Mets on fire with big chance to gain ground in playoff race

The New York Mets are currently the hottest team in baseball, riding a seven-game winning streak after taking care of the Red Sox. But could they also be the scariest team in October if they make it that far?

With six very winnable games ahead, the club havs a golden opportunity to position themselves for a wild-card slot — and maybe even more.

It’s a bit poetic, given the narrative from 2022. Two years ago, the Mets blew a 10.5-game lead to Atlanta Braves before losing in the NL wild-card series against the San Diego Padres. That was followed by 2023's swift and brutal collapse, with the team finishing 75-87, leading to manager Buck Showalter’s exit.

Fast forward to 2024 and under new manager Carlos Mendoza, the Mets are once again in position to make a run. Although this season has been up and down, the team appears to be ascending at the right time.

Yet, challenges remain. FanGraphs gives them just a 45.5% chance to make the playoffs, thanks to the third-toughest remaining schedule in baseball. Their path won’t be easy. Seven games against the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, three against Atlanta and three more against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers loom on the horizon.

But within those daunting matchups lies opportunity — a chance to rewrite the narrative that has likely simmered in the organization since their late-season slide in 2022.

Only eight games separate the Mets and the Phillies in the NL East. It’s not impossible.

This Mets team is stronger than many realize. Offensively, six regulars boast an OPS+ above the league average ( OPS+ takes a player's on-base plus slugging percentage and normalizes the number across the entire league).

Pete Alonso, with 31 homers this season, appears motivated by his upcoming contract negotiations and the same goes for J.D. Martinez. Francisco Lindor, meanwhile, continues to lead both offensively and defensively, potentially securing himself as an MVP finalist.

The Mets pitching staff isn’t short on experience, either. Gritty veterans Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana have all tasted success, bringing stability to the rotation as the season grinds on.

Severino summed up the Mets’ mentality best when he recently told NorthJersey.com’s Andrew Tredinnick that “[n]ow, we have to win every game.”

Even if overtaking the Phillies in the NL East is a long shot, a wild card remains well within reach. The upcoming series against the Reds and Blue Jays is crucial—only three games separate the Mets from the Padres atop the NL wild-card standings.

The formula for success is clear: Don’t think about October yet. First, take care of business against Cincinnati and Toronto. Close the gap in the wild-card race, maybe pick up a game or two in the NL East, then focus on winning series against Philly, Atlanta and Milwaukee.

If they can manage that, they’ll control their own destiny.

During a season in which the Mets look primed to surprise, the script could very well flip. The collapse of 2022 could be replaced by a miraculous run that leaves fans wondering just how far this team can go.