Former NY Mets player may have helped seal the Diamondbacks' NL Wild Card fate

The New York Mets are having deja vu from the team chasing them for the final wild-card spot. Just like last season, the Arizona Diamondbacks are the closest to catching the Mets. They two games back of the Mets with under two weeks to go. Just like last season, it seems like this race is going to come down to the wire and should make for some entertaining baseball.

However, while this race is contentious, the Mets may have just gotten some help this afternoon from one of their former players. John Curtiss, who pitched for the Mets for 15 games during the 2023 season, came in to pitch for the Diamondbacks in the 11th in a 0-0 game during Wednesday's game against the Giants. He faced four batters and surrendered five runs, four of which were earned, on three hits and a walk.

The Diamondbacks were able to scratch out a run in the bottom of the 11th, but were unable to muster a comeback, losing the game 5-1, and giving Curtiss his second loss of the season. At this point in the season, every game matters, and a loss like this could have dire consequences on their playoff hopes.

Did John Curtiss just make his biggest contribution to the Mets?

John Curtiss had a rather forgettable Mets tenure. He threw 19 2/3 innings for the Mets in 2023, having an ERA of 4.58 with 16 strikeouts, eight walks, a 1.271 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 93. Curtiss' legacy with the Amazin would've been as one of the first pitchers they signed while he was undergoing Tommy John Surgery. It's a strategy the Mets have used these past few years as a way to get reliable bullpen arms on the cheap.

However, with his performance on Wednesday, he might become one of the heroes of the 2025 season. Depending on the outcome of the Mets-Padres game, their lead over the Diamondbacks could expand to two and a half games. While this might not seem like a lot with only 10 games to play, it gives the Mets some cushion. The Mets could drop a game and still have almost a two-game advantage over their competition.

This will also be challenging for the Diamondbacks to overcome, as their schedule becomes significantly more difficult. After an off day on Thursday, they open a three-game series against the Phillies. Then, after that, they have a series with the Dodgers and close the season in San Diego against the Padres. All three of those teams are playoff contenders and will likely pose a challenge for the Diamondbacks to defeat.

The Mets, on the other hand, have a very favorable schedule. Although they have one game against the Padres and three against the Cubs, they have six games against the Nationals and Marlins. History would suggest that these aren't easy wins for the Mets, but with the state of these three franchises, the Mets should have no problem winning four or five games against them. Steal a game or two from the Padres and Cubs, and the Mets should have things wrapped up.

Although this is not the outing John Curtiss would've liked to have, his former team couldn't have asked for anything better. It could be the difference in this heated wild-card race.