Standings through 9/10

Game 1 of the showdown in Houston goes to the visiting Cubs, as the Astros draw ever closer to their goal. They can almost taste that first pick. It has sort of a lemony flavor.

Team	W	L	GB
Houston	44	97	0
Chicago Cubs	55	86	-11
Colorado	57	83	-13.5
Minnesota	59	82	-15
Cleveland	59	82	-15
Miami	63	79	-18.5
Boston	63	78	-19
Kansas City	63	77	-19.5
Toronto	64	75	-21
NY Mets	65	76	-21

Houston's magic number: 11

Eliminated from contention:

1. Washington, 8/23/12
2. Cincinnati, 8/25/12
3. Texas, 8/26/12
4. Atlanta, 8/28/12
   NY Yankees, 8/28/12
5. San Francisco, 8/29/12
6. Baltimore, 8/30/12
   Chicago Sox, 8/30/12
   Oakland, 8/30/12
7. Tampa Bay, 8/31/12
   St. Louis, 8/31/12
8. LA Dodgers, 9/1/12
   LA Angels, 9/1/12
   Detroit, 9/1/12
9. Pittsburgh, 9/2/12 
10. Arizona, 9/5/12 
11. Milwaukee, 9/7/12
12. Seattle, 9/8/12
    Philadelphia, 9/8/12
13. San Diego, 9/10/12

Today's key games:

• ChN at Hou
• Was at NYN (Mets are eliminated with a win)
• Sea at Tor (Toronto is eliminated with a win and a Houston loss)