The Mets are entering 2015 with a good chance to make a late season push into the playoffs, but with the division likely going to the Washington Nationals, New York will have to aim for one of the two wildcard spots. Over the last couple seasons, the wildcard spots have been wide open, and this upcoming season should be no different.
Let's take a look at the National League, and dissect potential wildcard candidates that may give the Mets a run for their money.
Powerhouses of the NL
- Washington Nationals
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Los Angeles Dodgers
I have these 3 teams winning each respective divison next season, so I will eliminate them from the wildcard competition. Of-course, things can change, so if any of these team's fall out of the division race, I expect them to compete for the wildcard.
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| Andrew McCutchen celebrating Pittsburgh's wildcard berth last fall |
Best potential wildcard teams
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- San Francisco Giants
- San Diego Padres
The Pirates always find a way to make it interesting in September, and you can never count out a San Francisco team that has won 3 Championships in the last 5 seasons. Also, I have listed the Padres due to their immensely successful off-season.
"Outside looking-in" teams
- New York Mets
- Miami Marlins
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Cincinnati Reds
- Chicago Cubs
- Atlanta Braves
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| New additions for the Marlins may prove to be a thorn in the Mets' side this year |
I could dedicate an entire article talking about the Mets' chances for the wildcard spot, but for now I will just list them as an "outside looking-in" team, as they have had six straight losing seasons and need to prove that the core is finally taking shape. Plus, the question marks with Matt Harvey, Bobby Parnell, Travis d'Arnaud, and others provide a lot of uncertainty at this moment in time.
The Marlins have had an incredible off-season, bringing in Mat Latos, Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, and others. Also, they signed slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a monster $300 million plus deal. Before the star went down last year in a freak incident, Miami was right in the thick of the WC race. I expect them to pick up right where they left off.
Little-no chance of even finishing over .500
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Colorado Rockies
- Arizona Diamondbacks
These 3 teams have not done much this winter, particularly the Phillies. While the trading of Marlon Byrd and Jimmy Rollins does help them get younger, they are still tied with the contracts for Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jonathan Papelbon, and others. They were unable to deal away Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, but it seems like both of them will be out of town by the trading deadline in July.
The Rockies enter the 2015 season with another "all hitting, no pitching" squad. Despite the hitting being so top-notch, the chance of injury to superstars Troy Tulowitski and Carlos Gonzalez remain high. Additionally, the pitching is mediocre at best.
The Diamondbacks enter another season of "are they, aren't they" in terms of rebuilding. They inked Yasmani Tomas to a contract, which was a nice signing, but did not do much to improve the rest of the team. Jeremy Hellickson should slot into the 3rd spot in the rotation, but besides him the rotation is a mess. The offense should be league average, if not higher, but like the Rockies, the pitching, or lack thereof, will hold back Arizona from the wildcard race.
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