The New York Mets have an uphill climb to clinch the final wild-card spot in the National League.
The Mets (83-78) will need to defeat the host Miami Marlins on Sunday in the teams’ regular-season finale and have the Cincinnati Reds (83-78) lose to the Milwaukee Brewers. If both win, the Reds hold the tiebreaker over the Mets by virtue of winning the regular-season series.
Miami (78-83) was eliminated from playoff contention on Thursday.
New York will send left-hander Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.80 ERA) to the mound to start Game 162.
Manaea is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins. He is 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three starts at Miami’s loanDepot Park.
It has not been a smooth ride to the finish line for Manaea, who has a 7.64 ERA this month and a 7.13 ERA in August. He didn’t even make his season debut until July, sidelined the entire season due to elbow and oblique issues.
Manaea pitched well for New York last season, posting a career-best record of 12-6 and a 3.47 ERA.
His August-September swoon mimics that of the Mets. The team was in first place in the National League East for 83 days, last on Aug 2.
Miami will turn to right-hander Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.66) to start.
Cabrera is 1-2 with a 5.80 ERA in nine career starts against the Mets.
However, he has had a bit of a career year. His ERA is the second-best of his career. His 25 starts and 143 strikeouts already are a career high. And his seven wins are tied for a career high with a chance to eclipse that on Sunday.
Marlins rookie manager Clayton McCullough didn’t speak on Cabrera directly on Saturday but rather praised his entire team for its determined attitude.
“I’ve loved watching (our) resiliency,” McCullough said. “Even if we lose, we fight until the end.”
As for the hitters in this series, one big issue this weekend is the oblique injury that has sidelined New York’s Brett Baty.
When the season started, Mark Vientos — coming off a breakout 27-homer year — was the clear choice as New York’s third baseman. But Baty emerged as the superior defensive option. Then, on offense, Baty delivered careered highs across the board: 13 doubles, two triples, 53 runs, 18 homers, 50 RBIs, a .254 average and a .748 OPS. He also stole eight bases without getting caught.
But with Baty placed on the injured list, the Mets turned to Ronny Mauricio to play third base on Friday and again on Saturday.
While Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said it was a “big blow” losing Baty, he also praised Mauricio.
“He’s worked hard,” Mendoza said. “I said to him a couple of weeks ago, it (increased playing time) could happen fast.”
The Mets on Sunday will rely on their stars — Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso. On Saturday, the star trio was 3-for-11 batting with three runs, three RBIs and four walks.
On the season, Lindor has 34 doubles, 31 homers and 31 steals. Soto has career highs in homers (43) and steals (38). He also leads the major leagues with 124 walks.
Alonso has 38 homers, and he leads the Mets in doubles (41) and RBIs (126).
In New York’s 5-0 victory over Miami on Saturday, Alonso hit a 115-mph double to score Lindor in the first inning and a solo 410-foot homer in the third inning.
In 12 games against the Marlins this season, Alonso is hitting .400 with 13 extra-base hits — including five homers — 19 RBIs and a .400 batting average.
“He’s a winner,” McCullough said of Alonso. “He’s been one of the most prolific power hitters in this league since his debut.”
–Field Level Media
