Starting Five: Jake Peavy Is Back

Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a nod to what's ahead.

You Oughta Know...
That rumors of Jake Peavy's demise have been exaggerated. When the San Diego Padres' ace got out of the chute with a 5.74 ERA in his first five starts, there were certainly a lot of folks wondering if he was going to suffer a second World Baseball Classic Hangover (see 2006).

Since then, though, he's been more like his normal self. Peavy pitched a four-hit complete game, beating the Reds, 3-1, on Sunday. Over his past four starts, Peavy has a 1.80 ERA.

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The Padres needed Peavy to go the distance after the bullpen was taxed in a 16-inning victory on Saturday night. While Peavy's hot streak has helped the Padres play a little better lately, the Padres are still 9 1/2 games out of first place. The combination of Peavy's success and the Padres' struggles are certain to start up a new round of Peavy trade rumors within the next few weeks.

From The Trainers' Room...
Rockies right-hander Matt Daley was placed on the disabled list with a sprained ankle, and umpire Bill Welke was responsible. Welke had just kicked the bat out of the way so no one would step on it, but he happened to kick it right into the path of Daley, going to back up the plate. Daley stepped on it and twisted his ankle.

"It was just a freak accident," Daley said. "The umpire was just trying to clear the bat away so nobody gets hurt, and unluckily it was right in my path. I stepped right on it."

By The Numbers...
Johnny Damon's homer gave the Yankees their third consecutive walk-off victory against the Twins. It was the first time since August 1972 that the Yankees have won three consecutive games at home in their final at-bat. The Twins had not lost three straight in that fashion since August 1973.

In Their Own Words...
"I didn't know what was going to happen. [Pitching coach Jim Hickey] came down and told me I was going to have to hit, and I corrected him and told him I get to hit." -- Rays pitcher Andy Sonnanstine, who ended up batting third because manager Joe Maddon turned in a lineup card with two third basemen and no DH. Sonnanstine ended up getting an RBI double.

Advance Scouting...
Angels righty John Lackey will make his third pitch of the year when he starts at Seattle (10:10 PM ET). Hopefully he'll still be there to make his fourth. Lackey was ejected from Saturday's game after hitting Ian Kinsler with his second pitch of his first start of the year, following six weeks on the disabled list.