Matchups could get tricky  —  Playoff pairings could go down to the wire.  —  Another potential playoff scenario to ponder: With only 2 1/2 games separating the Angels, Indians, Red Sox and Yankees, what happens if all four teams finish the regular season with identical records?

Notes: Uggla sets club record  —  Slugger first Marlins second baseman to hit 30 home runs  —  MIAMI — If someone makes Dan Uggla a cake to commemorate his sophomore season, they'd better have 30 candles ready.  —  Uggla became the first second baseman in Marlins franchise history …

Dodgers too old (or is it young?) for this  —  This youth movement has officially gotten old.  —  I thought it would work, I really did, but I admit today that I am wrong.  —  By using the last couple of months to integrate, the Dodgers have done nothing but alienate.

Bucs' GM search over: It's Huntington's job  —  PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates have all but settled on their next general manager and it appears their choice is going to be a surprise.  —  Multiple baseball sources told The Times on Thursday night that the Pirates are leaning heavily …

Arizona League Top 20 Prospects List  —  Subscribers can read scouting reports on all 20 players (Click here to subscribe)  —  The Rookie-level Arizona League has only a few veterans: the managers and coaches who return to the league year after year.  Ruben Escalera was in his sixth season …

Goodbye, RFK: Not too many tears shed by Nationals as they prepare to leave ballpark  —  WASHINGTON (AP) -Oh, sure, there are some fond memories for those Washington Nationals who played at RFK Stadium in 2005, back in the days when even if the ol' ballpark might not have been much of a home, at least it was a home.

Angels show M's who's boss in West  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — On Aug. 25, the Mariners were one game away from leading the American League West.  —  On Sept. 21, four weeks later, the Mariners are one game away from elimination in the AL West.  —  For much of this misfortune, Seattle can look within.

The New Gossage?  The Old One Says Yes  —  Across the country, all the way to the mountains of Colorado, is not too far to experience the heat, embrace the hype, when Joba Chamberlain goes into the game.  —  The occasional fastball under the chin — even over the head — is music to an old intimidator's ears.

New York METS  —  Carlos Delgado (hip) had an encouraging batting practice session Thursday and is likely to start Friday's game.  —  Delgado put his spikes on late in Thursday's game in case he was needed, though the Mets didn't want to use him.  —  Shawn Green will sit out Friday night's game in observance of Yom Kippur.

Red Sox trying to avoid '78 sequel  —  Not long ago, their lead was oversized, roomy, comfortable.  —  Now, with just over a week remaining in the regular season, it's suddenly snug, tight, constricting.  —  The talk that they are creating an unwanted sequel to 1978 has grown …

Mets RF Milledge ejected after tirade  —  MIAMI (TICKER) — New York Mets right fielder Lastings Milledge was ejected in the seventh inning of Thursday's game against the Florida Marlins for an extended tirade directed at plate umpire Jim Joyce.  —  The mercurial Milledge …

Rangers starter Padilla drops appeal of suspension  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers starting pitcher Vicente Padilla dropped the appeal of his seven-game suspension and started serving it Thursday night.  —  Padilla was suspended Tuesday for intentionally throwing at Oakland's Nick Swisher …