The New York Mets have everything to be crowned NL East champions this year.
First of all, they currently have a three-game cushion in first place over the second-placed Atlanta Braves.
Three games over the course of a full month is not a lot, but it’s also not insignificant.
Then, we have to consider another factor: the Mets are getting healthier.
They recently welcomed Jacob deGrom back and are about to get back important pieces, like Luis Guillorme, Tylor Megill, and Drew Smith.
And third, we have to add strength of schedule to the analysis.
The Mets have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league in September.
“One thing worth considering in the NL East race, where New York holds a three-game lead: Mets have by far the easiest remaining schedule in baseball. The combined winning % of their next 16 opponents after today: .388 — a 62-100 pace. And they finish A’s, Marlins, Braves, Nats,” ESPN reporter and analyst Jeff Passan tweeted.
One thing worth considering in the NL East race, where New York holds a three-game lead: Mets have by far the easiest remaining schedule in baseball. The combined winning % of their next 16 opponents after today: .388 — a 62-100 pace. And they finish A's, Marlins, Braves, Nats.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 1, 2022
The Mets Have The Easiest Schedule
Of the Mets’ last four series to close out the regular season, only the Braves are a legitimately good opponent.
The other three are two of the absolute worst clubs in MLB, the Oakland Athletics and the Washington Nationals, and a very beatable team in the Miami Marlins.
There is a good chance that, by the time the Mets play the Braves in late September, the division race is already decided in their favor.
Of course, if the Braves manage to get to that set at one or even two games behind, things could get really interesting.
Both are surefire playoff teams in any case, but they are playing for the right to enter the playoffs in the Division Series round and not in the Wild Card round.
So far, New York is winning that battle.
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