And so on to the Senior Circuit. Pitching is a problem for the Braves, Mark McGwire isn’t leading his offense and the Astros are back in the playoffs with no Lima Time. What is this world coming to?

D’backs vs. Cardinals

The Diamondbacks have Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. The other three days of the week and any time after those two leave a ball game, it’s a tightrope walk. Albie Lopez narrowly missed 20 losses and closer Byung-Hyun Kim is tiring out after assuming the role when Matt Mantei went down for the year with an injury. The offense is led by 57-homer man Luis Gonzalez, but he is the only true standout this year.

St. Louis rebounded from a slow start to clinch a playoff spot in the season’s last week. Darryl Kile is one of the veteran anchors of a solid, if not spectacular, starting rotation. The offense has not lived and died with Mark McGwire. It has been J.D. Drew that has become the fulcrum. With him, the Cardinals seem to score runs. Without him, their power game seems to disappear.

Johnson and Schilling in a short series may be the difference.

PICK: Arizona in four

Astros vs. Braves

The Astros found their level after a disastrous 2000 season and they are now back in the playoffs. Houston still touts one of the NL’s premier offenses, led by Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Moises Alou. The Astros will still need to find more answers on the mound. A rash of injuries has forced Houston to carry a bevy of youngsters on their postseason roster, but general manager Jerry Hunsicker seemed to make all the right moves at the trade deadline to keep this team afloat.

The Braves became the first team to make the playoffs with a losing record at home. The team, which has been a model of consistency for a decade, needed until the final several days of the season to fight off the upstart Phillies. John Smoltz rebounded from elbow surgery to find a new lease on life in the bullpen. He stabilized the closer’s role when Steve Karsay struggled.

PICK: Houston in four