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Cubs: Harden has not been consistent this season. On June 29, he held the Pirates to one run on nine hits over seven innings. In his next start, against the Brewers, he gave up seven runs on eight hits over two-plus innings, the shortest start of the right-hander's career. Harden has now given up seven or more runs six times in his career. It was the 10th time in his career and fourth time this season in which Harden has given up two or more home runs in a game. He may wish he could pitch only on the road. Harden has given up 19 earned runs in 19 innings across his past four home starts.

Tigers: Jackson will make his final start before his first All-Star Game looking to end a personal five-game winless streak that has been more a matter of bad support than bad pitching, a season-long issue many players recognized when they voted him onto the AL's All-Star squad. All five games have been low-scoring battles and one-run decisions, four of them by a 4-3 score. He struck out nine Minnesota Twins over 6 1/3 innings last Saturday at the Metrodome yet took a no-decision when Detroit's bullpen couldn't hold onto the lead. His lone appearance against Cleveland this season involved seven scoreless innings and seven strikeouts in a 4-0 win on May 9 at Progressive Field.

Phillies: In his last outing against the Mets and two-time Cy Young Award-winner Johan Santana, Blanton looked like the better pitcher. He tossed seven innings of shutout ball, allowing just four hits and striking out five. His fastball was consistently around 88-91 mph, although he reached the mid-90s during some crucial at-bats. He also benefited from some quality defense behind him. Still, Blanton has rebounded from early season struggles by going 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA over his past eight starts. In his lone career start against Pittsburgh, he threw seven scoreless innings and struck out seven, receiving a no-decision.

Orioles: Berken pitched relatively well in his last game, but was pulled with a three-run lead and the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Los Angeles went on to score two more runs, both charged to Berken, who has been removed before completing five innings in six of his last seven starts. The Orioles scored four runs for him in his last outing after totaling four runs in his previous six outings.

Mets: Although he wasn't nearly as effective as he had been in his first three starts with the Mets, Nieve deserved a slightly better fate when he faced the Phillies on Saturday. He was charged with four runs in 5 2/3 innings, but the fourth was unearned and scored after he had been removed. Moreover, Nieve's own inability to execute a sacrifice bunt may have denied the Mets a run -- or not. As it was, Nieve allowed six hits and six walks. Now, he faces a team against which he has pitched five times, once as a starter. He has a convenience store ERA -- 7.11 -- in 6 1/3 innings against the Reds. Only three position players on the Reds' roster have faced Nieve, and they have merely five at-bats against him.

Red Sox: Lester might not be considered the No. 1 starter in Boston's rotation, but his numbers over the past five weeks are downright ace-like. The lefty has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts, sporting a 61:12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over that span. He has dominated the Royals in three career starts, including last season's no-hitter, posting a 1.64 ERA in 22 innings.

Rays: Niemann returns to the rotation after sitting out a turn, which enabled the Rays' No. 1 starter James Shields to make an extra start before the All-Star break. The 26-year-old rookie will be making his 16th start of the season and his first since June 29 at Toronto, when he beat Roy Halladay. During his hiatus from the starting rotation, Niemann made one appearance from the bullpen in which he allowed three runs in three innings at Texas on July 4. The Rays have won nine of Niemann's previous 10 starts. He will be making his second career start against the A's; his first one occurred on May 18, when he allowed three earned runs on eight hits in eight innings for his first win at Tropicana Field.

Brewers: Looper gets the call for Milwaukee's series opener against Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers. He limited the Cubs to two runs on six hits in six innings on Independence Day despite working without the good command of his fastball. He has a 4.68 ERA in 24 career appearances against the Dodgers, all but one of those games in relief. The lone start was a win last Aug. 11, when Looper limited L.A. to one run and four hits in six innings. He's been much better this season at home (4-1, 4.03 ERA in 10 starts) than on the road (3-3, 6.06 ERA in seven starts).

Astros: Oswalt has regained his dominating form, going 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his past five starts. He threw a two-hitter on June 29 at San Diego and allowed one run on a wild pitch, then he held the Giants to three hits and one run in his last start, on Sunday in San Francisco. Oswalt is 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 11 career games (nine starts) against the Nationals. He allowed four runs on four hits in five innings in Washington, D.C., on May 5 in a game that was postponed because of inclement weather.

Twins: Blackburn's best pitch -- his sinker -- was at its best against the Tigers on Sunday, when the right-hander pitched his third complete game in his past four starts. Blackburn held Detroit scoreless into the ninth but gave up a two-run homer to Brandon Inge to miss out on what would have been his first career shutout. Regardless, he continues to work deep into starts while scattering hits -- Detroit had seven hits on Sunday. He'll look for complete game No. 4 against the White Sox, a team against whom he is 3-4 with a lifetime ERA of 3.91 ERA.

Rockies: Jimenez threw one bad pitch and it cost him in his last start, against the Diamondbacks. He threw 5 2/3 no-hit innings until serving up a three-run home run to Mark Reynolds to tie the game. Jimenez yielded another run in the seventh and took the loss. Expect the promising 25-year-old right-hander to pitch deep against the Braves, as he has thrown more than 100 pitches in all but one of his 17 starts this season. Jimenez has yet to face the Braves this season but is 1-2 with a 5.66 ERA in four career starts against them.

Diamondbacks: Haren was named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel. The right-hander has been consistently outstanding all season. Of his 17 starts, 16 have been quality -- six innings or more with three or fewer runs allowed. Last time out, against the Rockies, Haren allowed three runs (only one earned) over seven innings. He has not allowed more than two earned runs in a start since May 23 in Oakland, a span of eight starts. Overall, Haren has allowed more than two earned runs just three times this year.

Angels: In his last start, Saunders continued to struggle with his command, yielding a leadoff homer to Brian Roberts on a 2-0 pitch en route to yielding six runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. The lefty struck out three hitters. Over his past seven outings, Saunders has seen his ERA rise from 3.26 to 4.44, as the lefty has given up at least four runs on five occasions. Saunders has faced the Yankees three times in his career. He is 1-1 with a 7.63 ERA against them.

Mariners: Signs of progress were seen in the converted reliever's most recent start as he held the Red Sox to three runs over six innings at Fenway Park, striking out a season-high seven batters. All three runs came via solo home runs, but he walked just two and departed with a one-run lead. He has surrendered just four earned runs in his last two starts, covering 10 2/3 innings. He has improved in each outing on changing speeds and using his slider and changeup more often.

Giants: Randy Johnson will not take his regular turn in the Giants rotation after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained left shoulder. In the Big Unit's stead, Sanchez will make his first start since he was relegated to the bullpen on June 27. Sanchez tossed three shutout innings in that role, last pitching on July 3. In two starts against the San Diego Padres this season, Sanchez is 0-2, having allowed seven earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.