By the time the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox finish beating each other up, there might not be much left for the World Series. But the Colorado Rockies were still the underdogs at 6-5 at press time to beat whoever comes out of the American League.

We mentioned yesterday that Colorado was getting a 46.9 percent chance from Baseball Prospectus to win the World Series. But BP also acknowledges something of an X-factor: Willy Taveras. The fleet center fielder was added to the NLCS starting lineup against Arizona, replacing Ryan Spilborghs. Don’t let that 3-for-16 performance versus the Snakes fool you; Taveras stole a key base in the series opener and walked twice in Game 2, including the game-winning bases-loaded BB, to help the Rocks establish the lead.

Speed and scrappiness usually get scoffed at by seamheads, only because those qualities are overemphasized by traditional baseball “experts.” They remain positive qualities, and Colorado will need them.

Just a few days left in the MLB regular season, and we still don’t quite know which eight teams will make the playoffs. The American League foursome is set (presumably with New York in the Wild Card), but the leaders in the National League are all limping to the finish line.

The top favorites are the Yankees at 2-1, followed by the Boston Red Sox at 3-1. Now that the Yanks are in, they’re arguably the team to beat; Boston’s pitching is better, but that advantage shrinks considerably once the Yanks shorten their starting rotation.

The Phillies (10-1) might have the best shot in the NL. They’ve scored the most runs in the senior circuit, they’ve won 10 of their last 13 as of press time, and you can do worse than a three-man rotation of Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and Kyle Lohse. Somehow, I don’t see that intimidating the Yanks or Sox.