If it wasn’t already readily apparent, this Mets team is not going down without a fight. That started with Marcus Stroman, who had his best start for the Mets, which is all the more impressive when you consider it happened in Coors Field. His seven shut out innings were exactly what the Mets needed to get their offense going again.
The offense would get going with homers from Amed Rosario, Brandon Nimmo, and Pete Alonso. With the starting pitching dominating again, and the offense re-awoken, the Mets would not only win 6-1, but they would also gain a game in the standings as the Anthony Rizzo-lee Cubs, who finally had their five-game winning streak snapped.
Between the loss of Rizzo, and the Cubs having seven remaining against the Cardinals, the Mets 3.0 percent postseason odds do not seem so daunting. After all, while the Cubs have those seven games against the Cardinals, the Mets have a schedule with the Reds and Marlins before facing a Braves team who should have eased well off the throttle the final weekend of the season.
The Mets problem is they’re not just chasing the Cubs. They are also chasing the Brewers, who beat the Padres to tie the Cubs for the second Wild Card spot.
Even without Christian Yelich, this Brewers team is having a strong finish to the season. Remember, this is the same Craig Counsell led team who won the final seven games of the season last year to force a one-game playoff for the National League Central title. They won that game against the Cubs, and they would come within one game of making it to the World Series.
If Mets fans are looking for some hope, there’s this – the Brewers finish the season with six games on the road. The Brewers are one game under .500 on the road this year, and that is when they had Yelich in the lineup. The Reds and Rockies have played them tough this year, too.
Still, with the Brewers schedule, the Mets are going to have to basically win out to even have a chance to grab one of the two Wild Card spots. As Mickey Callaway told Mike Francesca on WFAN, he and the team is aware of that fact. “Let’s see if they can do something special,” Callaway said.
On nights like last night, it appears like this is a team which can do something special. Stroman had the first step, and the next one comes with Noah Syndergaard pitching to Rene Rivera. After that, who knows?
