Mets cling to wild-card lead as uneven season nears conclusion

The Mets remained in position for the National League’s final wild-card berth as the stretch run unfolds, their 79-74 record underscoring a season that has fallen short of expectations.

They still hold the edge in the unimpressive wild-card chase, with teams such as the Diamondbacks and Giants having sold at the deadline and the Reds viewed as too inexperienced for prime-time contention. If the season ended today, New York would be the NL’s third wild-card team under the expanded format, and they are on pace for roughly 84 wins, a total that would rank among the losingest postseason qualifiers in MLB history.

That context sits against a stark slide since the middle of the season. On June 12, the Mets owned MLB’s best record at 45-24, but they have gone 34-50 since then. They have been most noticeable when games slip away late: they are 0-65 when losing after taking a lead into the ninth inning, the only team in the majors without a ninth-inning comeback this year.

MLB’s expanded postseason was designed to widen the footprint and engage more fan bases, including smaller markets, rather than to prop up a high-salary club that underperforms. The Mets’ recent numbers illustrate the tension between that goal and the realities of a roster built for a stronger finish than the current results reflect. As the schedule dwindles, New York’s fate remains in its hands, even as the odds suggest a challenging climb to October.

If the Mets are able to reverse course down the stretch, they would reinforce the idea that every spot in the expanded field still matters for fan engagement. If not, the season would join a growing list of campaigns where a team with a star-studded payroll stumbled into the postseason amid a broader narrative about how the new format is playing out in practice.