Im in NO FREAKING WAY saying the Mets HAVE LOCKED UP one of the WC spots. But with 20 games left, they are 8 back of Washington. Any chance to catch the Nationals or just worry about fighting off St Louis, SF, and the other WC fighters?
Actually there are 21 games left, not 20. When you're the chaser, every game counts.
Any discussion of the Mets catching the Nats must be based on the assumption that the Mets sweep them in DC next week. Obviously a big ask, but they did it last September.
In the very unlikely event that they do sweep, that means they'd need to make up five games in the remaining 18. If DC splits those 18 (meaning that they finish 9-12), then the Mets would need to go 14-4 in those 18 (and 17-4 overall) just to tie.
So no, Mets cannot win it. But they can hope that Nats lose it. And need to make sure that if Nats do lose it, they are in a position to take advantage.