Mets have reason for optimism despite really weird week in Atlanta
Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea blows a kiss to fans as he comes out of the game during the top of the eighth inning in an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Saturday. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
MILWAUKEE — Late Thursday morning, the Mets’ chartered flight landed safely in Wisconsin, where it was sunny and warm and where the ballpark has a roof. They escaped Atlanta, dodged Hurricane Helene and wound up with a day off to prepare for a three-game series with the Brewers beginning Friday night.
Their circumstances in the waning days of the regular season are, obviously, messy. The logistics could get wild. If you are naturally predisposed to dread, stress and assuming the worst, you have plenty of material to work with.
But enough of the handwringing and, in some cases, perceived persecution. Let’s look on the bright side. The Mets still have a lot going for them, so much so they might even be able to avoid that makeup Monday doubleheader in Atlanta. Here’s a look at some of the reasons to like their chances:
They still very much remain in a position of power
This is the most important piece. The Mets (87-70) will wake up Friday in a virtual tie with the Diamondbacks (88-71) for the second and third National League wild-card spots. Atlanta (86-71) is one game behind both.
Here’s the magic number math:
- Any combination of four Mets wins and Diamondbacks losses clinches a playoff berth for the Mets. Remember, if they finish with the same record, the Mets own the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series (4-3).
- Any combination of five Mets wins and Atlanta losses clinches a playoff berth for the Mets. The season-series tiebreaker here is up for grabs; Atlanta leads 6-5.
While the Mets visit the Brewers, Atlanta will host the Royals (weather pending) and the Diamondbacks have to play the Padres (who are a near-lock to grab the top wild card).
Sean Manaea will pitch opposite Milwaukee righthander Frankie Montas on Friday. Pitching matchups on Saturday and Sunday are TBA.
It’s not clear if the Mets and Atlanta would play Monday if those games would determine only the seeding. But if the Mets at least clinch a playoff spot by the end of Sunday, they can mail it in as necessary Monday — rest key hitters, not use any of their most important pitchers, etc.
The Mets got the heck out of Atlanta
That is no small thing. They can talk all they want about how they weren’t thinking about the franchise’s late-season history against Atlanta (fine) and how these Mets are much different than the 2022 team that blew it there around this time in the season (true), but still: Tuesday night felt awfully familiar.
They made a lot of quick outs, played sloppy defense, and had one of their best starters put up a poor outing. They’d never admit as much, but it’s easy to imagine them getting in their heads about it.
Rain may well have saved them from themselves. For now, at least, they get to take care of business in another city.
The Mets missed Atlanta's best two pitchers (for now)
Originally, they were supposed to catch likely NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on Wednesday (against David Peterson) and lefthander Max Fried on Thursday (against Manaea).
There was also a version of events in which the Mets would have seen Sale Wednesday . . . and then again Monday for a one-off makeup.
Instead, neither of those things happened. That’s a marginal benefit.
The Mets still might get Sale once; Atlanta hasn’t committed to a start day for him and it’ll depend on how the standings develop over the weekend. It could hold off till Monday.
Francisco Lindor has two extra days to heal
Even if Francisco Lindor apparently was in good enough shape to play Wednesday — he was in the lineup for a game that never was likely to get played — two extra days to try to recover from a back injury can’t hurt.
Entering Friday, Lindor will have played one inning in 13 days. This has dragged on longer than the Mets anticipated, but his return stands to help, especially if they decide to keep Luisangel Acuna’s hot bat in the lineup via centerfield.
The Brewers aren't playing for anything
They are locked in as the NL’s No. 3 seed. They will host the No. 6 seed — Mets, Atlanta or Diamondbacks — in the best-of-three first round beginning Tuesday. So as the Mets fight for their playoff lives, the Brewers’ top goal will be to get through the weekend healthy.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
