Coming out of the All Star break the Mets played what was undoubtedly their most difficult stretch of the season. A 10-game slate which included series with each of the division leaders in the National League.
The Mets barely made it out of St. Louis winning their only game of the series during a Sunday 18-inning marathon.
The following three game series against the division rival Nationals had Mets fans beaming when they led the Nationals 3-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning during a Wednesday rubber match to put the Mets one game back in the NL East. What would follow would turn into the worst loss of the year, which would send them back to Citi Field 3.0 games back of first place with a critical four game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The first two games of the series would continue to show what we’ve seen all year, a disparaging lack of offense. The Mets were dominated by Clayton Kershaw and Ian Thomas… yes, Ian Thomas. The tide would turn though as the additions of Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson, and Michael Conforto would help the Mets salvage the final two games of the series and put themselves back to 2.0 games out of first place and 3.5 behind second wild card.
Although it wasn’t pretty at times and the Mets certainly did not play their best baseball they were able to do just what was needed to live to see themselves still in the playoff hunt.
With the Mets’ most difficult portion of their second half schedule now over, the team can now look forward to the rest of the season with a great deal of optimism as they attempt to play October baseball for the first time in almost a decade.
For starters the Dodgers series showed that Johnson, Uribe, and Conforto certainly bring a new and improved offensive approach to the Mets lineup. Terry Collins can now play the hot hand when previously he was forced to put the same struggling hitters into the lineup due to a severe lack of depth on the bench.
Besides those three the Mets will also be receiving offensive help from Travis d’Aranud who will shortly be making his return to the Mets lineup, perhaps as soon as this weekend.
But besides newly acquired offensive help and returns from the disabled list, the Mets biggest plus over the last two months might just be their strength of schedule.
The Mets will finish the month of July with three games against the Padres at home. San Diego may have taken 2 of 3 from the Mets in San Diego, but the Mets are a different team at home and have certainly had their way against teams under .500 when they come to Citi Field.
August will be the Mets best chance to take control of the division, 20 of Mets 28 games will be against teams under .500 including the Phillies, Marlins, Rockies, and Red Sox.
Three of the eight games against teams above .500 will come against the Tampa Bay Rays who are barely over .500 as well as three games with the Nationals as the Mets look for revenge from last week’s disappointing series.
September proves to show much of the same positive dynamics for the Mets. In fact, 21of the Mets’ 27 games will come against teams that are under .500, almost identical to August.
The Mets will play two series in September against teams above .500. A three-game series with the Nationals in Washington and a three-game set with the Yankees at Citi Field.
In the last two month’s the Mets have just about as many home games remaining as they do road games so despite a comfortable schedule the Mets will need to make sure to be playing their best baseball at and away from the Citi Field.
There is no doubt that the Mets are right in the thick of the playoff race and the way August and September play out the Mets have a real chance to take the division.
The Nationals will have the same opportunity as the Mets do to beat up on teams with losing records but Washington still has games remaining against Dodgers, Giants, and Cardinals. Those three will be almost as difficult to the Nationals as the last three series have been for the Mets.
The Mets have played their best baseball this season against teams under .500, the Amazin’s have a great opportunity to make some headway, it is now up to them to go out and take it and continue the season for as long as possible.
