. Seven twenty-five is your DirecTV source for satellite arousal, while XM carries the tilt on 185.

That's your day baseball for the fourth of five hump days in April. Remember that while you're listening today, and see if you can't hump a co-worker's leg en route to the john.