Following four days off for the All-Star break, the Mets return to action Friday against the Marlins in Miami.
"Come and get us," Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen dared rival teams this past winter.
That's exactly what your rivals have done.
Van Wagenen and the Mets begin the final stretch of the season at 40-50, while trailing eight teams for the last Wild Card spot and a 4.9 percent chance of reaching the postseason, according to FanGraphs.com.
That said, the final 72 games will bring plenty of opportunity for fun, fear, chaos and cheer.