Thursday baseball

What you missed, in a nutshell:

- If you can't even win with Pedro Martinez on the mound, you're in trouble. Cardinals def. Mets 3-0

- Hughes making his bid for a postseason start. Yankees def. Devil Rays 3-1

- Baltimore wins, but Jeremy Guthrie doesn't. All is right with the world. Orioles def. Blue Jays 8-5

Other results of note: Diamondbacks def. Pirates (8-0), Marlins def. Cubs (6-4), Phillies def. Braves (6-4), Twins def. Red Sox (5-4)

Welcome to a tie for first place in the NL East, Phillies. It's amazing that the Mets have let it come to this. It's even more amazing that this happened with Pedro on the mound. He looks to have done his part with a solid start, but no runs from the offense? Did the Nats series burn them out? ... Speaking of the Nats, the Nationals are to the Mets what the Marlins are to the Cubs. Unbelievable how that team has owned Chicago. ... It doesn't matter with the Twins out of any postseason contention, but a nice moment for Joe Nathan pulling his team out of a bases loaded one-out jam in the bottom of the 9th at Fenway.

As for games currently in progress, the Padres lead Milwaukee 9-5 in the top of the 8th. With Arizona and Philly winning, San Diego needs this victory. But after a Cubs loss in Florida, the Brewers are wasting another good opportunity if they can't come back and win this game late. The Mariners lead the Indians 2-1 in the top of the 3rd. And the Rockies and Dodgers are scoreless in their top of the 3rd.

Friday baseball:

RHP Tim Redding (3-5, 3.53 ERA) and the Nationals take on LHP Cole Hamels (14-5, 3.54 ERA) and the Phillies.

LHP Oliver Perez (15-9, 3.32 ERA) and the Mets host RHP Byung-Hyun Kim (9-8, 6.11 ERA) and the Marlins.

RHP Greg Maddux (13-11, 4.10 ERA) and the Padres take on LHP Chris Capuano (5-12, 5.09 ERA) and the Brewers.

RHP Mike Mussina (11-10, 4.96 ERA) and the Yankees take on RHP Jon Leicester (2-3, 6.51 ERA) and the Orioles.

Other games of note:
Twins @ Red Sox (Slowey vs. Matsuzaka)
Cubs @ Reds (Zambrano vs. Arroyo)
Diamondbacks @ Rockies (Webb vs. Francis)
Indians @ Royals (Sabathia vs. Davies)
Angels @ Athletics (Lackey vs. Haren)

The Marlins have played the Cubs tough, but the Mets need to win this game. Kim hasn't pitched well, Perez is inconsistent but pitches well in big games. They need to win, end of story. ... The advantage in Philadelphia is for the Phillies, with Cole Hamels on the mound. Tim Redding had a nice outing last time he took the hill, though. ... Advantage Padres with the unlucky and inconsistent Capuano on the mound for Milwaukee.

Tomorrow night sees Hamels, Cy Young candidate Webb (who was pushed back from his originally scheduled start on Thursday because Arizona wanted to save him when facing the far more difficult Francis and the Rockies), AL Cy Young candidate Sabathia, and long-shot AL Cy Young candidate Lackey. Some good match-ups for Friday, but as far as pitching goes Lackey vs. Haren should be good. Dark horse nomination goes to Redding-Hamels in Philly.