5 reasons the New York Mets can actually pull off a miracle comeback

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Juan Lagares #12 of the New York Mets celebrates his third inning grand slam home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with teammates Amed Rosario #1 and Robinson Cano #24 and manager Mickey Callaway #36 at Citi Field on September 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves high fives Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 after the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 9, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

4. Atlanta will be resting

The Mets have played pretty well against the biggest contenders in the National League all year, but the Atlanta Braves have absolutely beaten up on them. In 16 games against Atlanta, New York has been outscored 92-75 and has taken the loss 11 times. The Mets end their season against the Braves, but the series is at home. The Braves have essentially wrapped up the division, but still need to play well for at least another week because they have an outside shot at finishing the year with the best record in the National League.

By the time the Braves and Mets square off for their final three games of the year, Atlanta should be resting starters. If the Mets get themselves within a game of a playoff spot, sweeping the Braves should be enough to push them into the playoffs. Pinning your playoff hopes to a team resting their starters isn’t a great way to lock down your postseason spot, but it does help.

The end of August and the first two weeks of September were an absolute schedule gauntlet for the Mets, but they made it through unscathed. They played 27 of 30 games against playoff contenders — Cleveland, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia and Arizona — and emerged with a winning record for the stretch.

There’s a break coming now for the Mets, who have ten games against Colorado, Cincinnati and Miami to fatten their record before the final weekend of the season. This is their reward for a hellish month of games. Time to push.

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