Big Z puts Astros to sleep

Carlos Zambrano completes the first Cubs no-hitter since Milt Pappas in 1972 as the Cubs go to Milwaukee and beat the Astros in front of 23-thousand screaming Chicagoans.

The Cubs win in Miller Park is actually help for the Brewers, who dropped a day-night double header to the Phillies, leaving those two teams tied for the Wild Card. Houston's loss leaves the Astros 1.5 games back in that race, while the Cubs move 7.5 games ahead of the Brewers. Chicago is a virtual lock for the NL Central crown.

Major players?

Three guys who spent extended periods in the minors this year helped the Royals rip the Indians, 13-3.

Kansas City shortstop Mike Aviles continues to hit for a high average, improving to .322 with a 3-5 effort. He scored three runs. Second baseman Alberto Callaspo went 2-3 with three runs scored and two RBI while first baseman Ryan Shealy powered out two home runs and knocked in five.

Fantasy Impact: Hard to say any of the three should make you salivate over their long term futures (Aviles and Shealy are not youngsters, and Callaspo owns little pop), but they got the job done today.

Maddux mad good, but Dodgers lose

Talk about efficiency; Greg Maddux threw just 68 pitches over seven innings of two-hit baseball. He allowed just two hits and no runs, leaving with his Dodgers in a 0-0 tie at Colorado.

Counterpart Aaron Cook threw 102 pitches over eight innings and also gave up no runs, as the Rockies required 10 innings to finally prevail, 1-0. Troy Tulowitzki knocked in the game's only run.

Fantasy Impact: Maddux mixes in the occasional gem and the occasional clunker. He's been remarkably efficient for his advanced age of 42 years old. Without much strikeout potential, however, he's no better than a fringe starter in fantasy, especially if the Dodgers aren't giving him run support.

Heavenly

Everything is setting up for the Angels to earn home-field advantage in the postseason and set their team up for a run to the World Series, where again the AL has home-field.

If Kevin Jepsen, a minor league flamethrower is called up, Anaheim's bullpen gets that much stronger.

One thing to watch closely is how Scioscia sets up his bullpen behind Rodriguez. There is growing speculation that call-up Kevin Jepsen, an Olympian who throws in the upper 90s, might make the playoff roster. Scioscia likes that Jepsen thrived in the pressure of the Olympics, and had to have been impressed when Jepsen made his major league debut against the Yankees last week and retired Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu and Alex Rodriguez. And then did it again two days later, striking out A-Rod with a 95 mph heater.

Jepsen's debut brings to mind the saga of K-Rod in 2002, when Rodriguez made his major league debut on Sept. 18 and struck out 13 in his first 5 2/3 innings. The Angels put the rookie on their postseason roster, and he was a huge factor in their run to a World Series title.

Another K-Rod? Home-field advantage? Who doesn't like the Angels?

Price looks money in relief

The Rays debuted David Price, and the minor league player of the year looked strong in his relief role. He gave up just two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings and struck out four.

Fantasy Impact: Price would appear to be an injury away from stepping in for a spot start down the stretch. He's good enough to dominate, so consider stashing him. He's also worth picking up for long relief dominance that can help your pitching numbers. At the very least, consider grabbing him in keeper leagues as he should make an impact in 2009.

Qualls gets the call

With both Brandon Lyon and Jon Rauch struggling, the Arizona Diamondbacks will go with Chad Qualls at closer the rest of the way. This makes the trade for Rauch seem less of an impact than originally considered, and it makes sense. Qualls outperformed Lyon in stretches this year, and his numbers are generally very good. Why he's never gotten a shot to close in the past is a head-scratcher.

Fantasy Impact: Get Qualls. He may never give up this gig.

Dodgers on a run

The Dodgers, winners of 12 of 13 games, look poised for the postseason. Not only has Los Angeles sprinted past Arizona to the top of the NL Central, making them one of the hottest teams in baseball.

The other three teams that are red hot, Houston and Toronto, are still on the outside looking in. The Blue Jays don't stand much of a chance, but if the Astros continue to win, they're just two behind Milwaukee for the wild card. Watch out, Ned Yost.

K-Rod sets record

Francisco Rodriguez is baseball's single-season saves record holder, notching his 58th save of the year. Bobby Thigpen previously held the record with 57. Spitting Seeds wondered if K-Rod could reach 60 earlier this year. It looks like he'll get it done.