In terms of leading the National League East division, the New York Mets may not control their own destiny for much longer.
They got lucky given that the defending champion Atlanta Braves just lost two out of three to the slumping San Francisco Giants and missed a chance to take first place.
But the Mets didn’t have it any easier.
Last night, they were ultimately swept by the Chicago Cubs.
They had not been swept all season long.
But of all teams to sweep the mighty Mets, it was the Cubs.
That leaves the Braves as the only team to have not gotten swept this season.
Coming into this week, the Mets hadn't been swept all season. pic.twitter.com/NvkUe1nQpO
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) September 15, 2022
Mets Swept By The Cubs
This is not something you want to happen if you’re the Mets, especially when you’re playing a team like the Cubs, who are already well out of postseason contention.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Mets took them for granted.
They just ran into a buzzsaw this week.
Now is also not the time that you want to be swept, especially not by a team well out of the playoff race, and especially not while the Braves are nipping at the Mets’ heels.
For a brief moment last week, Atlanta had the lead in the NL East.
The Mets took it right back, but the Braves may be the team with the inside track right now.
The Mets needed to take advantage of playing the Cubs this week.
They needed some wins to separate themselves from the Braves and ultimately, they fell short.
The Mets will open up a four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend.
This represents another opportunity for the Mets to increase their lead while the Braves deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
NEXT: Mets Insider Reveals The Team's Celebration Plans