Start printing those playoff tickets. There will be postseason baseball in Queens this year, according to Mets closer Jenrry Mejia.
“We’re gonna make it because we believe in ourselves,” the closer told SNY before the Mets beat the Padres 5-4, and he notched the save. “We’ll be ready, and we’re gonna make the playoffs. We’re gonna be there.”
The odds are long. The Mets, at 46-50, are seven games behind the first-place Braves and are also 6 1/2 back in the wild card hunt. They finished the first half strong, winning eight of 10 on a recent homestand.
“The second wild card team helps everybody,” utility man Eric Campbell said, also on SNY. “It seems like, even if you’re five or six games out, you’re close. The last week or two was huge for us, just getting closer to .500. And we’ll look to continue that in July.”
Jon Niese threw a bullpen session before the game and felt “good,” according to manager Terry Collins, but his status for a potential return from the disabled list won’t be known until at least Saturday.
Collins said he expects Niese to pitch at some point in the Seattle series, which begins Monday, but will have Daisuke Matsuzaka on standby. Matsuzaka was available from the bullpen Friday, but will be held out of the remainder of this series in case he’s needed to pitch in Niese’s spot. Niese has been on the disabled list for the last two weeks with a left shoulder strain.
Collins said he plans to continue rotating Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Eric Young Jr., Bobby Abreu and Chris Young in the third outfield spot. Nieuwenhuis started and went 0-for-4 with an RBI.
“I think you’ve got to mix and match,” Collins said. “I don’t know if those guys, if they don’t get some at-bats, are going to be a lot of help to us by just coming off the bench.”
Michael Conforto, the organization’s top pick in this year’s draft, is scheduled to play his first professional game Saturday night for Class-A Brooklyn against Williamsport. Conforto is expected to be the DH.