The National League wild-card race remains unresolved as teams prepare for the final day of the regular season. Following recent games, the New York Mets traveled to Atlanta for a doubleheader against the Braves on Monday, with the Mets clinching a playoff spot by securing a win in the first game. The Arizona Diamondbacks, on the other hand, are hoping the Mets can win both games to secure their own postseason berth.
These doubleheader games were arranged to make up for rainouts caused by Hurricane Helene during last week’s Mets-Braves series. As it stands, the Braves, Mets, and Diamondbacks were nearly tied for the final two wild-card slots, prompting the need for these games. The standings before the doubleheader featured the Diamondbacks at 89-73, while both the Mets and Braves were at 88-72.
The Mets and Braves each hold tiebreaker advantages over the Diamondbacks based on their regular-season performances against Arizona. Therefore, the Diamondbacks need the Mets to win both games to continue their playoff run. If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader and all three teams finish with the same record, the Diamondbacks would be eliminated.
In terms of playoff scenarios, the Mets have already secured a spot after winning the first game. If the Braves win the second game, they will become the fifth seed and play against the fourth-seeded San Diego Padres, while the Mets will take the sixth seed and face the third-seeded Milwaukee Brewers. However, if the Mets pull off both victories, they will eliminate the Braves, making New York the fifth seed against the Padres, while the Diamondbacks will take the sixth seed for a rematch against the Brewers.
On the pitching front, Tylor Megill started for the Mets in the first game, having allowed just two runs over his last three outings. Luis Severino was scheduled to take the mound for the second game, despite a recent loss in his last start. The Braves countered with rookie Spencer Schwellenbach in the first game, who faced the Mets earlier this season with impressive results. Chris Sale was slated to start the second game but hasn’t pitched since mid-September, leading to speculation about his readiness as the team may utilize him in a must-win situation.
The bullpen situation favors the Braves as they rested their top relievers in their last game, while the Mets’ Edwin Diaz pitched in a save situation recently, raising concerns about his availability due to a high pitch count.
With tensions high and playoff implications on the line, both teams are gearing up for what could be a pivotal doubleheader.