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A year after the Mets snuck into the playoffs and went on an unexpected run to the NLCS, they’ll try to do the same thing.
Although this time, there’s considerably more pressure on the high-payroll, Juan Soto-led team that’s on the verge of wasting one of his prime seasons.
Here’s a look at what’s in store for the Mets in the critical final week of the regular season, as well as for their main competitors:
Mets
They open a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday and finish the regular season with three more in Miami.
The Cubs are up by three games over San Diego for the top spot in the NL wild-card race and, as of now, would host the Padres for the best-of-three wild-card matchup.
They also just got swept in a four-game series against the Reds, one of the non-self-inflicted reasons the Mets find themselves in this unenviable position.
As for the Marlins, after falling to as many as 16 games under .500 on June 11, they’re 51-39 since then and have won six in a row and 10 of 11.
If they’re somehow still alive in the wild-card race that final weekend, it could make things harder for the Mets.
And even if Miami is out, Mets fans still have PTSD from when the Marlins helped knock the Mets out of contention in the final series of the season in both 2007 and ’08.
Reds
Surging Cincinnati has won five straight, going from afterthought all the way into a playoff spot thanks to having the tiebreaker over the Mets after winning the head-to-head season series.
Up next for the Reds are the Pirates, who have been noncompetitive of late, then the Brewers, who have the best record in the sport but may not have much to play for by then.
Both series are in Cincinnati, which is more bad news for the Mets, who got the Reds started on their recent hot stretch, when the Amazin’s lost two of three in Cincy earlier this month.
Since then, the Reds have won 10 of 16 games, while the Mets have dropped 11 of 16.
Diamondbacks
Arizona is another team no one would have been blamed for writing off not too long ago.
But they’re on a 15-8 run, including wins in six of their past eight games and sit just one game behind the Mets.
And if that’s not bad enough, Arizona, like the Reds, holds the tiebreaker over the Mets
It won’t be easy for the D’backs, though, as they host the Dodgers beginning Tuesday and finish with three games in San Diego.
Tyrone Taylor could be back Tuesday in Chicago, which would be much-needed positive news for the Mets, since they’ve been using the struggling combination of Cedric Mullins and Jose Siri since Taylor went down with a strained left hamstring last month.
Kodai Senga, looking to show he’s postseason worthy — should the Mets get there — is expected to face live hitters in Port St. Lucie either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The right-hander, optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to work on his mechanics, pitched poorly in his most recent start, allowing four runs on six hits in just 3 ²/₃ innings.
