Baseball Post: 3 Picks - San Diego, Minnesota, Chicago (Southside)

May 22
John Smoltz (3-2) (ATL) vs. Jake Peavy (3-4) (SD)
Two of the best starters in the National League opposing each other down in that spacious Petco Park. I'm looking for a pitching duel here.
update: final score - ATL 3, SD 1 -- W - John Smoltz, L - Jake Peavy, SV - Chris Reitsma
This was more than a pitching duel. Jake Peavy strikes out 16(!) and comes away with a loss. That's the most strikeouts in a single game for any Padres pitcher ever and the only run support he gets is a solo home run from Mike Piazza. Smoltz only fanned 5, but he managed to out pitch Peavy where it counts - runs allowed.
John Smoltz: 7.0IP, 6H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 5SO, 0HR - W
Jake Peavey: 7.0IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 16SO, 1HR - LMay 23
Cliff Lee (3-4) (CLE) vs. Johan Santana (4-4) (MIN)
This one makes for an interesting match up between the ascending Indians against the fading Twins. Though I wouldn't look at Santana and see much fade going on there. Lee should have his work cut out for him in this one. Not that holding down the Twins' offense has been too difficult this year.
update: final score - CLE 5, MIN 6 (10 innings) -- W - Joe Nathan, L - Guillermo Mota
This one looked like Johan Santana's to win until Cleveland managed to rally back into the picture with some runs in the 5th and 6th innings. But they only managed to prolong things for an extra inning as Justin Morneau knocked in the walk off RBI. Cliff Lee seems a bit off of his numbers from last year so far.
Cliff Lee: 5.0IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 3BB, 2SO, 1HR - ND
Johan Santana: 7.0IP, 9H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, 5SO, 1HR - NDMay 24
Dan Haren (4-3) (OAK) vs. Mark Buehrle (5-2) (CHW)
I expect Buehrle to be tough in this one. I'd like to see if Haren is up to the challenge.
update: final score - OAK 2, CHW 3 -- W - Makr Buehrle, L - Dan Haren, SV - Bobby Jenks
This was my kind of ball game. Well pitched on both sides with just a sliver of offense making the difference for the home team. Haren could be the next great A's pitcher after Zito leaves. And the White Sox have great pitching in spades this year.
Dan Haren: 6.0IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 6SO, 0HR - L

Mark Buehrle: 7.0IP, 6H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 3SO, 0HR - W(Graphing by Fangraphs)