CHICAGO — The Mets will need to close out their series against the Cubs with a win to remain in control of their playoff destiny on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
The Reds opened the afternoon with a 2-1 victory over the Pirates at home to move within a half-game of the Mets for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
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If the Mets can take the series against the Cubs at 7:40 p.m. Thursday, they would extend their lead back to one game with three games left to play. The Reds hold the tiebreaker against the Mets based on their season series and would leap-frog them if the Mets were to lose on Thursday night.
The Reds close their regular season with three games against the Brewers in Milwaukee beginning on Friday night. The Brewers are one win away from clinching the best record in the NL and home field throughout the Major League Baseball playoffs.
Meanwhile, after Thursday’s series finale with the Cubs, the Mets will travel to face the Marlins across three games beginning on Friday night.
The Diamondbacks remain in contention for the final NL Wild Card spot, as well. They entered the afternoon one game back of the Mets but found themselves trailing the Dodgers, 4-0, through three innings in the teams’ series finale in Phoenix.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Reds win Thursday. Here are latest Mets playoff scenarios