The Mets will welcome the Braves for their final series in Shea, and a sweep would be wonderful.
If the team from New York can take both games today, then a win tomorrow would just be a bonus. It's tough to win two games on the same day, especially with a pitcher making his second start in the big leagues pitching in the night cap.
If the Mets can manage to take all three games, their magic number can be lowered to 11. If the Phillies lose any games, that number will dip even lower. The Mets don't have an off day between now and the end of the season, and if they are going to make the playoffs, it look entirely plausible that they will clinch at home.
Say they take two of three this series, their MN will dip from 14 to 12. Say the Phillies drop two to the Brewers, the number will be at 10 by Monday morning. The Mets then go on a seven game road trip, starting in Washington for a four game set, and then to Turner Field for three.
Let's err on the side of caution, and say the Mets win only four. The number drops to six. Say the Phillies win four over that same span. The number slips down to four, and it's September 22nd.
The Mets finish the season with seven in a row at home, facing the Cubs for four and the Marlins (again?!) for three to bring an end to the regular season. If all goes according to my plan, the Mets MN is four with the rest of their games at home. Seems logical, no?
The Mets lost a coin-flip to the Phillies, and any possible tie breaker will take place in Philly. So hopefully the Mets can get it done, and if they do get it done, they do it at home. Obviously, beggars can't be choosers and clinching is clinching, I don't care where they do it. I'd prefer it at home, but my heart won't be broken if they do it in Atlanta.
As it stands, all the Mets need to do is win. Simple as that. Easy on paper, a little harder to pull off, but the way this team is playing I think it's plausible and possible.
