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The Race to the Wild Card, It’s Now a Sprint Not a Marathon

Here’s a look at the National League wild-card contenders and where they stand with just over two weeks remaining:

San Diego Padres

Record, wild-card position: 76-69, leader.

Remaining schedule (6 home, 11 away): @LAD (4), ARI (3), PIT (3), @STL (3), @ARI (4).

San Diego Padres

Comment: Wild card a fall back for Padres as they aim for NL West title. They trail Dodgers by one-half game. … Have NL’s best pitching staff (3.95 ERA) and NL-best 11 shutouts. … Former Marlins prospect Adrian Gonzalez is a big-time contributor.

Philadelphia Phillies

Record, position: 74-72, 2.5 behind.

Remaining schedule (7 home, 9 away): @HOU (3), CHC (3), FLA (3), HOU (1), @WAS (3), @FLA (3).

Philadelphia Phillies

Comment: At 34-25, have second-best post-All Star break record. … Homer total second highest in club history, 21 shy of 2004 record (215) thanks to slugger Ryan Howard. … Only Mets (43) have more road wins in the NL.

San Francisco Giants

Record, position: 74-72, 2.5 games behind.

Remaining schedule (6 home, 10 away): @STL (3), @COL (3), @MIL (4), ARI (3), LAD (3).

San Francisco Giants

Comment: Have won eight of 11 to get in wild-card hunt. … Barry Bonds has been hot, but Ray Durham among league’s best hitting second baseman. … Giants getting NL’s second-best pitching (4.01) since May 9, but closer Armando Benitez is done.

Florida Marlins

Record, position: 73-73, 3.5 games behind.

Remaining schedule (6 home, 10 away): @ATL (3), @NYM (4), @PHI (3), CIN (3), PHI (3).

Florida Marlins

Comment: Have a combined 19-28 record against remaining teams on their schedule. … Still getting great starting pitching, but bullpen has been unreliable. … Behind Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla, Marlins on verge of setting franchise homer record.

Cincinnati Reds

Record, position: 72-74, 4.5 behind.

Remaining schedule (4 home, 12 away): @CHC (3), @HOU (3), CHC (4), @FLA (3), @PIT (3).

Cincinnati Reds

Comment: Reds coming off 4-5 homestand, including 1-2 against Padres. … Have 33-36 road record and have lost nine of 11 away from Great American Ballpark. … On pace to hit 200 homers and allow 200 for the second time in franchise history.

Houston Astros

Record, position: 71-74, 5 games behind.

Remaining schedule (10 home, 7 away): PHI (3), CIN (3), STL (4), @PIT (4), @ATL (3).

Houston Astros

Comment: Getting Roger Clemens back tonight helps, but Andy Pettitte has elbow issues. … Roy Oswalt pitching like a Cy Young winner. … Realistically, Astros need 14-3 finish for shot at third consecutive wild card.