ESPN MLB

Originally Published: August 31, 2005

Crucial doubleheader on tap for Nats

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By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
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• 2:05 p.m. ET: Chicago's Orlando Hernandez pitches against the Rangers and Kameron Loe today, and if there's anybody in baseball who believes conspiracy theories about sign-stealing and flashing lights, it would be El Duque, who is routinely suspicious of motives. Should be amusing to see what system of signs he and catcher A.J. Pierzynski employ today, which makes this The Must-Watch Game of the Day.

• 3:35 p.m. ET: The Padres could just about bury the Diamondbacks in the NL West standings with a victory today, with Chan Ho Park throwing against Arizona's Javier Vazquez. San Diego has had similar chances earlier in the season, and hasn't gotten the job done; we'll see if it does today.

	Loaiza

	Hernandez

• 4:35 p.m. ET: The Nationals and Braves begin a doubleheader that could be treacherous for Washington, or highly rewarding -- depending on whether the Nationals are swept, or do the sweeping. Livan Hernandez and Esteban Loaiza pitch for Washington, against Atlanta's John Thomson and Horacio Ramirez.

• 7:05 p.m. ET: The Red Sox have a bit of breathing room now, but they've got to take advantage of the Devil Rays. Tim Wakefield of Boston throws against Tampa Bay's Casey Fossum, and there's something to watch for: The Devil Rays were very unhappy with home plate umpire Ed Montague Tuesday, and he'll presumably rotate tonight to third base, right in front of the Tampa Bay dugout in Fenway Park.

• 7:10 p.m. ET: The Mets could conceivably lead the wild-card race by the end of the day, and they've got Pedro Martinez pitching against the Phillies' Brett Myers, in a nice NL East showdown.

• 8:05 p.m. ET: When the Astros play the Cincinnatis of the NL, they've got to take advantage, and tonight, they've got an ex-Yankee going against an ex-Yankee prospect -- Andy Pettitte pitching against Brandon Claussen.

	Hernandez

	Johnson

• 10:05 p.m. ET: The Best Pitching Matchup of the Day will be in Seattle, where Randy Johnson pitches against King Felix Hernandez. The Most Likely Guy To Go Deep is Yorvit Torrealba, the Seattle catcher, who has a surprising history against Johnson from their days in the NL: Five hits, including one home run, in 12 at-bats. Johnson has allowed 29 home runs this year, one short of his career high.

• 10:05 p.m. ET: The A's have a chance to put some real daylight between themselves and the Angels, after winning the first game of this series on Tuesday. If the Athletics win tonight, when Joe Blanton pitches against John Lackey, Oakland would open up a three-game edge in the AL West. The Angels need this game.

Buster Olney is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. His book, "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty," is available in paperback and can be ordered through HarperCollins.com.