Wild Card Update: Mets, Braves, Diamondbacks Tied For Last Two Spots

The drama continued with the National League Wild Card race Friday.

A Braves win paired with both the Mets and Diamondbacks losing created a three-way tie for the final two spots. The Padres’ win over the DBacks also solidified home-field advantage for the Friars starting on Tuesday.

So, what does this mean for the Mets? The club still controls their own destiny, with their magic number falling to three with four games remaining. They hold the tiebreaker over the Snakes, so as long as they tie the DBacks record they’ll play in October.

But to do so, they have to start winning. Two ugly losses leave the Mets with two more in Milwaukee, and two more in Atlanta Monday if the games hold any weight.

Right now, those games mean a lot to the Mets for seeding (for now), and to the DBacks. Regardless if the Mets get in, the club will fly to San Diego or back to Milwaukee. Same goes for the Braves. Those two games will determine whether or not the Braves hold the season head-to-head record over the Mets or if New York can leapfrog them.

Meanwhile, if the DBacks finished tied with either the Braves or Mets, or one game ahead or behind, they’ll be rooting for one or the other in Monday’s doubleheader.

Now, let’s get to the action on Friday.

Padres and Diamondbacks

We’re lumping these two teams together. It’s just easier that way.

The two wild card teams started their final three games Friday, with the Padres coming out victorious. Yu Darvish was okay, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched. But that’s more than okay for this Padres squad that’s foundation is it’s impenetrable bullpen.

Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, and Robert Suarez combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts to stifle the DBacks offense, securing a 5-3 win and home field advantage as the first wild card seed.

On the other hand, the Diamondbacks continue to crater. They’ve failed to pick up any ground on the Mets, and have now lost three of their last four games. Merrill Kelly was another DBack starter to struggle as of late, allowing five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings Friday.

In Mets land, this is fantastic news. But for the Snakes, the desert has frozen over. It won’t get easier for them, as they’ve got two more against a Padres squad that rivals any postseason team in talent. Mets fans should put on their Padres hats the next two days.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves, meanwhile, keep on rolling.

After jumping the Mets and being held out for two days due to severe weather, the Braves steadily defeated the postseason-bound Royals at home.

Max Fried dominated, striking out nine Royals in 8 2/3 innings. If that was the lefty’s last start as a Brave, he sure left in style.

The offense produced just enough to comfortably win 3-0. Sean Murphy blasted a two-run homer off Brady Singer, then Marcell Ozuna score in the eighth via a throwing error from Salvador Perez while stealing third.

The win boosted the Braves back to a playoff spot. And the club continues to be clutch late, despite all the injuries they’ve suffered. The Braves are in the same boat as the Mets, continue to win, hope the Diamondbacks lose, and force the Monday doubleheader to mean squat.

A Guide for Fandom

Again, if you’re a Mets fan (which why would you be reading if you’re not), you’re rooting for two things this weekend.

For the Mets to win, and the Diamondbacks to lose. Their magic number is three games, meaning a win Saturday and Diamondbacks loss would bring it to one.

To this point, seeding isn’t important. The Brewers have pestered the Mets over a 30-game sample size dating back multiple seasons, and the Padres are at the same caliber as the Dodgers.

To root for seeding is somewhat ludicrous. Just get in. For the Braves meanwhile, what they do isn’t as important for the Mets solidifying a spot in the playoffs. You should root for them to lose because it’s Atlanta, but the Royals are in due to the Twins losing, and have nothing to play for the next two days.

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