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NL Wild Card 2016: 5 reasons Mets will win

By Nathaniel Reeves

May 28, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Examining why the New York Mets will outlast the San Francisco Giants in an intriguing NL Wild Card Game matchup.

The race for the final two playoff spots in the National League went right down to the wire, with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants clinching postseason berths on the final weekend of the season. Following a six-month grueling regular season, the fate of both teams will now come down to one game on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

Both teams took very different routes to the postseason, but now find themselves in a similar position. The Giants owned the best record in the Majors at the All-Star break before being forced to hold on for dear life in a late-season collapse, while the Mets earned a spot behind a surge over the final month plus.

Fortunately for baseball fans around the Majors, the two teams will have their respective aces on the mound Wednesday night. Madison Bumgarner against Noah Syndergaard is one of the most appealing pitching matchups possible with everything on the line.

The winner of the Wild Card Game will move on to face the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS. While the Cubs will rightfully be a huge favorite, either Wild Card team could provide a challenge in a short series.

With two great pitchers on the mound, there won’t be much to separate the Mets and Giants on Wednesday evening. Still, New York has a few advantages which will eventually lead it to a hard-fought victory.

5. Jay Bruce is finally providing a spark

Looking to boost their outfield at the trade deadline, the Mets dealt prospects Dilson Herrera and Max Wotell to the Cincinnati Reds for Bruce. While Bruce’s defense lowers his overall value, the 29-year-old hit .265/.316/.559 over 402 plate appearances for the Reds prior to the trade.

Rather than provide a Yoenis Cespedes-like spark, Bruce was a disaster for much of the second half. Bruce posted a pitiful 51 wRC+ as a Met in August, and lost some at-bats to the likes of Eric Campbell in mid-September.

After being limited to pinch-hit appearances for a few days, Bruce has been better since returning to the starting lineup on September 25. Bruce slugged four home runs in the final week of the season to help New York secure the top Wild Card spot.

Next: 50 Best Teams Never To Win The World Series

While Bruce faces a very tough matchup as a left-hander against Bumgarner, adding a capable power hitter to New York’s lineup for a game that projects to have little offense could make an important difference.

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