NL Wild Card Standings: NY Mets have to start taking these 2 teams seriously

Emotionally, it feels good to take 2 out of 3 versus the Atlanta Braves. Mathematically, it hasn’t been doing much for the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card standings.

They begin the week 5.5 behind the San Diego Padres. New York is still 13th in the entire National League. They can finally jump over someone if they’re able to win their series against the next opponent on the schedule, the Cincinnati Reds. They have a 1.5 game lead over the Mets.

The Reds aren’t a team the Mets should have been too worried about. With a -48 run differential in comparison to the Mets at -11, there’s a large difference in expected record. We can’t completely put stock into nothing but run differential, but it is often an indicator of who might be on the rise or about to fall. On the rising side of things, the Mets need to start taking the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals seriously.

The Mets’ playoff chances could be dashed by a more competitive Marlins and Nationals squad this season

The Nationals are 37-35 and only a game out of a playoff spot. The Marlins at 36-36 are two games back. Jumbled right there with everyone else, their run differential suggests they can be a problem.

The Nationals have scored 392 runs this year. Nobody has crossed the plate more. It’s 6 more than the Los Angeles Dodgers.

They laugh at the idea of run prevention. Their 379 runs allowed is the third-most in MLB. They still come out on top with a +13 run differential.

The far more balanced Marlins have scored 310 runs and allowed just as many. An even 0 in run differential tells us they haven’t committed to one identity or the other. The Mets are much closer to them with 288 runs scored and 299 allowed.

Neither NL East foe is necessarily a given to make the playoffs. One is bound to get a reality check, the Nationals hitters likely to slump and cause the pitching woes to cost them games. Even if they drop out of the race, the added games on the schedule against these teams will be more competitive than usual for the Mets in 2026.

The Marlins love to spoil the Mets’ season and the Nationals wouldn’t mind doing the same. 

A month ago on May 15, the Mets were 8 games out of a NL Wild Card spot. They’ve made up 2.5 games of ground, but haven’t found any footing in terms of placement within the race. Teams like the Marlins and Nationals playing this well does us no favors.

NL Wild Card Standings
St. Louis Cardinals 38-31
Philadelphia Phillies 38-33
San Diego Padres 37-33
Washington Nationals 37-35 (1 back)
Chicago Cubs 37-35 (1 back)
Arizona Diamonbacks 36-35 (1.5 back)
Miami Marlins 36-36 (2 back)
Pittsburgh Pirates 36-36 (2 back)
Cincinnati Reds 33-37 (4 back)
New York Mets 32-37 (5.5 back)

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow