NL West (Steve Finley Division):

The top two teams in the division faced off again in Phoenix and this time the game was televised. And 26,063 curious people bought tickets to go to Chase Field to watch this game. The DBacks moved back to within .001 of first place with an 8-1 rout of the Padres. Tall Chris Young lasted just four innings, although he retired Short Chris Young both times. The two teams play each other for the last time Wednesday night with Jake Peavy facing Livan Hernandez.

For tiebreaking purposes, the DBacks presently lead the season series 9-8. If the Padres win tomorrow and make it 9-9, the second tiebreaker (if both teams would make the playoffs regardless), would be intradivision record where the Padres have a 6-game edge (33-23 to 27-29).

In the other intradivisional game, the Rockies rallied in the ninth to beat the Giants, 6-5.

NL Central (Ted Savage Division):

The Cubs brought back Steve Trachsel to pitch tonight at Wrigley Field against the Dodgers and it wasn't a rousing success as the Dodgers won 6-2.

Milwaukee moved to within 1/2 game of the Cubs with a 5-3 win over the Astros at home. The Cardinals are now just one game back after beating the Pirates, 6-2 as Ryan Franklin got his first career save.

The Reds played a game. See below.

NL East (Rico Brogna Division):

The Mets won their fifth straight thanks to 2 homers and 7 RBI from Paul Lo Duca in an 11-7 win at Cincinnati.

The Phillies ended a three-game losing streak and stayed five games out with a 5-2 win at Atlanta. The Braves are just 1 game over .500.

As usual, the biggest game of the day in the NL East was in Washington where the Nats and Marlins played their second game of their three-game series. Jesus Flores hit a 2-run game-winning double off of Kevin Gregg to win it for Washington, 4-3. The Nats are now 62-77, the same record as the Giants, Astros, and Reds. Mediocrity loves company.

NL Wild Card (No Name Division):

The DBacks lead the Dodgers and Phillies by three games and the Rockies by four games. The Dodgers will pitch Eric Stults against Ted Lilly. The Phillies will have Kyle Kendrick facing Tim Hudson. The Rockies will try Ubaldo Jimenez against Kevin Correia. If the DBacks win tomorrow, then the Padres will become the wild card team and the name of Andy Ashby will be invoked.

AL East (Pee-Wee Wanninger Division):

The Red Sox dropped their magic number to 17 with a 5-3 win over Toronto. Josh Beckett won his 17th game, besting Roy Halladay.

The Yankees routed Seattle, 12-3 and that will be covered below.

The Orioles actually won a game! They beat the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg 8-4. The Rays postseason hopes are on life support now. The Rays are closing in on elimination and it could come in a couple of days. Stay tuned.

AL Central (Vito Valetinetti Division):

Cleveland dropped its magic number to 18 and now leads Detroit by 7 games. Cleveland won in Minnesota, 7-5, in 11 innings. Detroit could score just one run against the White Sox and lost on an Alex Cintron homer, 3-1.

Kansas City lost (see below) and David DeJesus was hit by a pitch for the 18th time, tying the club record held by Angel Berroa and Mike Macfarlane.

AL West (John Montague Division):

Like the other two division leaders in the AL, the Angels are running away and hiding. Their lead over Seattle is 7 1/2 games after a 4-3 win over Oakland.

Texas beat Kansas City in Arlington, 9-8 and David Murphy got to play all three outfield positions.

Seattle's Kenji Johjima committed a catcher's interference and in the end the Mariners had to use a guy named Wladimir. The Yankees won 12-3.

AL Wild Card (Dave Collins Division):

The Yankees bumped their lead over Seattle to two games and over Detroit to 3 1/2 games. The Mariners better hope that Jarrod Washburn can save their playoff hopes in the Bronx against Phil Hughes of the Yankees. The Tigers bring back Kenny Rogers from the DL to face Gavin Floyd of the White Sox. Seattle plays in Detroit this weekend while the Yankees will be in Kansas City.