The Mets hold a 1.5-game edge for the NL wild-card with 12 games remaining, riding a surge after Alonso’s walk-off snapped an eight-game skid. They face Padres, Nationals, Cubs and Marlins as FanGraphs pegs their postseason probability around 80%, with tiebreakers favorable vs. Giants and a tight race behind them. A 2007 reminder lingers as they chase a strong finish.

New York leans on a piggyback plan with Manaea behind Holmes, plus King and Pivetta in key series. Lindor and Alonso lead the offense as the team navigates a challenging late stretch, aiming to stack wins at Citi Field, on the road, and against division rivals to clinch a playoff berth.

The Mets snapped an eight-game skid with Pete Alonso’s dramatic 10th-inning, three-run walk-off, signaling a potential season-saving push despite crashing momentum since mid-June. The piece breaks down how pitching depth, bullpen turmoil, and inconsistent offense have strained the club’s championship ambitions, even with a $340 million payroll and a roster loaded with stars. A pivotal late-season stretch now becomes the test of whether the staff — including three rookie starters — can carry the lineup into October, or whether the Mets’ window closes again.

From the rotation’s fatigue to the bullpen’s meltdown (and a still-fragile offense that hasn’t clicked in unison with Lindor and Soto), the Mets face a high-leverage run to the postseason. The narrative centers on resilience, the need for reliable relief, and the question of whether Alonso’s late-game heroics can become a catalyst for steady, playoff-caliber performance over 12 remaining games.

Matt Olson’s 24th homer and a 172 wRC+ fuel Atlanta’s Sunday run, part of a rising wave that has the Braves 6-1 in their last seven Sunday games. Fraley lands on the IL with an oblique issue as Luke Williams is recalled to bolster the bench, while J.R. Ritchie shines in Gwinnett and Sandy León belatedly homers for a feel-good moment.

Across MLB, Cal Raleigh ties Mickey Mantle’s single-season mark for switch-hitters (54) and breaks the catcher-HR record (43), underscoring the era’s power-swing trends. Pete Alonso provides Mets offense, Nolan Arenado returns for the Cardinals, Jose Quintana heads for calf MRI evaluation, and Trey Yesavage gets the call for a Jays debut. A snapshot of late-season power, depth, and prospect pressure shaping fantasy rosters.