While the Yankees have been making headlines over the past two weeks via their various comings and goings, over in Queens, the Mets have slipped into a precarious position in the race for a postseason spot. Injuries and an ill-fitting roster have caught up to the reigning National League champions, who briefly slipped below .500 with a loss to the Padres last Friday and enter Tuesday at an even 59–59.
Since July 26, the Mets are an NL-worst 6–13, a slide that has included a pair of four-game losing streaks and just one series win. The ugly stretch began when closer Jeurys Familia blew his first save of the season in the ninth inning of the Mets' July 27 game against the Cardinals, costing them the rubber match of a three-game series.