ARMS IN CHARGE

By David Bearman, ESPN Research

What do Brian Bannister, Jon Lester, Oliver Perez, Tim Redding and Joe Saunders all have in common? On Wednesday night each starting pitcher threw at least six innings and earned a win Wednesday without allowing a single run.

Heading into Wednesday, the five pitchers had combined for 109 career wins. And Perez had 45 of those victories.

For Redding, Bannister and Lester, it was just the third time in each pitcher's career to leave a game pitching six or more scoreless innings. It was the first time in Redding's career that he limited the opposition to just one hit. Meanwhile, Saunders pitched eight scoreless innings for the first time in his career. All Bannister did was shut down the Tigers, who some have predicted to be the best offensive team in years. He allowed just two hits, both to Edgar Renteria, while the rest of the Tigers were a combined 0-for-19 against him.

MASTERPIECES ON THE MOUND
Pitcher, Team	IP	R	H
Brian Bannister, KC	7	0	2
Jon Lester, BOS	6.2	0	3
Oliver Perez, NYM	6	0	5
Tim Redding, WSH	7	0	1
Joe Saunders, LAA	8	0	4

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FORWARD THINKING: THURSDAY

• Diamondbacks at Reds, 12:35 p.m. ET: Right-hander Johnny Cueto will make his major league debut for the Reds. The rookie won a spot in the Cincinnati rotation after having an impressive spring. He'll be opposed by left-hander Doug Davis, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last week. Davis is expected to make his first two regular-season starts for the Diamondbacks before undergoing surgery on April 10.

• Brewers at Cubs, 2:20 p.m. ET: Ryan Dempster will make his first start since 2005 after being the Cubs' closer for most of the past three seasons. The Brewers will seek a three-game sweep of the Cubs by sending Dave Bush to the mound. The right-hander had a 6.14 ERA on the road last season (16 starts).

• Blue Jays at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET: Dustin McGowan will get the start for the Blue Jays. The righty had a 6.35 ERA in two starts at Yankee Stadium last season. He'll be opposed by Phil Hughes, who was 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts last September.

• Pirates at Braves, 7:10 p.m. ET: Mike Hampton will make his first start since August 2005. He's had two elbow operations in the meantime. Zach Duke will counter for the Pirates. Duke spent 2½ months on the disabled list due to injuries and made just 19 starts last season.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Thursday's games

NEWS AND NOTES

• The Washington Nationals are 3-0 for the first time since 2003, when they were the Montreal Expos. No team based in Washington has started 3-0 since the American League's Senators opened 4-0 in 1951.

• Grady Sizemore owns the majors' longest active consecutive games played streak (360).