In one of the most thrilling and unpredictable games of the season, the Mets clinched a spot in the 2024 National League playoffs with a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Braves in the first game of a rain-delayed doubleheader. The Mets surged to life in the 8th inning, overcoming a 3-0 deficit and ultimately reclaiming the lead in the 9th inning, leaving the Braves — and the Arizona Diamondbacks — in a must-win situation for Game 2.
Both teams entered the day with one clear objective: win one of the two games and advance to the playoffs. Winning both would not only secure a postseason spot but also knock out their rival, and in doing so, hand Arizona the final wild card berth.
Game 1 didn’t carry the weight of immediate elimination, but it was certainly a pivotal moment. Despite the looming importance of the doubleheader, both teams started slowly, saving the drama for the later innings.
Atlanta's rookie pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach dominated early, retiring the first six Mets he faced. It wasn’t until the bottom of the third inning that Atlanta's offense broke through, with a single from Michael Harris II followed by a towering two-run homer by Ozzie Albies, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead.
The Mets struggled to generate offense for most of the game, and when Atlanta's Ramon Laureano sent a solo shot over the left-center field wall in the sixth inning, it seemed like the Braves were in control with a 3-0 lead. Mets starter Tylor Megill was pulled from the game, and reliever Huascar Brazobán managed to end the Braves' threat by stranding two runners.
But in the top of the 8th, the tide turned. The Mets came alive, starting with a double from Taylor that forced Schwellenbach out of the game. From there, the Braves bullpen unraveled. Francisco Alvarez doubled to bring home Taylor, followed by a series of singles from Starling Marte and Francisco Lindor, tying the game at 3-3. After a pitching change, a clutch single from Jose Iglesias gave New York its first lead of the day, and Brandon Nimmo’s two-run homer extended the Mets’ lead to 6-3.
Atlanta, however, wasn't done. In the bottom of the 8th, the Braves mounted a comeback of their own, loading the bases and seeing Albies deliver once again, this time with a double off the wall to clear the bases and give Atlanta a 7-6 lead. The crowd at Truist Park erupted, but their hopes were short-lived.
The Mets responded in the top of the 9th, with Lindor launching a two-run homer to put New York back on top, 8-7. Atlanta was unable to respond in their half of the inning, and the Mets secured their playoff spot, leaving the Braves and Diamondbacks’ postseason fates hanging on Game 2.
For the Mets, Game 2 will determine their final seeding. A win gives them the No. 5 seed and a series against San Diego, while a loss drops them to the No. 6 seed and a matchup with Milwaukee. For the Braves, it’s now do-or-die, with everything on the line in the final game of the 2024 regular season.
This rollercoaster of a game set the stage for an all-or-nothing showdown, where the season's final playoff spot will be decided. Just as it should be.