WASHINGTON -- As the New York Mets pause on Thursday for a day off, they will gain ground on someone.
That's because the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, the two primary adversaries for the wild-card spots, begin a four-game series against each other in California.
The Giants (77-68) and Mets (77-69) currently occupy the two playoff positions, while the Cardinals (76-69) are a half-game out.
"We've got a chance to do some damage if we take care of our own business," Terry Collins said.
The Mets begin their final homestand of the regular season on Friday when Bartolo Colon (13-7, 3.