Alright, so the New York Mets are rolling into Arlington, 71-85 on the season, for their second-to-last series of 2026, and yeah, they’re already statistically out of the playoff hunt. But don’t sleep on this squad just yet! They might not have anything to play for themselves, but you know what’s always got some serious appeal? Wrecking the playoff hopes for a few former teammates. That’s some classic, late-season drama right there.
Playing Out the String With Nothing But Dignity?
Look, the Mets just took two out of four from the Phillies over the weekend, which did manage to nudge those division rivals’ playoff odds down a bit. Not a huge impact, sure, but it’s something! And if the Diamondbacks had actually looked like a team trying to make October instead of being in a total tailspin (until they suddenly took two of three from the Yankees, whoops!), things might have felt even crazier. Last week at Citi Field was a total emotional rollercoaster, seriously. Fans had to deal with their ‘ex-boyfriend’ Brandon Nimmo playing for a team still holding onto slim playoff hopes. And then, adding to the bittersweet vibes, they had to say goodbye to Howie Rose, the longtime voice of the club, a figure who’s been around longer than any player, manager, or even owner! So yeah, the Mets are on the road, just playing out the string, with truly nothing at stake other than, well, their own dignity. What are we really hoping for? Fun, gaudy stat-padding games, no injuries, and some cool stuff happening on the field. Or hey, maybe a few losses to help that draft order. Who’s gonna argue with that?
Rangers Cling On While Old Friends Reappear
Now, the Texas Rangers? They’re a whole different story, hanging onto a playoff spot by the skin of their teeth. But here’s the kicker: with hardly any games left and the Astros seemingly doing their best to be ‘incompetent,’ the Rangers might not even need to do much to snag a spot in October. The Mets are definitely missing their former ace, Jacob deGrom, who’s slated to start for the Rangers on Sunday. And get ready to see plenty of Brandon Nimmo, who some Phillies fan on Twitter famously dubbed ‘runs to first McGee.’ While the Rangers haven’t announced their starters for games two and three yet, there’s a pretty good shot the Mets will be facing Kumar Rocker, that first-round draft pick from 2021 they famously bungled. Tonight, September 22, it’s Sean Manaea vs MacKenzie Gore at 8:05pm EDT on SNY. Manaea’s 2026 line is solid: 198.2 IP, 132 K, 41 BB, 23 HR, 4.74 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 115 ERA-. His season line looks way better than expected after he was doing mop-up duty early on. His last start? Best in over a month, giving up just two earned runs over five and a third innings. Silver linings, right?
So, tonight’s the first pitch with Manaea on the mound, and the stakes couldn’t be clearer: the Rangers are fighting to secure their October dreams, and the Mets are there to play ultimate spoiler. Will Texas manage to hold on, or are the Mets about to crash the AL postseason party? You absolutely need to see how this plays out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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