NEW YORK -- In a tight, three-way battle for the two NL wild cards, the Mets have looked like the team of destiny for almost two weeks now. It’s been a parade of punctures that figured to sink their boat and every patch they’ve applied has worked. Virtual unknowns and reclamation projects have filled in and thrived in both the starting rotation and the lineup and this cavalcade of tiny miracles has all unfolded on a path paved with sub-.500 opponents.
On Saturday the Mets got the acid test -- starting reliever Sean Gilmartin after Noah Syndergaard was scratched with strep throat -- and they failed it.