MLB standings: 3 better-than-expected NL teams the NY Mets should worry about

The New York Mets' heinous 8-game losing streak isn't happening in a vacuum. While New York's rough start to 2026 is terrible in and of itself, it's also happening within a more-competitive-than-expected National League landscape featuring a handful of unforeseen contenders.

This is more bad news for the Mets, of course. If they don't right the ship soon, they'll find themselves fighting an uphill battle to avoid a second-straight season of no playoffs. That would surely mean the end of the Carlos Mendoza era.

The familiar powerhouses of the NL haven't changed -- the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies are each expected to take up a precious playoff spot, either through a divisional pennant or the Wild Card. The Atlanta Braves are back in business this year, too. None of this is out of the ordinary.

It's the surprise NL contenders that could ultimately doom the Mets. Here are three of them to monitor moving forward.

3 surprise NL contenders that could ruin the New York Mets' playoff hopes

3) Miami Marlins, 9-10

Miami is a real threat to finish above the Mets in the division. It's not just their favorable start to 2026 (second in the NL East entering Thursday) that speaks to this. Miami has the look of a gritty club that takes care of business against inferior teams (5-1 combined against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox to begin the year); plus, the Marlins can steal a win or two in series against their superiors. That's more than the Mets have proven so far.

With an underrated lineup and a solid rotation headlined by a healthy Sandy Alcantara, Miami is flying under the radar right now, but don't be shocked if the Marlins become buyers at the trade deadline, making themselves an even greater threat to the Mets. All 13 games between the two clubs this season will likely be mega-important in terms of postseason implications.

2) Cincinnati Reds, 11-7

The Reds made the playoffs last season, but no one would have been surprised to see that success revealed as a fluke in 2026. So far, the opposite appears to be true -- Terry Francona's club is here to stay, and Cincinnati looks like more like a contender than it did in 2025, thanks in part to the emergence of a budding star in Sal Stewart.

The more quality teams there are in the NL Central, the worse the Mets' Wild Card prospects become.

1) Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-7

Plenty of people will tell you that the Pirates' success so far in 2026 isn't all that surprising, given their young pitching staff bursting with talent, their revamped offense, and their wise contract extension with Don Kelly.

Other fans will say that while improvement was expected, an 11-7 start and first-place position in the division early on is still a surprise. Say whatever you want about the Pirates; they're going to be in the playoff picture down the stretch, which means the Central is shaping up to be an absolute blood bath. As many as all three Wild Card teams could come from this division, leaving no room at all for the Mets.

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