On Sept. 12, 2007, the New York Mets were leading the National League East by seven games.
But the Mets faltered mightily down the stretch, and the Philadelphia Phillies won the division by one game over New York.
The 2018 Washington Nationals have more time on their side than the Phillies did 11 years ago.
But the two-time defending East champs are also going to need a team ahead of them — and maybe two — to slip if they are going to make the playoffs.
The third-place Nationals entered Tuesday’s game at St.