Mets players challenge each other with path to playoffs in their hands

The 82-77 New York Mets now know that they would clinch the final National League wild-card playoff berth by sweeping the 77-82 Miami Marlins at Miami's loanDepot Park this weekend. 

Following the Mets' 8-5 win at the Chicago Cubs on Thursday evening, multiple New York players and manager Carlos Mendoza spoke openly about how they can avoid having to check the scoreboard from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. 

Francisco Lindor urges Mets to 'take care of business' 

"We control our own destiny, so we have to go out there and take care of business," star shortstop and unofficial Mets captain Francisco Lindor said about the club's situation, per Phillip Martinez of SNY. "At the end of the day, the teams that are fighting for the playoffs are really good teams. And we have to get it done. No one cares what we’re going through; we have to get it done. This series in Miami is a must for us." 

The Mets have been "going through" a rough stretch for over three months of play. Specifically, they went 37-53 over their last 90 games up through Thursday's victory. 

Meanwhile, the 81-78 Cincinnati Reds hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Mets and will finish the regular season with a three-game series at a Milwaukee Brewers (96-63) team that realistically can coast into the postseason. The 80-79 Arizona Diamondbacks could make things interesting if both New York and Cincinnati fall apart through Sunday, but Mets infielder Brett Baty wasn't thinking about such things on Thursday night. 

How are Mets feeling with playoff fate in their hands?

"We feel good. We feel like we have to go down there and handle business," Baty said about the Mets' trip to Florida. "We can’t think about winning three games because we got to win [Friday] night. We’re going to focus on [Friday] night and try and get a W and see where things are at. And keep fighting until the end of the season." 

Everything the Mets have been since June 13 was on display throughout their series against the Cubs. They had to rally from a 6-1 deficit to win Tuesday's game after starter David Peterson failed to give the Mets two innings of work. The Amazins then suffered a 10-3 blowout loss on Wednesday before they flirted with blowing a 6-0 lead on Thursday. 

Nevertheless, Mendoza suggested his squad picked up some needed confidence at Wrigley Field. 

"Got three more, you feel good," Mendoza said after Thursday's game. "It’s a good series win against a really good team that is already in the playoffs. We faced some really good arms, and that is a good lineup."