Dykstra: You Gotta Be Clutch

Winning is about making the right plays at the right time. As teams enter the stretch run leading to the playoffs, now is the time to come through in the clutch.

With my Nails on the Numbers newsletter, I've had a hot hand, and I'm just trying to build on my momentum and ride my system to profits.

I've written a lot about the race in the National League East between my two former teams, the Mets and the Phillies. That race is one I've been keeping an eye on as I'm sure the fans of New York and Philadelphia have been holding on for what may turn out to be one wild ride. That is certainly in the back of everyone's minds after the Phils came from way behind last year to overtake the Mets and clinch the division on the last day of the season.

The Mets beat the basement-dwelling Washington Nationals 13-10 yesterday after blowing a six-run lead. They extended their lead in the division to 3.5 games. The Phils lost to the Marlins 7-3 yesterday.

In the American League, the surprising Tampa Bay Devil Rays rallied past the Boston Red Sox to take a 2.5-game lead for the top spot in the division. Out West, the Los Angeles Angels beat the Yankees to be the first team in the bigs to clinch a division.

However, despite all the talk about the obvious contenders, one team has seemingly come back from the dead to take a run at the National League wild card. The Houston Astros have gotten hot at the right time. They have won 13 of their last 14 games to close in on the Milwaukee Brewers, who hold a four-game lead in the race.