As we enter tonight’s action, I thought it was interesting to break down the remaining series between the four teams in contention in the NL East, ranked by importance.

1. Braves versus Mets – 13 games left to play, the most between any of the teams in contention. There’s certainly room enough with this many head to head meetings for one of these teams to eliminate the other from the race.

2. Phillies versus Fish – The Marlins own the edge down the stretch, with 7 out of 11 games between the two in Miami. That can’t bode well for the Phils. Bowa and staff will see their hopes pinned on the remaining games with Florida.

3. Phillies versus Braves – Only six games remain between the two, and four of them are in Atlanta. These two squads have been jockeying for supremacy of late, and its sad that they don’t meet more down the stretch. But the quantity will certainly increase the quality. With fewer opportunities to stick it to the other, these head to head meetings will be played as if its October. Could be exciting.

4. Phillies versus Mets – Also only six games left, but split 3-3.

5. Braves versus Fish – Only six left, a shame for Braves fans since Atlanta has handled Florida very well this year.

6. Mets versus Marlins – Just seven games between the two.