The New York Mets have once again taken charge of their own fate in their pursuit of an MLB postseason berth. Truth be told, they’ve done so with plenty of struggle, and it’s fair to say that nothing is guaranteed for Carlos Mendoza‘s team, with several clubs hot on their trail. Now, a statistic with only one historical precedent has emerged, which could both excite and inspire more than a few fans.
The Mets’ poor results Aren’t entirely bad
According to OptaSTATS, the New York Mets suffered seven consecutive losses in June, another seven-game losing streak in August, and racked up eight straight losses in September. These are streaks that other teams might not have survived, yet the Mets remain in contention for a postseason spot. The same data reveals that in all of MLB history, only one other team endured seven or more consecutive losses in three different months and still made the playoffs: the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, who went on to win the World Series.
Who wouldn’t sign up for a World Series title despite so many losses? I believe any fan would, so these setbacks aren’t entirely disastrous. It remains to be seen how the team closes out the final five games of the season.
This is especially critical because, looking at the standings, two teams are closely trailing them in the Wild Card race. The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a significant win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and although the Cincinnati Reds (88-77) lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates (88-77), they remain just one game behind the Mets.
It’s time for the Mets to play a near-perfect finish, as any negative streak at this stage could knock them out of the playoffs.
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