Standing for something

[Frayed Knot]

Nats beat Braves reducing their magic number to 2 - which considering they play each other for the next two games, the number is essentially one.
That's 7 losses in 8 games for Atlanta - which especially isn't good when a 3-game series w/Texas is included in that stretch.

Only down note for the Nats is that Rafael Soriano still ain't right. Brought in to protect a 4 run lead he gave up 2 doubles and a walk before being pulled w/2 outs in favor of Storen who gave up a 2nd run but closed out the game with the tying runs on.

[Frayed Knot]

Milwaukee's Matt Garza gets tossed in the 5th inning of a scoreless game for hitting Andrew McCutcheon twice. Neither seemed intentional but there were warnings issued after the first time and I think there's some recent history here.
Brews need every game they can get so this isn't going to help.

[Frayed Knot]

Brewers win it 1-0 via a run in the 9th.
StL whipped up on the Reds again and are pretty much sailing to the NLC title (after I wrote them off like two months ago) as they gain no matter what happens in the Pit/Mil series.

Dodgers lost in the late innings this afternoon but the Giants are in the process of losing to SD so they've got no one to blame but themselves.

[Frayed Knot]

Pitt clinches a spot in the tourney - and still have a shot at catching StL

Brewers can do no better than run the table and hope to tie the Giants for WC #2. Any SF win obviously, including their just-started game w/LA tonight, kills off the Beermakers for good.

Angel Pagan shut down for the season & post-season - to have back surgery.

[Edgy MD]

What a run for Pitt.

[Frayed Knot]

Yup. 12-2 to clinch this WC spot and they've worked their way into still having a shot at catching Saint Looie (1.5 back) and avoiding the game of death (probably vs SFG and Mr. Bumgarner).
This hardly looked like a done deal there for a while as this run comes on the heels of a mediocre August (14-14) which included a seven-game losing streak.

[Frayed Knot]

Brewers lose to Cincy this afternoon eliminating themselves and guaranteeing the Giants a spot in the post-season.
The only question remaining in the NL now is whether the Pirates can catch the Cards.
StL has 3 more in Arizona starting Friday.
Pitt with one more vs Atlanta then 3 in Cincy

[Edgy MD]

Back in second, man.

San Francisco clinches and Milwaukee falls. So the main drama left is whether the Buckminsters can catch St. Louis. I guess they consolation is prize would be staying ahead of the Giants and so hosting the Wild Card showdown.

But Mets in second. That's cool.

[Zvon]

SF clinches!

During post game celebrations CSN reporter trying to get an interview is forced to wait as Hunter Pence "does a speech". Hunters gives a ra-ra speech that includes around 24 F-bombs, all aired live.

Classic.

[Frayed Knot]

Pitt wins, but StL pulls one out in extras in Arizona so the Cards remain one game up in the NLC with two to go.
And, unlike in the days of just one WC, a tie here would require a one-game play-off to determine division winner vs Wild Card

Nationals clinch best NL record. Will host the WC survivor and have the HF-edge in Round 2

The Cubs have a shot at tying Cincy for 4th place in the Central. Think of where those two teams were (both in the standings and in perception) in relation to each other early in the season.

[Lefty Specialist]

Also, Mets are in a 3-way tie for 2nd with the Braves and Fish with two to go.