Mets' starting rotation shines, takes lead in National League wildcard race

NEW YORK (PIX11) – It is time to give credit where it is due. 

You woke up on this wonderful Wednesday if you are a Mets fan and have a two-game lead over the Braves for the final wildcard spot in the National League. 

We can get into the sparse crowds at CitiField, where everyone else is, or the lower back issues with star shortstop Francisco Lindor.  

But let's focus on the positive, outside of the fact they keep winning games, which is great. The starting rotation has been fantastic.  

As a team this month, the Mets are pitching to a 2.27 ERA, allowing just 36 runs in a tad over 134 innings of work. In three starts this month, Luis Severino era is 2.29.  

Sean Manaya has a 1.98 ERA in four starts. How about lefty David Peterson? In three starts, his ERA this month is 3.  

Jose Quintana has not allowed a run in two starts this month, and even Tylor Megill is getting in on the act. He was brilliant last night against Washington, and his ERA is 1.69 in September over three starts. Here is the point: The Mets are a really good baseball team evolving into greatness right before our eyes.  

We all thought Kodai Senga's calf injury might be a dagger to this team—well, the starters nobody wanted. 

The starters that looked more like question marks or short-term organizational swings hoping to get lucky have now proven to be the answer. When healthy, the Mets have a lineup that will produce. 

Closer Edwin Diaz is back to being dominant, and very quietly, this starting rotation has been dominant, and the playoffs are right around the corner. Until next time, New York, I'm Marc Malusis.