Note: This article was written after the Mets-Diamondbacks game on September 13, 2023.
Things are so hot right now that moves made by the Mets last year at the trade deadline as well as ones made this year at the trade deadline are looking like they will play a major role in who makes the playoffs. Also, looking at the schedule they could play the role of spoiler for these last seventeen games.
Let’s take a peek at those snakes from Arizona,since the Mets have been playing them this week in between their home and home series versus the Cubs. After taking two of three at Wrigley last weekend it is looking like they could lose three of four to the Mets going into this weekend against the Cubs, who are 1.5 games ahead of them in the second Wild Card spot. There is a small chance that if the Diamondbacks lose on Thursday and get swept out of their own home by the Cubs they could miss the playoffs.
Here’s why: Miami and San Francisco have both played one less game than the Diamondbacks and the Reds; all four teams are fighting with the Cubs for two Wild Card spots. The Mets play six of their last seventeen games against the Marlins and three against the Reds.
If the Mets keep doing what they’ve been doing against the Diamondbacks they could end up doing the Cubs a huge favor on top of the favor they did last season at the trade deadline by trading Pete Crow-Armstrong to Chicago. The Cubs have to do their part and take at least two of three from the Diamondbacks this weekend.
Let’s not forget that as long as the Cubs are able to hold one of those last two Wild Card spots there is also a chance they could take the National League Central the last weekend of the season when they play Milwaukee. Therefore making the Brewers part of this Wild Card conversation as well, since they play the Marlins four more times on top of having the best record between all these teams.
The Phillies are just sitting as the men in the middle and could end up with the last playoff spot when all is said and done due to the fact that they play the Mets seven times the last two weekends.
Now, let’s take a quick look at the American League races. We’ve got the Astros, Rangers, Mariners, and Blue Jays fighting for two Wild Card spots and the first three fighting for the top two spots in the West. These races will end up falling into place quicker though. Here’s why: there are three more Astros-Mariners games and seven more Mariners-Rangers games.
The icing on the cake here is that going into their last three games of the regular season against the Diamondbacks the Astros will likely have already won the West leaving only the Wild Card spots to be figured out between the other three teams.
With that… let those fires burn very hot on the snakes causing them to lose the important games as the season winds down.
If you cannot play with them, root for them!