First, action from around the pennant races as we close in on the end of the regular season.
1. The Mets are on the verge of clinching a wildcard spot after mashing the Phillies. Jay Bruce has had a big turnaround, and John Harper writes about how it happened.
2. By the first inning of their game with the Dodgers, the Giants knew that the Mets and Cardinals had won, increasing the pressure on them. How did they respond? San Francisco put together a seven-run inning, all of it started against Brandon McCarthy.