The New York Mets are making their way back to Citi Field with playoffs in sight, albeit narrowly trailing in the Wild Card race, as they prepare to face off against the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox too are contenders, lagging four and a half games behind the Royals for the third American League Wild Card spot. This series presents a crucial juncture for both teams as they vie for postseason spots.

The Mets have shown resilience and competitiveness recently by splitting a series with the Padres, conquering two out of three games against the Diamondbacks, and sweeping the White Sox. Despite the disappointment of two losses due to unconverted saves by Edwin Díaz, these successes have kept the Mets’ playoff dreams alive and kicking. The turning point arguably came with Díaz’s save on Thursday against the Diamondbacks, sparking a change in momentum, complemented by a vital sweep against the White Sox — a team known for their robust pitching despite overall struggles.

Conversely, the Red Sox have had a challenging stretch, facing defeats and managing only a split series with the Blue Jays after being swept by the Diamondbacks. Their journey towards the postseason appears more daunting, especially with upcoming matches against strong contenders like the Mets, Orioles, Yankees, and Twins. To close the gap in the standings, victories over the Orioles and Twins—teams directly above them in the Wild Card race—are crucial.

Highlighting Boston’s season are stellar performances from Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and Tyler O’Neill. Duran, in his breakout season, has notably amassed 88 extra-base hits and 32 stolen bases, marking one of baseball’s most comprehensive offensive displays recently. Devers continues to excel as a four-time MVP candidate, while O’Neill, in his first season with Boston, is experiencing a resurgence following injury-plagued years.

Statistically, the Red Sox boast the 13th best offense in the majors, thanks largely to contributions from Devers, O’Neill, and Durran. Their pitching also ranks 13th, buoyed by solid starters, but their bullpen struggles persist, anchored by a struggling 36-year-old Kenley Jansen. Since early July, Boston’s bullpen ranks among the worst in the league, hampered by an inability to consistently convert outs.

The Mets’ bullpen, while not flawless, has seen key figures gain stability recently. New additions at the trade deadline have slowly found their groove, with Phil Maton, Huascar Brazobán, and Ryne Stanek shaking off early troublesome outings. José Buttó and Reed Garrett have shown effectiveness and resilience respectively, while Adam Ottavino is starting to overcome a rough patch.

This upcoming series is set to be both intense and pivotal, with each team having much at stake. Key matchups to watch include Luis Severino taking the mound for the Mets against Brayan Bello of the Red Sox.

Severino is aiming to rebound from recent underwhelming performances, highlighted by a complete game shutout against the Marlins. On the other hand, Bello is looking to build on his impressive start against the Blue Jays, signaling potential for a pitcher’s duel that could have significant implications for the Wild Card race.