Around the NL Central: September 11 Edition

News:

Cincinnati pitcher Bronson Arroyo tied a club record yesterday!  The bad news is, it's the team record for most homeruns given up in a season.  Arroyo, who should set the record in the near future, currently sits at 40, tied with Eric Milton.

Nine months ago, pitcher Lance Pendleton was a Yankee.  Then he was an Astro.  Then he was a Yankee again.  Now, he's back with the Astros as they claimed him off of waivers from New York.

Yesterday's Games:

The Cubs beat the Mets 5-4 in a thriller.  After the Mets scored four runs in the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead, Aramis Ramirez singled in two runs to give Chicago back a lead they wouldn't relinquish.  Randy Wells pitched a good game, allowing two runs in seven innings.  Marlon Byrd and Starlin Castro each picked up a couple hits.

The Reds lost to the Rockies 12-7.  Bronson Arroyo gave up six earned runs in just one inning while allowing three home runs to tie the aforementioned team record in home runs allowed in a season.  Things have just not been going his way.  The Reds hit five homers of their own, including two by Chris Heisey, who went 3-4 on the day with two RBI and three runs scored. 

The Astros beat the Nationals 9-3.  Houston scored six in the third inning via a whole bunch of singles and small ball.  Jason Bourgeois went 3-5 while Carlos Lee, Chris Johnson, Angel Sanchez, and Carlos Corporan  all picked up a couple of hits.

The Pirates were shut out by the Marlins and Anibal Sanchez 3-0.  Worse than that, even, the Pirates only managed one hit, a double from Neil Walker.  Sanchez also struck out eleven Pittsburgh batters.  Jeff Locke had a nice first appearance, giving up three runs in five innings.

The Phillies beat the Brewers 3-2.

The Cardinals beat the Braves, 4-3.  That's all you need to know about that.

Updated Standings:

 
The Wild Card race looks like this right now:

 
And here are the playoff participants, if the season ended today:

Today's Matchups:

James McDonald (9-7, 3.98) and Javier Vasquez (9-11, 4.29) face off as the Pirates take on the Marlins.

Henry Sosa (2-3, 4.11) and the Astros get to take on Stephen Strasburg (0-0, 0.00) and the Nationals.

Yovani Gallardo (15-10, 3.71) tries to help the Brewers avoid a sweep by the Phillies and Vance Worley (11-1, 2.85)

Jake Westbrook (11-8, 4.65) gets the call for the Cardinals as they play the Braves and Tim Hudson (14-9, 3.14).

Edinson Volquez (5-4, 5.93) and the Reds get the Rockies and Drew Pomeranz (0-0, -.--), making his major league debut.

Matt Garza (8-10, 3.52) and the Cubs are against the Mets and Miguel Batista (4-2, 3.92).