Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
With fewer than two weeks remaining in the regular season, here’s what we know about the National League playoff picture: the Giants, Dodgers and Brewers have all punched their tickets, while the fight for the remaining two spots remains unsettled. Duking it out for those bids are the following clubs, who all have at least a faint glimmer of hope at pulling it off: the Braves, Cardinals, Phillies, Reds and Padres (pour one out for the Mets).