Three hundreds

The Washington Nationals' four-game win streak has my prediction that the Nats would only win eleven more games in serious jeopardy. They have to go 5-22 to get it done.

Now I'm wondering if it's possible that the Nats actually manage to finish strong enough to avoid ending up with the worst record in baseball. Here's the relegation standings (I wish baseball would go English Soccer on the dogs of MLB sometimes):

Battle for MLB's worst record

Team---W---L---Pct.---GB
WSH---50---85--.370----
SEA----51---83--.381---1.5
SD-----51---82--.383---2

I don't see anyone else entering the race, quite honestly. My money is still on Washington, although all three of these teams could lose 100 games. This would be the first time three teams lose 100 games in the same season since 2002, when four teams turned the trick. That year Kansas City lost exactly 100. Tampa Bay, Detroit and Milwaukee all lost 106.

Not so artful Dodgers

The Dodgers continue to find ways to lose. Tonight it's a throwing error in the fifth by Nomar Garciaparra that allowed two unearned runs to score against Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda was on his way to a quality start, but instead only lasted through the fifth, leaving with his team behind, 4-2. Arizona has since opened things up to 8-3 in the eighth.

If LA loses this game, they'll have dropped eight straight heading into the final Sunday of August. They'll stand 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Diamondbacks having demoted 20-year-old savior starter Clayton Kershaw to the minors.

It's time to say these Dodgers are no longer on the playoff train. They just got hit by one in the desert.

Sox and Sox still sexy

While everyone loves the Angels and the Rays right now, something tells me the Red Sox-White Sox battle this weekend could be a preview of the American League Championship Series. Just a hunch.

Boston certainly handled its business in the first meeting between the two teams, whipping the White Sox 8-0. Daisuke Matsuzaka was nearly flawless against a sometimes potent, sometimes impotent Chicago offense, working eight innings and striking out seven while not allowing a run.

The Red Sox lineup produced perfectly. Leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury scored a run even without a hit. Second and third hitters Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz combine for seven hits and five runs between them. Fourth and Fifth hitters Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay eached knocked in three RBI. Newly acquired Mark Kotsay batted sixth and tallied his first RBI. It was exactly how Terry Francona drew it up.

Boston might sit behind Tampa in the East. They might lose Josh Beckett for an extended period of time. Something tells me they're still the team to beat in the division. As for Chicago, the White Sox have Minnesota nipping at their heels just a game behind. I'm shocked the Twins are even in the running, honestly. I know they're a trendy pick, but like all fads, this one will fizzle before we hit the final week of the regular season.

Cards crashing

With both the Cubs and Brewers winning and the Cardinals losing, it appears St. Louis is fading away from contention in both the NL Central and the wild card race.

The Cubs earned their seventh straight victory, 3-2 over Philly, giving them eight wins in their last 10 games. Milwaukee's 3-1 win over the Pirates pulls the Brewers 5 1/2 games ahead of the third place Cardinals while St. Louis's 3-2 loss to Houston leaves the Redbirds a distant wild card hopeful still danger of slipping behind Philadelphia for second place in that race.

St. Louis better come up with something special in September, because it looks like slow death from here. The role players they've rotated into to the starting lineup appear an ill fit for postseason contention.