The thought of arriving to Atlanta for the penultimate collection of the common season with only a mathematical probability for the playoffs seemingly would have been palatable to the Mets once they final departed that metropolis in April.
Now the Mets get the bonus package deal.
They’re within the driver’s seat.
The final piece of enterprise earlier than the much-anticipated collection was dealt with Sunday night time, when the Mets obtained a shutdown bullpen efficiency in a 2-1 victory over the Phillies earlier than a sellout crowd of 43,139 at Citi Area within the regular-season house finale.
Subsequent cease is Atlanta, with a Nationwide League wild card berth there for the taking.
As Edwin Diaz accomplished the ultimate out of his two-inning save, the Mets’ two-game lead over the Braves for the NL’s third wild card was safe. Two victories in three video games at Truist Park (for the reason that Mets would maintain the tiebreaker primarily based on head-to-head with the Braves) will assure the Mets their second postseason look in three years.
“It’s a good looking factor,” Brandon Nimmo stated. “However we’ve labored actually laborious to get into this place [and] the job will not be finished. There’s simply as a lot strain on the subsequent sport as there was on this one. … You simply must benefit from the second. It’s going to be loads of enjoyable in Atlanta.”
Nonetheless in play for the Mets is the NL’s second wild card (for which they’re tied with Arizona). And if successful three of 4 in opposition to the Phillies wasn’t large enough, there was the satisfaction of letting a hated rival take its NL East-title celebration elsewhere (Philadelphia wants one victory or a Mets loss to clinch).
Phil Maton, Jose Butto and Diaz mixed for 5 scoreless innings of reduction on this night time and Nimmo launched a go-ahead homer in opposition to Zack Wheeler within the sixth because the Mets accomplished a 6-1 homestand.
“We simply must go [to Atlanta] and win the collection,” Diaz stated. “If we win the collection we will likely be advantageous.”
Supervisor Carlos Mendoza stated he was not sure if he would use Diaz for the ninth till after the star nearer had gotten three outs in solely 11 pitches within the eighth. Diaz additionally pitched 1 ¹/₃ innings on Saturday.
“We’ve been defending him the entire yr, however now it’s massive boy time and he’s our man,” Mendoza stated.
Mendoza was requested the way it felt to know if the Mets win the subsequent collection they are going to be within the playoffs.
“I don’t need to get too far forward,” Mendoza stated. “We’ve to benefit from the reality we received this collection in opposition to a very good staff. Benefit from the [off] day after which we’ll be prepared.”
Pete Alonso, in doubtlessly his ultimate house sport with the Mets — he’s set to hit free company after the season — obtained a standing ovation upon coming to the plate within the first inning.
The Mets slugger raised his helmet to acknowledge the group earlier than taking a known as third strike. Alonso went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Tylor Megill bumped into pitch-count hassle and was eliminated after solely 4 innings by which he allowed one run on 4 hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It was the second time in his final 4 begins that Megill (who threw 83 pitches) lasted solely 4 innings.
Megill wanted 35 pitches via a primary inning by which he allowed one run and left the bases loaded. Alec Bohm delivered an RBI single to present the Phillies a 1-0 lead after Trea Turner had singled and reached second on a wild pitch.
Nick Castellanos singled following Bohm’s hit and Bryson Stott walked to load the bases earlier than J.T. Realmuto was retired.
Tyrone Taylor stroked an RBI single within the second to tie it 1-1. Mark Vientos stroked a two-out double in opposition to Wheeler earlier than Taylor delivered. Luisangel Acuna’s swinging bunt put runners on the corners with two outs however Wheeler rallied to strike out Jose Iglesias (whose single within the first inning prolonged his hitting streak to 16 video games).
Megill escaped hassle within the fourth by retiring Johan Rojas after surrendering a two-out single to Castellanos and strolling Brandon Marsh with two outs.
Nimmo jumped on Wheeler’s first pitch within the sixth inning and cleared the right-field fence to present the Mets a 2-1 lead. The homer was Nimmo’s twenty second of the season and third in his final six video games.
“We’re having loads of enjoyable,” Megill stated. “We’re hungry, and preserve going.”