The National League playoff picture is finally set.
With the weather forcing an unprecedented season-ending doubleheader with multiple playoff implications, the Mets and Braves split a pair of games on Monday afternoon at Truist Park to send both NL East opponents to the postseason; the Arizona Diamondbacks were forced to watch from home as they were knocked out of the playoffs by the result.
Each team needed just one win in Atlanta to make the playoffs. The Diamondbacks needed either of the Braves or Mets to sweep the doubleheader to clinch. Both participants were able to celebrate.
The Mets won a wild back-and-forth Game 1 as superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor launched a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, clinching a playoff berth for New York with an 8-7 victory.
After Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach dominated for seven innings, the Mets responded with a six-run eighth inning to take a 6-3 lead. However, Atlanta fought right back, scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth and going ahead as Ozzie Albies smoked a three-run double to put the Braves back on top.
With a playoff spot on the line, Atlanta surrendered its one-run lead in the ninth. Lindor, the NL MVP candidate and the leader in New York, put the Mets on his back to guide them to the playoffs.
With NL Cy Young favorite Chris Sale scratched for Game 2, Atlanta pieced together a shutout 3-0 win with right-hander Grant Holmes throwing four scoreless innings. A second-inning RBI single from Gio Urshela lifted the Braves as they earned a postseason spot with their backs against the wall.
The Braves (89-73) finished with the fifth seed in the National League playoff tournament. They will face the San Diego Padres in a best-of-three Wild Card Series at Petco Park starting Tuesday; the winner will play the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
New York (89-73) had a chance to rise to the No. 5 seed with a win in the second game, but settled for the sixth seed. The Mets will play the NL Central-champion Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card Series with the winner moving on to face the Phillies on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.
Either potential matchup will have some juice as it begins in Philadelphia. A date with former friend Rhys Hoskins and the Brewers would certainly be compelling, as would another NL East showdown in the NLDS after the Phillies beat the Braves in the previous two postseasons.
It’ll all start this weekend for the Phillies, who earned a first-round bye as the second team in the National League.
