"There are so many guys I've never heard of," says Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, 35. "Then again, they probably never heard of me, either."

The Detroit Tigers' Rick Porcello, 20, and the Toronto Blue Jays' Ricky Romero, 24, are scheduled to make their major league debuts today. It'll be the first time two first-round starters make their debut in the same game, the Elias Sports Bureau said.

"It's economics, too," Rockies reliever Alan Embree says. "Would you rather have a .500 pitcher making $5 million or pay ($400,000) to a 24-year-old?"

There's such a dearth in pitching, general managers say, they have little choice but to go with youth. Two 21-year-olds are scheduled to start today -- Brett Anderson of Oakland and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And A's starter Dana Eveland, who has 11 career victories, must have felt like a veteran Wednesday facing Los Angeles Angels rookie starter Nick Adenhart, 22.

"That's incredible," says Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Tom Gordon, 41, who made his debut at 21. "When I was a (starter), it was a rarity to be that young. But these guys are getting their opportunities, and I'm not sure it's good for the game. If they lose their confidence, they're gone."

Said A's GM Billy Beane: "I'd rather go with the young guys instead of overpaying guys you're pretty sure aren't going to give you more than a name. If there's a veteran out there now, chances are he's not very good."