Jesse Winker #3 of the New York Mets rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam home run during the first inning of the baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field in Corona, N.Y., on September 4, 2024. (Photo by Gordon Donovan/NurPhoto)NO USE FRANCE
QUEENS, NY — Wednesday night at Citi Field felt like a playoff game for the Mets.
With a day off Thursday and New York looking to sweep the Boston Red Sox for a seventh-straight win to remain a half-game back of the Atlanta Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League, manager Carlos Mendoza deployed a short leash on starter Tylor Megill. He yanked him after allowing a lead-off single and the fifth and relied on four different relievers to nurse a 4-3 lead before the Mets broke it open in the eighth for an 8-3 win.
The seven-game win streak tied a season high while they improved their 2024-best record to 12 games over .500.
It could not be coming at a perfect time. The calendar has flipped to September — the final month of the season — and with 22 games left, they’re playing their best baseball of the season.
“I just like how the guys are going about their business,” Mendoza said. “There’s a sense of urgency. There’s some big plays. There are huge at-bats… We have to continue to do that in order to get where we want to go… There’s a lot of games left. There’s a lot of good teams in the race, but our mindset remains the same: One day at a time.”
The urgency that Mendoza referenced has been nothing new. On June 2, they were 11 games under .500 and facing the very real possibility of David Stearns breaking it all up by the July 30 trade deadline.
Instead, spurned by the brilliance of Francisco Lindor and starting pitching that has exceeded expectation, the Mets have been the best team in baseball with a 52-29 record since then.
“They began feeling like [playoff games] since June,” Mendoza said. “I think as far as the way we attack…
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