Just as they seemed to be throwing away the final playoff berth in the NL, the New York Mets righted themselves just enough Sept. 14, getting a three-run, walk-off home run from Pete Alonso to salvage the final game of a Citi Field series against the Texas Rangers.
It was a bold strategy – losing eight consecutive games in the middle of an ever-tightening National League wild-card race – and somehow it just might work out for the Mets.
And after the sunflower seeds hit the dirt and the Gatorade bath dried up and the Mets rubbed their eyes and looked up, they somehow had a 1 ½-game lead for the final wild-card spot
We should all be so lucky.
See, the Mets’ streak started with two losses to their direct wild card pursuer, the Cincinnati Reds, before thoroughly folding their tent against the division-leading Phillies, losing four at Philadelphia. And they further galvanized the Rangers’ AL playoff hopes by losing the first two games against them.
How ugly was it? Well, it was their longest losing streak since 2018, when they lost 11 in a row, and their pitchers posted a 6.27 ERA as they got outscored 47-20.
Yet the Reds and San Francisco Giants had mercy on them. Cincinnati could have passed the Mets this weekend, but instead got swept by the Athletics in Yolo County, while the Giants’ hot streak of nine wins in 13 games finally cooled with a pair of weekend losses to the Dodgers. The Giants now lurk 1 ½ games back, while Arizona is two out and the Reds 2½ games back.
Still, the damage was done – the Mets have fallen three spots to No. 14 in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings. But Citi Field is somehow still standing.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Milwaukee Brewers (-)
- ‘PECOTA had us at 80 wins,’ Pat Murphy says after clinching playoff spot. (Hey Murph: We had you at 83).
2. Philadelphia Phillies (-)
- Injury ends Jose Alvarado’s season. Might as well get used to life without him before the playoffs hit.
3. Toronto Blue Jays (-)
- Surprise, surprise: Top prospect Trey Yesavage recalled, will start Monday’s game.
4. Chicago Cubs (-)
- Nico Hoerner batting .362 with runners in scoring position.
5. Detroit Tigers (-)
- What a relief: Tarik Skubal expected to make next start after side scare.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)
- Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández combine for 10 extra-base hits as Dodgers win five of six.
7. New York Yankees (-1)
- ‘We’re the best team in the league,’ says Jazz Chisholm. About time to find out.
8. San Diego Padres (+1)
- Win five of seven in 10-game stretch against Rockies to solidify playoff prospects.
9. Boston Red Sox (-1)
- ‘I think we should stop talking about October, to be honest with you,’ says Alex Cora.
10. Seattle Mariners (+2)
- A nine-game winning streak to take control of first place? That’s the way you do it.
11. Houston Astros (-1)
- Week of reckoning arrives: Final homestand welcomes Rangers, Mariners to the 713.
12. Texas Rangers (+1)
- Sweeping Brewers, taking series against Mets a heck of a way to get back in it.
13. Cleveland Guardians (+2)
- Cade Smith up to 15 saves as he fills in for Emmanuel Clase.
14. New York Mets (-3)
- They own almost all the relevant tiebreakers against their wild-card pursuers.
15. San Francisco Giants (+1)
- Willy Adames two away from Giants’ first 30-homer season since Barry Bonds.
16. Kansas City Royals (-2)
- Might just be curtains on their playoff hopes.
17. Cincinnati Reds (-)
- Terry Francona convenes team meeting after untimely sweep: ‘When it’s hardest to believe, that’s when you gotta dig deep.’
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
- Wait, what’s this? A playoff race?
19. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
- Masyn Winn shuts it down for the season due to knee injury.
20. Tampa Bay Rays (-)
- Junior Caminero, 22, has 43 home runs.
21. Miami Marlins (+1)
- Ryan Weathers returns from 60-day IL with five scoreless innings.
22. Baltimore Orioles (+1)
- Probably should’ve announced the title inflation for their GM before embarking on such a rough season.
23. Athletics (+2)
- Go figure: Yolo County’s bullpen is best in MLB (2.94 ERA) since trading Mason Miller.
24. Los Angeles Angels (-3)
- Christian Moore returns after two-week minor league reset.
25. Atlanta Braves (-1)
- Brian Snitker reaches 800 wins as possible retirement looms.
26. Minnesota Twins (+1)
- Kody Clemens’ three-homer night gives him 19 longballs with Twins.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)
- Bubba Chandler bounces back from brutal start to take perfect game into sixth inning.
28. Washington Nationals (-)
- Strained back ends Cole Henry’s promising rookie campaign out of bullpen.
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
- A mildly encouraging 25-28 since All-Star break.
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Will need an 0-12 season-ending finish to match White Sox’s record 121 losses.