With a voodoo doll on his side, Mike Maroth hopes to avoid making history tonight as the first pitcher in 23 years to lose 20 games in a season. It seems inevitable, as the hard-luck lefty should make at least four more starts this year, all against tough opposition. He's a much better pitcher than his 6-19 record suggests, and did beat the Jays here June 30, allowing just two runs in seven innings. A semi-regular reader of this space actually predicted a 20-loss campaign for Maroth back in spring training. Nice call.

Carlos Tosca loads up on righty bats, with Reed Johnson and Mike Bordick at the top of the order, and Dave Berg filling in at second base. Kevin Cash will catch Mark Hendrickson. The big fella was abandoned by his listless mates in a 5-0 whitewash at Comerica on Canada Day. His 4-5, 7.29 home split isn't pretty, and his last two starts haven't been great, but Lurch did spin seven strong innings August 21 at the Dome against Seattle. This is a game he is supposed to win, and he's still trying to establish his role for next year. Mark's only slightly ahead of Josh Towers, who has been named Sunday's starter, allowing Escobar to face the Yankees Monday on normal rest.