USA TODAY Sports projected MLB win totals for 2020, including a projection of 85-77 for the New York Mets.
With the projection made by USA TODAY Sports’ six-person panel, the Mets are expected to finish 2020 with one less win than 2019 when they finished the season at 86-76. However, they are also expected to tie the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks for the second Wild Card spot.
Regarding the two NL East rivals, the article stated, “The Mets and Phillies will be joined at the hip, thanks to Zack Wheeler’s defection from Queens to Broad Street. Yet it will be each team’s respective bullpens determining if either challenge the Braves or Nationals.”
Based off the projections, the National League East divisional race is expected to be even tighter between the top four teams than it was last season. The Atlanta Braves are expected to win the division at 92-70 and the Washington Nationals are expected to take the first Wild Card spot at 88-74. That means the Mets and Phillies would finish the season 7.0 games behind first-place in the division, and 3.0 games behind both second-place in the division and first in the Wild Card.
Last season the Braves won the division with a 97-65 record. The Nationals came in second in the division and took the first Wild Card with a 93-69 record. The Mets came in third in the division and missed the playoffs by 3.0 games with a 86-76 record. The Phillies came in fourth in the division and finished at .500 with a 81-81 record.
On the other hand, the Miami Marlins are expected to slightly improve from their 57-105 record in 2019 by finishing 62-100, but are still expected to be a non-factor in the NL East and NL Wild Card race.
