Mets rookie righties Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean are shaping a big-league arc defined by development over dogma. Tong’s north-south delivery, McLean’s growing curveball and Sproat’s quiet, diligent approach anchor a promising trio in a playoff push.

Veterans have welcomed them and the club emphasizes personality. Tong faces a Padres test, McLean’s breaking-ball command improves, and Sproat keeps trusting his stuff and himself as he climbs.

Chicago Cubs clinch a postseason berth, their first since 2020, and set the stage for a potential top Wild Card seed as the NL field tightens around them. Milwaukee and Philadelphia already locked in, with Dodgers and Padres in the mix for byes and seeds as the Mets and others jockey for the last wild-card spots. Cubs rotation likely features Imanaga, Horton, and Boyd as playoff anchors, while the lineup combines solid runs with strong defense. Injuries to Kyle Tucker and Daniel Palencia could shift late-season usage as Chicago plans October rest and postseasons auditions. Blue Jays loom as the next likely clincher in the NL-wide race.

Hoyer’s Cubs, rebuilt since Theo Epstein’s exit, balance offense and pitching with a +129 run differential and a run-scoring edge near the league's top. The Cubs sit eight and a half games clear of the Padres for the top wild-card, with a potentially favorable path through a Wild Card Series at home. Rested veterans and emergent youngsters will share responsibilities as October approaches, while the broader NL picture—Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres, and Mets—points toward a compressed, high-stakes finish.