Schedule Notes: Pitchers have the edge

This week's greatest advantage in games played would go to the four American League teams that are scheduled for seven games while the other 10 teams would play just 10. However, of those four teams with an extra game, only the Rengers have a majority (four) of their games at home. The Orioles would be the host for only one game, and the Angels and Twins would be on the road all week.

In the National League, half of the teams -- Diamondbacks, Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals, Padres and Giants -- would play a seventh game; the other eight teams are scheduled for six.

Overall, it should be a good week for pitchers. The only teams scheduled to play seven games at home are the Dodgers (against the Cardinals for three games, Cubs four), Mets (Giants one, Braves and Phillies three each) and Padres (Cubs three, Cardinals four). San Diego is one of the majors' most extreme pitchers' parks, and Dodger Stadium and Citi Field favor pitchers but to a lesser degree. There would be six games at Houston (Marlins and Diamondbacks) and Pittsburgh (Brewers and Reds) which also tend to be pitchers' parks. Note that it should be a bad week for Cubs batters in hostile pitchers' parks. Even in the American League, scheduled to play all six at games are the Athletics (Yankees and Tigers), Rays (Orioles and Rangers) and Blue Jays (Red Sox and Angels). Oakland has an extreme pitchers' park; Tampa Bay and Toronto are slightly less pitcher-friendly.

The best hitters' parks that would be in play for all six games would belong to the White Sox (Royals and Orioles in this week's most extreme hitting conditions), Indians (Angels and Mariners) and Nationals (Rockies and Brewers).

The best hitters' parks in use for all six games would be at Baltimore (Athletics and Angels) and Arizona (Mets and Dodgers).

Pitchers scheduled to start at home twice this week are RHPs Fausto Carmona, Vin Mazzaro, Tommy Hanson, Bud Norris, Charlie Haeger, Chad Billingsley, Livan Hernandez, Kevin Hart, Kevin Correia, Cesar Carrillo and Craig Stammen, and LHPs Mark Buehrle, David Price, Ricky Romero and Oliver Perez. My highest recommendations are Hanseon Romero, with other young live longsots in Hart, Carrillo and Price.