MILWAUKEE — The way in which this nutty, up-and-down Mets season goes, it’s solely proper it’s going extras.
Twenty eight of 30 groups are achieved taking part in regular-season video games, however the Mets headed out for a return one-day, two-game journey to Atlanta to face their nemesis Braves after lastly beating their latest nemesis right here Sunday.
Mets journey is a seamless nightmare this 12 months, from the one-game sequence in St. Louis sandwiched by West Coast swings to the hurricane in Atlanta this week, and it isn’t getting any higher with the journey again to their least favourite metropolis.
“It’s not shocking the way in which this season’s gone,” Brandon Nimmo mentioned. “We’ve undoubtedly had some bizarre issues occur.”
The itinerary stinks, as they’ll must fly and play their first playoff sport on the highway the very subsequent day in the event that they’re in.
However that is the place they need, and precisely what they deserve. They solely must win one in every of two to punch their ticket to October.
Name them lucky, if you’ll, as their 5-0 victory Sunday represented their first win on this journey from hell, which already noticed three defeats and two video games postponed by Hurricane Helene. However notice, too, that the Mets battled again from an 0-5 begin, and a standing 11 video games underneath .500 to place themselves on this place by posting MLB’s finest document over a 100-game span heading into the stretch run.
Say what you need, however they earned this spot. Now all they need to do is win a sport in a spot they hate, then 4 extra rounds, all possible with disadvantages for document and locale.
“It’s going to be a tricky activity,” J.D. Martinez mentioned. “We simply acquired to suck it up and get by way of it.”
With a comparatively small however vocal Mets contingent to cheer them on, they confirmed why they’re one in every of 13 groups left nonetheless hoping to win the grand prize. Rising star David Peterson pitched a gem and Mets MVP Francisco Lindor set the wanted tone, ignoring any lingering again ache to contain himself in three run-scoring innings, together with the primary when he walked, stole and scored.
Irrespective of how poorly this journey was going, the Mets appeared and performed relaxed in a sport they wanted to win to provide themselves an honest probability. By lastly prevailing right here and incomes this primary victory over the pesky Brewers, the Mets solely want a break up. That appears very doable in a season that has a break up persona.
The Mets discovered their mojo on this one, taking part in one in every of their finest video games towards one of many higher groups. Supervisor Carlos Mendoza’s message was to have enjoyable, play with a smile and realize it’s in your arms.
The phrases resonated. The Mets performed unfastened and straightforward, and walloped a group that’s turning into a perennial thorn.
“We are able to’t put strain on ourselves. I’ve been saying that since we sucked and everybody form of wrote us off … We don’t have any strain. We’re not purported to be right here,” Martinez mentioned.
(Creator’s word: Make that nearly everybody. Whereas I’m a sport away from claiming credit score, I did write on Might 18, throughout the center levels of the suck interval, that they’d make the playoffs.)
“We simply can’t get right here and unexpectedly put strain on ourselves,” Martinez continued. “This group simply performs higher [this] method — we’re simply having enjoyable, messing with everybody, listening to Iggy’s OMG music and making enjoyable of him, and everybody’s having a very good time.”
No tour to Atlanta may be thought of a joyride, however in comparison with what they’ve been by way of, it’s livable. It’s additionally eagerly anticipated.
The Braves are nice however they aren’t fairly what they usually are. 4 of their greatest stars stay out, and they’re taking part in low-cost pickups in some spots.
Pretty, the Mets odds aren’t in any respect unhealthy.
“Now we have an opportunity. We’re proper there,” Mendoza mentioned. “We’d like yet another. So we really feel good.”
Talking of feeling good, so did the followers who made the trek right here to cheer on their heroes.
“Let’s Go Mets,” they chanted early.
Later issues acquired extra particular.
“Beat the Braves,” they sung.
That’s by no means the best chore, in fact. However issues really feel constructive round this Mets group. They’ve Luis Severino and Tylor Megill on full relaxation or higher lined as much as pitch the doubleheader that can decide their destiny.
Issues are upbeat for at the very least a day for the group from Queens. It’s that potential October schedule that follows that seems fairly dicey. However who is aware of with this group? They’re something however predictable.
In the event that they sweep the Braves, they head out to San Diego to face a Padres group that’s been the perfect in baseball over the ultimate two months.
In the event that they break up, they head again right here — making the second return journey in two days. It’s been a loopy 12 months. In the event that they endure all this journey, and survive, they are going to have earned it.
