Wasn't this supposed to get yet another summer of Cub? Ken Rosenthal reports that someone put in a waiver claim on SP Rich Harden, meaning that the Cubs are cutting bait faster than you can say, "Nice job on the Milton Bradley contract."

FRIDAY

First pitch: The Mets and Cubs get NL action underway at 2:20 p.m. ET, while there's a trio of AL games at 7:05. Here's the full schedule.

Pitcher to start: Here's how things have gone since Monday, when we started the week at 75-78:

• Monday: Nice job, Ian Snell! I know he only beat the A's, but I'll take it.
• Tuesday: Did Ryan Rowland-Smith really not meet our criteria despite allowing only two runs in 6 1/3 innings? Strike a few people out, will ya?
• Wednesday: Kenshin Kawakami should never be allowed to pitch past the fifth inning, since his sixth-inning ERA is 204.75. OK, I made that up, but that's what it seems like. He lost, in case you hadn't figured that out already.
• Thursday: You got chased in the fourth inning by the Mets, Anibal Sanchez? %$#@!

Now at 76-81, the drive for .500 looks bleak, but there's no quit in this team. Tonight, we'll go with Max Scherzer (26.6 percent owned) against the Astros, and John Smoltz (40.7 percent owned) against the Nats.

SATURDAY

First pitch: The White Sox and Yankees start the AL day at 1:05, while Dodgers-Reds and Mets-Cubs are on the FOX schedule at 4:10, along with Rays-Tigers (which starts five minutes earlier).

Pitcher to start: I'm still not a huge fan of the aforementioned Mr. Snell (34.7 percent owned), but this weekend he draws the Royals at home. I can't pass that up.

SUNDAY

First pitch: There are two AL games at 1:05, and two NL games at 1:10.

Pitcher to start: Let's try Pittsburgh's Ross Ohlendorf (7.2 percent owned) on the road against the Brewers. He's got a 2.74 ERA over his last seven starts.

On to the news:

• Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan is done for the season after breaking a bone in his left hand, and that's a killer if you've been counting on him for boatloads of stolen bases. Willie Harris (1.3 percent owned) will replace Morgan in the Nats' lineup, but if he's not your cup of tea, Oakland's Rajai Davis (6.9 percent owned) is probably your best bet for a speedy free-agent. Davis has 12 steals this month, for crying out loud. He might be the best SB guy around, period.
• Jake Peavy will make another rehab start on Saturday, with an eye on joining the White Sox next Thursday or Friday.
• Orioles OF Adam Jones hopes to be back in the lineup tonight after missing four games with back spasms.
• Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez returned to the lineup last night after missing time due to a steak knife mishap ... and had to leave the game after bruising his thumb in the fifth inning. I think he dropped a plastic spoon on it after finishing a cup of soup. Anyway, he's not sure if he'll play tonight.
• It sounds like Red Sox OF Jacoby Ellsbury should play tonight after suffering a mild ankle sprain sliding into A.J. Pierzynski's foot last night.
• Tim Hudson will return to the Braves' rotation on Monday after missing the entire season due to Tommy John surgery. Hudson had a 3.86 ERA in six minor-league rehab starts. In an NL-only league, I guess he's worth a shot.
• Are teams really interested in signing Brad Penny? Did they watch him pitch in Boston? I guess he is better than Sergio Mitre, though.
• No, you can't pick up Red Sox SS Nick Green as a pitcher, even if he did throw two shutout innings last night.
• Rookie Matt Maloney is expected to start Saturday for the Reds. Maloney had a 3.08 ERA with 125 Ks against just 24 walks in Triple A. Hmm ...
• The A's will reportedly start Edgar Gonzalez on Tuesday, and use a six-man rotation in September.
• Brett Myers could be back with the Phillies as a reliever sometime next week. I give it one good outing before everyone in Philly starts campaigning for Myers to replace Brad Lidge in the closer's role. It's sort of starting already.
• Pirates SS Ronny Cedeno is apparently not headed to the DL despite missing five games (and counting) with a fractured pinky.
• The Padres' Web site reports that rookie OF Kyle Blanks should be back in the lineup "sometime this weekend." He's missed three games due to a sore foot.
• Giants Bengie Molina and Pablo Sandoval are "questionable" for tonight. It sounds like Molina wants/needs at least one more day off to nurse a quad injury. Kung Fu Panda wants to give it a go.
• My Hot Streak pick today is for an Albert Pujols home run. Make your pick now!

I'll be back Monday with a new baseball entry, and then post football news Tuesday through Thursday. Have a great weekend.