Games 154-156: Dodgers vs Arizona Diamonbacks 2:0, 3:9, 5:1

You have probably found out on you own that we here are as much out of gas as the Dodgers. Hence series reports rather than game reports. I never realized how hard it's going to be to cover a whole *baseball* season. The whole 162 games.

I've covered Boston Celtics every game for two seasons I believe, have done the same with St. John's and Toronto Maple Leafs in hockey, now getting ready for yet another year in the NHL, this time on the West Coast with the Kings. But I'm learning to appreciate the gruelsome MLB season, when games are played almost every day and they tend to be relatively long. I purposefully skipped the part where I remind you that my time zone does not help out either.

Anyway, the Dodgers hosted the Diamondbacks for the final regular season home series at Chavez Ravine. They were quite lucky to take two out of three. Good starting pitching from Derek Lowe (7 IP, no runs in game one) and Hong-Chih Kuo (same 7IP, no runs, and 8 SOs) obviously helped the cause greatly. The Dodgers lost the middle game big time, due to yet another implosion by Brad Penny.

If I were Grady Little I'd seriously reconsider the following pattern for the final six games: Greg Maddux (already pitched in COL last night), Lowe (scheduled to make a start), Chad Billingsley, Kuo and again Maddux and Lowe on three day rest each.

The truth is, here's the math roadmap of what the Dodgers need to achieve in Colorado and San Fran to get at least the wild-card spot:

Dodgers sweep COL and SF (likelihood: 2%): LA is sure of wild-card, clinches NL West if Padres go 3-3 over the same span (likelihood: 10% on its own)

Dodgers win 5: sure wild-card unless Phillies sweep everything.

Dodgers win 4: minimum for a wild-card one game playoff

Dodgers win 3 or less: nice meeting you.

Sneak preview: the Dodgers already won last night in Colorado (11-4), so they just need four out of five now to make SURE of post-season. Fingers crossed.