Usually, the wildcards are not considered until September, but this year, due to the table situation in the National League and the addition of the third place, the process has started earlier.
The field is again large in 2024, with five teams within five games of each other for third place. The Diamondbacks and Padres currently hold the top spots with their wins, and the Mets and Braves continue to fight for third place.
The Giants, Reds and Cardinals are the three teams behind the Mets, but all three teams have strong rosters and could have a chance with a good September.
Third place is the real uncertainty. The Braves hold it for now, but the Mets are one game back and the Giants are three. It will be a last-minute affair, but the Mets benefited from Friday’s 7-3 win over the Marlins when every other team in the field lost.
Here is an update on the NL wildcard race.
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Looking from the outside in
St. Louis Cardinals (60-62, 4GB)
The Cardinals have hurt their playoff numbers over the last ten games. First they lost a game to the Mets, losing the season series tiebreaker, then they were swept by the Reds and revived their season.
Despite their difficulties and losing record, the Red Birds are only four games behind the third wild card. They can still make the playoffs, but they need Paul Goldschmidt (89 OPS+) and Nolan Arenado (98 OPS+) to hit the back of their baseball cards.
Cincinnati Reds (60-62, 4 GB)
The Reds have been on the scene for most of the 2024 season but have failed to clinch a playoff spot.
Elly De La Cruz was the man for Cincinnati this season, but everyone else had problems hitting. Jonathan India And Spencer Steer have waned this season and their pitchers have struggled with injuries and lackluster performances. A playoff push is unlikely, but their +49 run differential and expected record of 64-58 are promising signs.
The Reds are not dead yet, and their September schedule includes series against the Mets, Cardinals and Braves.
Participants in third place
New York Mets (63-59, 1 GB)
The Mets have had a pretty good season. They were the worst team in the major leagues, the best, had the first place wild card, and are now one game out of the prospects. It’s been like a bumpy wooden rollercoaster ride.
The Mets have struggled lately. On their last West Coast tour, they went 4-6, then came home and lost a series to the Athletics. Not ideal for a postseason run.
But there is still hope for this Mets team. After the home games against the Marlins and Orioles, the club will head back to the West Coast to play a total of seven games against the Padres and Diamondbacks. In September they will play the Phillies seven times and at the end of the season there are three games in Atlanta.
It is time to go. And all attention is focused on Francisco Lindor and Co. to lead them back into the playoffs.
Atlanta Braves (64-58, –)
August was not an easy month for the Braves. They split a home series against the Marlins to start the month, then got swept by the Brewers. Hoping for better luck on the road, the Braves were then crushed by the Rockies, but salvaged the trip by winning three of four games against the Giants.
It was up and down. Inconsistent. But that’s what happens when you lose Ronald Acuña, Jr. And Ozzie AlbiesThey hold a narrow one-game lead over the Mets, which they will look to extend before their home series against the Amazons to close out September.
The top two
San Diego Padres (69-54, +4.5)
After a season in which baseball averaged .500, the Padres have finally found their stride. A 19-3 streak has propelled the Friars into the first wild-card spot and cemented the belief that this team will be there in October.
Jurickson Profar has replaced the bat of Juan Sotoand led the club with 19 home runs and an OPS+ of 146. MichaelJackson also had a coming out party and took over the cast for the entire season, while Fernando Tatis Jr. is outside.
Oh yeah. Remember Tatis? He’s coming back too. Combine that with a starting lineup of Dylan Cease, Michael Kingand one of Joe Musgrove, Matt Waldronor a healthy Yu Darvishand this club could make it to the Fall Classic.
Right now, the division is the real goal. They are three and a half games behind the Dodgers and have a good September schedule that includes the Tigers and White Sox before returning to Chavez Ravine for three more games.
Arizona Diamondbacks (69-54, +4.5)
No one should forget Arizona. Their season was almost like the Padres’, as they spent most of the season floating around the wild card scene and then exploded in July/August.
With an 18-4 series, the DBacks have now drawn level with the Padres and secured the first wild card spot. The resurgence of Corbin Carroll was a driving point in the second half, and Josh Bell has hit four home runs and recorded an OPS of .902 in 14 games Christian Walker was pushed into the sidelines with oblique narrowness.
The Snakes are hitting their stride at just the right time. And like the Padres, their rotation is Zac Gallen, Brandon PfaadtAnd Merrill Kelly (who recently returned from injury) makes them a dangerous team.
Like the Padres, the DBacks have a tight grip on their division. They are three and a half games behind the Dodgers and have a four-game series against them in late August. After that, the DBacks will finish the season with a three-game series against the Padres that will decide the tiebreaker between the two teams.
