The last day of the season has arrived and the New York Mets, despite having one of the most lucrative payrolls in Major League Baseball, are on the verge of collapse. The team led by Carlos Mendoza faces the end of the regular season with the obligation to win in Miami and wait for a stumble by Cincinnati in Milwaukee, so they do not depend on themselves to get into the playoffs.
The situation is one of maximum emergency for the New Yorkers, who have failed to stabilize their performance in 2025, alternating solid episodes with others of great uncertainty. Because of these constant ups and downs, they go into the last day of the contest more concerned about what their rivals are doing than their own fate on the diamond.
The Mets are 83-78 and are vying for the National League’s final wild-card spot, but their record is identical to that of the Reds, against whom they lost their head-to-head matchup. Cincinnati won four of the six games against the Queens franchise this year, so if they finish tied, the New Yorkers would be out.
This would be a failure of great magnitude for Steve Cohen and David Stearns, the overseers of an organization that has spared no expense in trying to form a competitive team. In 2025 alone, its estimated payroll exceeds $300 million, a very significant contrast, for example, with Cincinnati, who have them in their hands with a payroll that does not exceed $120 million.
To put into perspective the economic difference between the two teams, only Juan Soto (annual salary of $61.8 million), Francisco Lindor ($34.1 million) and Pete Alonso ($30.1 million) earn more than the entire Reds team.
The Final Battle
Although they must be very aware of Cincinnati, the Mets have to do their part and win Sunday in Miami so as not to end their own aspirations. This, contrary to what it seems, is not so simple, because the Marlins have achieved six wins in the 11 duels that have been held in 2025, including a hard setback last Friday.
For the final meeting of the year, the Mets will rely on Sean Manaea, who has had a difficult year with injuries and poor performance. The left-hander has an ERA of 5.80 and has only contributed two wins in 14 starts on the mound. Definitely not what the team expected from a pitcher who is being paid $25 million.
To avoid scares, the New Yorkers will try to secure victory from the offensive rectangle, where they concentrate their greatest strengths. Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, all with brilliant individual seasons, lead the Metropolitans’ attack, which will face talented pitcher Edwin Cabrera.
The Dominican is in the midst of his best MLB campaign, with career highs in innings pitched (132.2), wins (seven), strikeouts (143) and walk rate (2.9). However, the Mets are a thorn in Cabrera’s side, as he has allowed 25 runs in nine outings against the New Yorkers since making his major league debut in 2021.
His last outing against them was in late August last year and he had a tough time, as he gave up three home runs and six runs in just four innings of work. If he corrects the course this Sunday he can make life miserable for the Mets at the most critical moment of the season.
Cincinnati, grown
On September 5, the Reds were six full games behind the Mets in the battle for the last National League wild card. They looked dead and buried, but since then they have won 13 of the 20 games they have played, while the New Yorkers have slumped to 13 defeats in the same span.
What’s striking is that Cincinnati has managed to stay afloat by sweeping the Cubs and winning series against the Mets, Padres and Brewers, top-notch opponents. Three of these opponents already have a ticket to the postseason and aspirations to win the National League pennant.
Their last game of the year will be in Milwaukee, the best team in the Major Leagues in 2025. It will be a very tough challenge to keep up with the Mets and eliminate them from the playoffs.
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