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Meet the Mets
The Mets played their last home game of the season and made it count with a 12-3 victory to take three of four games from the Marlins.
Choose your recap: AA short, Daily News, ESPN, MLB, Newsday, North Jersey, Post
Pete Alonso homered twice to give him 37 for the season, good for third in the National League and four behind Fernando Tatís Jr. for the lead. Francisco Lindor put the game away with his second grand slam of the season, and Michael Conforto tacked on two RBI hits in what may have been his final home game in Queens.
Despite having no impact on the divisional race, the game proved to be an emotional affair. After Conforto made an athletic catch with one out in the ninth inning, the home crowd gave the right fielder a standing ovation, and the longtime Met responded in kind while fighting back tears.
Conforto enters free agency next season, and there are significant doubts about whether he will return to the team. The front office also seems to be sending mixed messages about other free agents Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman, as well as other players still under team control like Brandon Nimmo, Dom Smith, Jeff McNeil, and J.D. Davis, according to Andy Martino.
Francisco Lindor called Conforto “one of the best teammates I’ve ever had in my career.”
Rich Hill got his first win in thirteen appearances for the Mets this year and has stated his willingness to return to the Mets next season. He will be 42 years old when the next season begins, and if Albert Pujols does not find a team, Hill would be the oldest player in MLB.
The Mets start their final series tonight against the Braves, with first pitch at 7:20 and Tylor Megill making his final start.
Marcus Stroman will not pitch on what was originally his turn in the rotation on Sunday. Starting in his place will be Noah Syndergaard, who will once again only pitch for an inning at most.
Robert Gsellman has been added to the taxi squad and may make an appearance over the weekend.
Around the National League East
The Braves 5-3 win completed their sweep of the Phillies and clinched their fourth straight division title. The Braves will face Milwaukee in the NLDS, with Game 1 set for October 8th.
The loss knocks the Phillies out of playoff contention.
The first three places in the division are set with the Braves, Phillies, and Mets glued to the first, second, and third spots, respectively. The only unsolved divisional mystery is whether the Marlins or the Nationals will finish in last place, with both teams sporting a 65-94 record.
The Nationals will also get a chance to play spoiler as they host the Red Sox for their final series of the season.
Around Major League Baseball
The AL Wild Card chaos continues, but first you gotta see this Tatís home run. It left Dodger Stadium!
OK back to the Wild Card. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays 6-2, the Orioles beat the Red Sox 6-2, and the Mariners enjoyed an off day. That gives the Yankees a two-game lead in the Wild Card standings with Boston and Seattle tied for the second spot, and with the Blue Jays trailing by one game.
The Blue Jays play the Orioles in their final series starting tonight, the Mariners play the Angels, the Red Sox play the Nationals, and the Yankees play the Rays. The possibility of three-way and four-way ties still exists.
The Astros clinched the AL West title with a 3-2 home win over the Rays.
The Cardinals used their off-day making plans for their one-game playoff against either the Dodgers or Giants next week. One thing we know for sure: Adam Wainwright will be starting that game.
ESPN published a monster feature detailing the stark poverty most minor-leaguers live in and how the trauma negatively affects their mental health.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
This Date in Mets History
The Mets won the NL East title on their way to a World Series appearance on this date in 1973. They also fired manager Bobby Valentine on this date in 2002.