Take a look at the following:
Mets are 1.5 games up on the Braves, with the Braves having a game in hand--as indicated above. The Braves have 9 games left as of the start of the day today and the Mets have 8. That game in hand the Braves have is today in Washington against the Nats.
Basically, if the Mets win 6 of their last 8, and one of those 6 wins is against the Braves, then they're guaranteed to win the division. Moze1021 had a good post about this on yesterday's game thread. There are a whole other bunch of combinations and permutations, but the best is to just continue to take care of business at home tomorrow and Wednesday. The Mets will miss Alcantara this series, so they dodged a bullet there. Here's how the Mets' rotation will probably look for the last 8 games of the regular season:
9/26 - OFF DAY
9/27 - vs. Marlins - Carrasco (going on 7 days rest)
9/28 - vs. Marlins - Walker (going on 7 days rest)
9/29 - OFF DAY
9/30 - @ Braves - Bassitt (going on 7 days rest)
10/1 - @ Braves - deGrom (going on 7 days rest)
10/2 - @ Braves - Scherzer (going on 7 days rest)
10/3 - vs. Nats - Carrasco (going on 6 days rest)
10/4 - vs. Nats - Walker (going on 6 days rest)
10/5 - vs. Nats - Bassitt (going on 5 days rest)
The last game of the regular season against might not be Bassitt's if the division has been decided by then of course, since he's one of the Big 3 going into the playoffs. That start could go to Williams or Peterson if it's a meaningless game, one way or the other. Let's see what happens.
Don Mattingly already said that Alcantara will pitch the last game of the season in Miami against the Braves, which will be his last game as manager of the Marlins. So there won't be "integrity of the game" issues if it comes down to October 5th to determine the division for both the Mets and Braves against the Nats and Marlins respectively.
The Mets' goal should be to enter the Braves series in Atlanta in four days with full control of their own destiny w/regards to winning the vision in their hands and to exit that series still being in control of their destiny in that respect. They'll need to win a game there in order to have the tie-breaker with respect to head-to-head wins between the two teams. The Mets are ahead 9-7, as depicted above.
If anyone's got any news, or if we wanna chit chat, we can just consolidate it all on this thread here. Naturally, as Giants fans, we'll be focused on the Cowflops & Giants later on MNF, so this thread will probably die out around then, but we can chime in here and there and talk about the Nats and Braves game before the Giants game starts, and maybe even after it ends. Anywho, enjoy the day and take care and LGM :-)
Ciao fiends!
I wish Jake didn't have that meltdown game Saturday
Hurricane forecast - ( New Window )
There would still even be 2 paths given magic number is 8:
1) Sweep Braves (worth 7 of magic number) and then win 1 of final 3 vs Nats
2) Win 2/3 vs Braves (worth 5 of magic number) and then sweet final 3 vs Nats
I wish Jake didn't have that meltdown game Saturday Hurricane forecast - ( New Window )
Yeah, that is a big factor. Those games NEED to be played. They were talking about it on the broadcast yesterday. The Braves won't want those games moved from Atlanta of course, but with the post-season schedule being what it is and there being no time to spare with the Wildcard round starting two days after the regular season ends, there is a chance these games get moved to another venue. I forgot where it happened a few years ago, but this is a real logistical issue that needs to be ironed out within the next four days.
And especially a thank you to Optimus who really goes way above and beyond to bring the threads to a completely other level than they’ve ever been!!!
Playoffs will be fun.
And especially a thank you to Optimus who really goes way above and beyond to bring the threads to a completely other level than they’ve ever been!!!
Playoffs will be fun.
who does ruf have pictures of?
Regarding Ruf, yuck (Eric in LI's favorite!). Odds are we'll see him or Vientos DHing on Wednesday against the lefty Luzardo (hopefully Vientos):
Starting Pitcher matchups vs. Marlins on 9/27 & 9/28
There would still even be 2 paths given magic number is 8:
1) Sweep Braves (worth 7 of magic number) and then win 1 of final 3 vs Nats
2) Win 2/3 vs Braves (worth 5 of magic number) and then sweet final 3 vs Nats
Sorry I forgot to include the words "Even if the Mets lose both vs Marlins, there would still even be 2 paths..." where Mets control their own destiny
So the Marlins games aren't technically "must wins", but clinching is a heck of a lot easier if they do
Box Score - mlb.com - Gameday - Braves @ Nats - 9/26/22 - ( New Window )
Braves at Nats - 9/26/22 - TV: Braves' Feed
Magic number 8
One win in ATL worth 3, the other 2 worth 2
Mets paths to clinch if Braves win all their remaining against Nats and Marlins
1)
Vs Marlins/Nats: 5-0
Vs Braves: just need 1 win
2)
Vs Marlins/Nats: 4-1 or 3-2
Vs Braves: Need to go 2-1
3)
Vs Marlins/Nats: 2-3 or 1-4
Vs Braves: Need to go 3-0
Mets' lead is now down to a single game. Both the Mets and Braves have the same amount of games left now (8) and are both off three dats from now on the 29th.