(BRAVES LEAVE MILLWOOD OFF PLAYOFF ROSTER)

+Houston Astros (93-69) vs. Atlanta Braves (88-74) 
National League Division Series+
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By Anthony Mormile 
SportsTicker Baseball Editor 

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros summoned
enough strength Sunday to capture the National League Central
Division title and home-field advantage throughout the
postseason. 

With that victory, they have earned the right to begin
exorcising their playoff demons. 

Houston captured three straight Central titles between
1997-1999, and in each instance was bounced in the best-of-five
Division Series. On two of those occasions, the team responsible
was the Atlanta Braves -- Houston's first-round opponent this
season. 

Atlanta has dropped seven straight postseason games, but swept
Houston in 1997 and needed just four games in 1999.  The Braves,
who have won an unprecedented 10 straight division titles,
completely throttled the Astros' vaunted lineup in those series
but will see a more balanced squad this year. 

"They've got a great team, but we'll be in the battle," Astros
second baseman Craig Biggio said. "It will be a tough road.
They're the guys with the 10 division championships. We'll go
out there and see what happens." 

The Astros were cruising into the postseason until a collapse
over the final two weeks put them on the verge of losing the
division.  Sunday, with the division title hanging in the
balance, they got a great effort from veteran Shane Reynolds and
were able to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 9-2. 

That victory, coupled with a loss by the Arizona Diamondbacks'
to Milwaukee, allowed the Astros to have the extra home game at
hitter-friendly Enron Field. 

Atlanta, which clinched the NL East on Friday, also survived a
rough finish, posting key victories when necessary but failing
to play with any consistency until the final week. 

The Braves recorded their lowest win total in a decade and begin
the playoffs with all kinds of questions regarding their offense
and defense. 

One question the Braves usually have had to address in the
playoffs is their bullpen, but heading into baseball's second
season, that area is a strength for manager Bobby Cox.  New
closer John Smoltz is one of the best October pitchers ever and
should thrive in the tense environment. 

"We've had a lot of experience with them in the past," Smoltz
said. "We've had many battles.  Their offense is one of the best
offenses in the league. Their ballpark is dangerous. It'll come
down to a total team effort. We'll see what happens." 

Atlanta will send its two mainstays -- Greg Maddux and Tom
Glavine -- to the mound in Games One and Two, respectively, and
veteran John Burkett, an All-Star this season, in Game Three. 

Maddux struggled down the stretch and has an unjustified
reputation as a poor clutch pitcher in the postseason, but he
still is a master on the mound and is capable of taking
advantage of a free-swinging Astros lineup. 

"They have a very good lineup," Maddux said. "You know, they've
scored a lot of runs all year.  They have a lot of power.  They
run a little bit.  You know, they just have eight or nine guys
that know how to swing the bats pretty well." 

Maddux also did not feel the Braves' past success against the
Astros would have any bearing on the series. 

"I really don't think it matters," he said. "I mean, I don't
think it matters what happened, what, two, three years ago. Just
like I don't think last week matters, to be honest with you. I
mean, I think what matters is how you play now. Yesterday or
years ago I don't think really matters a whole lot, regardless.
Those were good, tight series. I'm glad we won those series, but
I think that's as far as it goes." 

Glavine had one good start and one bad one against Houston this
season but was the Braves' best pitcher down the stretch.  He
also has been through the stress of October, so pitching at
Enron Field should not intimidate him. 

"I haven't heard too much about us," Glavine said. "I think for
the most part everybody is looking at everybody else.  It'll be
nice to go in as an underdog." 

Burkett gives Atlanta a solid threesome, but Cox opted to leave
fourth starter Kevin Millwood off the playoff roster for the
Division Series. 

Fifth starter Jason Marquis is on the roster, but the Braves
will probably bring Maddux back on three days rest for a
possible Game Four and follow suit with Glavine if there is a
Game Five. 

Houston likely will not have the pitching edge going into any of
the first three games, but Game One starter Wade Miller has been
among the most consistent pitchers in the game this season.  The
25-year-old righthander did not face Atlanta this year and was
doing some of his best pitching down the stretch as the team
collapsed around him. 

Miller was to be followed by rookie phenom Roy Oswalt, but a
right groin strain apparently will shelve the talented
24-year-old righthander.  In his place, the Astros will go with
Dave Mlicki, a journeyman righthander who might not even have
been in the rotation had Oswalt been healthy and Houston not
needed to throw Reynolds on Sunday. 

"Roy will probably be the starter in Game Four, but there is
still some concern," Dierker said.  "He probably could pitch in
Game Three, but Game Three falls on Shane Reynolds' day, and the
way he pitched Sunday he'll stay there." 

The Astros' bullpen was one of the best throughout most of the
season, but the wear and tear could be taking its toll.  Still,
closer Billy Wagner has completely rebounded from a
season-ending injury in 2000 and Octavio Dotel is one of the
best setup men in the game. 

Houston pitchers will have the luxury of facing one of the more
punchless lineups in the game as Atlanta scored just 729 runs
this season and is without any true tablesetters.  Chipper Jones
is the Braves' best hitter, but Brian Jordan and Andruw Jones
are dangerous. 

Atlanta's offense was dealt a blow when starting catcher Javy
Lopez went down with a sprained ankle.  Lopez is a clutch
hitter, and the dropoff to Paul Bako is significant. 

The Astros boast the best lineup in the NL and hit 34 more
homers than the Braves.  The middle of the lineup is extremely
dangerous, and if Vinny Castilla and Richard Hidalgo produce any
power near the bottom, it could be a long series for Atlanta. 

Brad Ausmus is a strong defensive catcher who should keep the
Braves from running, and while neither team is excellent
defensively, Atlanta's infield has hurt the team.  Even veterans
like Maddux, Glavine and Burkett can't consistently overcome
extra outs. 

"They have a great offensive ballclub and a great bullpen,"
Chipper Jones said. "It's going to be a good series.  The key to
the series is if we're going to score runs against their
starting pitching and if our starting pitching can hold them." 

"They've got a great team," Astros outfielder Lance Berkman
said. "Their postseason experience is overwhelming. They have
more than any other team we could have faced.  We're going to
have to play really well to get it done." 

The teams split six games during the regular season, with the
final three contests in Atlanta all being decided by one run.
The Astros won two of those three games and can only hope to
have the edge this time around.  If they do, the struggles of
the last two weeks will be a thing of the past. 

st 10-09-01 10:20 et