In a season where Juan Soto has performed above and beyond expectations, three rookies have revitalized the pitching staff, Pete Alonso has continued his long ball reign over New York and David Peterson had a breakout season years in the making, the New York Mets have still managed to come into the last week of the season needing other teams to lose in order to make the playoffs.
Again. For the second year running.
It's not quite clear if the Mets will need as dramatic of a final series to punch a postseason ticket this year, considering the doubleheader against the Braves that did so last year, but it's just as indistinct, and requires just as much action from the Diamondbacks. The Mets have been holding this playoff spot all month, but have wound down even with surges from Nolan McLean and Juan Soto, and are now only one game ahead of both the Reds and D-Backs, and need to keep winning in order to stay in the mix. And...considering just how great this Mets team has been at its peak, and how much they're working with...it's honestly incredible that we're at this point. Is this just gonna be a staple of the Carlos Mendoza era? Down to the wire regular season finishes? If their postseason ends anywhere near how last year's ended all could be forgiven, but if the Mets don't do as much as they can on their end, they miss out. A team this good shouldn't be waiting for Emilio Pagan to blow a save.
Even worse, the Mets have to spend the better part of this week in Chicago, playing a Cubs team that has already punched their ticket to the playoffs. But that isn't to say the Cubs are mailing it in, despite what Steve Cohen seems to think about Matt Shaw [no comment because if I say even the slightest thing in either direction I might lose my talk show on ABC]. The Cubs still have a lot of energy left, and they still have a lot of weapons with scores to settle. Nico Hoerner is polishing off his single best season to date, with a .302 average, 174 hits and 60 RBIs. PCA is one long ball away from his first 30/30 season, and that could make up for his rough second half. Matt Shaw, controversy aside, has had a very strong rookie season and looks to be the answer going forward at third. Cade Horton's 11-4, and could get a ton of ROY votes, even if the Cubs are limiting his starts til the playoffs. And the Cubs just got Daniel Palencia back, and he's a very sharp closing option.
But last night the Mets struck first, with a big win over the Cubs on the night of a surprise Reds loss to the Pirates. Right now they have the leverage, even if the Reds have the tiebreaker. They have some great pieces to rely upon at the moment, like Brett Baty, who has a .740 OPS and seems to have taken the starting third base job from Mark Vientos. You're also seeing Francisco Alvarez back and surging, which has always been a sign of a winning streak in the past few years. And Cedric Mullins has been an improvement in center field, even if he's still hitting below the Mendoza line.
Whatever the Mets can do during this series will make up for their lost week or so, but the Reds and D-Backs could still spoil it for them by going on a parallel run. It will come down to the wire, and whatever happens will be the result of how much effort the Mets can put in at this point in the season.
Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of teams running out of time for a playoff spot, a recently-activated outfield threat trying desperately to move the needle.
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