Unless we needed the game or Oswalt said he wanted a chance to win 20, I'd hold Oswalt out of Sunday's game and set up the playoffs as Oswalt, Pettitte, Clemens, Backe, Oswalt. Every starter getting additional rest before their first start.

If they need 5 games to vanquish the Braves, that sets you up for Pettitte, Clemens, Oswalt, Backe, Pettitte, Clemens, Oswalt for the NLCS. Note Backe's two starts are at home where he is infinitely better. The others are effective at home or on the road.

The good news for the playoffs is that you can ride hot starting pitching a long ways. The bad news is that our offense will have to score some runs against some very good pitchers. I guess the other plus is that we have (for now at least) gotten those injury/illness/hurricane/family leave distractions out of our system and can enter the postseason at full strength, save for Bagwell's shoulder and Clemens' hammy.

While we don't have Kent and Beltran this year, we do have Pettitte and a more experienced Backe. We will also have better speed than last year.

If I'm Garner, I'd also get Lamb and Palmeiro some starts over Burke in LF against righties. Lamb had a great LCS last year and Palmeiro, as an ex-Cardinal, seems to elevate his game some against them.