Key dates to circle on the Mets 2022 second half schedule

The New York Mets return to action following the All-Star break tonight when they host the San Diego Padres at Citi Field. The Mets have 69 games remaining during their regular season as they resume their push towards the playoffs and a potential NL East title. So let us look at the dates to circle when it comes to the second half schedule.

NY Mets Schedue July 26-27 & August 22-23: Subway Series

The Mets and Yankees will meet in a potential World Series preview four times in the Subway Series in the second half. The Yankees are on pace for a historic season when it comes to the wins and losses, while the Mets are coming off their best first half since their last championship 36 years ago. These are two of the most balanced teams in baseball, when it comes to their hitting and pitching. The Yankees pitching has been the best in baseball, while the Mets have been impressive with 1/4 of a season from Max Scherzer and nothing from Jacob deGrom.

The two teams will face off at Citi Field next Tuesday and Wednesday, while the series will shift to the Bronx on August 22 & 23.

NY Mets Schedule July 29-31: The potential return of Jacob deGrom?

Since the Mets signed Max Scherzer to a megabucks contract, fans have long awaited the day that Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom would pitch in the rotation together. There are smart people out there that argued that deGrom and Scherzer are the two best pitchers in baseball, and now finally having them together striking out the world would mean the world for fans that have suffered through so much frustration and disappointment over the past three decades.

deGrom's return would elevate the Mets as probably the premiere rotation in baseball, and make them a very difficult team to beat come October.

NY Mets Schedule August 4-21: 16 games against the Braves and Phillies in 18 days

We may very well have an idea on who wins the NL East after this stretch of games. The Phillies and Braves were always seen as the biggest competition to the Mets in the division, and this would represent a huge opportunity for both of those teams to gain ground on the Mets. So the Mets better have what they are looking for at the trade deadline by then because these games will have playoff implications.

Against Atlanta, the Mets host the Braves for a five-game series between August 4-7, with a doubleheader on August 6. Then, it's a four game set between the two squads at Truist Park from August 15-18.

Against Philadelphia, the Mets will host the Phillies for a three-game series from August 12-14. Then, the two teams will meet again the following weekend (August 19-21) at Citizens Bank Park for a four-game series (with a doubleheader on August 20).

NY Mets Schedule August 27: Old Timers Day

One of the longest standing traditions in New York baseball history has been a return of the best players in team history. It's always been the case for the Yankees, with it being an annual event there, but one of Steve Cohen's big promises was to have the Mets to have an Old Timers Day themselves.

So many former Mets legends will be present at the first Old Timers' Day in Queens in 28 years, including Mike Piazza, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, and Jose Reyes. The Old Timers game will begin at 5:10 p.m., two hours before the scheduled first pitch time between the Mets and the Colorado Rockies.

NY Mets Schedule September 30-October 2: Three game series in Atlanta

The Mets could be in a position to clinch the NL East title by then, and this could be the weekend the Mets wrap it up. The Braves will probably be in playoff mode by then too, so Truist Park could be a madhouse this weekend, and could help the Mets acquaint themselves with a road playoff environment, something the franchise hasn't seen in seven year.

NY Mets Schedule October 5: 2022 Mets regular season finale

The Mets will conclude the 2022 regular season when they host the Washington Nationals, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. to accomodate for everyone playing at the same time in case playoff spots or positioning have not been settled before Game 162. With the Nationals completely irrelevant in the standings, this game might serve as the team's pep rally before they potentially start their playoff run.