Postseason Picture still cloudy for some teams
September 15th 2010 12:29
This is a report done by Mark Newman of MLB.com gives you a look at the playoff picture as of this morning. This is a great stroy by a great writer.
This Yankees-Rays series is living up to its billing, and this is the second day in a row that an extra-inning outcome has forced a change in the tentative postseason outlook matchups. The question is which team comes away from this series with the American League East lead following Wednesday night's 7:10 ET finale at Tropicana Field.
If the postseason began today, the Yankees would be host to the hottest team in Major League Baseball, the Rangers, in one AL Division Series. The Twins, who could push the White Sox eight games out with a second straight victory in their series tonight, would host the other ALDS as of now against the Rays, who for the moment have Wild Card status.
In the National League, there also is a change in the tentative postseason outlook, now that the Padres again have overtaken the Reds for the second-best record. The Padres just reclaimed tentative home-field advantage in the first round, so they would be host to Game 1 of one NLDS against the Braves, currently in Wild Card position. In the other NLDS, the Phillies would be home against the Reds at Citizens Bank Park, because the Phillies now have a two-game lead in the East.
Today's key games to watch
Nationals at Braves, 12:10 p.m. ET: After splitting a four-game series against the Cardinals to start this homestand, Atlanta is just hoping to take the rubber game of a three-game series on getaway day. The Braves are still in Wild Card position, but they just fell two games behind Philly.
Padres at Rockies, 3:10: San Diego has come into Coors Field and won two in a row, knocking Colorado to 3 1/2 games back in the NL West, and pushing San Diego's lead over the Giants to 1 1/2. You never know what's coming in this division. Jorge De La Rosa hasn't lost since Aug. 19, and he is 2-0 in three starts against the Padres this year.
D-backs at Reds, 7:10: A lot of Reds fans are registering here now for a chance to get postseason tickets as Cincinnati looks for that killer instinct to put this thing away. And there is also that NL Triple Crown picture. Watch Joey Votto closely and see if he can shave some points off Carlos Gonzalez's lead in the batting race.
Yankees at Rays, 7:10: This is the rubber game of the match at Tropicana Field, and it's especially meaningful to Phil Hughes. He's going for his 17th win, and just as importantly he is now into a stretch in which he is also pitching to show he is a crunchtime starter. Would he be in the Yankees' postseason rotation? The Bombers are watching closely. Tampa Bay has a 7-6 season series lead with five head-to-head meetings left, including this one.
Phillies at Marlins, 7:10: Whenever we think of Roy Halladay pitching at the Marlins' ballpark, we think perfect game. But Phillies fans will be happy with another win, now that the NL East lead is up to two over Atlanta. If it's Halladay's decision, that would be No. 19 and the Cy Young lead could be his. Are the Marlins up for a spoiler role? They are now nine out in the Wild Card, not a lot of hope left now.
Tigers at Rangers, 8:05: Neftali Feliz has 36 saves on the season. He needs one more to match the Major League record for a rookie, set by the Mariners' Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000. It could be a special night, because Feliz on Tuesday just became father of a new baby girl, so he rejoins the AL West leaders for this one. They're going for their seventh straight victory.
Twins at White Sox, 8:10: Minnesota's lead over Chicago is a comfy seven games in the AL Central, and these last two games in this three-game series really seem crucial at this point for the White Sox. If they can win the last two, they still leave this series down just five games. But can Gavin Floyd beat the Twins? He is 0-3 against them this season.
Cubs at Cardinals, 8:15: Coming off a rough outing, Chris Carpenter tries again for his 16th win. St. Louis was unable to take advantage of a Reds loss Tuesday, despite having Adam Wainwright on the hill, so the Redbirds are still seven back in the NL Central.
Dodgers at Giants, 10:15: One of the best rivalries in sports, and we're seeing just how much Joe Torre's club might delight in playing a spoiler against the Giants. Matt Cain starts for San Francisco, which was shut out in the opener against the Dodgers despite allowing just one hit.
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