With the playoff chase coming down to the wire, our MLB editor rounds up the five biggest pennant race stories in Eye Toward October.
- Arizona Aces Faltering: One of the reasons I, and several other pundits, think the Diamondbacks will be a very dangerous team in October is because of the Brandon Webb-Dan Haren-Randy Johnson trio at the top of their rotation. It has the potential to be devastating in the postseason, but if they don't get their collective acts together, it might be a moot point.
Haren, Webb and Johnson have started the last three games for the Snakes, putting up this cumulative line: 13 IP, 24 H, 16 ER. All three are seasoned pros, and if this were June or July, this streak would barely be worth batting an eyelash over.
It's September, though. Time is short and the Diamondbacks' edge in the NL West is slim. Arizona can't afford another stretch like this from the top three pitchers on its staff.
- Avert Your Eyes: This weeks Mets-Brewers series, a possible LDS preview, isn't for the faint of heart -- not with the bullpens both teams are trotting out right now. Eric Gagne coughed up Milwaukee's 2-1 lead on Labor Day, but New York had some touch and go moments as well.
It's a little hard to see either club winning the World Series as presently constructed, but the Mets at leave have a possible ace up their sleeve in Billy Wagner, whose return date is still undetermined.
- Playing Spoiler: Cliff Lee picked up his 20th win of the season Monday night, and the Indians have quietly come on strong. Cleveland is 19-10 since the beginning of August, and with Lee, in position to be a major factor in who qualifies for the postseason.
The Tribe will play the Twins, White Sox or Red Sox in 12 of their final 26 games, including four against Boston and three against Chicago to close the season. With the Rays generating some distance in the AL East, it seems like those three teams will be fighting for two playoff spots.
- A Little Vacation: Pat Lackey was all over it Monday afternoon, but if the injuries to Ben Sheets and Carlos Zambrano turn out to be minor, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if both get a breather down the stretch. The Brewers and Cubs appear poised to cruise to the postseason, and it's more important that both pitchers are fresh for October at this point. A few weeks off seemed to do wonders for Josh Beckett last year.
- Thrown Into the Fire: The Mets will throw Jonathon Niese to the wolves tomorrow in Milwaukee, making him the first September callup to have a real impact on the pennant race.
