One foot on the accelerator and keep your hand on the choke.

NL East (Rico Brogna Division):

After a dismal sweep at home by the Phillies, the first place Mets traveled to the seemingly pleasing confines of RFK to take on the Nats. With Orlando Hernandez injured, Brian Lawrence got the start. That didn't go so well and the Nats won 12-4. Jonathan Albaladejo got his first major league win in relief.

Philadelphia is now just 2 1/2 games back of the Mets after almost blowing an 11-run lead at St. Louis. The Phillies got two homers apiece from Ryan Howard and Aaron Rowand in a 13-11 win.

Atlanta started three Joneses again and won 11-6 at home against Florida.

The Mets magic number is still 11.

NL Central (Ted Savage Division):

The Cubs were three outs away from falling into second place in the division, but David Weathers of the Reds didn't get anyone out in the ninth as Chicago rallied for three runs to win it 7-6. Aramis Ramirez had a triple to tie it and he scored on an infield hit by Mark DeRosa. The win helped to eliminate Pittsburgh as part of Monday's four fish night as the Astros, Twins, and Athletics also met their demise. The Cubs would eliminate with the Reds with a win tomorrow.

Milwaukee did its part to keep pace in the division as they shut out Houston at Minute Maid Park 6-0. Yovanni Gallardo pitched eight shutout innings and Chris Spurling pitched the ninth.

Since the Cubs and Brewers are tied in the AILC, the magic number doesn't really apply since the second place team can win all of its games and know that it will still force a tie.

What about the Pirates? Look below.

NL West (Steve Finley Division):

Arizona scored three times in the seventh to take a 5-3 lead over the Giants. And Tony Pena came in and gave up five runs on a 3-run homer by Randy Winn and 2-run homer by Pedro Feliz. The Giants won 8-5. Their seven pitchers got these designations during the game: ND, H, H, BS, W, H, S.

The Padres picked up a club record 20th shutout of the season with a 3-0 win at home over the Pirates. The Padres are just one game back of the DBacks and they're even in the AILC, which takes the magic out of the magic number. Arizona is off Thursday and next Monday while San Diego plays every day the rest of the way. Arizona does have a magic number to clinch a playoff spot: 10. (The DBacks just need to be better than Philadelphia to make the playoffs.)

San Diego gave up 10 hits in its shutout, tying Kansas City for the season high in hits allowed in a shutout.

NL Wild Card (Andy Ashby Division):

San Diego is still ahead of the Phillies by 1 1/2 games. The Dodgers are 3 games back and the Rockies and Brewers are 5 games back. San Diego's magic number to clinch the wild card is 12.

Tomorrow's pitching matchups for games with postseason implications:

Chad Billingsley and David Wells (Los Angeles) vs Jeff Francis and Mark Redman (Colorado), John Maine (New York) vs Joel Hanrahan (Washington), Aaron Harang (Cincinnati) vs Carlos Zambrano (Chicago), Cole Hamels (Philadelphia) vs Todd Wellemeyer (St. Louis), Jonathan Sanchez (San Francisco) vs Micah Owings (Arizona), Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh) vs Greg Maddux (San Diego).

AL East (Pee-Wee Wanninger Division):

Frank Thomas belted three home runs at home for the Blue Jays as they bounced the Red Sox 6-1.

The Yankees are now 3 1/2 games back after they held on for an 8-5 win over the Orioles. Daniel Cabrera lost his 17th game to take over the AL lead in that category.

Tampa Bay? See below.

AL Central (Vito Valentinetti Division):

Cleveland started its process of driving the final nails in Detroit's coffin as they beat the Tigers 6-5 at home in 11 innings. The Tigers blew a 5-2 lead in the eighth and then lost in the 11th when Zach Miner gave up a home run to Casey Blake.

The Indians lead the division by 5 1/2 games and their magic number is now 7.

The Twins scored twice in the ninth to pull out a win over Texas.

Chicago scored 11 runs in the fifth inning and no other runs and beat the Royals 11-3. The White Sox moved into fourth and the Royals back into the cellar.

How did it happen? Take a deep breath.

AL West (John Montague Division):

The Angels and Devil Rays combined for 17 runs, 31 hits, and took 3:48 to finish the game and the Angels won it 10-7. Edwin Jackson of Tampa Bay gave up 14 hits, matching the high in the majors for a starter this season. It had been done five times before, twice by Chris Sampson of Houston. The other pitchers were Ervin Santana, Scott Baker, and Mark Buehrle. B.J. Upton of the Rays had a straight steal of home against Kelvim Escobar.

The Angels lowered the magic number to 5 and kept their lead at 8 1/2 games over Seattle. The Mariners won in Oakland 4-0.

AL Wild Card (Dave Collins Division):

The Yankees lead Detroit by 3 1/2 games and have a magic number of 9 to clinch a playoff spot.

Tomorrow's pitching matchups with postseason implications:

Jon Leicester (Baltimore) vs Mike Mussina (New York), Justin Verlander (Detroit) vs Jake Westbrook (Cleveland), Jon Lester (Boston) vs A.J. Burnett (Toronto), Jeff Weaver (Seattle) vs Chad Gaudin (Oakland), Jason Hammel (Tampa Bay) vs John Lackey (Los Angeles)