why

CHC ---  27 Maddux v MON Downs
HOU 0.5  24 Clemens v CIN Acevedo
SFG 0.5  22 Rueter @ COL Kennedy
FLA 2.0  29 Beckett v NYM Seo
SDP 2.0* 24 Wells v STL Morris

* – in progress as I post, not staying up to watch finish

The Astros will win because they’re the hot team at the right time. No one’s playing better baseball right now, and it’s all clicked in. Roger Clemens can win his first NL Cy Young award if they make it, and I’m sure he’d love it. Even with Pettite and Miller, their pitching is plenty enough. Carlos Beltran is the scariest guy people will actually pitch to.

The Giants will win because if any one single hitter can possibly carry a team, it’s Barry Bonds, and he’s done it this season. They may be a one hitter and one pitcher team, but it’s gotten this far, and all they need is a hot streak from someone else to carry them into the playoffs.

The Padres will win because they’ve got the pitching to carry them through, Mark Loretta is having a great season quietly, Phil Nevin’s doing pretty good too, and they’re going to figure out their home park before it’s over. They’ve got the surest closer in the bunch.

The Marlins will win because they’re almost as hot as the Astros, just peaking a little bit later, which may work out wonders against the Cubs. They know they OWN the late season runs, the last few innings of a game, and the Chicago Cubs. They’ve got the most balanced offensive attack, and their youth should allow them to tolerate a schedule that’d cause other teams to wilt.

(That Clemens v Acevedo game is totally revenge for blowing #300, right?)