Mets360 - How the Mets stack up against the competition for a playoff spot

 

By Brian Joura September 18, 2020

The Mets did enough in their series with the Phillies, winning two of three games, to remain alive in the chase for the playoffs. With 10 games remaining, they are 23-27 and are one of eight teams fighting for the four-remaining spots in the postseason. The Braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Padres have either clinched or essentially clinched a spot at this point of the schedule. That leaves the second-place spots in the East and Central, along with two Wild Card spots. Let’s look at the road ahead for our eight teams, noting record, location and doubleheaders.

Marlins (25-23) – 5 vs. Nationals (2 DH), 4 @ Braves, 3 @ Yankees
Giants (25-24) – 3 @ A’s, 4 vs. Rockies, 4 vs. Padres (1 DH)
Reds (25-26) – 3 vs. White Sox, 3 vs. Brewers, 3 @ Twins
Phillies (24-25) – 4 vs. Blue Jays (1 DH), 4 vs Nationals (1 DH), 3 @ Rays
Cardinals (22-24) – 4 @ Pirates (1 DH), 3 @ Royals, 5 vs. Brewers (1 DH)
Brewers (23-26) – 3 @ Royals, 3 @ Reds, 5 @ Cardinals (1 DH)
Mets (23-27) – 3 vs. Braves, 3 vs. Rays, 4 @ Nationals
Rockies (22-27) – 3 vs. Dodgers, 4 @ Giants, 4 @ D’Backs (1 DH)

What stands out from the above information?

It’s a little surprising to me that with three teams from the East and Central still involved and two teams from the West that we don’t have more head-to-head series remaining. The three teams from the East are done playing each other and only the Brewers have two series remaining against teams in the hunt. The Marlins could theoretically win all 12 of their remaining games and it would have zero impact on the playoff race. They currently are the second team in the East and if they win out, nothing would change.

The Mets and Reds are the only teams among our eight challengers not to have a scheduled doubleheader remaining. And right now, the Cardinals have two down the stretch yet that only brings their total number of games played to 58. They still have two games with the Tigers, that presumably they would play on the Monday between the last scheduled day of the season and the beginning of the playoffs. There have been 31 doubleheaders played so far this year, with 16 of those ending in a split. My guess is that there would have been more splits; still, there’s no doubt that a doubleheader has the potential to wreck your pitching staff.

The Rockies have the hardest row to hoe. They have to go up three times against the best team in the league and then go on the road to play four games in San Francisco against a solid Giants club and then finish up with four more on the road, including a doubleheader. As Mets fans, we root for them to get swept by the Dodgers and then turn around and take the series against the Giants.

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