Mets thinking playoffs amid unexpected winning streak

Don't tell shortstop Francisco Lindor that the New York Mets climbed back into the National League playoff race with their latest stretch of positive results.

"I thought we were always in the postseason race," Lindor somewhat defiantly said after New York's 11-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday that secured a three-game series sweep, as shared by Ben Krimmel of SNY. "Some people had us out, but in my mind, I felt like we got the team, we got the personnel. I still haven’t looked at the standings. I still haven’t looked at our record. But we just gotta keep on climbing the mountain."

As recently as last week, some within MLB expected the struggling Mets would become sellers shortly after next month's All-Star break. 

However, New York has won 11 of its past 15 contests, and the Mets began Monday in the middle of a five-game winning streak. Don't look now, but the 33-37 Amazins ended the weekend just one-and-a-half games back in the battle for the NL's third wild-card playoff berth.

"I think that over the course of the 162-game season, certain things early can get highlighted, especially either success or struggles," Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. "But I think that now that as we’re progressing, we’re starting to come into our self, understand our identity and hit our stride a little bit. I’m really excited that we had a great homestand."

Alonso's reasons for optimism go beyond the club's recent run of form. Star closer Edwin Diaz is back from a shoulder impingement and seems to have regained the confidence he temporarily lost in May. 

Steve Serby of the New York Post noted that advertised ace Kodai Senga could make his regular-season debut after the All-Star break. Senga is working to recover from setbacks related to the moderate capsule strain in the back of his right shoulder he suffered during spring training.

"Our preparation continues to get better," first-year manager Carlos Mendoza added about the surprisingly-hot Mets. "And they’re having fun. A lot of time people forget that this game’s hard and you’re gonna go through struggles. And you gotta find a way to stay positive, even when it’s hard, even when it gets loud. And that’s what they’ve done."