This story is taken from Anthony Dicomo's Mets defeating the newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Chicago – Ask people around the Metropolis and they'll say they never thought they would be in this position – and didn't make the best record in baseball on June 12. But they are here, with three games to play and a playoff ticket.
For the Mets, the bet is simple: Win all three games in Miami, and they are in the playoffs. Win two, and they may be in good shape. They entered the final game of the season, which was the final National League wildcard seat for the Reds, and two on the Rattlers.
“We feel like we just have to go there to handle the business,” said third baseman Brett Baty after defeating the Cubs 8-5 on Thursday. “We can't think about winning three games because we have to win tomorrow night. So we're going there, tomorrow night we're going to focus on tomorrow night, we're going to try to get the 'W and then look at where everything is. Then continue fighting until the end of the season.
The Mets' biggest challenge will be figuring out how to record 27 games a night. The Mets' plans were fluid after Friday's rookie starter Brandon Sproat, mainly because they burned a lot of pitches in Chicago this week. Starters Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea may play roles on Saturday’s game, but the Mets are both used to play relief in Wednesday’s Relief Agency.
The bullpen has no better shape. Closer Edwin Díaz has recorded 9 games in the last three games. Tyler Rogers, Brooks Raley, Ryne Stanek and Huascar Brazobán are all used in a lot. But if the Mets still need to win on Sunday, it would be a full-range situation, with many of these pitchers (including Dylan Ross, who hasn't made his debut in Major League Baseball yet) ready to play the role.
“We’ve been asking a lot of people,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “We're going to continue to rely on these guys. They know where we are and they're going to continue to ask for baseball.”
If the Mets could do the same in Chicago, especially during Thursday's finale, the Mets could hit the ball around Loandepot Park like they did in Chicago. But Mendoza noted that the Mets need to pitch better and make clearer defenses when they want to improve.
Now everything is on the table. There are no more excuses, and the Mets understand this. These are three games throughout the season.
“You want to keep your life,” said shortstop Francisco Lindo. “We are in a position to control our destiny now, we have to take care of the business. The Marlins, they are all doing well. They have been doing well, we know. They are a major league team and we have to go there to take care of the business. They are not giving anything.”