hot spots

The last day of September shapes up as a very entertaining day in baseball. From a Mississippi perspective, keep an eye on the events in St. Louis, where Ole Miss product Lance Lynn (17-7) starts for the Cardinals against Washington. The Cards are still hunting the second wild card in the National League; the Nationals are still trying to fend off Atlanta in the NL East and also battling for the league’s best record. In Atlanta, former Mississippi Braves star Kris Medlen (9-1) goes to the bump to face the New York Mets. Hattiesburg native Fred Lewis could play a role there for the Mets. In the crazy American League, Texas, clinging to first place by 2½ games in the West, plays host to the wild card hopeful Los Angeles Angels in a doubleheader. Former Mississippi State standout Mitch Moreland figures to get some big at-bats for the Rangers. And Weir’s Roy Oswalt might be needed out of the Texas pen again. Oakland, 2½ games behind Texas and 2½ games up on the Angels in the No. 2 wild card race, hosts Seattle. UM alumnus Seth Smith likely will be in the Oakland lineup today against Mariners righty Erasmo Ramirez. Baltimore, currently tied with the New York Yankees atop the East, hosts Boston, cast in a rare role as spoiler. Ex-M-Braves Jarrod Saltalamacchia (25 homers) and Mauro Gomez (.281) swing big sticks for the BoSox. Still waiting on a Bill Hall (Nettleton) sighting in the Orioles’ lineup. Tampa Bay, still alive (barely) in both the East Division and wild card races, is at Chicago, where the White Sox have dropped 2 games behind Detroit in the Central. The Rays have former Itawamba CC star Desmond Jennings, who struck out four times in their win on Saturday. Does he get benched today? The ChiSox have Jackson native Donnie Veal, a big lefty who has been a good addition to their bullpen. P.S. Former M-Braves star Craig Kimbrel, a legit NL Cy Young candidate, notched his 41st save on Saturday. Of his 21 pitches, 14 were at 96 mph or better, including a 100. His last pitch was a knee-buckling breaking ball for strike three.