With only three weekends of baseball left in the regular season, all the races still up in the air have critical matchups beginning today.

Some people say that a win in April is just as important as a win in September, they all count the same, one game in the standings. I don’t buy it.

A bullpen collapse in September can carry over to the next game, with only 15 games left to play, the cushion of making up for a blown save is gone. A head on loss to a rival counts two games in the standings, there may not be enough games left if you do that too many times.

In other words, when you have 100 games to go, you can make up for your mistakes, with three weekends to go, it may become too late. That is why clutch players are remembered (Yaz, Giambi, Frank Robinson) in history, especially during the stretch run, since they keep the team on track for the playoffs.

Tonight Barry Zito faces Texas, a team he has beaten nine straight times. The game is in Texas which means nothing will be easy for Oakland this weekend. Zito has pitched some of the best games of his career in Arlington and faces Cal alum Ryan Drese, a righty who seems to give up three or more in the first inning whenever he starts a game.

Click below for more!Esteban Loiaza stumbled yesterday while Roy Halladay nailed his 20th win of the year, the first to reach the charmed circle. Halladay’s year cannot be taken lightly, especially because he goes nine, a rare feat these days. So, I’m back on his bandwagon for Cy Young, unless Loiaza regroups and wins out from here on.

The Red Sox are home to meet the White Sox . Dan Wright against Jeff Suppan. The Boston righty pitched his best game since coming over from Pittsburgh last time out. This game has runs written all over it. Former Cincinnati Reds teammates Scott Sullivan and Scott Williamson will have a hand in the outcome of this one.

Meanwhile, Detroit on its way to 122 losses faces Kansas City and Paul Abbott who is pitching beautifully for five innings. If KC can just get its offense clicking, they can still win this thing. They have speed and power, if only they had starting pitching. Jeremy Affeldt is looking very good coming out of the pen with his power curveball.

Minnesota has its toughest game of the weeknd facing CC Sabathia in Cleveland. Kenny Rogers, who I have never liked in the clutch, goes for the Twins tonight. If the Twins can rescue Rogers by the sixth inning perhaps they can pull this one out. Alex Escobar, a much heralded prospect who the Tribe obtained from the Mets for Robby Alomar two years ago, is finally healthy and hitting in the big leagues.

Seattle faces the Angels in Safeco. Gil Meche started off slowly in the first inning, pitching out of a bases loaded one out jam last night, without giving up a run, and then really turned it on showing great command of his curve and fastball. Meche has won 15 games, the question is can he beat Oakland twice when they meet down the stretch. Seattle is a formidable foe (tough players) and cannot be taken lightly over the final two weeks, especially if their starting pitching is on target. Jamie Moyer goes tonight against the wildly inconsistent John Lackey. Again if you get into a bullpen game with the Angels watch out, they have power from the sixth inning to the end of the game.

Eric Chavez in my opinion has graduated to a big time player. The fact that the A’s have faced righty after righty has enabled Chavez to get the confidence to become the player his talent has always suggested he would be. His defense is top of the line, but his whole game is clicking in the three spot in the batting order. Seeing all those righties from July 17th on, has made his season.

Erubiel Durazo and Scott Hatteberg are getting deep in the count and walking like crazy (righty pitchers for them too), they should have big weekends against the Rangers whose pitchers couldn’t throw a decent strike if it was thrown from 50 feet let alone the regulation distance of 60 feet six inches.

Say what you want about the Giants bullpen, it has carried them to the top in the West, great all year, but Tim Worrell hasn’t had any life on his pitches for about one month now. Last night he had no clue, couldn’t throw the ball where he wanted to, and again showed a below average slider. We shall see how he holds up in October.

The Phillies pounded the Braves and won a critical game moving them 1/2 game out of the wild card lead. Brett Myers pitched a nice game beating Greg Maddux. The Braves, their pitching is heading south at the wrong time, their bullpen is a mess, their all world closer is on the DL, and they still will win 100 games. I just don’t like the way their season is ending and the way Maddux is getting pounded.

Mark Prior is fabulous. Mark Prior is also a young pitcher. Will he get tired? Can the Cubs ride him for 110 pitches every start? Yesterday he threw 110 in 5.6 innings, not a good sign. Kerry Wood needs to pick up the team in Wrigley against the Reds today.

Amaury Telemaco faces the Pirates as the Phillies hope they will have a breather this weekend. Pat Burrell is up to .211, so things are looking up for Larry Bowa’s team.

The Marlins face Mike Hampton in Miami and counter with Brad Penny. Both of these pitchers are throwing well. The Marlins need to hit and give Penny four runs, it may not be that easy because even though Mike Hampton is hittable, he seems to hold the line at about three to four runs per game. Without John Smoltz to close the Braves become very ordinary in the late innings, notwithstanding Wil Cunnane’s recent surge in the pen.

Now it gets interesting in the NL Central as St. Louis goes to Houston. Just seems like a repeat of the Cub series for the Cards. Hope to get some runs early and pray that someone steps up in the pen. Houston has Lidge and Wagner ready (plus about four other arms available), but Dotel may still be hurting. The Cards Woody Williams seems tired, but I wouldn’t count him out against Wade Miller tonight.

If the Cubs don’t take care of business against the Reds, and the Cards win a couple of games this weekend, this race will be amazing going down to the final games.

And by the way, the Yankees see the rejuvenated Tampa Bay team for the weekend in NY.

The Red Sox are hoping for some help from Lou Piniella’s team, but they better be careful with the White Sox in town, before doing too much scoreboard watching.

What a weekend to be a fan, and only three more like this until the end.