3 Mets playoff roadblocks that could get in the way of playing October baseball

The Mets will need to blast through these roadblocks to make it into the playoffs.

Sep 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (9) celebrates with third base Mark Vientos (27) and shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after hitting a three run home run during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Sep 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (9) celebrates with third base Mark Vientos (27) and shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) after hitting a three run home run during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
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2) The remaining Mets schedule

After these next two with the Washington Nationals, the Mets don’t have any kind of easy street in their final games. Four against the Philadelphia Phillies who just took 2 of 3. A series in Atlanta against the Braves with the playoffs on the line. Finally, three versus the Milwaukee Brewers who could be playing for a first-round bye.

The Mets showed a lot of guts in late August by racking up wins against the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks—leaving a few on the table in winnable games. How many more of those big games do they have left to win?

If the Mets miss the postseason, we’ll look back at every one of those bad losses this season as a source. Losing in August to the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics is feeling more unacceptable. What about blowing that one against the Miami Marlins?

One thing the Mets cannot control is who they play. All they can do is wake up for those games no matter where the game takes place, who’s in the other dugouts, and what their record is. The best-case scenario for the Mets involves another team vying for a Wild Card spot collapsing. Because the Mets do play the Braves for three, they’re one team they can have some control over.

Schedule