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5 reasons the New York Mets can’t afford to lose the National League East

By Kevin Henry

Sep 25, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (10) reacts after hitting an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (10) reacts after hitting an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 18, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Vaughn Grissom (18) hits an infield single against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Vaughn Grissom (18) hits an infield single against the New York Mets during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

In the battle with the Atlanta Braves for the top of the National League East, the New York Mets simply can’t let their season-long grip on the division slip away.

Heading into Tuesday’s action, the New York Mets hold a one-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The two teams will meet this weekend in Atlanta (weather permitting with Hurricane Ian expected to move through the Southeast) in a three-game series that could well determine the fate of the division.

The difference between winning and losing the NL East is huge. Whoever wins the division finishes as the second seed and gets a bye, meeting the winner of the 3 seed versus 6 seed that happens in the Wild Card round. Whoever doesn’t win the NL East becomes the 4 seed and hosts the 5 seed in the Wild Card round.

Translation: Win and get some time off. Lose and be forced to play another series before meeting the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers on the way to a potential World Series berth.

Both Atlanta and New York have a day off on Thursday before starting the big series at Truist Park on Friday, then finishing the season with games through Oct. 5. The Wild Card round will start for one of these teams just two days later.

Here are 5 reasons why the New York Mets can’t let the Atlanta Braves overcome them in the NL East

5. Pitching matchups in the postseason

If you’re New York Mets manager Buck Showalter and you’re forced to play in the Wild Card round, do you save Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom for the start of the NLCS or do you start them in the Wild Card and know they won’t be available until later in the NLCS? It’s a question that could well determine the fate of the Mets if they have to play the additional round.

Chris Bassitt has been strong over the last two months (posting a 1.62 ERA in five August starts and a 2.93 ERA in five September starts) and the Mets do have starting pitching depth, but having to use Scherzer and/or deGrom in the Wild Card certainly changes the pitching dynamics against the Dodgers, who would be completely rested and ready to go with their top-line pitching in Games 1 and 2 at Chavez Ravine.

Additionally, if you’re the Mets, you want to limit innings for Scherzer in the postseason, coming off his latest trip to the injured list on September 19. A trip to the Wild Card means one more postseason start for the 38-year-old right-hander that he wouldn’t have to make otherwise.

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