Here’s the latest on how the Mets can make the Wild Card round.
Coming off a pair of pretty ugly losses to the Brewers over the past two days, the Mets still have full control of their own playoff destiny. Let’s get right to it and look at the possible paths for them to clinch a Wild Card spot based on what happens when the entire league plays at roughly the same time at 3 PM EDT today.
Mets, Braves, and Diamondbacks win
Win one game tomorrow: In this scenario, both the Braves and Diamondbacks would have 89 wins, which clinches a playoff spot for Atlanta since they have the tiebreaker over Arizona. The Mets would finish today with 88 wins, and they, too, have the tiebreaker over Arizona. Therefore, they’d need to win one game in Atlanta tomorrow to clinch the final Wild Card spot.
Mets win, Diamondbacks lose
Clinch: This is the quickest path into the postseason for the Mets. A win today gives them 88 wins on the season, and an Arizona loss finalizes their win total at 88. Via the aforementioned tiebreaker, the Mets are in the playoffs.
- If the Braves also win: Both teams clinch playoff spots, and the Braves are one game ahead of the Mets, who would have to sweep the doubleheader tomorrow to move up to the 5th seed.
- If the Braves also lose: The Mets and Braves would have identical records. Whether or not it would be worth a flight to Atlanta to play at least one game to determine which team gets the 5th seed and which team gets the 6th seed would be up for debate.
Mets lose, Diamondbacks lose, Braves win
Win one game tomorrow: As far as beating out the Diamondbacks goes, this scenario is the same as if both teams were to win today. One win in the doubleheader tomorrow gets the Mets into the playoffs, and if they were to play the entire doubleheader, two wins would still see them finish ahead of the Braves with identical records and the Mets taking the tiebreaker.
Mets, Diamondbacks, and Braves lose
Win one game tomorrow: By now, you know the drill.
Mets lose, Diamondbacks win
Must-sweep doubleheader: This is the nightmare scenario, but what Atlanta does today would be irrelevant, as the Mets would have to win both games of the doubleheader tomorrow to pull even with the Diamondbacks with 89 wins on the season. That would see them pull ahead of Arizona, and by beating Atlanta twice, the Mets would finish with the 5th seed while the Braves get the 6th seed.