NL East standings by home runs hit: The Mets actually stand a chance in 2023

The New York Mets are beyond lost in the NL East standings but if we look at the number of home runs they’ve hit, the 36-46 Mets would actually stand a chance in 2023.

There are a lot of planned stories about the 2023 Mets which have become lost because of the unplanned ones wreaking havoc on the ball club. Who knew we’d be in July and the starting pitching would be this abominable?

An area of concern heading into the year for the Mets was how many home runs they would hit. While they’ve given up a ton, they’ve actually managed to hit 100 of them. Heading into Saturday, it ranks ninth in MLB.

If the NL East standings were by home runs hit, the NY Mets would be alive

Alive is different from well out of reach of first place. The Atlanta Braves have mashed 153 home runs to lead all of Major League Baseball. They’d have a 53 home run lead over the Mets in the NL East standings if Bud Selig decided after the 1998 home run chase to completely change the sport.

The Mets would actually be second in the NL East standings right now.

NL East Standings by Home Runs Hit
Atlanta Braves – 153
New York Mets – 100
Philadelphia Phillies – 86
Miami Marlins – 79
Washington Nationals – 65

For the Mets to have 14 more home runs than the Philadelphia Phillies yet own an inferior record by a wide margin might be the largest takeaway here. The Phillies have won with more than the home run ball. As we witnessed last weekend, taking advantage of imploding bullpens is one of those ways they can take a series.

We find the currently second-place team in the NL East standings Miami Marlins dropping to fourth with only 79 home runs. Jorge Soler is carrying them in this department while Luis Arraez pokes balls all over the field and the pitching does regular heavy lifting.

Finally, the division finishes with the Washington Nationals who, like the Braves, are in the same spot but reversed. They’ve hit only 65 home runs all year. The Cleveland Guardians with 54 are the only team with fewer in MLB.