The New York Mets have had a mostly successful season, having been at the top of the National League East since Opening Day.
However, things have shifted drastically in that division, with the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves going on an epic surge to tie them for first in the division.
It’s not so much that the Mets have played poorly.
It’s more that the Braves have just been red-hot.
Regardless, the Mets joined an unfortunate list with their loss on Tuesday night.
They became the eighth team since divisions began in 1969 to have a lead of 10 or more games and lose it, either falling into a tie or falling behind their opponents.
The Mets are the 8th team since divisions began (1969) to have a 10+ game division lead, then have another team either tie or overtake them for 1st at some point, joining:
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— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 7, 2022
Mets Join Unfortunate List
This is not company that you want to be in if you’re the Mets.
Of course, this is a team that is no stranger to late season collapses, having lost a seven-game lead in September of 2007 and watching the Philadelphia Phillies zoom past them to capture the division crown.
They also had a repeat performance in 2008, once again missing the postseason on the final day of the regular season.
While the Mets are essentially a lock for the postseason, they still find themselves in some unfortunate company with teams such as the 2019 Minnesota Twins, 2012 New York Yankees, 2006 Detroit Tigers, 1995 California Angels, 1993 San Francisco Giants, 1979 Houston Astros, and the 1978 Boston Red Sox.
A few of those teams still ultimately made it to the postseason, but you never want to be a team that loses a 10-game lead to either fall into a tie or fall out of first place all together.
The Braves have caught fire at the right time.
The race for the NL East will be fun to watch as we move closer to October.
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