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?   Everydayer Club   If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.  Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub  JOIN THE LOCKED ON METS INSIDER COMMUNITY: https://joinsubtext.com/lockedonmets    Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! 5-Hour ENERGY Bring on the sweetness with Cotton Candy 5-hour ENERGY®️ shots—available online now at https://5hourENERGY.comor on Amazon. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at https://Indeed.com/podcast KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything.   Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel.Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get one-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins.Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.