The Astros went 2-7 in the stretch of Sept. 10-19 and all but fell out of the playoff race. They are back in the National League Central mix with a five-game winning streak and a four-game sweep of the first-place Cardinals over the weekend. Houston is 3.5 games out of first place with seven to play, and four games back in the loss column to St. Louis. It will take a miraculous effort to catch the Redbirds. The Astros may need to win every game remaining, and they face that task on the road. They play a makeup game in Philadelphia Monday, before moving on to Pittsburgh and Atlanta for a pair of three-game series. Houston has lost four of five meetings with the Phillies, but is 10-3 against the Pirates and 3-1 against the Braves. Meanwhile, the Cardinals close at home against the Padres and Brewers. They have lost two of three this season against San Diego, and these are must-win games for the Padres. St. Louis closes the season with four home games against Milwaukee, against which they are 7-5 in 2006. If the Astros finish within a half-game of St. Louis on Sunday, the Cardinals will have to make up a game against San Francisco on the Monday after the season ends. The Astros face long odds, but will hinge their hopes on the likes of Clemens, Pettitte and Oswalt. If only Brad Lidge was the same guy who dominated hitters throughout 2004 and 2005. They might be that much closer to St. Louis, and have a better chance to pull out those tight must-wins in the final week of the season.