6:05pm CT. Mark Prior v. John Smoltz. Game preview.

Dusty Baker and Jerry Hairston, Jr. made some strange comments yesterday, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. (HT: Chicago National League Ball Club.)

First Hairston, who is frustrated with not playing as much as he would like:

"Despite repeated failures to reach a trade agreement, the Cubs are the frontrunner to acquire Rockies outfielder Preston Wilson," reports the Sporting News' Ken Rosenthal. The asking price appears to have gone down from what was reported last week: "The Rockies likely would be satisfied with a package of, say, righthander Todd Wellemeyer and a prospect."