Let's go DRAFT HEAVY today as we review the news and notes from around the Division:
- With the 22nd pick in the first round of the amateur draft, the Cardinals tabbed junior second baseman Kolten Wong out of the University of Hawai'i. Wong put together a .378/.492/.560 line en route to a first-team All WAC selection in 2011.
- The Reds selected high school pitcher Robert Stephenson with the 27th selection in the first round. Stephenson stands 6'2" and weighs 190 pounds, but despite the slender frame, he's got a fastball that's been clocked as high as 98 mph.
- As expected, the Pirates grabbed hard-throwing UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole with the first overall selection in the first round.
- The Cubs selected high school infielder Javier Baez (Jacksonville, FL) with the ninth pick in the first round. Chicago isn't sure where Baez will play in the minors -- since they're set at shortstop with Stalin Castro, Baez might end up a third base -- but the Cubs decided they couldn't pass on Baez's bat.
- Houston made UConn outfielder George Springer the 11th pick in the first round. Springer was the Big East player of the year and hit .350 with 12 homers and 77 RBI for the Huskies, who earned a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals last night with a 14-1 romp over Clemson.
Yesterday's action:
- Milwaukee completed the four-game sweep of the Marlins and shaved St. Louis' division lead to just 1.5 games with a 7-2 romp over the Fish in Miami. Our recap is here.
- What's the cure for a scuffling team that's dropped all the way back to .500 on the year? A visit from the Cubs, of course: Cincinnati got well (at least for a night) at the expense of the Baby Bears, stomping Chicago, 8-2, at Great American Ballpark and handing the Cubs their seventh consecutive loss. Matt Garza's return to the Cubs rotation was short-lived, as the right-hander lasted just four innings, giving up six hits and three walks and allowing four earned runs. Jeff Samardzija took over for Garza but his results weren't much better, as he got touched for three runs (via a Jonny Gomes three-run homer) on three hits in two innings of work. Mike Leake went eight innings for the Reds to pick up his fifth win on the year.
- Everybody else -- St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Houston -- had the day off.
Your updated standings for June 7:
| W | L | GB | Last 10 | Streak | |
| Cardinals | 36 | 25 | -- | 6-4 | W3 |
| Brewers | 34 | 26 | 1.5 | 7-3 | W4 |
| Reds | 31 | 30 | 5.0 | 5-5 | W1 |
| Pirates | 28 | 30 | 6.5 | 6-4 | L1 |
| Cubs | 23 | 35 | 11.5 | 2-8 | L7 |
| Astros | 23 | 37 | 12.5 | 4-6 | L3 |
On tap for tonight:
- St. Louis is in Houston for a three-game set with the Astros. Game one starts at 7:05 p.m. tonight and features St. Louis right-hander Jake Westbrook (5-3, 5.15) and Houston righty Brett Myers (2-4, 4.82).
- The Crew welcomes the Mets to town for a three-game series that opens at 7:10 p.m. tonight. Former Brewer Chris Capuano (3-6, 5.19) takes on Shaun Marcum (6-2, 2.78).
- The Cubs and Reds continue their series at 6:10 p.m. tonight at Great American Ballpark. Chicago lefty Doug Davis (0-4, 5.95) looks to pick up his first win of the year, while Edinson Volquez (3-2, 6.35) makes his return to the Reds rotation after his recent banishment to AAA.
- The Pirates continue their homestand with a three-game series vs. the Diamondbacks that begins at 6:05 p.m. tonight. Scheduled to start: for the Bucs, Kevin Correia (8-4, 3.40); for the Snakes, Daniel Hudson (6-5, 4.22).