NL Central Playoff Race

[BangTheBook]

The 2007 MLB Playoffs are on the Horizon and the NL Central Race is on!

Of all the division races in baseball, none are tighter than the National League Central - it seems to be the division no one wants.

It's down to a two-team race now, with the Cubs (79-73) and Brewers (78-72) in a virtual tie for first. The Cubs have 10 games remaining, which includes two off days. The Brewers must play 12 with no off days, which means their pitching could be overextended.

And Milwaukee got some potential bad news on Tuesday night. Ace Ben Sheets left Tuesday night's win against the Astros after one inning due to tightness in his hamstring. Team officials said Sheets would be evaluated sometime today. Sheet' status was uncertain for his next scheduled start, in Atlanta on Sunday. Check for an update on Sheets' status later today.

"I guess I'll see (Wednesday)," said Sheets, still in pain after the game. "It was just grabbing me back there. I felt great in the first [inning]. I thought I was going to get into a nice groove."

"It didn't pop," Sheets said. "It just gradually grabbed worse and worse every time."

This would be a huge blow to Milwaukee. The club brought Sheets back on three days' rest to pitch Tuesday night in hopes it could use him at least twice more. But Sheets has a big injury history, so the prognosis may not be good.

The Brewers are at Houston again tonight, with right-hander Dave Bush taking the mound against the Astros' Juan Gutierrez, with the Brewers favored on WagerWeb.com.

Meanwhile, the Cubs also brought back their ace on three days' rest, but Carlos Zambrano wasn't sharp Tuesday night against the Reds. Cincy starter Aaron Harang improved to 3-0 vs. Zambrano this year as the Reds knocked the Cubs back into a tie for first.

Tonight, Chicago starts Ted Lilly against Cincinnati's Tom Shearn. Lilly has in fact been Chicago's de facto ace recently, as he has given up three runs or fewer for five consecutive starts. And he is 9-1 when starting after a Chicago defeat. Lilly, however, will be starting on three days' rest for only the second time in his career; he is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in three starts this season against the Reds.

The rookie makes his fifth start of the season for the Reds. Shearn allowed three runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings in his last start and has given up three runs or fewer in each of his starts while pitching at least six innings three times.