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While many Major League teams weren't in action Thursday, many playoff contenders were, some padding their leads, others giving up ground heading into the weekend.Squaring off Thursday at Miller Park against the Phillies, the Brewers lost, 7-2, in what many are considering a potential National League Championship Series matchup. With the Cardinals having an off-day Thursday, St. Louis gained a ha football kits lf-game on the Crew, moving to eight games back in the National League Central.Even with the win, the Phillies were unable to increase their NL East lead thanks to Atlanta sweeping a doubleheader against the Mets. While the Braves still sit 10 games back of Philadelphia in the division, they lead the NL Wild Card by a comfortable 7 1/2 games over the Red Birds.Atlanta will play the Cardinals on th football kits e road beginning Friday in what could ultimately make or break St. Louis' season.Taking care of business with the Giants remaining idle Thursday, the D-backs beat the Padres, 4-1, and Ian Kennedy got his 19th win of the season to increase Arizona's lead in the West to 7 1/2 games over San Francisco.In the American League, the Yankees lost another extra-innings contest to the Orioles, 5-4, in 10 in football kits nings. However, the Red Sox couldn't make up any ground in the AL East, losing, 7-4, to the Blue Jays to stay 2 1/2 games back of New York. Boston is up 6 1/2 games on the Rays in the AL Wild Card going into a three game series in St. Petersburg on Friday.Battling it out in the AL Central, the White Sox beat the Indians, 8-1, thanks to a seven-run seventh inning to move 8 1/2 games back of the Tig football kits ers. The two teams will continue to face off for another three games, while Detroit, who had an off-day Thursday, starts a three-game series with the Twins at home Friday.With both the Angels and Rangers having an off-day Thursday, Los Angeles stayed 2 1/2 games back of Texas in the AL West.The Angels open up a pivotal three-game series with the Yankees on Friday, while the Rangers play the A's in football kits Arlington.If the postseason started todayAMERICAN LEAGUERangers (3) at Yankees (1) Red Sox (Wild Card) at Tigers (2)NATIONAL LEAGUED-backs (3) at Phillies (1) Braves (Wild Card) at Brewers (2) Today's key games to watch Phillies (Halladay, 16-5) at Brewers (Marcum, 12-5), 8:10 p.m. ET PreviewThe Brewers and Phillies could easily meet in the NLCS. This is the second game of a four-game set after t football kits he Phillies won Thursday, 7-2. Yankees (Colon, 8-9) at Angels (Weaver, 16-7), 10:05 p.m. Preview With the Angels only 2 1/2 games back of the Rangers, Friday begins a pivotal three-game series against New York.Padres (Latos, 7-13) at D-backs (Hudson, 15-9), 9:40 p.m. Preview Arizona pulled its lead over San Francisco to 7 1/2 games after Thursday's 4-1 win over the Padres.Red Sox (Lackey, 12-11) football kits at Rays (Davis, 9-8), 7:10 p.m. Preview The Red Sox sit 2 1/2 games back of the Yankees in the AL East after losing Thursday.Braves (Delgado, 0-1) at Cardinals (Jackson, 4-2), 8:15 p.m. Preview To stay in the hunt to win the NL Wild Card, the Cardinals need to start off on the right foot for Game 1 on Friday.A's (McCarthy, 8-7) at Rangers (Lewis, 11-10), 8:05 p.m. Preview The Rangers will look football kits to pad their 2 1/2-game lead in the AL West over the Angels.Twins (Slowey, 0-4) at Tigers (Penny, 9-10), 7:05 p.m. Preview Trying to beat another division opponent, Detroit will look to increase their 8 1/2-game lead.Indians (Gomez, 2-2) at White Sox (Buehrle, 11-7), 8:10 p.m. Preview Looking to make up ground on the Tigers, both the White Sox and Indians need to win now.Postseason 101Magic numb football kits ersTo calculate a team's magic number, take the number of games it has remaining on the schedule and add one. Then subtract the difference in the loss column between the team and its closest pursuer.Tie-breaker scenariosIf two teams are tied atop the division and both are assured of making the postseason, head-to-head record would be used to determine which team is the division champ and which fal football kits ls to the Wild Card.If two teams are tied atop the division and share the Wild Card lead with another club, the ties will be broken in the following fashion: #149 The teams tied atop the division will play, with the winner taking the division. #149 The losing team will then play the remaining Wild Card contender, with the winner making the playoffs.If three clubs are tied atop a division or Wild C football kits ard standings, each club would be designated in one of three slots, "A," "B," or "C." Clubs get to choose their designation based on head-to-head records. Tiebreaking games would then proceed like this: #149 Club A hosts Club B on Thursday, Sept. 29 #149 The winner of the first game hosts Club C on Friday, Sept. 30, with the winner declared champion. 2011 Postseason scheduleAmerican League Divisio football kits n Series: Sept. 30 - Oct. 6National League Division Series: Oct. 1-7American League Championship Series: Oct. 8-16National League Championship Series: Oct. 9-17World Series: Oct. 19-27Full postseason schedule football kits
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