MILWAUKEE – The biggest hits for the New York Mets on Saturday night came from the San Diego players’ bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitchers late in a game played 1,830 miles away.

Welcome to the final stages of the crazy race for the final two playoff spots in the National League.

As Mets players began leaving a gloomy clubhouse to board a bus outside American Family Field after an uninspiring 6-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Padres began to boost New York’s playoff chances. San Diego scored five runs in the ninth inning at Chase Field in Arizona, breaking a scoreless tie against the Diamondbacks. The Mets lost their third straight game, their first such losing streak since mid-August. Not great. And yet it could have been worse. Since the Diamondbacks also lost, the Mets remain in control.

The battle for the final two playoff spots in the National League remains a wild ride. The Atlanta Braves (88-71) have a one-game lead. Right behind them are the Mets (87-72) and Diamondbacks (88-73). The Mets own the tiebreaker over Arizona.

Luisangel Acuña and the rest of the Mets couldn’t capitalize on their scoring opportunities. (Benny Sieu/Imagn Images)

Sunday was supposed to be the last day of the regular season. It could still be the case. Maybe it isn’t. The Mets may have to play two more games on Monday in Atlanta. Maybe they won’t.

So here’s the best possible scenario for the Mets: If they beat the Brewers and the Diamondbacks lose again to the Padres, New York – despite its recent woes – clinch a playoff spot on Sunday.

And here’s the worst possible scenario for the Mets: If the Mets lose on Sunday or the Diamondbacks win, New York will have to travel to Atlanta to play on Monday.

Now the worst case scenario for the Mets: If the Mets lose And The Diamondbacks win on Sunday, the Mets have to win twice on Monday.

Therefore, the Mets cannot be eliminated on Sunday, but it is still in their interest to win.

That’s the problematic part.

Because to do that, they’ll have to pull themselves out of their panic and beat the Brewers, the NL Central champion, and the team that beat the Mets soundly on two straight nights (and even more so if we’re counting the three-game want to take the sweep into account). April).

The Mets were lucky that the Padres’ hitters woke up late Saturday night against the Diamondbacks because the Brewers were shutting down New York’s offense. With six pitchers, Milwaukee held the Mets to just two hits.

“Offensively, we didn’t do our part,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. “We just have to get better. I think we had good shots, but today our effort wasn’t good enough. Luckily we have time tomorrow. And we still have two more games in Atlanta. It’s a really short stretch, but we have three games and three games offer opportunities for us. In order for us to get where we need to be, we have to take advantage of opportunities.”

The Mets, who averaged just 2 1/2 runs over their last six games, were unable to record another hit after stranding Starling Marte following a leadoff double in the fifth inning. Marte advanced to third base on Luis Torrens’ grounder. But Harrison Bader got going and Luisangel Acuña flew out to end the threat.

At that point, the Mets were only down 0-2. It was still a winnable game. But the Brewers then did what the Brewers usually do: get on base, steal bases, hit with runners in scoring position. The Brewers are the only team in 2024 that hasn’t lost more than three games in a row. Milwaukee officials attributed this feat in part to a dynamic offense that can hurt opposing pitchers with short balls, long balls, good base running, stringing hits together – the list goes on.

With Sean Manaea making his first start in months and Jose Quintana lasting just 4 1/3 innings, Mets starter David Peterson will be tasked with containing the Brewers and the pressure they generate on Sunday.

The Mets offense lacks that kind of dynamic identity. Some of their best hitters are battling it out at the plate. Alonso is 2 for his last 19. JD Martinez hasn’t recorded a hit since September 9th. Jesse Winker hasn’t had an extra base hit since September 4th. Neither Martinez nor Winker were in the lineup Saturday. Instead, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza tried other combinations. It didn’t work out much.

“We have to win,” Mendoza said. “We have to play better. We have to do it. We have to find a way tomorrow.”

At some point they can no longer rely on other teams to achieve great success.

(Top photo: Benny Sieu / Imagn Images)