Braden Looper (5-3, 4.24) takes the mound tonight for the Crew. He spent five seasons as a Marlin back around the turn of the millenium. He was a reliever then and wound up saving 46 games for the team. He even picked up a World Series win back in 2003. This will be his third start and 203rd appearance overall in Dolphin Land Shark Stadium. Looper had an effective start against the Reds his last time out, giving up two hits and two runs in seven innings on only 95 pitches. Ken Macha no doubt wants to see similar efficiency tonight.
Another member of the Florida Marlins' should-be-barnstorming basketball team, 6'8" lefthander Sean West (0-0, 2.25) is making his third career start. West was the 44th pick of the 2005 draft and cruised through the minors despite missing the 2007 due to a shoulder injury. He has yet to win or lose in the majors, despite giving up only 3 runs over 12 innings. He's issued five free passes to go along with seven strikeouts. Pretty good start for a kid who hadn't pitched above AA before debuting eleven days ago. Of course, you expect that sort of beginning from the 44th overall pick in the draft.
Mike Cameron and Corey Hart are back in the lineup tonight while Craig Counsell tries to remember what it's like not to start two out of three games:
Corey Hart RF
Casey McGehee 2B
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Mike Cameron CF
JJ Hardy SS
Bill Hall 3B
Jason Kendall C
Braden Looper P
Mike Burns saved the rest of the bullpen last night by pitching four innings:
Mark DiFelice has not pitched since Sunday but was hoping to resume throwing today. I don't know if he did.
Carlos Villanueva pitched one inning Monday.
Seth McClung pitched one inning Monday after throwing three on Saturday.
Todd Coffey pitched one inning Monday.
Trevor Hoffman has not pitched since Sunday.
Mitch Stetter has not pitched since Sunday.
Mike Burns threw four innings last night.
This game thread is officially open with minutes to spare.