Carlos Mendoza must be aware that failure is not an option in this final stretch if the New York Mets want to keep playing baseball. It all comes down to six games, while keeping an eye on other franchises also vying for a postseason spot. The recent loss against their divisional rivals, the Washington Nationals, has left the team adrift, and as things stand, they would miss the playoffs because the Cincinnati Reds hold the tiebreaker advantage.
Can the Mets Recover?
As mentioned earlier, it all boils down to six games. The Mets will play these as visitors against the Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins, while also monitoring the results of not only the Reds but also the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants, the teams closest to them in the Wild Card race.
This situation is genuinely concerning for the Mets, who at one point in the season, on June 13, held the best record in all of MLB (45-24) and a 5.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East. Since then, the team has lost its lead and its form, posting a 35-51 record since that date and dropping 11 of their last 15 games.
Surprisingly-or perhaps not for many-the Mets could now miss the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
Scenarios That Could Get the Mets into the Postseason
- Mets: 6-0 | Reds: 5-1*
- Mets: 5-1 | Reds: 4-2
- Mets: 4-2 | Reds: 3-3
- Mets: 3-3 | Reds: 2-4
- Mets: 2-4 | Reds: 1-5
- Mets: 1-5 | Reds: 0-6
These records do not account for what the Arizona Diamondbacks or San Francisco Giants might do, as they could also knock the Reds out of playoff contention.
The Cincinnati Reds close their season against the Pittsburgh Pirates (a team already eliminated) and the Milwaukee Brewers, who hold the best record in MLB. The San Francisco Giants will face the St. Louis Cardinals and the Colorado Rockies, while the Arizona Diamondbacks arguably have the toughest schedule, taking on their divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, two teams vying for the National League West title.
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