Preview/Prediction

For now, the rehab road has ended for Jeremy Bonderman, who will be handed the ball on Monday night to make his first major league start in over a year.

That road started almost a year ago when Bonderman underwent two surgeries: one to remove a blood clot from his pitching shoulder and another to remove a rib to alleviate symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome.

Bonderman came into spring training this year attempting to claim a spot in the Tiger rotation, but wasn't healthy enough to continue. After some time off, after that bend in the trail, the rehab road continued.

Both of these kids aren't even old enough to drink. One is barely old enough to legally drive by himself.  Stephen Strasburg, 20, and Bryce Harper, 16, are baseball's future. Strasburg, a starting pitcher out of San Diego State University, and Harper, a catcher out of Las Vegas High School, have both been called baseball's saviors.

In this article, I'll get an in-depth analysis of each player's strengths, and then give my opinion of which player I'd rather build a franchise around.

Stephen Strasburg

Year in and year out, many fans wonder how long they have with their star players, and others can't wait for their teams to trade a bundle of prospects for a high-caliber player. 

The July 31 trade deadline is still far enough away, but, as we know, trades can happen anytime, and with the beauty of no salary cap, things can get wild.

These four transactions must occur before the big three-one:

New York Mets at Washington Nationals; JJ Putz to have surgery

The first time the Mets played the Nationals, it was late April and the Mets were on a four game losing streak, coming home after getting swept in St. Louis. New York won the opener of that series and took two of three from the worst team in baseball.

One of the main reasons the Pirates traded CF Nate McLouth was to make room for super prospect and fellow CF Andrew McCutchen. Why the Pirates didn’t just move McLouth to RF so they could have an outfield with Morgan, McCutchen, and McLouth is beyond me. But I guess that is for a different post. Back to the matter at hand.

1. Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg, RHP

Ichiro Suzuki entered the league just nine years ago. He won the A.L MVP and the Rookie of the Year in his first year while leading the Mariners to 116 wins (a MLB record).

He averages over 200 hits per season and a career batting average of .331. In 2004 Ichiro broke the most hits in a single season with 262.

He owns the record for most hits in a four-year span. Between 2001 and 2004 Ichiro got 922 hits. He has also appeared in eight straight All-Star games.

When the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 10-5 on Tuesday night, a couple important things happened.

The Phils went 10 games over .500 at 30-20 and 2 1/2 game lead over the New York Mets in the National League East. Certainly the race in the NL East is not over by a long shot. But temporarily, it gave the Phillies some breathing room from the week-to-week flip flop with the Mets.

The Phils followed up with a win the following night against the Padres, 5-1. The lead widened to three games, as the Mets got rained out Wednesday.

Future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine was released by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

As we say farewell to the month of May, the Chicago Cubs find themselves in fourth place in the National League Central Division.  Chasing the Brewers, Cardinals, and Reds won't be easy for the Cubs, but the veteran-laden and two-time defending N.L. Central champs appear to have nowhere to go but up.

The Cubs' season so far has been filled with injuries, suspensions, blowouts, nail-biters, missed opportunities, unknown players filling roster spots, and a partridge in a pear tree.