UPHILL BATTLE: Will the New York Mets Be a Playoff Team in 2026? | Mets vs. Mariners Series Preview

New York Mets eye a playoff push after sweeping the Miami Marlins, but a brutal schedule and crowded NL Wild Card race threaten their hopes.  

Can Juan Soto’s scorching bat and the return of key players like Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez ignite a summer surge?

Ryan Finkelstein breaks down the Mets’ path forward, evaluating the impact of recent winning streaks, the daunting road ahead against the Mariners and Padres, and what it will take on both offense and in a shaky rotation to reach October.  

Key topics include the emergence of young players like Carson Benge and AJ Ewing, the critical innings needed from Sean Manaea and Jonah Tong, and how the Mets’ resilience will be tested by elite pitching.  

Can New York claw back to .500 and keep the roster intact at the trade deadline, or is another rebuild on the horizon?

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