Fansided

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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Sep 1, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo (9) hits an RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2022; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Brandon Nimmo (9) hits an RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Avoid the top of the bracket

It’s simple: Play in the Wild Card round and win and your NLDS opponent is the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers, one of only two teams (to this point) that have won more than 100 regular-season games (the other being the Houston Astros, the American League’s top seed). Win the NL East and avoid the Wild Card round and you not only get some additional rest, but you also avoid playing the Dodgers until the NLCS.

Granted, the Mets won the season series with the Dodgers (4-3), but the games overall couldn’t have been closer, with New York outscoring Los Angeles by one run in the seven-game series.

There’s also the fact that, as the Wild Card team, the Mets would not have home-field advantage against the Dodgers in the NLDS. As the winner of the NL East and the second seed, the Mets would, however, have home-field advantage over whichever team advances out of the Wild Card game featuring the 3 versus 6 seeds.

Which sounds better: Facing the Dodgers without home-field advantage and after playing in the Wild Card game or getting some additional rest and waiting for your next opponent with home-field advantage? Mets fans will take the latter scenario any day of the week.

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