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Originally Published: September 9, 2005

Over The Schilling?

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By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
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	Curt Schilling Starting Pitcher Boston Red Sox Profile
	2005 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L BB K ERA 27 5 7 14 60 6.83

• 1:15 p.m. ET: Curt Schilling has allowed 27 hits and 5 walks in 17.1 innings over three starts since returning to the Red Sox rotation, or about two baserunners per inning. That's the sort of ratio that would get a rookie demoted. But Schilling has more history to fall back on, and he has indicated he's feeling better, stronger in each successive start, and just needs time for consistency. If he continues to be flawed, the Yankees will exploit his problems today in The Must-Watch Game of the Day. The Yankees will go with Shawn Chacon, and a New York win today will put the pressure squarely on the Red Sox. The Most Likely Guy To Go Deep is Alex Rodriguez -- if Schilling throws him a strike -- because A-Rod is swinging with high confidence these days.

• 1:15 p.m.: Washington has a pulse. Not a strong pulse, but a pulse indeed, with the Nationals standing three games out of the wild-card lead. With Atlanta in town, Washington ace Livan Hernandez works for the Nationals, against Jorge Sosa.

• 1:15 p.m.: With Bartolo Colon hurting but still intending to start, the Angels face Jon Garland, who is only three victories shy of 20 for the season. All logic points to a Chicago victory, which makes the Angels The Reverse Lock of the Day, on a day when the Angels need to win to keep pace with the other contenders.

• 7:05 p.m.: Cleveland keeps taking down opponents, one after another; on Friday, the Indians beat the Twins and Johan Santana. Next up: Minnesota rookie Scott Baker. Scott Elarton, who threw well in his last outing, works for the Indians.

• 7:05 p.m.: The Phillies put the brakes on their losing ways on Friday, and today, they have to keep that momentum going forward in the second game of their series with Florida -- the Must-Win Game of the Day, because Philadelphia has a good pitching match-up. Brett Myers, the Phillies' ace, throws against Florida rookie Jason Vargas, who has thrown out stinkers in two of his last three outings.

• 7:05 p.m.: Certainly there are Brewers' fans well-aware of this factoid: Milwaukee is as close to the wild-card lead, 5½ games back, as the Mets. With a win today against Houston, the Brewers would achieve a .500 record. Andy Pettitte throws for Houston against Milwaukee's Tomo Ohka.

• 7:15 p.m.: The white flag may soon be raised out over the beleaguered Mets. But not yet. Steve Trachsel throws for New York against the Cardinals' Jeff Suppan.

• 8:05 p.m.: Oakland survived the first night of its Texas experience, and in Game 2, the Athletics go with the guy who has been their most consistent pitcher since the All-Star break -- rookie Joe Blanton, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last nine starts. He's had some trouble against the Rangers this year, going 0-2 with a 4.77 ERA, but then again, a lot of pitchers have had trouble against Texas. Kameron Loe throws for the Rangers.

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.