Wednesday baseball

What you missed, in a nutshell:

- The AL playoff picture is officially set. Yankees def. Devil Rays 12-4

- They're going to pick random people off the street in the Queens to see if they can pitch. Nationals def. Mets 9-6

- A much-needed win with Peavy on the mound. Padres def. Giants 11-3

- Not a dominating outing from Halladay, but who needs dominating when your opposition gives up eight runs in the first inning? Blue Jays def. Orioles 8-5

Other results of note: Rangers def. Angels (16-2), Red Sox def. A's (11-6), Pirates def. Diamondbacks (5-1), Phillies def. Braves (5-2), Marlins def. Cubs (7-4), Mariners def. Indians (3-2, 10-inn) [Game 1], Indians def. Mariners (12-4) [Game 2], Cardinals def. Brewers (7-3), Rockies def. Dodgers (2-0)

Humber was solid but not great for the Mets in his first career start. He left with a 6-3 lead that a combination of Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano proceeded to give away. Credit those last two runs to Billy Wagner in the 9th inning, and it was a recipe for disaster. Especially considering that Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik gave up three homeruns in less than three innings. At least Superman is done with his kryptonite for the rest of the season. ... This time, the Phillies weren't up for helping the Mets, defeating the Braves and cutting the NL East lead to one. The Padres also didn't help the Mets by winning big over the Giants with their ace on the mound. ... Bad job by the Brewers, unable to take advantage of another Cubs loss to the Marlins. ... It's hard to believe that the Dodgers were playoff contenders just two weeks ago. They're on a downward spiral of Seattle proportions.

Thursday baseball:

RHP Jack Cassel (1-1, 4.00 ERA) and the Padres take on Yovani Gallardo (9-4, 3.59 ERA) and the Brewers.

RHP Pedro Martinez (3-0, 2.57 ERA) and the Mets host RHP Joel Pineiro (6-5, 4.72 ERA) and the Cardinals

RHP Phil Hughes (4-3, 4.80 ERA) and the Yankees take on LHP Scott Kazmir (13-9, 3.54) and the Devil Rays.

RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 3.65) and the Orioles host RHP Josh Banks (0-0, 4.50 ERA) and the Blue Jays.

Other games of note:
Diamondbacks @ Pirates (Webb vs. Van Benschoten)
Cubs @ Marlins (Trachsel vs. Olsen)
Braves @ Phillies (Smoltz vs. Kendrick)
Twins @ Red Sox (Bonser vs. Beckett)
Indians @ Mariners (Byrd vs. Baek)
Rockies @ Dodgers (Morales vs. Loaiza)

With the NL East, Central, West, and Wild Card all open; every series involving the Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Padres, and Rockies this weekend is huge. But I'd venture that none of these series is more intriguing that Padres at Brewers for four games beginning tomorrow. That series has the potential to decide the NL Central, West, and Wild Card. Game 1 looks to favor Milwaukee, with the rookie Jack Cassel on the hill for San Diego taking on Gallardo, who has been more than solid for the Brewers. ... Now that the Nationals are out of town, the Mets need to regroup in this make-up game against the Cardinals, who have not been playing well either. Especially with Pedro Matrinez on the bump. ... In case you haven't noticed, that team in Colorado that you hear nothing about has a ten game winning streak. With a win tomorrow night, the Rockies will have swept the Dodgers for the second time in a row. So much for revenge being a motivating factor. ... Just one game ahead of the Padres in the West, Arizona turns to ace Brandon Webb to shut down the Pirates and end their team's losing streak at three games. ... With a two-game losing streak, the Cubs look to late season acquisition Steve Trachsel to lead them over the surprisingly tough Marlins.

Big-time pitchers on the hill Thursday. You've got Pedro Martinez, Brandon Webb, John Smoltz, and AL Cy Young frontrunner Josh Beckett going for his 21st win of the season. Also some good young pitching, like Kazmir down in Tampa Bay and Jeremy Guthrie pitching through pain for the Orioles. Thursday's pitching match-up of the night goes to Smoltz vs. Kendrick as the Braves look to steal another from division rival Philadelphia and fight to stay alive in the NL Wild Card. Either a San Diego win or a loss by them will eliminate Atlanta completely from contention.

Update on the standings: The Mets have a 1.0 game lead on the Phillies with a magic number of 4. The Cubs hold a 2.0 game lead on Milwaukee with a magic number of 3. Arizona has a 1.0 game lead on the Padres with a magic number of 4. San Diego holds a 1.0 game lead over both the Rockies and the Phillies in the Wild Card, with a magic number of 4.

Fun, fun stuff. Enjoy your Thursday, National League fans.