5 things to watch as Mets face Phillies in last series of season
The Mets might have to finish Thursday's suspended game with the Marlins on Monday afternoon, after the regular season ends.
But their three-game set against the Phillies this weekend at Citi Field will be their final series of the season.
Here are five things to watch...
Is this it for Buck Showalter as manager?
As the Mets season is coming to a close, so too could Showalter's tenure as manager.
What befell the Mets in 2023 -- when it comes to injuries, poor play, and a roster that was poorly constructed -- does not fall on Showalter, but he failed to manage with the necessary urgency early in the season when the team still had a chance.
Now, it will be up to incoming president of baseball operations David Stearns to decide whether Showalter should return for the final year of his contract in 2024.
It seems logical for Stearns to want to pick his own manager now, especially when you consider that Showalter would be managing next season as a lame duck.
MLB draft pick positioning
The Mets will enter this series with the seventh-worst winning percentage in baseball, meaning they have a decent shot at snagging a top-six pick in the 2024 MLB Draft.
Getting one of the top six picks is of extreme importance for New York, since it's only those six picks that are protected when it comes to luxury tax penalties. If the Mets get the seventh pick or lower, that selection will drop 10 spots because of the amount they exceeded the luxury tax by this season.
Even if the Mets finish with one of the six-worst winning percentages in MLB, they will not be guaranteed a top-six pick, since those picks will be determined by a lottery. However, the lower their winning percentage, the higher their odds will be of landing a top-six selection.
Pete Alonso has a milestone in sight
Barring an eruption, Alonso -- who has 46 homers -- won't reach the 50-homer mark for the second time in his career. But he could hit another milestone.
Alonso is just three RBI shy of 500 for his career, putting him extremely close to becoming just the 10th Met to ever reach that mark.
The Baby Mets look to end 2023 with a good feeling
Francisco Alvarez, Ronny Mauricio, Brett Baty, and Mark Vientos all figure to be firmly in the Mets' plans for 2024.
None of the Baby Mets have been especially hot lately, which isn't surprising when you consider that they're all in at the end of the most physically and mentally draining season of their career.
Still, ending the season on a high note would be nice.
Can Jose Quintana finish strong?
Quintana struggled a bit in his most recent start, allowing six runs (five earned) in six innings against the Phillies, though he struck out 10.
Along with Kodai Senga, Quintana is the only starting pitcher who will enter the offseason with a rotation spot for 2024 locked up.
Since returning from the IL on July 20, Quintana has excelled, with a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts over 71.2 innings.
