AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi

Jeff Suppan, who is 5-2 since the All-Star break, heads to the mound Saturday against the Phillies.

WEEKEND PREVIEW

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

The Houston Astros are making things interesting in the NL wild-card race, having won six straight. They are tied for second in the pursuit of the wild-card leading Brewers.

No lead is safe until a postseason spot is clinched, a lesson taught by the Rockies last year. A rough series for the Brewers in Philadelphia could make the NL wild-card race a four-team scramble, because the Cardinals are not yet out of things. It's hard to believe that anything could top the madness of the last couple weeks of 2007, when the Rockies and Phillies made amazing charges, but 2008 might have something even more improbable in store.

Best series

• Brewers at Phillies

The Phillies got off to a good start in their four-game series with the Brewers, taking the opener Thursday as Jamie Moyer won on three days rest. For whatever reason, the Brewers have had a lot of trouble winning in Philadelphia, and that's not good since the Brewers have struggled in general lately.

Brewers at Citizens Bank Park, all-time
W-L	5-12
BA	.226
Runs per game	3.2
ERA	5.11

Best pitching matchup

• Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 18-10, 2.77 ERA) at Red Sox (Jon Lester, 14-5, 3.23), Sunday, 1:55 p.m. ET

The Red Sox are just 4-7 against the Blue Jays this season, and Toronto can actually crawl back into the wild-card race with a big series against the Red Sox. The Blue Jays head into the series trailing the Red Sox by 6½ games in the wild-card race. Toronto will have to find a way to beat Lester, who has been virtually unhittable at Fenway Park (Lester is 9-1 there). Halladay is 2-1 against the Red Sox this season.

Best of the rest

Chipper Jones' last visit to Shea Stadium

This weekend marks the last time Chipper Jones will hit in his favorite ballpark, as he and the Braves try to play the spoiler role in New York against the NL East-leading Mets. Jones, who named his son Shea, has hit .308 with 19 home runs over his career at Shea Stadium. Jones homered in his first game at Shea (his first career home run). The stadium is shutting down after this season.

Most HRs at Shea Stadium by Mets opponent
Player	Homers
Willie Stargell	26
Mike Schmidt	26
Dick Allen	20
Chipper Jones	19

METS' MANUEL DESERVES JOB

By Fernando Vina, ESPN

Jerry Manuel has done a great job with the Mets since taking over this season, and even if they somehow fail to make the playoffs, he'll keep his job as manager beyond this season.

"SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL"

• Tigers at White Sox, 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

Knowing him personally, I believe he's just the right mix for the Mets. He was exactly what they needed. I think they will make the playoffs, but either way he's shown he can certainly handle things.

I think the players respond to how he goes about his business. I know former manager Willie Randolph is a great guy and is well-respected, but just from talking with a few guys, I know he was a lot more serious -- he didn't allow music in the clubhouse -- and things were a lot tighter around there.

Sometimes when you're tighter with a bunch of different personalities, things don't work out and you don't get the type of response you want. Manuel has loosened up the strings a little bit and let these guys be adults, basically saying to them, "You know what, just play hard for me, do what you guys can do, and just have fun. While we're having fun, good things will happen."

He let the guys be themselves. Sometimes, when you pull the strings tight like Randolph did, the younger guys and the big boppers will tend to put more pressure on themselves. Manuel has loosened it up, and it's been easier for everybody.

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