The New York Mets won 3-2 against the Washington Nationals on Thursday, to keep their slim playoffs hopes alive. Rookie David Peterson and catcher Robinson Chirinos were the heroes yesterday.
Now, the New York Mets can’t afford to make more mistakes if they want to earn the right to play baseball in October. They are currently 26-31 with three games left against the Nats, which is good for the fourth place in the National League East division.
The Mets ae within three games of the Miami Marlins (29-28) which are currently in the second spot in the East. However, the Philadelphia Phillies (28-29) are also a direct rival for the postseason.
The first two teams in each division qualify. The Atlanta Braves (34-23) are already in, but the Mets, the Phillies and the Marlins each have chances to finish with the second spot.
Can the Mets pull off the miracle?
Another avenue towards qualification to the playoffs is the Wild Card. Each league gives two WC spots to the best records that are not first or second in their divisions. Those positions are currently occupied by the Cincinnati Reds (29-28) and San Francisco Giants (28-28.)
What would need to happen for the New York Mets to finish second in their division? Well, they would have to win all three remaining games against the Nats and pray that both the Marlins and Phillies get swept. They play against the Yankees and Braves, respectively.
The math for a wild card spot gets even more complicated. Eight teams qualify to the playoffs, and the Mets currently have the 11th best record. Lots of things would need to happen.
“Hopefully, it’s not over,†Peterson said per Fox News. “Hopefully, we can finish strong and see what happens. It’s been a good experience for me.â€
Can the Mets pull off the miracle this time?