Police report: Owens hospitalized after suicide attempt  —  Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:30 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication …

Red Sox, Beckett take on Rays  —  Tampa Bay (60-97) at Boston (84-74), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Josh Beckett will make his final start of 2006 on Wednesday night and it's a significant one for the right-hander.  —  This is the first time Beckett has made it through an entire season without being shut down by an injury.

Mets' Rotation May Get Jolted After Martínez's Abysmal Outing  —  The 61st and final pitch Pedro Martínez threw Wednesday night was a breaking ball that barely broke.  It floated through the strike zone, the kind of pitch begging to be sent screaming in the opposite direction …

Notes: Multiple tiebreaker scenarios  —  Astros, Cardinals and Reds could all finish tied atop Central  —  PITTSBURGH — Most of the talk involving a possible tie in the National League Central division has revolved around the Astros and Cardinals, who would meet for a one-game "play in" on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.

No alternative: It's time to give up on hapless Burrell.  —  WASHINGTON - Pat Burrell is an easy target.  That doesn't mean you hold your fire, not when a playoff berth is at stake.  —  So this column will adhere to the credo I picked up from a fictional CIA operative in a book so long ago, the title eludes me:

Pujols saves Cardinals to snap skid  —  Lead-changing homer in eighth puts end to seven-game slide  —  ST. LOUIS — When his team needed him most, Albert Pujols delivered what may have been the biggest regular-season hit of his already incredible career.  Pujols hammered a three-run homer …

Talent Fills HWB Rosters  —  The minor league season officially ended a little over a week ago in San Bernadino, Calf., where high Class A Inland Empire toppled Visalia for the California League title.  —  That was the final postseason series to come to an end, and now it's time for prospect season to begin.

Notes: Maroth off playoff roster  —  Leyland makes tough decision to hold out left-hander  —  DETROIT — Manager Jim Leyland hesitated for a couple seconds when asked whether making cuts from a postseason roster is as difficult as making cuts in Spring Training.  This is why.

Spikes, Pirates tie knot  —  UNIVERSITY PARK — There's a beautiful new minor league ballpark here, but really, there was no reason for baseball fans in Blair County to go see it in 2006.  —  There will be in 2007 and beyond.  —  The worst-kept secret in the minors revealed itself Monday …

It's time to cut off boozy celebrations  —  According to published reports — and when was the last time one of those gave you a bum steer? — the Detroit Tigers celebrated the clinching of their first postseason berth since 1987 with 220 bottles of champagne.

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Playoff Hurlers  —  While it's evident that there is nothing like a Diamondbacks-style Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling thunder-and-lightning duo among this year's potential playoff teams, it's unclear just which starting staff is the best of a relatively weak lot.

Young tries to keep road streak intact  —  San Diego (85-72) at St. Louis (80-76), 5:10 p.m. PT  —  One of Major League Baseball's most remarkable streaks goes back on the line when Chris Young takes on the Cardinals' Anthony Reyes in the finale of a three-game series at Busch Stadium on Wednesday night.

Lee could be back if the price is right  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Rangers can't say Carlos Lee has failed to meet expectations.  —  Lee has been the hitter they were hoping for when they traded for him July 28.  He hasn't had as big an impact with the Rangers falling out of the playoff race.

La Russa is making inexplicable decisions  —  October has arrived early.  To the Cardinals, the final days of the regular season suddenly feel like the postseason.  The tension is extreme, the pressure intense.  The infield dirt is quicksand.  The outfield walls are closing in.  —  Baseball Heaven?