The Final Day Of The Season (Maybe)

There is one scenario wherein the SF Giants would play the St Louis Cardinals on Monday to make up a rain out from earlier this season and that is if the Houston Astros and Cards finish the season with the Astros still within a game of the NL Central.


Almost.There.

But last night's 3-2 victory over the Brewers put the Cards in the catbird seat on Sunday. A win sees them escape the greatest baseball collapse of the 21st century and a first round playoff against either the Dodgers or the Padres.

In the AL Central, because of their lead in tie-breakers, a Tigers victory on Sunday means they would win the division regardless of what the Twins do. That means avoiding the Yankees but having to play the red-hot Oakland A's instead. The A's have the best record in baseball since July 27th.

A Padres win on Sunday means they would face the Cardinala and the Dodgers would open at Shea.

BUT

A Cardinals loss combined with a Houston victory would mean the Cards would play that washed-out game against the Giants on Monday to decide which team would make it to the postseason so they're not in the clear just yet.

Chris Carpenter, RHP (15-8, 3.09) will face Carlos Villanueva, RHP (1-2, 3.97). Villanueva had surrendered one run on five hits in 13 outstanding innings since taking over for an injured Tomo Ohka, but was hit for five runs in five innings at Wrigley Field earlier in the week.

Carpenter is coming off back-to-back games of allowing six runs.

But even if they lose this game, the Astros still have to beat the Braves in Atlanta and pitching for the Braves will be John Smoltz, RHP (15-9, 3.58). Since losing three straight starts from Aug. 31-Sept. 11, Smoltz is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA. Over the course of his past three starts, he's completed 23 innings and allowed a total of just three runs.

The Astros have the unheralded Chris Sampson, RHP (2-0, 2.10) taking the mound. Sampson, who was closing games for Triple-A prior to his recall in early September, threw 3 2/3 innings in a spot start Monday in Philadelphia and said he was pretty much spent. He then threw 2 2/3 in the Astros' extra-inning game on Wednesday, but he could probably log three or four innings Sunday if he keeps the pitch count low.

The guess here is that both teams will lose and the Cardinals will be spared the Monday game to open the playoffs against either the Padres or Dodgers.

That's the incentive, of course for the Padres and Dodgers - not so much clinching a meaningless NL West title but getting the Cards instead of the Mets in the first round.

The Dodgers would appear to be surrendering first, or preparing best for the post season, it's difficult to tell. They're skipping Derek Lowe's start and starting Eric Stults, LHP (1-0, 6.39) instead. Stults has one start this season, on Sept 10 against the Mets, which also accounts for his sole win this season so maybe they should be saving him for the Mets...

Meanwhile Woody Williams will pitch against potential Cy Young candidate Brandon Webb, RHP (16-7, 2.88). Williams has won five consecutive decisions and eight of his past nine going back to Aug. 13. - Wonder why they wouldn't want him opening the playoffs...

The guess here is the Pods close out the season on top and face the Cardinals in the first round which is perhaps why they won't need Woody WIlliams choking again against his former team