Wild-card mania, continued...

The Bums are bumming.

L.A. dropped two of three in Wrigley Field, a continuation of a road trip in which the Dodgers lost two of three in Milwaukee and split four in New York. L.A.'s life on the treadmill has allowed San Diego to pull with a half-game of the flagging NL West leaders. It has allowed the Giants to crawl back to within reach of the division lead. And it has muddled the league wild-card race.

Streaking the other way - the Phillies, who held a clubhouse meeting on Tuesday after a game in Atlanta was washed out. The Phillies then held sway over the all-but-dead Braves Wednesday, sweeping a pair to pull within 1 1/2 games of the wild-card leading Padres.

Got all that?

Here is another wild-card update, made necessary by decreased seperation of the contenders/pretenders:

Los Angeles: 77-69, following 6-5 loss at Chicago Thursday.
Games left: 16 - 10 home, six road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Four (vs. San Diego)

San Diego: 76-69, following 4-2 win at Cincinnati Thursday.
Games left: 17 - Six home, 11 road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Seven (Four at L.A., three at St. Louis)

San Francisco: 73-72 (33-39, road)
Games left: 17 Eight home, nine road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Six (three at St. Louis, three vs. L.A.)

Florida: 73-73 (33-38, road)
Games left: 16 Six home, 10 road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Four (four at Mets)

Philadelphia: 74-71 (38-33, road)
Games left: 17 Seven home, 10 road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Zero

Cincinnati: 72-74 following 4-2 loss to San Diego Thursday.
Games left: 16 Four home, 12 road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Zero

Houston: 71-74
Games left: 17 Ten home, seven road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Four (vs. St. Louis)

Atlanta: 69-76
Games left: 17 10 home, seven road
Games remaining against teams at least five games over .500: Three (vs. Mets)