Today at the Races: Sept. 12

There doesn't appear much that can slow down the Houston Astros at the moment, but they will yield until at least Sunday in deference to Hurricane Ike.

The storm, which is currently a Category 2 and heading northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to make landfall along the central to upper Texas coast between Friday night and Saturday morning.

That has prompted Major League Baseball to postpone the first two games of Houston's three-game series at Minute Maid Park against the Cubs with Sunday still expected to be played as scheduled.

The Cubs have remained in Chicago and are tentatively expected to arrive in Houston on Saturday night.

Still in question is where or when the games will be played. A doubleheader Sunday is a possibility with Monday also an option, which is an open date for both clubs.

Alternate sites are also under consideration at the ballparks in St. Louis and Arlington, Texas. All have open dates. Milwaukee's Miller Park has a conflict and was ruled out Thursday.

"We're going to have to wait until [Friday] and we'll have more information," Astros owner Drayton McLane said. "The only thing we know today is we're not going to play Friday and we're not going to play Saturday. We hope to play those three games on Sunday and Monday."

Getting a day off is not coming at the right time for the Astros, a team that is hotter than any other in the NL if not all of baseball. The club has rattled off 14 victories in its last 15 games and will be facing a Cubs team that has been slumping lately.

But 8 1/2 games back in the NL Central, the Astros' real target is not the front-running Cubs but another divisional foe. The Brewers are the current leaders in the NL Wild Card and the Astros have vaulted to just three games back in that race, a position they share with the Phillies.

With games left against the Marlins, Pirates, Reds and Braves in addition to the Cubs, the Astros have two basic chores remaining -- win and watch the out-of-town scoreboard.

But for the next couple of days, they'll have to do one more thing -- wait.

Two other key series this weekend will see the hard-charging Blue Jays facing the Red Sox in Fenway while the Phillies are hosting the Brewers.

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
White Sox at Rays
Red Sox at Angels
Dodgers at Cubs
Brewers at Mets

AL EASTRays (87-57)Today at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET: The Rays head to Yankee Stadium for a three-game series with Matt Garza getting the start. The right-hander is 4-4 with a 2.93 ERA in his last 10 starts and has dropped his last two. The Rays are 4-21-5 in their previous 30 series at Yankee Stadium. Closer Troy Percival left Wednesday's game with a sore back and will be re-evaluated Friday. Preview >

Remaining games (18): Sept. 12-14 at Yankees; Sept. 15-17 vs. Boston; Sept. 18-21 vs. Minnesota; Sept. 22-24 (23rd is DH, makeup game of 4/3) at Baltimore; Sept. 25-28 at Detroit.

Red Sox (85-60, 2 1/2 GB)Today vs. Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m. ET: The Red Sox will host the Blue Jays, who've posted a 20-8 mark over the last month. Tim Wakefield will start and the right-hander is coming of the second-shortest outing of his career when he allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. Wakefield is 0-1 in two starts against the Blue Jays this season. Preview >

Remaining games (17): Sept. 12-14 (13th is DH, makeup game of 8/15) vs. Toronto; Sept. 15-17 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 19-21 at Toronto; Sept. 22-25 vs. Cleveland; Sept. 26-28 vs. Yankees.

AL CENTRALWhite Sox (81-65)Today vs. Tigers, 8:11 p.m. ET: The White Sox will be happy to see the Blue Jays leave town, a team that took three of four games in Chicago and has won 10 of its last 11 games. John Danks will start Friday's series opener with the Tigers. The left-hander is 2-0 against Detroit this season. Joe Crede, who last played Sept. 2, will seek a second opinion on his ailing back. Preview >

Remaining games (16): Sept. 12-14 vs. Detroit; Sept. 15-18 at Yankees; Sept. 19-21 at Kansas City; Sept. 23-25 at Minnesota; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cleveland.

Twins (80-66, 1 GB)Today at Orioles, 7:05 p.m. ET: Catcher Joe Mauer was the designated hitter Thursday as part of manager Ron Gardenhire's effort to keep the 2006 AL batting champion in the lineup. Scott Baker will start Friday in Baltimore. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in his last 10 starts. Preview >

Remaining games (16): Sept. 12-14 at Baltimore; Sept. 15-17 at Cleveland; Sept. 18-21 at Tampa Bay; Sept. 23-25 vs. White Sox; Sept. 26-28 vs. Kansas City.

AL WESTAngels clinched division title
AL WILD CARDRed Sox (85-60) Kevin Youkilis has passed the 100-RBI plateau for the first time in his career while Dustin Pedroia's 46th and 47th doubles on Wednesday established a new mark by a Red Sox second baseman, eclipsing Jody Reed's 45 set in 1990.

Twins (80-66, 5 1/2 GB) After losing two of three games to the Twins, Royals manager Trey Hillman believes the Twins are the better team in the AL Central over the White Sox. He gave them higher marks in generating offense, strong defense and a pitching staff that keeps walks to a minimum.

Blue Jays (79-67, 6 1/2 GB)Today at Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. ET: Next stop for the surging Blue Jays is Fenway Park. They still have a sizable deficit to overcome and would have to leapfrog not just one but two teams to claim the AL Wild Card, but they are rolling with 20 victories in their last 28 games. David Purcey will start Friday while A.J. Burnett and Jesse Litsch are being pushed up to pitch Saturday's doubleheader on short rest with Roy Halladay starting Sunday, also on short rest. Preview >

Remaining games (16): Sept. 12-14 (13th is DH, makeup game of Aug. 15) at Boston; Sept. 16-18 vs. Baltimore; Sept. 19-21 vs. Boston; Sept. 23-25 vs. Yankees; Sept. 26-28 at Baltimore.

NL EASTMets (82-63)Today vs. Braves, 7:10 p.m. ET: Johan Santana will take the ball for the Mets on Friday. In his last start, the left-hander allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings to stop the Mets' two-game losing streak. Santana is 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA in his last 10 starts with 59 strikeouts and 16 walks. Preview >

Remaining games (17): Sept. 12-14 vs. Atlanta; Sept. 15-18 at Washington; Sept. 19-21 at Atlanta; Sept. 22-25 vs. Cubs; Sept. 26-28 vs. Florida.

Phillies (80-67, 3 GB)Today vs. Brewers, 7:05 p.m. ET: With the Mets idle Thursday, the Phillies were able to pick up a half-game in the NL East race. Cole Hamels will start Friday and try to set his last start aside, when he allowed three first-inning runs in a loss to the Mets. The left-hander is 1-1 in four career starts against the Mets. Preview >

Remaining games (15): Sept. 12-14 vs. Milwaukee; Sept. 16-18 at Atlanta; Sept. 19-21 at Florida; Sept. 22-24 vs. Atlanta; Sept. 26-28 vs. Washington.

NL CENTRALCubs (88-58)Today at Astros, postponed: The Cubs are scheduled to play the Astros in a three-game series in Houston but Hurricane Ike has put a hold on that and the club will return to Chicago until further notice. Jason Marquis is next up in the rotation.

Remaining games (16): Sept. 12-13 (postponed due to storm), Sept. 14 at Houston; Sept. 16-18 vs. Milwaukee; Sept. 19-21 vs. St. Louis; Sept. 22-25 at Mets; Sept. 26-28 at Milwaukee.

Brewers (83-64, 5 1/2 GB)Today at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET: The NL Wild Card race is closing in on the Brewers, who have a pair of pursuers within three games. Manny Parra will start Friday and the left-hander has struggled. He is 2-5 with a 4.49 ERA in his last 10 starts and has completed just five innings in his last two. Preview >

Remaining games (15): Sept. 12-14 at Philadelphia; Sept. 16-18 at Cubs; Sept. 19-21 at Cincinnati; Sept. 23-25 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cubs.

NL WESTDodgers (75-71)Today at Rockies, 9:05 p.m. ET: The Dodgers head into town on a roll and ready to face a team that has lost four straight. Chad Billingsley will start for the Dodgers and the right-hander has been solid over the last 11 starts. Billingsley has allowed three or fewer earned runs since giving up five to the Braves on July 8. Preview >

Remaining games (16): Sept. 12-14 at Colorado; Sept. 15-18 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 19-21 vs. San Francisco; Sept. 23-25 vs. San Diego; Sept. 26-28 at San Francisco.

D-backs (71-74, 3 1/2 GB)Today vs. Reds, 9:40 p.m. ET: Brandon Webb is looking to turn things around when he takes the ball Friday, and the Diamondbacks need the boost. A six-game losing streak has set Arizona back and Webb has been part of the slump. He's posted a 12.51 ERA in his last three starts while dropping all three and has been unable to complete six innings in those outings. Preview >

Remaining games (17): Sept. 12-14 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 15-18 vs. San Francisco; Sept. 19-21 at Colorado; Sept. 22-25 at St. Louis; Sept. 26-28 vs. Colorado.

NL WILD CARDBrewers (83-64) Gabe Kapler had an MRI on Thursday that revealed a muscle tear at the back of his left shoulder. Kapler, who is 10-for-31 this season as a pinch-hitter, is hopeful he'll be able to return before the end of the season.

Astros (80-67, 3 GB)Today vs. Cubs, postponed: The Astros have postponed Friday's and Saturday's games due to Hurricane Ike, and the club would rather not take a break. They've won six straight games and 14 of 15. Alberto Arias has been slotted to take the next start in place of the injured Wandy Rodriguez.

Remaining games (15): Sept. 12-13 (postponed due to storm), Sept. 14 vs. Cubs; Sept. 16-18 at Florida; Sept. 19-21 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 23-25 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 26-28 vs. Atlanta.

Phillies (80-67, 3 GB) The Phillies earned a key victory by taking the first game of their NL Wild Card showdown series with the Brewers. Jamie Moyer pitched Thursday on short rest and the Phillies are considering starting Brett Myers on Sunday on short rest.

Cardinals (78-68, 4 1/2 GB)Today at Pirates, 7:05 p.m. ET: Catcher Yadier Molina sat out Thursday's game following his plate collision Wednesday against Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly. He is not expected back until some time during the weekend. Brad Thompson will get the start in the series opener in Pittsburgh on Friday. Preview >

Remaining games (16): Sept. 12-14 at Pittsburgh; Sept. 16-18 at Cincinnati; Sept. 19-21 at Cubs; Sept. 22-25 vs. Arizona; Sept. 26-28 vs. Cincinnati.