Tensions and playoff races heat up

With about seven weeks remaining, five of the six divisions have two teams within 2 1/2 games of each other -- only the Rangers in the American League West will likely go uncontested -- and tensions are escalating, which could make the stretch run a little nasty.

In the National League Central, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips took some shots at the Cardinals after the two combatants had opened a three-game series on Monday night, telling the Dayton Daily News, "I hate the Cardinals. All they do is [expletive] and moan about everything, all of them, they're little [expletives], all of 'em."

When Phillips led off in the first inning Tuesday, he tapped the shin guard -- a common greeting in the batter's box -- of St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina, who kicked away his bat. The two started jawing at each other, and a few moments later, the benches cleared.

It was Phillips' only memorable moment of the series. He went 2-for-14 with just on RBI and the Cardinals swept his Reds to take over first place.

The NL West got hotter too. With a weekend series set between the division-leading Padres and second-place Giants, San Francisco pitcher Jonathan Sanchez guaranteed a sweep.

"We're going to play San Diego, and we're going to beat them three times," Sanchez told the San Francisco Chronicle. "If we get to first place, we're not going to look back."

Get set for some of the most exciting -- and testy -- playoff races in years.

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