3 UP

1. S7ndergaard

Once again, Noah Syndergaard took the mound, and he pitched at least seven innings. This was one of his more masterful performances allowing just one earned over seven off just three hits.

Syndergaard has now pitched 7.0+ in each of his last five starts. He has a 1.78 ERA over that span lowering his season ERA from 4.68 to 3.96.

With this stretch, Syndergaard is showing everyone just how smart the Mets were for not trading him at the deadline. More than anyone on this team, he has raised his game, and he is pushing the Mets back into contention. Seeing him back in his 2016 form is a reminder he is the key to the Mets contending, and with that in mind, the Mets need to be talking extension and not trade with him this offseason.

2. Road Warrior

After slumping a bit and talk of his wrist bothering him, Jeff McNeil has a four game hitting streak where he has gone 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, two homers, and three RBI.

In addition to leading the league in average, he’s also leading the league with a .346 average on the road. Overall, he’s hitting an impressive .346/.397/.557 on the road.

3. So You’re Saying There’s a Chance?

Unlike in previous rubber or Sunday games, the Mets took care of business beating the Pirates 13-2. Things were going so well that not only did McNeil, Michael Conforto, and J.D. Davis homer, but Juan Lagares would also join in on the fun with a double.

With that thrashing of the Pirates, the Mets run differential is suddenly just -2. That’s indicative of a team who has gone from 10 games under at the All-Star Break to just one game under with the Marlins coming to Citi Field. The team who once had the second worst record in the National League is just three games back of the second Wild Card.

According to Fangraphs, the Mets odds of making the postseason are 28.6 percent. That’s higher than the Phillies team they are chasing, and anecdotally, it’s better than the defending World Series champion Red Sox. The odds will look all the better if the pitching staff continues pitching this way, and if there are more six RBI games left in Ramos’ bat.

3 DOWN

1. Not So Matzterful

With the Mets rolling, and Steven Matz facing a Pirates team he shut out in his last start, it seemed like the Mets winning streak was set to go to eight.

After Matz had an uncharacteristically clean first, momentum seemed to be building. The wheels came off in the fourth, and Matz would depart after allowing five earned over 3.2 innings.

This was the sixth time this year Matz didn’t last five, and it was the fifth time he allowed 5+ in a start.

Right now, Matz is the biggest Wild Card in the Mets postseason chances. If he’s pitching well, their chances increase exponentially. If he’s the guy who was demoted to the bullpen, we can forget it.

2. Cano Hurt

It’s bizarre to think Robinson Cano getting hurt would actually be to the Mets detriment. He’s been below average in every aspect of his game. Not below his averages, mind you, but just plain below average.

Lately, Cano has looked like the Cano of old. He’s had a six game hitting streak with five consecutive multi-hit games. That includes a 3-for-3 game before removing himself for what was described as a hamstring strain.

That’s just the Mets luck. When Cano finally starts hitting again, he’s hurt exposing the Mets’ depth. Seeing this injury, it makes you wonder what Jed Lowrie is up to at this moment, or how things would be different if Brandon Nimmo‘s neck injury was handled much differently.

3. Some Missed Opportunities

On Friday, the Mets trailed the Pirates 5-3 entering the top of the seventh. There were two on and two out. The Mets only plated one as Cano knocked home a run on what was a tough error call, and Wilson Ramos grounded out to end the rally. From there, the Mets would not score another run, and the Pirates would beat up on Tyler Bashlor.

If the Mets pulled through in that rally, it’s likely that’s Seth Lugo instead of Bashlor, and it’s very possible the Mets pull that game out. If so, they would be over .500 now and closer in the Wild Card race.

This hasn’t been their only missed chance with the team previously blowing a chance for a win over the Padres after a strong Syndergaard start, and the Mets losing three out of four against the Giants.

Yes, with the Mets having won nine of their last 10, and with the Mets having made up four games in the Wild Card standings since the All-Star Break, this can come across as nit picking. While that is a fair assessment, it is reflective of the hole the Mets dug themselves. If they are going to pull this off, they need to stop blowing these chances and pull out each and every one of these games. Fortunately, there is still plenty of time left.