The bottom half

The week ahead

Dodgers: When the Colorado Rockies advanced to the World Series last year, you wondered whether their traditional home-road disparity would diminish. The Rockies were 51-31 at Coors Field last season and 39-42 on the road, including 21-17 after the All-Star break. But the road woes are back in a big way this year: At 14-36, the Rockies have the worst road record in the majors. The Dodgers face Colorado this week -- unfortunately for them, at Coors Field, where the Rockies are 27-21.

Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies, Monday through Wednesday at Coors Field, Denver.

Angels: Paul Byrd pitched one season in Anaheim, in 2005, posting a career-best 3.74 ERA and earning the Angels’ lone victory in the American League Championship Series. He then joined the Cleveland Indians, and he beat the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the playoffs last fall, but he has fallen on hard times this season. He’s 3-10 with a 5.47 ERA, and he has given up 23 home runs -- more than he gave up in all of 2005 for the Angels. He is scheduled to start Monday at Angel Stadium, against All-Star Ervin Santana.

Angels vs. Cleveland Indians, Monday through Wednesday at Angel Stadium.

Elsewhere: Jerry Manuel, meet Jack McKeon? The Florida Marlins were floundering in 2003, when they fired Jeff Torborg in May and replaced him with McKeon, who led the Marlins to the World Series. The New York Mets were floundering this season, when they fired Willie Randolph in June and replaced with him with Manuel. The Mets reeled off a 10-game winning streak that ended Friday, putting themselves into position for a first-place showdown with the Philadelphia Phillies this week.

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets, Tuesday through Thursday at Shea Stadium, New York.

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Minor leaguers of the week

Angels: Matt Brown, if

Brown was selected the Pacific Coast League most valuable player in last week’s triple-A All-Star game, in which he doubled and singled in three at-bats. He ranks among PCL leaders with a .327 batting average, 29 doubles and 20 home runs. Brown, 25, plays primarily third base, but he has played more at first base this season. He also can play second base and left field. He played briefly with the Angels in April and May, with one hit and nine strikeouts in 13 at-bats.

Dodgers: Travis Schlichting, rhp

Schlichting was a good-field, no-hit infielder when the Angels acquired him in 2005, from the Tampa Bay Rays for catcher Josh Paul. The Angels gave him 99 at-bats, converted him to pitcher, then released him. He pitched in rookie ball for the Angels and independent ball last summer, and all of a sudden he’s starring at double-A Jacksonville. Schlichting, 23, entered the season with only 59 career innings, but he’s 3-1 with a 2.86 earned-run average, with nine walks and 26 strikeouts in 35 innings. He had a 1.89 ERA in June.

-- Bill Shaikin

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STATS Corner

The term “first-place showdown” doesn’t sound quite right when both teams are under .500, but the Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks meet today in Phoenix as the top two teams in the National League West.

No team has won a division title with a losing record, but 10 teams have won at no more than 12 games over .500. Five of those teams -- each with the worst record in the playoff field that year -- advanced to the World Series.

The team with the best record since divisional play started in 1969 -- the 2001 Seattle Mariners, winners of 116 games -- did not advance to the World Series.

In this week’s STATS Corner, worst and best records to win a division title, since the start of divisional play in 1969, from STATS LLC:

Worst record to win division title:

*--* 2005 Padres 82-80 (.506) 1973 Mets 82-79 (.509)( 2006 Cardinals 83-78 (.516)* 1997 Astros 84-78 (.519) 1984 Royals 84-78 (.519) 1987 Twins 85-77 (.525)* 2007 Cubs 85-77 (.525) *--*

Best record to win division title:

*--* 2001 Mariners 116-46 (.716) 1998 Yankees 114-48 (.704)* 1995 Indians 100-44 (.694)( + 1969 Orioles 109-53 (.673)( 1970 Orioles 108-54 (.667)* 1975 Reds 108-54 (.667)* 1986 Mets 108-54 (.667)* *--*

* Key: * -- Won World Series;

( -- Won league championship;

+ -- Strike-shortened season