The Mets keep losing starting pitchers

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It’s been a bad week for the Mets. They found out on Thursday that Steven Matz is still experiencing shoulder soreness, and could likely be done for the season. Considering all the issues the Mets have had with their pitching this season, that’s bad, bad news. And to pile on top of that, Noah Syndergaard has been scratched from his start on Saturday with strep throat. Thor will recover, and in time for the postseason, but that’s actually a big problem: The Mets don’t have the tightest hold on that wild-card spot.

It’s true they did win on Thursday, an 11th-inning walk-off against the Phillies. And they put a hurting on the Phillies just last night, winning 10-5. But earlier in the week? They got swept in three games by the lowly Braves. Not the best look for a team trying to make the playoffs.

The Wild Card is the Mets’ best hope now. And it won’t be easy. The Giants and Cardinals are nipping at their heels, and with eight games left they can barely afford even one more loss. The one comfort is that they only have to face the Phillies and the Marlins before the seasons ends. Those are two teams the Mets have winning records against: they’re 10-6 against Miami, and 9-5 against Philadelphia. But that leaves a bigger question: If they do make the playoffs, what happens then? With their rotation a shadow of what it looked like back in April, we’ll just have to watch and find out.

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• Steve Clevenger, noted idiot and tweeter of racist things, has been suspended from the Mariners for the rest of the season without pay.


• There are a lot of things the Royals can do with Joakim Soria next year, but who knows what they’ll actually end up doing.


• So who starts Game 1 for the Red Sox in the playoffs? Over the Monster has some thoughts.


• The Red Sox outfield keeps showing off their sick dance moves. Last night, Mookie Betts did the Carlton. Is there a way I can have this tattooed on my back?


• Just 530 paying customers showed up to see the Cubs beat the Reds one day back in 1966. Considering the Cubs lost 103 games that year, it’s understandable.


• It’s Vin Scully’s last weekend broadcasting Dodgers games, and the team honored him with a goosebump-filled hourlong pre-game ceremony.


• Sportswriters love Marriott hotels. Like, really, really love them. I’m not kidding.