A Close Race

It seems the NL East is coming down to one of two teams to win it. Currently, the New York Mets are sitting just one slim game ahead of their archrival Atlanta Braves. While it is very close between these two teams, the Philadelphia Phillies are sitting at a distant 10.0 games behind the Mets and fading fast.

With most teams having around 17 games left of the regular season, it’s obviously  a bit too late for the Phillies to come back into the picture unless, of course, they can go on a massive winning streak.

However, the Mets and the Braves are pretty much head-to-head in the race for who will win the NL East! They will also face each other in both of their second to the last series of the season. This could be something that will likely be a major factor in who takes the league.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have just gone 4-4 on the road and just returned to Truist Park to take the first game of the weekend series against the Phillies.

The Braves lost 4 of their last 6 games and will be looking to turn things around long before their three game showdown against the Mets on October 1. They are 29-13 against the Phil’s, Marlins and Nats whom they have 15 games remaining.

The Braves must also be worried about Kenley Jansen who has now blown 3 out of his last 7 save opportunities. While he has been looking better since blowing a save in Miami, he couldn’t quite hold on to the lead last Sunday and ended up giving up a home run to lose to the Seattle Mariners by a run.

New York Mets

Currently sitting atop the NL East by 1.0 Games, the Mets are going to look to extend this lead as they have just 7 games remaining at home where they are 48-26 with a .649 winning percentage.

The Mets have nine games left on the road beginning with a three-game set in Milwaukee against the Brewers followed by a weekend series versus the last-place Oakland Athletics.

Then, of course they wrap the road season off with a daunting series against the Braves at Truist Park.

Currently, the Mets are -225 favorites to win the NL East over at BetOnline.ag.

If they can play against the Brewers and A’s like they did the Dodgers, the Mets will extend their lead in the division and the odds of them winning will likely be even better.

However, if they fold to the Brewers and A’s like they did to the Cubs, the Mets might need a novena to help them.

Luckily, the Amazins have a secret weapon nobody else has got… Edwin Diaz.

The Mets will also be looking for players like Brandon Nimmo to look more like the player that hit the three-run homer against the Marlins that helped put them over the edge in their 9-3 win. Pete Alonso must also finish strong and keep those home runs and RBIs coming.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

What It Will All Come Down To

The Mets and Braves are 6-4 in their last ten games and both teams should easily win their next series, on paper at least but as we all know, anything can happen. However things transpire this weekend, it will come down to the wire as to who will walk away with the division title.

With it being so late in the season, players are more tired and each team could be only one injury away from defeat. Neither team is playing the best baseball of their season.

The Mets are going to hope their bullpen can step up in the remaining weeks and give Edwin Diaz and the starting rotation some breathing room.

While the Mets are currently in the number one spot, they are not far enough ahead to relax, not just yet anyways.

They will want to get as many games ahead of the Braves as possible before the two face off against each other in what could be the deciding factor of who wins the Division.

Either way, it is pretty much guaranteed that between the two, one will take it all and the other will come second.

One thing is for sure, we are in for a great couple of weeks as far as the MLB and the race for the NL East are concerned.