With the playoff chase coming down to the wire, our MLB editor rounds up the five biggest pennant race stories in Eye Toward October.- The Cavalry Arrives: The rosters expand from 25 to 40 today, allowing clubs that have fallen out of contention to give their younger players a taste of the majors and giving contenders the chance to add another bullpen arm or bench bat for the stretch run.
A few players to keep an eye on that could actually contribute to contenders down the stretch:
Doug Slaten, RP, Diamondbacks - Should give Arizona a much-needed left-handed bullpen arm for the final month.
James McDonald, SP, Dodgers - Could get a spot start or two.
Mat Gamel, 3B, Brewers - Shortstop Alcides Escobar has gotten a little more buzz, but Gamel could be in the platoon mix with Bill Hall and Russell Branyan plenty over the final month.
Jonathon Niese, SP, Mets - He's starting against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Phil Humber, RP, Twins - One of the players acquired by Minnesota in the Johan Santana deal, Humber will start out in the bullpen, which hasn't been as strong as the Twins would like, but he could also make a spot start if needed.
John Jaso, C, Rays - Whither David Price? As Pat Lackey pointed out last week, he might not be as ready as most people think. Jaso has a gaudy .820 OPS at Triple-A Durham, and with Dioner Navarro nursing the bumps and bruises of a long season, he could spell the catcher effectively.
- Memo to Ned Yost: While everyone frets about whether or not CC Sabathia deserves a no-hitter, another high pitch count for the pitcher will go unnoticed. Sabathia threw 117 pitches despite Milwaukee's 7-0 lead entering the bottom of the eighth inning. He's now thrown over 110 pitches in six of his 11 starts for the Brewers.
Latest MLB Photos
Los Angeles Angels' Mark Teixeira, right, gets a broken-bat single driving in one run against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, in Anaheim, Calif. The Rangers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
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Los Angeles Angels' Mark Teixeira, right, gets a broken-bat single driving in one run against the Texas Rangers in the eight inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, in Anaheim, Calif. The Rangers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
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San Diego Padres' Will Venable, right, is greeted by teammate Kevin Kouzmanoff after scoring the game-winning run against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning of the Padres 2-1 victory in a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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San Diego Padres starter Jake Peavy pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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Los Angeles Angels' Mark Teixeira, right, gets a broken-bat single driving in one run against the Texas Rangers in the eight inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, in Anaheim, Calif. The Rangers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)
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San Diego Padres' Luis Rodriguez, right, and teammate Brian Giles celebrate Rodriguez's game-winning base hit against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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San Diego Padres' Luis Rodriguez, right, celebrates with teammate Brian Giles after Rodriguez' game-winning base hit against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. The Padres won 2-1. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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San Diego Padres' Luis Rodriguez, right, celebrates with teammate Brian Giles after Rodriguez's game-winning base hit against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. The Padres won 2-1. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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San Diego Padres' Luis Rodriguez celebrates his game-winning base hit against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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San Diego Padres' Luis Rodriguez watches his game-winning base hit against the Colorado Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008 in San Diego. The Padres won 2-1. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
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It's understandable that Milwaukee would ride Sabathia a little harder than the average pitcher since they're unlikely to sign him after this year, but October should also be on the team's mind at this point. The Brewers are now 5 1/2 games clear of Philadelphia in the wild-card race, an enormous lead with 26 games remaining.
They need Sabathia firing on all cylinders to make a deep playoff run -- and remember how poor the left-hander was in the postseason after throwing an innings high last year. It's time to take the foot off of the accelerator.
- Dead Team Traveling: The Yankees embark on a road trip today that will make or (much more likely) break their season. They're hanging on to a sliver of hope right now. The money is on that sliver evaporating by the time they finish their four-city, 10-day trek to Detroit, Tampa Bay, Seattle and Anaheim.
- Left in the Dust: August was not kind to two NL contenders. The Marlins begin September seven games out in the NL East, while the Cardinals, fresh off getting swept in Houston, sit 6 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the wild-card race. Both clubs overachieved, hanging in the race much longer than anyone thought they would, but neither is going to be a factor in the final month.
- Eck's In: David Eckstein is set to join the Diamondbacks today. He's been the butt of many jokes in the blogosphere, but he's a very useful addition with Orlando Hudson out for the season. He'll get on base at a .350 clip as he has in each of the last three seasons, and he should be solid defensively at second base.
