The Phillies have pulled away, opening a six-game lead by sweeping the Braves three games in Philadelphia. In the second game of that series, Roy Halladay won his 20th game, the first Phillies pitcher to win 20 since Steve Carlton in 1982. In that 5-3 win, the Phillies knocked out Braves starter Mike Minor in the third inning, the seventh straight game that an opposing starting pitcher has failed to go five innings against the Phillies. That tied a record set by the New York Giants in July 1949 and the Phils in September 2006.

In the third game of that series, Roy Oswalt

pitched seven shutout innings (one hit) in a 1-0 victory, marking 10 straight starts that the Phillies have won in which Oswalt has pitched: Carlton (10 straight in 1972) and Tommy Greene (11 straight in 1993) are the only Phillies pitchers to do that in the live ball era. The Phillies have won 10 in a row, joining the Rockies with a 10-game winning streak in September; the last time that happened in the NL was when the Braves and the Mets won 10 straight in September 1969.

Two weeks ago, the NL would seemingly have no favorite entering the postseason, but the way the Phillies have played the past two weeks, they have become the clear team to beat because of their sensational starting pitching: In September, the Big Three of Halladay, Oswalt and Cole Hamels are a spectacular 12-0. And the Mets come to Philly this weekend with nothing on the line except the fate of manager Jerry Manuel, who, by all accounts, will be replaced after this nfl jersey season, but probably not by Joe Torre.

National League Central

The Reds have lowered their magic number to three not necessarily because of how well they’ve played, but because the Cardinals’ stunning collapse has continued.

The Reds could wrap up the division this weekend in San Diego against the Padres.

American League East

The Yankees and Rays split a four-game series in New York; the Yankees’ lead in the division remains at one-half game. On Thursday night, David Price beat CC Sabathia 10-3, giving Price 12 wins this mlb jerseys year against teams with a winning record, most in the major leagues.

The Rays have an easier schedule the rest of the way, playing the rest of their games against teams with a losing record (three games, however, are against the Orioles, who are playing as well as any team in the division). The Rays will open a three-game series Friday at home against the Mariners, and will not have to face Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in the series. Meanwhile, the Yankees play the Red Sox this weekend in the Bronx. The Red Sox are out of it but they always play hard, even with their Triple-A lineup on some nights, and they never give up, especially against the hated Yankees.

The Rangers could clinch the AL West this weekend in Oakland, and fittingly, the clincher should be saved by Neftali Feliz, who has tied Kaz Sasaki’s rookie record for saves in a season. But there are concerns with the Rangers. Left fielder Josh Hamilton, the leading candidate for the AL MVP, hasn’t played since Sept. 4 because of fractured ribs. He took a cortisone shot in the ribs Tuesday, and it usually takes 48 to 72 hours before it is known whether the shot did any good. Only when the discomfort nfl jersey subsides will Hamilton be allowed to resume baseball activities.

Hamilton said it is his hope to play the final three regular-season games next weekend. But will he be ready, and not rusty, for the start of the playoffs? He is their best player. They can get to the World Series for the first time in club history if he is healthy, but will he be 100 percent as he tries to play through fractured ribs?

That question will be answered next weekend, the best weekend of the regular season.

Tim Kurkjian is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. His book “Is This a Great Game, or What?” was published by St. Martin’s Press and became available in paperback in May 2008.