The Mets are better than these 3 teams competing for a Wild Card spot

The second half of the MLB season is about to start, and for the New York Mets to be successful, they have a lot of work to do. Currently, they are towards the basement, looking up at other teams in a playoff position.

After losing their final two games before the All Star break to the Padres, the Mets sit seven games back of the Giants, who own the final NL Wild Card spot. Though the Mets are in this position, they are better than some of the teams before them.

Though the Mets' first-half play has not helped, they are more talented for some teams in the Wild Card chase.

There are three main teams the Mets are better than in the NL Wild Card Standings

First is the aforementioned San Francisco Giants. The Giants are a team that has overperformed compared to their expectations, and much of it is due to former Mets: J.D. Davis and Michael Conforto are the teams' two leaders in RBI. But, where San Francisco has been above average is pitching. With Alex Cobb, Logan Webb, Anthony Descalfani and Alex Wood, the Giants have some competent pitchers.

But, the Mets have better pitchers than those four names, and that's pretty obvious. The problem is the likes of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and others have not performed to expectations.

Second is the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs made a few splashes in free-agency, mainly bringing in Dansby Swanson on a seven-year, $100 million contract, while also signing former NL MVP Cody Bellinger to a one-year prove it deal. The Cubs are half a game above the Mets, but don't expect it to stay that way.

Chicago might be sellers come the August 1 trade deadline. Bellinger will likely end up somewhere else, and names such as Marcus Stroman and Kyle Hendricks might go too if the Cubs fall off. With the season Stroman is having, Chicago can get a lengthy return.

Are the Mets better than the Cubs? They sure have not played like it. But, putting the two side-by-side, the Mets have more star power at most positions. Francisco Lindor has the edge over Swanson, who is probably the best player for Chicago, and like most teams, the Mets have a better pitching staff on paper.

But, it all comes down to performance.

Last is the Philadelphia Phillies, who the Mets had a significant head-to-head edge on until their past series, which included New York's massive collapse in the eighth inning. The Mets and Phillies are on a similar track: both teams that could go far, but are streaky and do not perform well.

Why don't the Phillies look like the team that made the World Series last year? First, Trea Turner has not lived up to the mega-deal he signed, with only 32 RBI and is batting under .250. Moreover, Bryce Harper has been hurt. There are other reasons the Phillies have not lived up to the bargain, but they have the potential to.

The same could be said about the Mets, who have lacked production from specific players, such as Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil. Though these are not superstars, they are crucial to New York. If these players can find themselves, good things will happen.

Though it depends on a lot of ifs, the Mets have the potential to be better than these three teams. If they can play good, complete baseball, they will be playing meaningful baseball come August.