Morning Briefing: Mets’ Final Week Gets Disrupted

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Mets were slated to take on Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of a pivotal three-game set to decide the fate of both clubs’ postseason hopes on Wednesday night. However, due to Hurricane Helene ripping through the southeast, Games 2 and 3 of the series have been pushed back to a Monday doubleheader if necessary. While many unfortunate factors prevented this series from being completed, it could end up helping the Mets overall.

Now that the Mets will be missing out on two games, they could clinch a postseason spot without playing another game against the Braves. If the Mets, who currently are tied for the second Wild Card spot with the Diamondbacks, lead Arizona by a game after Sunday, they will have clinched a spot in the postseason. The doubleheader could still need to be played in the case that the Braves are still in the hunt for the final spot, but if the Mets hold a one-game lead over Arizona it would take all pressure off the Amazin’s going into that Monday matchup.

Wild Card Update

Neither the Mets or Braves played Wednesday due to Hurricane Helene. However, the Diamondbacks beat the Giants 8-2 and tied themselves with the Mets for the second Wild Card spot while going up a full game on the Braves for the third and final Wild Card spot. 

The Padres lost, meanwhile, 4-3 to the Dodgers. They have a 3.5-game lead on the Mets and trail the Dodgers by three games in the NL West race.

With the Dodgers win last night, and the Phillies clinching a first-round bye, the Mets next opponent, Milwaukee, is officially locked in the No. 3 seed and will have nothing to play for the remainder of the season when it comes to seeding and a potential bye.

Latest Mets News

Francisco Lindor was announced as the Mets’ starting shortstop for Wednesday’s game before the game was postponed. 

Top Mets prospects Jett Williams and Drew Gilbert are two of the eight Mets players who will be playing in the Arizona Fall League. 

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that there is a “good chance” Sean Manaea will start on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, per Tim Healey of Newsday. This would make Manaea available to pitch in the wild card round. 

Latest MLB News

Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes said he is shutting down for 7-10 days as he will likely be receiving a PRP injection, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Cortes underwent an MRI on his left elbow on Tuesday, his UCL is in tact and will be receiving a second opinion from at least two other doctors; there are hopes he could return if the Yankees make a deep playoff run. 

Yankee Stadium will be hosting Dominican Winter League games in November, a year after Citi Field hosted LIDOM games of their own. Tigres del Licey and Águilas Cibaeñas will face off in two games in the Bronx on November 8 and 9. 

The Chicago Cubs called up top-100 prospect Kevin Alcantara, who registered his first big league hit in his first game. 

Bo Bichette told reporters that he is undergoing surgery on his fractured right middle finger, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet. Bichette should be “good to go” for 2025 spring training.

Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners joined Bobby Witt Jr. as the only two players to ever start their careers with three consecutive 20/20 seasons.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that LHP Grayson Rodriguez will not be available in the postseason and is done for the 2024 season, per Jorge Castillo. Rodriguez has been out since early August with a lat strain. 

The Philadelphia Phillies clinched a first round bye with their win and the Brewers loss on Wednesday night.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox were officially eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday.

Latest on MMO

The last two games in the Mets-Braves series have been postponed. 

Francisco Lindor was slated to return to the Mets’ lineup on Wednesday. 

A rough third inning derails Luis Severino‘s start against the Braves. 

On This Date in Mets History 

2015: The New York Mets beat the Cincinnati Reds to win the National League East for the first time since 2006.

2012: David Wright records his 1,419th career hit to pass Ed Kranepool for the most hits in franchise history.

2007: Moises Alou hits a solo home run to extend his 30-game franchise-record hitting streak.

Born On This Date: Brooks Pounders (1990), Doug Sisk (1957).

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