“The Mets have as good a chance as anybody” - Keith Hernandez positive on team’s NL Wild-Card race, but concerned about games with Phillies and Braves

In a recent interview with the New York Post, former MLB first baseman Keith Hernandez talked about the New York Mets' performances this season. He mentioned how he sees the coming months playing out for his former side.

Apart from his time in orange and blue, Keith also represented the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians in a 16-year major league career.

Initially starting the campaign and going 22-23, the New Yorkers have since picked up the pace and currently sit fourth in the NL wild-card standings. Talking about his former team's chances of making it to the postseason, Keith said:

"The Mets have as good a chance as anybody. The one team I am skeptical of is the Giants. If you look at the schedules, the wild-card contestants in the West have the toughest schedules because that’s where the competition is and they’re going to play each other, so that’s an advantage for the Mets."

Miami Marlins v New York Mets - Source: Getty

Hernandez also talked about how qualification could come down to a winner-take-all series against the Atlanta Braves. The Braves, as it stands, are the team immediately above the New Yorkers in the wildcard standings.

"But the Mets have seven games with the Phillies, and it might come to the whole shooting match — the last week of the season the three games in Atlanta."

Mets take series opener against Padres at Petco Park as Vientos bats in three

The Metropolitans won the opening game of the series against fellow NL wildcard rivals, the San Diego Padres, by a score of 8-3 on Thursday. The visitors took control of proceedings at Petco Park early, with leadoff batter Francisco Lindor running in the opening run following his first at-bat.

Starting pitcher Luis Severino registered his latest quality outing on the mound, allowing the hosts only one run despite dealing with plenty of base runners.

Third Baseman Mark Vientos had a great night at the plate, registering 3 RBIs in the game, including batting in the all-important opening run of the game. Thursday's performance adds to the strong 2024 season for Vientos, who is batting at .282, with 20 homers and 54 RBIs this season.

Next, the New York side will take on the Padres again on Friday, in the second of a four-game series. Fans will be hoping their side can feed off the momentum of recent results to secure another important victory.