By Matt Snyder

The Braves lost again Monday night, meaning they're now 9-16 in September. Still, they inched closer to the NL wild card, as the Cardinals fell in extra innings to the Astros. So the Braves' magic number is now two, meaning any combination of Braves' wins and Cardinals' losses that equals two clinches the wild card for Atlanta. The good news for the Braves is that's pretty easy to close. The good news for the Cardinals is there are only four total games left between the two squads and the Braves are scuffling.

Atlanta Braves
89-71
Remaining schedule: 2 v. PHI
Tuesday's pitching matchup: Derek Lowe (9-16, 4.92) faces Roy Oswalt (8-10, 3.86) of the Phillies. Oswalt has fared very well against the Braves the past two seasons, though he's been shelled two of his past three outings overall (by the Astros and Nationals, with a good outing against the Cardinals in between). Lowe has been mediocre against the Phillies this season and he has an 8.24 ERA in September. The Braves have lost his past four starts and nine of his past 12.

St. Louis Cardinals
88-72, 1 GB
Remaining schedule: 2 @ HOU
Tuesday's pitching matchup: Jake Westbrook (12-9, 4.48) takes on Houston's Henry Sosa (3-5, 4.68). Westbrook is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two starts against the Astros this year, but that seems a bit deceptive. He allowed 20 baserunners in just 11 1/3 innings over those starts. The Cardinals have lost three of his past four starts, though he hasn't been bad (2.61 September ERA). Sosa has never faced the Cardinals.

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