Well, most of them, anyway. And it is going to be another chaotic scramble to the wire, with an amazing number of teams clogging the stretch lane.
Don't buy it? Consider that among Monday's full schedule of 15 games, only two unfolded without realistic postseason ramifications: the Indians at the Blue Jays, and Pittsburgh at the Cubs. Sorry, boys, but you're scratched from this racing form.
For everyone else, Labor Day signaled the time to get down to business.
With four of the six division leaders sitting on relatively comfortable margins, the buzz phrase for September could be "Wild Card Watch." Commissioner Bud Selig's once-maligned innovation may revel in its biggest success yet, as numerous teams who have long lost division hopes chase the Wild Card carrot.
Exhibit A: The Philadelphia Phillies. They were looking at a 12 1/2-game NL East deficit as early as June 28. Yet after Monday's 3-2 win over Houston, the Phillies sit just 1 1/2 games behind Wild Card-leader San Diego.
Exhibit B: The Florida Marlins. Twenty games below .500 before Father's Day gifts were returned and 15 games in the hole to the Mets by mid-June, the amazing Fish find themselves two games back in the Wild Card following Monday's dramatic comeback over the Diamondbacks.
Exhibits C: The White Sox and the Twins. A little over a month ago, both were looking across a double-digit AL Central chasm at the Tigers. But they're playing musical chairs atop the AL Wild Card standings. Call this the AL Central undercard, since both are far ahead of the field.
Yes, it can be a daily kaleidoscope. But we'll bring everything into orderly focus in this space daily, so saddle up for the Day at the Races.
AL WILD CARD
Minnesota Twins (79-57), 1/2 game ahead
Monday: won 2-1 at Tampa Bay Forget a "bloop and a blast." All the Twins needed to reclaim the Wild Card lead was a Boof and a blast. Rondell White's two-run homer backed Boof Bonser's solid 6 1/3-inning effort.
Tuesday, at Tampa Bay: Johan Santana goes for his 17th win (and some more Cy Young Award votes), as the Twins try to run their winning streak over Tampa Bay to 12 straight.
Remaining games (26): Sept. 5-6 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 7-10 vs. Detroit; Sept. 11-13 vs. Oakland; Sept. 14-17 at Cleveland; Sept. 19-21 at Boston; Sept. 22-24 at Baltimore; Sept. 25-28 vs. Kansas City; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 vs. White Sox.
Chicago White Sox (79-58)
Monday, lost 3-2 at Boston: The Pale Hose couldn't seal the deal in their first Boston appearance since taking out the Red Sox in last year's Division Series, as Bobby Jenks blew only his third save of the season. Brandon McCarthy served up Carlos Pena's walk-off shot in the bottom of the 10th.
Tuesday, at Boston: Keep your eyes on Jermaine Dye. He had to leave Monday's game prematurely with tightness in his back, and the Sox can't afford to miss one of their main pistons for an extended period.
Remaining games (25): Sept. 5-6 at Boston; Sept. 7-10 vs. Cleveland; Sept. 11-13 at Angels; Sept. 15-17 at Oakland; Sept. 18-20 vs. Detroit; Sept. 21-24 vs. Seattle; Sept. 25-27 at Cleveland; Sept. 29 - Oct. 1 at Minnesota.
Boston Red Sox (74-64)
Monday, win 3-2 vs. White Sox: The gang's almost all together again, and Manny Ramirez's leadoff walk in the ninth led to the tying run as the BoSox worked on reclaiming that good feeling.
Tuesday, vs. White Sox: The light's still not on for that vaunted Boston offense; the Red Sox haven't scored more than three runs in 13 of their last 15 games.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 vs. White Sox; Sept. 8-10 vs. Kansas City; Sept. 12-14 at Baltimore; Sept. 15-17 at Yankees; Sept. 19-21 vs. Minnesota; Sept. 22-25 at Toronto; Sept. 26-27 vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 vs. Baltimore.
Los Angeles Angels (73-65)
Monday, won 1-0 vs. Baltimore: You can stop worrying about Jered Weaver. He squashed the Orioles on six hits through seven innings, six days after the most humbling day (four Seattle homers in less than five innings) of his fledgling career.
Tuesday, vs. Baltimore: To make a late push, the Angels' need the good John Lackey, who resurfaced in his last start after not having won in the preceding six. He'll be trying to win consecutive starts for the first time since the end of July.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 vs. Baltimore; Sept. 8-10 vs. Toronto; Sept. 11-13 vs. White Sox; Sept. 14-17 at Texas; Sept. 19-20 at Kansas City; Sept. 22-24 at Oakland; Sept. 25-27 vs. Texas; Sept. 28-Oct. 1 vs. Oakland.
AL EAST
New York Yankees (82-54), first place, 9 games ahead
Monday, won 12-5 at Kansas City: The Bombers turned this one around with their biggest inning of the season, a 10-run eighth punctuated by Robinson Cano's three-run homer, his fourth hit of the game.
Tuesday, at Kansas City: The Yankees would like to remain in blowout mode, since Mariano Rivera has been ruled out of this series with the muscle strain near his right elbow.
Remaining games (26): Sept. 5-6 at Kansas City; Sept. 8-11 at Baltimore; Sept. 12-14 vs. Tampa Bay; Sept. 15-17 vs. Boston; Sept. 18-20 at Toronto; Sept. 22-25 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 26-28 vs. Baltimore; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 vs. Toronto.
AL CENTRAL
Detroit Tigers (85-53), first place, 5 1/2 games ahead
Monday, won 6-2 vs. Seattle: Nate Robertson hung tough for seven innings, and was rewarded when the Tigers broke open the game after he was already out of it. A four-run seventh was highlighted by Omar Infante's two-run double.
Tuesday, vs. Seattle: The Tigers will again try to put two straight wins together for the first time since Aug. 21-22, behind Jeremy Bonderman.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 vs. Seattle; Sept. 7-10 at Minnesota; Sept. 12-13 vs. Texas; Sept. 15-17 vs. Baltimore; Sept. 18-20 at White Sox; Sept. 21 at Baltimore; Sept. 22-24 at Kansas City; Sept. 26-28 vs. Toronto; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 vs. Kansas City.
AL WEST
Oakland A's (79-58), first place, 6 1/2 games ahead
Monday, lost 8-1 vs. Texas: Jay Payton drew Oakland fans' ire with his misadventures in left field, but Barry Zito's off-key day had more to do with a rare flat performance by the A's. Their lefty ace was raked for seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Tuesday, vs. Texas: Kirk Saarloos, who helped fuel the A's August drive by going 4-0 with a 2.01 ERA during the month, will try to keep the high-octane stuff coming.
Remaining games (25): Sept. 5-6 vs. Texas; Sept. 8-10 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 11-13 at Minnesota; Sept. 15-17 vs. White Sox; Sept. 18-21 vs. Cleveland; Sept. 22-24 vs. Angels; Sept. 25-27 at Seattle; Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Angels.
NL WILD CARD
San Diego Padres (71-66), 1 1/2 games ahead
Monday, 7-5 win vs. Colorado: Three relievers combined to blank the Rockies on one hit over the final four innings -- and Josh Barfield made their work pay off with a three-run walk-off blow in the bottom of the ninth.
Tuesday, vs. Colorado: Chris Young, the only 6-foot-10 Chris Young around, goes for his 11th win -- which would be his fourth over the Rockies.
Remaining games (25): Sept. 5-6 vs. Colorado; Sept. 8-10 at San Francisco; Sept. 12-14 at Cincinnati; Sept. 15-18 at Dodgers; Sept. 19-21 vs. Arizona; Sept. 22-24 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 25-27 at St. Louis; Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at Arizona.
Philadelphia Phillies (70-68)
Monday, won 3-2 (10) vs. Houston: Chase Utley's home run with two outs in the 10th snapped the Phillies' 12-game, and 40-month, losing streak against the Astros.
Tuesday, vs. Houston: As much anything, Randy Wolf's return from a long injury layoff has sparked the Phillies' late-season surge, and the left-hander tries to make it eight consecutive undefeated starts.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 vs. Houston; Sept. 7-10 at Florida; Sept. 12-14 at Atlanta; Sept. 15-17 at Houston; Sept. 18-20 vs. Cubs; Sept. 22-24 vs. Florida; Sept. 26-28 at Washington; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Florida.
Florida Marlins (69-68)
Monday, won 8-5 vs. Arizona: The Florida Marlins scoffed at a 5-0 sixth-inning deficit to cross over to the sunny side of .500 -- becoming the first team to do so after having been 20 games under. The Fish made quick work of that hole with a six-run sixth, topped by Joe Borchard's three-run homer.
Tuesday, vs. Arizona: Dontrelle Willis, who has virtually been a passenger aboard Florida's juggernaut, gets another chance to grab the wheel. Getting his 10th win would make him the fourth Florida pitcher in double-figures.
Remaining games (25): Sept. 5-6 vs. Arizona; Sept. 7-10 vs. Philadelphia; Sept. 11-13 vs. Mets; Sept. 15-17 at Atlanta; Sept. 18-21 at Mets; Sept. 22-24 at Philadelphia; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 vs. Philadelphia.
San Francisco Giants (69-69)
Monday, won 5-4 (10) at Cincinnati: Bonds and 'Brand clicked again. Barry Bonds tied it with a two-run blow in the eighth, and Shea Hillenbrand untied it with a solo shot in the 10th for the Giants' 15th win in their last 21.
Tuesday, at Cincinnati: Now it's a race, as far as Felipe Alou is concerned. The manager wouldn't take the Giants' prospects seriously until they returned to .500, which they have for the first time since late July.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 at Cincinnati; Sept. 8-10 vs. San Diego; Sept. 12-14 vs. Colorado; Sept. 15-17 at St. Louis; Sept. 18-20 at Colorado; Sept. 21-24 at Milwaukee; Sept. 25-27 vs. Arizona; Sept. 28-Oct. 1 vs. Dodgers.
Cincinnati Reds (68-70)
Monday, lost 5-4 (10) vs. San Francisco: Just a lousy day. Adam Harang couldn't keep a lid on the Giants, and Ken Griffey Jr. incurred a foot injury on Barry Bonds' game-tying eighth-inning homer. It continued to turn around for the Reds, who only 11 days ago were within a percentage point of the NL Central lead.
Tuesday, vs. San Francisco: The trainer's room vigil will be on. Griffey dislocated his fourth right toe when his cleats dug into the padded wall in pursuit of Bonds' homer and left the game with a limp. Also, Eddie Guardado is slated for his first bullpen session since taking a sore left forearm on the DL on Aug. 20.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 vs. San Francisco; Sept. 8-10 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 12-14 vs. San Diego; Sept. 15-17 at Cubs; Sept. 18-20 at Houston; Sept. 22-25 vs. Cubs; Sept. 26-28 at Florida; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Pittsburgh.
Houston Astros (67-71)
Monday, lost 2-3 (10) at Philadelphia: The Astros lost Roger Clemens to a strained groin muscle five innings before they lost the game, but it's not immediately clear which loss cut deeper.
Tuesday, at Philadelphia: With the Astros clinging to postseason life, Andy Pettitte has to play stopper. The lefty has been on his game the last six weeks.
Remaining games (24): Sept. 5-6 at Philadelphia; Sept. 8-10 at Milwaukee; Sept. 11-13 at St. Louis; Sept. 15-17 vs. Philadelphia; Sept. 18-20 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 21-24 vs. St. Louis; Sept. 26-28 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Atlanta.
Atlanta Braves (66-71)
Monday, 5-0 win at Mets: Chuck James put a one-hit stranglehold around New York for eight innings, providing welcome "relief" to a bullpen coming off consecutive doubleheaders in Philadelphia.
Tuesday, at Mets: Seven wins in their last 10 games have kept the Braves hoping, and now they place that hope in the able right hand of John Smoltz.
Remaining games (25): Sept. 5-6 at Mets; Sept. 8-11 vs. Cubs; Sept. 12-14 vs. Philadelphia; Sept. 15-17 vs. Florida; Sept. 18-20 at Washington; Sept. 21-24 at Colorado; Sept. 26-28 vs. Mets; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 vs. Houston.
NL EAST
New York Mets (84-52), first place, 15 games ahead
Monday, lost 5-0 vs. Atlanta: Steve Trachsel's wildness (seven walks in 4 1/3 innings) set up this laborious day. The right-hander's erratic pitching lulled his defense to sleep -- the Mets allowed their first unearned run in 32 games, since July 29.
Tuesday, vs. Atlanta: Ever sensitive to maintaining their edge, the Mets send a sure thing to the mound. Dave Williams' teams (the Reds before the Mets) have won eight of his last nine Major League starts.
Remaining games (26): Sept. 5-6 vs. Atlanta; Sept. 7-10 vs. Dodgers; Sept. 11-13 at Florida; Sept. 15-17 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 18-21 vs. Florida; Sept. 22-25 vs. Washington; Sept. 26-28 at Atlanta; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Washington.
NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals (73-63}, first place, 6 games ahead
Monday, lost 4-1 at Washington: The Cards ran into the Ramon Ortiz buzz saw, being held hitless for eight innings by the right-hander who also had as many homers on the day as did Albert Pujols.
Tuesday, at Washington: Jeff Suppan takes another crack at making Tony La Russa confident of having a reliable arm behind that of Chris Carpenter.
Remaining games (26): Sept. 5-6 at Washington; Sept. 7-10 at Arizona; Sept. 11-13 vs. Houston; Sept. 15-17 vs. San Francisco; Sept. 18-20 at Milwaukee; Sept. 21-24 at Houston; Sept. 25-27 vs. San Diego; Sept. 28-Oct. 1 vs. Milwaukee.
NL WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers (73-64), first place, 2 games ahead
Monday, lost 6-3 at Milwaukee: Greg Maddux lost for the first time in seven starts with the Dodgers -- in fact, for the first time since July 19.
Tuesday, at Milwaukee: Mark Hendrickson could be pitching for his spot in the rotation as the tall lefty makes his 12th start since being acquired from Tampa Bay -- having won only one of the previous 11.
Remaining games (25): Sept. 5-6 at Milwaukee; Sept. 7-10 at Mets; Sept. 12-14 at Cubs; Sept. 15-18 vs. San Diego; Sept. 19-21 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 22-24 vs. Arizona; Sept. 26-28 at Colorado; Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at San Francisco.
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