Another bad outing for Pedro  —  ATLANTA — If Pedro Martinez were managing the Mets, he knows who wouldn't start Game 1 of the playoffs next week.  —  "The way I'm pitching right now, I don't think Willie will have a tough decision," Martinez said last night after being ripped for eight hits …

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.

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.

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 …

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:

Know-it-all rookies frustrate Baker, Blanco  —  One of the problems with the Cubs' rookie pitchers is they don't believe they need to follow the advice of their veteran catcher.  —  At least that's what manager Dusty Baker told the media Wednesday while applauding the work of catcher Henry Blanco.

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.

Dodgers beat Rox, move up in NL West  —  LA rallies back from three-run deficit; Lowe earns win No. 16  —  DENVER — The Dodgers rallied from a three-run deficit on Wednesday night to beat the Rockies, 6-4, pulling them within a game of the first-place Padres in the National League West …

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 …

Derailment Makes for Longer Trip  —  Washington Nationals catcher Brian Schneider was playing cards on the team's chartered train home following Monday's game against the Mets in New York when everything started shaking.  —  "The lights went out and we just stopped," he said yesterday.

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.

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.

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.