Padres-Dodgers Preview  —  The San Diego Padres seek their fifth straight win.  The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to avoid a fifth straight loss.  —  Two teams headed in different directions meet when the Padres (12-15) and Dodgers (12-16) close out their two-game set on Thursday.

Prospectus Notebook  —  Angels, Rockies  —  ANAHEIM ANGELS  — The Angels aren't a team that can field an offense full of .375-OBP boppers, but one of their virtues is an emphasis on depth and flexibility.  Back in January, they announced a lineup shuffle that would return Darin Erstad to center field …

Wood returns soon, but not as staff savior  —  Cubs starter plans on being just 'one more guy in the rotation'  —  PHOENIX — The Cubs announced Kerry Wood will make his first rehab start Sunday at Class A Peoria, the place where he began his rehab from shoulder soreness last July.

Notes: Starter needed for Saturday  —  Fernandez to be recalled Friday; Clark working hard on swing  —  MILWAUKEE — This, and not much more, is known about the Brewers' starting pitcher for Saturday: It will not be Dana Eveland.  —  After Thursday's win over the Giants …

New Owner, Same Result For Nationals  —  Washington Loses in 9th, Falls to 9-19: Marlins 6, Nationals 5  —  Optimism and promise swirled around them yesterday, and the Washington Nationals found it all quite contagious.  Between jokes and laughs in their pregame clubhouse …

Down Goes Bonds!  —  We can't help thinking today about the "Seinfeld" episode in which a disgruntled boyfriend tries to insult Elaine by telling her she has a big head.  At first it doesn't bother her, until birds begin slamming into her head as if it's too big to avoid.

Chat transcript: It's a love affair with John Koronka  —  Evan Grant: OK, all it's 11 a.m. I'm fully recovered from another walkoff Rangers win - they are becoming awfully common these days - so let's answer some questions!  —  Jason Lustig: In his wildest dreams, could Jon Daniels have envisioned John Koronka of pitching this well?

Pujols may be best ever by time he's done  —  At this moment, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols leads the National League in a bevy of offensive categories.  —  To wit, Pujols tops the loop in home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage, total bases and extra-base hits.

An Uphill Battle Since Hitting Hill  —  BOSTON — The world will probably never know if Josh Beckett's pitch into Aaron Hill's shoulder blade two weeks ago in Toronto was intentional.  What is indisputable is that Beckett has not been the same pitcher since.

Notes: Leyland shuns media attention  —  Team's Skipper hopes Tigers' success inspires fans  —  DETROIT — Don't ask Tigers manager Jim Leyland about national attention.  To him, the most significant sign about the Tigers' success is word of mouth.  —  So when Leyland heard Tiger talk …

Baseball won't bother to certify Bonds ball … When Barry Bonds hits home run No. 715 and moves into second place on the all-time list behind Hank Aaron, the lucky fan who catches the ball might have a hard time proving it's the real thing.  —  That's because Major League Baseball …

Wily comfortable with Mo time in CF  —  Some fans might be confused, but that indeed was Wily Mo Pena settling comfortably under a fly ball for the first out of last night's 7-6 Red Sox loss, hit by Toronto's Alex Rios to medium center field.  —  Even for a big guy, Pena looks a lot …

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Losing one game is not the end of the world  —  While I was watching the blessed Reds get shutout by the Rockies and the Nats blow an awesome comeback in the ninth inning last night (yes, at the same time on the same computer screen), a friend of mine was dining next to Bono, Condi, and Queen Nour at Galileo.

Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week  —  Did you know...  These are not last year's White Sox.  —  The World Series champion White Sox are first in the American League, with an 18-8 record, but this is a different team than last year's.  — Last year, the bullpen had a 3.23 ERA.  This year, it's 4.55.

Oliver Perez Available?  —  Here's a new one for ya, courtesy of Baseball Prospectus's Will Carroll yesterday:  —  "One rumor from the last few days is that Oliver Perez and Ryan Doumit are being dangled to the Phillies."  —  Would this deal make a good fit?