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The Mets are still mathematically alive for the postseason. That wasn’t the case with a week left last season and for many Mets seasons, so we can all dream, right?
With seven games to go, the Mets are 4.5 games back of the second NL wild-card spot and a chance to play in a one-game playoff to try and advance to the NLDS. Being that many games back with just seven to play is a big margin, but there is a way the Mets can sneak in. Let’s break it all down.
Just Win, Baby
Mets: -Win four at home vs. Marlins-Win three at home vs. Braves
The Mets need to win out. This pipe dream isn’t possible if the Mets don’t win all these games. Even winning six out of seven is going to make it tougher to pull off this miracle. There’s too many things that need to happen if the Mets lose a game here. Losing two games would make it almost an impossibility. Just go take care of business at home against one of the worst teams in baseball and then beat the Braves, who have already won the NL East. By then, the Dodgers will likely have already clinched home-field in the NL, so the Braves may be resting some starters those final three games of the regular season at Citi Field. Winning seven straight won’t be easy, but if the Mets want to be playing in October, they have to get to that 88-win mark.
Nationals Choke Job
Nationals: -Lose either three, four, or all five vs. Phillies -Lose two or all three vs. Indians
The schedule works out somewhat in the Mets favor this week as the Nationals and Phillies will play the rare five-game series, which was originally a four-game set that includes a very important rain make-up game as part of Tuesday's doubleheader in D.C. This week, Mets fans are Phillies fans. Because the Phillies are still 1.5 games back of the Mets, New York can afford Philadelphia winning three, four, or preferably all five games against the Nationals and still being ahead of them. The only problem is that the Phillies are 4-7 against the Nats this year and are struggling of late. They also are going to have to face Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin and Stephen Strasburg. It’s a tall task, but we have seen crazier things happen.
Those three games to finish the regular season against the Indians would be the easier ask for Mets fans, as the Indians are fighting for the second AL wild-card spot and it could very well come down to those games. Cleveland is currently tied with the Rays and is two games back of the Athletics for the top wild-card spot. It’s the first time the Nats and Indians play this season. Thus, it’s Mets fans rooting for the Phillies and Indians this week. There is a chance if the Nationals lose five games this week that the Mets could finish in a tiebreaker with them and potentially the Cubs.
Cubs Lose One Or Two More
Cubs: -Lose one or even sweep @ Pirates-Lose one or two @ Cardinals
It’s hard to expect the Pirates to beat anybody right now. They have lost nine in a row and look like a team ready for the season to end already. The Mets don’t necessarily need the Cubs to lose to them, but one Pirates win would be nice. If the Cubs end their six-game skid and sweep the Pirates, the Mets will need the Cardinals to beat the Cubs at least once and preferably twice so there isn’t a tiebreaker with the Cubs. The Cardinals could still have meaningful games in that final weekend if they don’t clinch the NL Central by then. The Brewers are three games back in the division.
Brewers Lose To Bad Teams
Brewers: (If Nationals don’t lose necessary games to Phillies/Indians)-Lose two or three @ Reds-Lose two or three @ Rockies
It really comes down to the Nationals losing at this point. The Brewers are sizzling right now and get their final two series against bad teams. It’s very difficult to expect the Brewers to lose four of six games here to force a tie. That is asking for a lot, but if the Nationals take care of business, this would be the Mets only hope. BUT the Brewers are 7-8 against the Reds this season, so those are not automatic wins exactly, although those were all before August. They are 2-2 against the Rockies but those games were at the end of April/beginning of May. Essentially, the Brewers are just so hot that they probably are going to get one of the two wild-card spots, but again, we have seen crazier things happen and they are without Christian Yelich, which clearly has not hurt them much as they have won four straight and are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
It’s surely going to take a lot of help for the Mets to make the playoffs. Asking them to win seven straight is a tall task in its own. But hey, the Mets are still hanging by a thread with meaningful games this weekend. There’s going to be a lot of scoreboard watching at Citi Field this week. It’s rare that New Yorkers are forced to root for a team in Philadelphia, but for one week only, the Mets playoff hopes and dreams could rely on Gabe Kapler’s squad taking down the Nats.
Go Phillies. Go Indians. LFGM.