Yesterday's results in the NL West:
Arizona 4, Colorado 9
San Francisco 5, Milwaukee 1
Los Angeles 4, San Diego 8
Currently, the Giants have a two-game lead for the National League Wildcard. There are eight games left in the season, although there could be nine if the Giants are forced to replay the Atlanta game which ended in a tie due to a rainout. This could go right down to the wire
Tonight, we face the Brewers (54-99, 36 games out of first place) again. We have Schmidt on the mound (11-8) against Diggins (0-2). I couldn't find up to date ERAs for either of them. The Dodgers face off against the Padres again, with Nomo (15-6) on the hill vs. Peavy (5-6). The Dodgers have had trouble beating the Padres in San Diego, but Nomo has been very hot this season. Either way, the Giants need to win tonight to preserve a lead, however slim.
I will note that it is still possible, though not likely, that the Giants could win the NL West. All that would take is us winning our remaining eight (or nine) games, and the Diamondbacks dropping eight of their nine. I wouldn't bet on this happening, but you never know...
In other news, the St. Louis Cardinals clinched the NL Central last night. When the team came out of the dugout to celebrate, they brought the jersey of late pitcher Darryl Kyle onto the field to join in the celebration, and later doused it with champagne in the clubhouse. Kyle died suddenly of a blockage of the pulmonary artery on June 22nd. Since then, his teammates have worn his number and initials on their uniforms and hung his jersey in the dugout.
And lastly, some team in Oakland clinched a playoff spot in that league where pitchers don't have to bat.