MILWAUKEE — The Mets are losing an important game here, but at least they're getting some useful information.
The most obvious knowledge they've gleaned so far is this: If they're lucky enough to qualify for the playoffs, and yes, even if they don't win a single time on this trip. Best to avoid Brewers – regardless they are still surviving.
A plucky little team in perhaps baseball's smallest market (affiliated with Cincinnati) continues to plague the Mets. Even when the Brewers, already set to host the Wild Card Series, are just playing for fun and laughs, the Mets can't touch them.
It was Milwaukee's second loss in two nights to the Mets, and third on a road trip whose only highlight was the team's escape from Atlanta just before Hurricane Helen — and that's no small thing. Other than that, there really wasn't much to see.
Mets owner Steve Cohen watched the game here on Friday, plans to return for Sunday's final game, and flew to New York on Saturday to attend the 50th reunion for Great Neck North High School graduates. he made the right decision.
The Mets recorded just two hits against the lesser-known but resourceful Brewers hurlers, winning 6-0. But somehow, the Queen's team still seems to be in control of the fate of the race, made less impressive by the loss. The more you lose, the better things seem to be. Apparently, this is the new Mets math.
Honestly, they can thank the Diamondbacks for their undeserved good fortune. The Mets won the all-important tiebreaker against Arizona, and Arizona also appears to be on pace to lose one game a day.
“We need to be better…our effort today was not good enough,” said Pete Alonso. “Thankfully, we have tomorrow and we have two more days in Atlanta.” Not even.)
If the Mets don't win, they only have themselves to blame. The Brewers will employ a bullpen game on Saturday, which sounds like a potential plus for the Mets, but they have one of the most dynamic pens in the National League (likely against the Mets if they play). Almost as good as the other possible team, the Padres).
It remains to be seen how many more games the Mets will have to play thanks to weather disasters and two rain cancellations. Surprisingly and fortunately, if the Mets win on Sunday and Dobacks loses, New York will punch a ticket to October.
But the Mets' problems right now are far more than having one, two, or even three more games left. I'm not going to list all the keys to the finish here. But we'll say this: They need a big name to start hitting as hard as they can.
Mark Vientos and Jose Iglesias, who became minor leaguers this season, are consistently the most productive hitters behind MVP candidate Francisco Lindor. Good for them. But it shouldn't be that way.
The Mets offense is now turned upside down. While Vientos and Iglesias will star, the big names and cash cows will need to earn a living. Alonso and Brandon Nimmo have had decent seasons statistically, and JD Martinez's numbers are even worse.
In particular, the three highest-paid stars will have to start doing some of the heavy lifting. (Martinez has zero in the last 35 games and is unlikely to be in the lineup anytime soon, so we're excluding him from this list of candidates.)
3 Nimmo may be the unluckiest batter in baseball. He's doing some clutch things (fourth in the NL if you add win probability), but he's continuing to hit them where they are. “I like where I'm at,” he said, but was typically unlucky, going 0-for-4.
2. Francisco Lindor has been their MVP all year and now is when they need him the most.
He missed most of two weeks with back pain but is now back to playing. He's very tough, but said he was uncomfortable bending over and DHed on Saturday. In his new role, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Even at three-quarter speed, Lindor is still a threat. The MVP was announced because Shohei Ohtani proved to be a superhuman, but Lindor can carry the MVP even if he's not at full power.
1. Alonso's 34 home runs rank among the National League leaders, but by historical standards, his platform year is definitely below par. He also looks for signature moments.
Now might be a good time, Pete.
The Mets are still in a better position than Arizona, so believe it or not, the Mets' chances are still better than 50-50. But we have to win at least one game, whether it's here on Sunday or back in Atlanta.
“We have to find a way,” coach Carlos Mendoza said.
If they don't earn a playoff ticket Sunday, they'll have to do it the hard way, with an unwanted and unpleasant trip to Atlanta on Monday. This team hasn't had it easy all year, but they have the talent to do it even in their weakest spots.
