The Braves lead in the N.L. east is disappearing about as fast as Lindsay Lohan’s acting career. Atlanta’s latest slip up was Thursday’s 5-3 loss at last place Washington. That is the team’s fourth loss in the past six games.
Meanwhile, the Phillies just keep right on winning. They took down Arizona in extra innings last night to win their eighth straight. The Braves lead in the N.L. East standings is now just 2 ½ games. This time last week they had a seven game lead.
The Mets are 6 ½ back and aren’t a factor yet. But, as we’ve seen, that could change in a week’s time. I’m still not sold on the Mets though.
It looks like it is going to be a two horse race between the Braves and the two time defending N.L. champions. Atlanta’s task got a lot tougher when the Phillies made a move to land Houston ace Roy Oswalt Tuesday. Oswalt, combined with Halladay and Hamels makes for a pretty strong starting rotation in Philly.
The schedule is also working against the Braves. They open a series at N.L. Central leading Cincinnati tonight. The Phillies, fresh off a series at N.L. West cellar dweller Arizona, head to D.C. to face the N.L. East basement feeder Washington Nationals. They won’t have to face Nat’s ace Stephen Strasburg either. The rookie sensation is on the 15 day disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
It may be tough for the Braves to keep that lead from shrinking further or even disappearing completely this weekend.
