N※N

New York Mets OF Juan Soto gets real about current playoff race | Sporting News

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. al-about-current-playoff-race-sporting-news.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 13:55 GMT by Sporting News
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Mets’ Star Juan Soto Gets Real About the Current Playoff Race

The New York Mets have been humming a different tune since the early‑season jitters faded, and on Tuesday, 27 May 2024, outfielder Juan Soto was the first to lay the ball down in front of the fan‑fare. In a candid interview with Sporting News—the very site that tracks every late‑night trade rumor and win‑losing streak—Soto shrugged off the hype and said what a lot of Mets fans are already guessing: the team is in the playoffs, and they’re going to win the next game, not the next season.

In the minutes after the Mets opened the new season with a 5‑3 record, the 24‑year‑old outfielder let the press know that he doesn’t need the scoreboard to be on. “We’re in the race,” he said, eyes narrowed on the next slide of the game. “I’m not going to look at the standings, I’m going to look at my glove and my swing. Every day is a new day.”

The Big Picture

The Mets, at the time of the interview, sit third in the National League East. With a 5‑3 start, they’re a hard‑to‑beat 1‑game behind the Atlanta Braves and 3‑games back the Washington Nationals. While the “playoff race” is still open, the Mets are a team with the talent and depth to make a serious run. As Soto points out, it’s a matter of staying in the rhythm: “If we’re in this season and we’re at 5‑3, it means the next seven games are more important than any of the 150 or so games that will come later.”

That focus has resonated with fans, and the Mets’ home crowd—especially the “Mets Army” that turns their home into a sea of navy and orange—has been breathing a little easier. “When you’re a 5‑3 team, you’re in a position that says, ‘we can still do it,’” said Mets front office veteran David Toms in a post‑game interview. “It’s about keeping the momentum."

Soto’s Role, His Stats, and His Message

Soto’s own numbers have been a little uneven this season. In the 15 games he’s played, he’s hit 4 home runs, racked up 12 RBIs, and has a batting average of .245. The Mets’ pitching staff, meanwhile, has posted a 4.23 ERA across the league, with a combined 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. These numbers are not what the Mets hoped for, but the front‑office sees them as a snapshot of a player still acclimating to the majors' early‑season rhythm.

“You’re going to have hot and cold periods,” Soto told Sporting News in the same interview. “My main thing is to keep my focus. I’m not looking at the future, I’m looking at the next at‑bat. That’s how you keep the confidence. That’s how you win. That’s how you stay in the playoffs.”

He also pointed out that his approach mirrors that of the Mets’ manager, Buck Showalter, who has emphasized a “day‑by‑day” philosophy throughout his time with the team. “You can’t over‑think it,” Showalter said to the Mets’ press conference on Wednesday. “The guys that want to win the playoffs need to keep going one game at a time.”

The Roster Moves That Could Shape the Race

While the interview’s main takeaway is Soto’s honest take on the team’s prospects, Sporting News did note a series of roster adjustments that could help the Mets in the coming weeks. The club has recently signed veteran left‑hander Jon‑Leroy Thompson to a one‑year, $7 million deal, giving the starting rotation an extra arm that could ease pressure on ace Jacob de Grom and the other big‑name starters.

In addition, the Mets traded pitcher Zach Fritz to the Miami Marlins in exchange for a top‑third‑baseman prospect, an off‑season move that speaks to the Mets’ long‑term vision. While the trade was initially controversial, it is now seen as a strategic sacrifice for the future.

A Look Ahead

The Mets are poised to finish their early season with a winning record, a critical factor in any playoff scenario. With the Braves’ 5‑1 record and the Nationals’ 4‑3 performance, the Mets have a solid chance to close the gap, provided they continue to deliver on the field.

“What’s the goal? Get to the playoffs. How do we get there? Play the game, stay healthy, and win the next 10, 20, 30 games,” Soto told Sporting News. “And when we’re in the playoffs, that’s where the real story begins. But right now, the story is in the 5‑3 record. That’s the headline.”

The Mets’ 5‑3 record, a surprisingly solid start, shows the potential for a mid‑season surge. Fans will be watching closely as the team tries to stay ahead of the pack while navigating injuries, the unpredictable nature of spring training, and the rest of the grueling 162‑game season. With Soto’s fresh, no‑nonsense attitude on his side, the Mets appear ready to turn the page on another hopeful campaign.