The Mets remain in a position to determine their own postseason fate, and the equation is simple: keep winning! The Mets came into Thursday’s matchup against the Chicago Cubs sitting in the third Wild Card spot, up by just half a game over the Cincinnati Reds, and a game and a half over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Needing a win, the Mets turned to their rookie phenom, right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean (4-1, 1.18 ERA, 52 SO), to take the mound against the left-handed Shota Imanaga (9-7, 33.48 ERA, 117 SO). The Cubs have already clinched a postseason berth and are now fighting for home-field advantage.

The Mets came out hot from the start and never let off the gas, defeating the Cubs 8-5 to take game three and the series over Chicago. Brandon Nimmo went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored; Brett Baty was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Tyrone Taylor had a big 2-run RBI double as part of his 2-for-4 night.

The Mets altogether struck for eight runs on 10 hits, and until the sixth inning, McLean was sharp, striking out 11.

The Mets got right to work in the top of the first, quickly putting pressure on Imanaga and the Cubs.  Lindor walked to lead off the game. With one out and Lindor on, Pete Alonso hit his 39th double of the year to left field to reach and move Lindor over to third for Mark Vientos, who hit a pop fly in foul territory (and thanks to Dansby Swanson entering the stands) allowed Lindor to score to make it a 1-0 Mets lead early. Just one batter later, Brandon Nimmo hit an RBI single that scored Alonso, and the Mets found themselves up 2-0 over the Cubs.

After Nolan McLean struck out the side in the bottom of the second, the Mets were back to work in the third and extended their lead to three in historic fashion. With one out, Francisco Lindor sent a home run deep to left field. It was his 30th home run of the season, making him the second shortstop to have two 30/30 seasons (Bobby Witt Jr. accomplished the feat first).

Per Mike Mayer of Metsmerized Online, the 2025 Mets are also now the third team in MLB history with two 30-30 players in the same season, as Juan Soto joined the club earlier this season. The other two teams were the 1996 Colorado Rockies (Ellis Burks & Dante Bichette) and the 1987 Mets (Howard Johnson & Darryl Strawberry).

The Mets continued to pour it on in the fourth, striking for three more runs to make it a 6-0 Mets lead. With one out, Nimmo got things going with a single that was followed by a single by Luis Torrens to put two on.

Brett Baty launched one deep to left field, scoring three, and just like that, the Mets were up six.

The Cubs got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on a home run by Seiya Suzuki that made it a 6-1 game. Dansby Swanson tacked on another homer in the fifth to make it a 6-2 game.

The Mets answered right back in the top of the sixth. After Nimmo and Baty hit back-to-back singles, Tyrone Taylor came up clutch for a second night in a row with an RBI double to center field to extend the lead, 8-2.

However, the Cubs clawed back, with Seiya Suzuki hitting his second homer of the night, a three-run dinger to make it an 8-5 game. Mendoza removed McLean, who had only surrendered one homer in his young MLB career.

McLean’s final line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 11K, 3 HR, 2.06 ERA

Player of the Game

Wednesday’s Metsmerized Player of the Game is Brett Baty for his 2-for-4 day, with three RBIs and two runs scored. He also had a phenomenal barehanded play in the field and had a great day on both sides of the field.

On Deck

Just three games remain in the 2025 regular season. For the Mets, they’ll end their season down in Miami, taking on the Marlins. Their final series of the season kicks off Friday at 7:10 PM EST at loanDepot Park.

Brandon Sproat (0-1, 3.49 ERA, 15 SO) will take the mound for game one against right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara (10-12, 5.48 ERA, 139 SO) for the Marlins.

Entering Friday, the Mets sit one game ahead of the Reds and two games ahead of the Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card spot.