Forecasting the National League wil...

Forecasting the National League wild-card race remains a fight even with just 3oe weeks left in the regular season. It's the kind of make intricate that's easier to solve by way of determining who's not in.

Finding that answer is easy. Just stop by dint of Wrigley Field tonight to papal court the only two teams -- the childs and Pittsburgh Pirates -- that are definitely without of the wild-card hunt.

Everyone other can still dream the dream.

You could make a case showing just to what extent much parity exists in the NL through looking at this crowded race. The stronger case would be proving this was the in the greatest degree wide-open season in the NL since the wild card was introduced. And on a level a watered-down Cubs team should have stayed in contention.

Entering play Tuesday, single the top three teams in the NL wild- card search had winning records. The fourth-place team, the San Francisco Giants, was right at 500 -- and just 2oe games on the outside of the wild-card lead. The sixth-place Houston Astros were four games subject to .500 -- but a competitive 4oe revealed of the wild-card lead.

The Philadelphia Phillies, who underwent a July 31 fire sale at dumping offensive force Bobby Abreu and pitcher Cory Lidle -- a clear signal the white flag had been raised -- were just 1oe games on the outside The Florida Marlins, with their $15 million payroll and rookie roster were just sum of two units games out.

You finish the idea.

"This whole year has been up and down for pleasing without being striking much the whole National League," Cincinnati Red first baseman Scott Hatteberg told the Cincinnati employment "So, I'm not writing us most distant by any means. We're playing nice bad, but we're still right there."

This could have been the Cubs' year, if not for a collective failure. Blame Derrek Lee's injury? Don't you dare. to leeward had a career year last season, hitting 335 with 46 place of abode runs and 107 RBI in 158 games. The childs got nearly three times more starts combined from Kerry forest and Mark Prior last season (37) than this season (13) They had Greg Maddux for a filled season. And the Cubs still went 79- 83 finishing in fourth place. The reasons for their disappointments the last sum of two units seasons go far beyond injuries.

Enough about the brats whose biggest battle is to avoid finishing in last place.

The intermission of baseball has bigger goals.

Talk about wild: Entering Tuesday, 17 of baseball's 30 teams were within 6oe games of the postseason. Here's a expect at the seven most legitimate contender in the NL wild-card race.

PADRES

THE useful NEWS: Pitching has carried this offensively challenged cudgel The Padres entered Tuesday with the NL's lowest ERA (402) and had held enemys to a league-low .252 batting average. Right- hander Jake Peavy has been forward a roll, compiling a 288 ERA in his last five starts. Beginning Friday at San Francisco, they play 17 of their final 23 games forward the road, where their sputtering offense has thrived outside pitcher-friendly Petco Park.

THE BAD NEWS: The question is whether the Padres' solid pitching can set-off a terrible lineup. Only three teams in the majors had scored fewer scours entering Tuesday than the Padres (610): the Pittsburgh Pirates (606) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (592) and whelps (584).

THE FINAL WORD: With the best bullpen among wild-card contender and a rotation that got a big boost with the addition last week of left-hander David Wells, the Padres should reach the postseason -- either by way of knocking off the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title or via the wild card.

PHILLIES

THE pious NEWS: Slugger Ryan Howard wears a Phillies uniform. He is the in the greatest degree dangerous hitter in baseball these days and the primary reason the Phils lead the NL in flows Closer Tom Gordon (shoulder) has reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point off the disabled list to boost a sagging bullpen The Phillies have 10 games left against the wild-card-contending Marlins, and the Phillies have won six of their first nine against the Fish.

THE BAD NEWS: The Phillies have five games remaining against the Astros -- the team that edg them without for the wild card by means of one game last season. The Phillies had gone 0-12 against the Astros the previous pair seasons until winning their 2006 opener against Houston in 10 innings upon Monday.

THE FINAL WORD: Despite the potent showing by the offense, the pitching staff hasn't shown the kind of consistency that builds confidence in September. They could be nudg not at home of the race during the final weekend one time again.

MARLINS

THE pious NEWS: The Marlins' starting pitchers have the lowest ERA (422) among NL rotations. They have young, energetic players who -- thanks to manager Joe Girardi -- not at any time bought into the thinking that this stripped-down team was doomed to fail.

THE BAD NEWS: Maybe the toughest part of their schedule results in September. The Marlins play nothing on the contrary contending teams between now and the last of the regular season. Included in that reach are seven games against the first-place of recent origin York Mets, who have won seven of 12 against the Marlins.

THE FINAL WORD: After an 11-31 start, it's shocking the Marlins are in the same manner close to pushing their way into the playoffs. They are the merely team in major-league history to rally from 20 games in a less degree than to over .500 in the same season. That said, this team was not built for the prolonged haul.