The Mets start August 12 well within striking distance of the Wild Card. At just half a game back of the Atlanta Braves and 4.5 games back of the Padres and Diamondbacks, who are tied atop the Wild Card standings, the Mets have plenty of opportunities to make the NL Wild Card race as close as it was before the Mets set off on their brutal four-city, 10-day road trip.
With just 44 games left, here are the most important series left on the Mets’ schedule.
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August 22-25, @ San Diego Padres
The Mets embark on their third West Coast trip of the year following a day game against the Orioles the day before this series starts. Four games against a team currently 4.5 games ahead of you. It’s your time to strike.
August 27-29, @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Immediately following the Padres series are three games in Phoenix with the Diamondbacks—the other team currently leading the NL Wild Card.
These seven games will make or break the Mets’ chance to get a top Wild Card slot. A poor performance across this week will relegate the final month to be a fight with the Braves. It’ll also make these next two series far less important.
September 13-15 & 19-22, vs Philadelphia Phillies
The Mets—somehow—are eight games back of the Phillies as of publishing. The Mets haven’t been great since the All-Star break. But the Phillies and Braves have been worse. That’s left the Mets, even if at the fringes, still in the NL East race. If the Mets play well again as the schedule turns to September, they’ll have three games on the road (Sept. 13-15) and four games at home (Sept. 19-22) against the Phillies. If they’re 5-6 games back at the start of the first series and go 6-1… There are some demons to exorcise.
September 24-26, @ Atlanta Braves
In all likelihood, the Mets’ final series against the Braves in 2024 will be the most important of the year. It’s at Truist Park, where the Mets won two of three in April.
The Braves’ offense has just flat out been bad since May, and their two best pitchers—Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez—have nearly pitched more this year than they have in the previous two seasons combined. They may be running on fumes by the end of September. But they’re also the Braves. Right now, the two teams are a half game apart in the Wild Card. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re that close come September 24. Should be the most nervous you’ve been all season fun!
Other Important Series
For the Mets:
- August 13-15, vs. Oakland A’s: This became important as the Mets need to stop the recent skid.
- August 30-September 1, @ Chicago White Sox: A great opportunity to get three wins under your belt.
- September 6-8, vs. Cincinnati Reds: The Reds are currently four games back of the Mets and may be out of the race by this series, but if Cincy goes on a run, this series becomes important.
For their opponents:
- Braves & Phillies, August 20-22, 29-Sept. 1: The two NL East foes play each other for seven games over the last two weeks of August. you’d like to see them beat each other up, but in this instance, you’d probably rather see the Phillies beat up on the Braves to try and bury them.
- Padres & Cardinals, August 26-29: The Cardinals are just a game back of the Mets. (That makeup game Monday was critical.) If the Cardinals have any hope of staying in the race, they’ve got to play well against the Padres.
- Diamondbacks & Giants, Sept. 3-5: The Giants are trying to stay in the Wild Card race despite selling.
- Diamondbacks & Padres, Sept. 27-29: The final series of the year! If the NL Wild Card race gets close, a sweep either way could be fatal—and help the Mets.
- Cardinals & Giants, Sept. 27-29: If either team are still alive, this final series of the year will decide their fates.
