The Cubs’ success this year is primarily owed to their starting pitching, so it’s hard for me to feel terrible about a loss that came about because starter Carlos Zambrano fell apart for the second straight outing.

Sure, the Cubs’ middle relief put the game out of reach, but you win when your horses and when one of them gets tripped up, what can you do? Baker’s decision not to walk Casey in the eighth was egregious, but it didn’t affect the outcome. …

The odds must be with the Astros now, who beat the Brewers to tie for first. Their last three are at home (where they’re 15 over .500) against the Brewers (who are 26 games under .500). The only starter really capable of holding the Astros in check is Ben Sheets but unfortunately he is matched up with Wade Miller.

So it’s difficult to see how the Astros will lose this weekend. On the other hand, the Cubs head home to face a Pirates team they just barely split a four-game series with and which scored 28 runs in three games before Prior shut them down.

The Cubs send a shaky Matt Clement to the mound on Saturday. The Pirates hammered him for six runs in three innings last time out, and he has obviously been bothered by a groin problem.

And in a possible playoff tiebreaker for the division, the odds also favor the Astros. They’d be sending their ace, Roy Oswalt, to the mound. He’s 4-0 in September since coming back from the disabled list. He’s only given up six runs the entire month. And who would the Cubs have out there? Zambrano on three days’ rest? The same Zambrano who’s cracked the last two times out? Or … no … Shawn Estes?

Dusty, don’t do you do it.

Anyway, it was nice to see Sosa hit a couple of homers. Maybe he’ll get on a hot streak and carry the Cubs to the World Series. You never know. Also, it’s comforting to know I’m handling this better than some people.