It’s certainly been a turbulent week for the New York Mets. After a storm postponed two of the team’s three biggest games of the season, the Mets traveled to Milwaukee, where they lost the first two games of the series. Although the team has been on the losing list for three games now, New York can secure a spot in the playoffs on Sunday.

Thanks to a loss by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the San Diego Padres on Saturday, the Mets’ “magic number” is now two. That means any combination of two Mets wins in the next three games or a loss to Arizona on Sunday and at least one Mets win in the next three games guarantees New York a spot in the playoffs. That’s why a Mets win on Sunday in Milwaukee and a Diamondbacks loss to San Diego in Arizona would clinch a spot in the postseason

It has been confirmed that the Mets will reach out to them David Peterson in their game on Sunday against the Brewers. The Brewers will pitch to the right-handed starter Colin Rea. Rea has a 4.17 ERA and 4.81 xERA this season. With the Brewers ranked No. 3 in the National League and their playoff wild-card series set to begin early next week, it remains to be seen how long Rea would throw, which pitchers will be allowed to throw out of their bullpen or what the lineup might do in the 162nd and final game of the season.

Elsewhere, even if the Diamondbacks win their final game against the Padres on Sunday, a game that is scheduled to feature a 10,000-man pitching duel Martin Perez (2.61 ERA, 4.68 FIP with San Diego) versus Brandon Pfadt (4.80 ERA. 3.70 FIP), the Mets could still secure a playoff spot with at least two wins in the next three games (one against Milwaukee on Sunday and two against Atlanta on Monday).

Another interesting variable in the equation is Atlanta’s potential motivation for the team’s doubleheader game on Monday (if necessary, if both the Mets and Braves win on Sunday, those games may not be necessary or not played). The Braves, with a walk-off win thanks to a Travis d’Arnaud On Saturday, they reduced their “magic number” to one. That means they can secure a spot in the playoffs on Sunday with either a home win against the already-decided Kansas City Royals or a loss to the Diamondbacks. That would mean that if the Mets and Braves had to play their doubleheader on Monday, the Braves’ focus would in all likelihood be solely on the team’s first wild-card playoff game, rather than two games against which they are meaningless York on Monday.

The pitching matchup for Atlanta’s game against Kansas City on Sunday has yet to be announced. Of course, if the Braves clinch a playoff spot on Sunday, the Mets would likely avoid any of Atlanta’s best starters (Chris Sale, Spencer Schellenbachor Max Fried) on Monday. As well as whoever the starter is for the Braves in their Sunday game (if not Sale or Schwanzenbach, probably Charlie Morton).

Although Major League Baseball’s regular season consists of 162 games, it is consistently disappointing. At their most important point of the season, the New York Mets faltered, losing three straight games. Even so, they still have a good chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and for the second time in the last eight seasons.