The New York Mets are starting to resemble the team that was once considered one of the strongest and even a contender to reach the World Series. They’ve begun their series against the Washington Nationals in the best possible way, but they remain far from the division lead they’re chasing.
Not long ago, Carlos Mendoza‘s team was in a deep crisis that seemed nearly impossible to overcome, but all the pieces are starting to come together more effectively to achieve crucial results for their cause.
The Mets are starting to look like their old selves
It’s no secret that the starting rotation and bullpen have been major issues for Carlos Mendoza, but even so, they’ve managed to find a formula to win games.
Fortunately for the organization, the Mets remain in the Wild Card race, though they hold the last spot in the National League, with the Cincinnati Reds posing a real threat. They’ve already won the first game of the series against Washington, but they need to embark on a significant winning streak to have a shot at winning their division.
This goal seems distant. Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com recently explained in an article that the team that has fallen the most in the National League East since the All-Star Game is, in fact, the Mets, with their chances of winning the division dropping from 41.9% to 19.7%.
In roughly a month of play, this decline is drastic, largely because the Mets have won only five of their last 19 games, while the Philadelphia Phillies have capitalized, extending their division lead to 5.5 games as of Tuesday’s action.
The Phillies were aggressive at the trade deadline, acquiring Jhoan Duran to bolster their bullpen, a significant differentiator. However, they face a major concern with their star pitcher, Zack Wheeler, who is on the injured list due to a blood clot in his shoulder. This could be a factor the Mets can exploit to close the gap and, why not, consider reclaiming the top spot in the East.
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