Boston is getting all the publicity for its collapse, but the Braves at one point led the NL wild-card by 8.5 games as recently as Sept. 6. Atlanta officially coughed up sole possession of the wild-card lead on Tuesday, falling 7-1 at home to the Phillies. The St. Louis Cardinals pulled even with the Braves, rallying from an early 5-0 deficit to beat the Houston Astros 13-6. Atlanta took sole possession of the NL wild-card lead on June 20 and had held it until Tuesday.

The Braves, who have lost 12 of 17, had hoped to save ace Tim Hudson (16-10) for the playoffs, but their No. 1 starter has to go tonight with the season on the line. Hudson has gone 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in three starts versus Philadelphia in 2011. The Phils go with Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.03). He has pitched out of the bullpen since returning to the Phils' roster on Sept. 12, with just five innings in four appearances since that date. Philadelphia also plans to use starter Cole Hamels for a couple of innings in relief, as well as a series of relievers.

Philadelphia has won six in a row in this series by a combined 43-9. But the Braves are favored on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds.

In Houston, the Cardinals, who have won 22 of their past 31, will start Chris Carpenter (10-9, 3.59). He hasn’t won in Houston since 2005 and is 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA in his last five starts at Minute Maid Park. Carpenter has allowed just one earned in 15 combined innings over his last two starts with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

The Astros start their best pitcher of late in Brett Myers (7-13, 4.31). He is 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four starts this month, with 21 strikeouts and just three walks. However, Myers is just 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in two starts against St. Louis this season.

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