The New York Mets are one of many teams that've struggled in the second half of the 2025 MLB season. While teams like the Detroit Tigers have faltered, the Mets' struggles have them on the cusp of missing the postseason.
However, if they can hang on, then they'll be the third and final wild card team, facing either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Philadelphia Phillies in the wild card round.
With some major concerns with the team, there is still reason to believe that the 2025 New York Mets can win the World Series. In fact, as Jayson Stark of The Athletic identified, there's one statistic that points towards the Mets still having a fighting chance for the World Series, and ironically, it comes from a familiar source.
The Mets can still win the World Series after a rough half of the year
The Mets began the 2025 season off strong, getting to 45-24 in June, and looking like the team to beat in the National League. However, things unraveled from there, and over their next 81 games (equivalent to half the season), the Mets went 32-49, 17 games under .500.
"Back before the wild-card era," Stark writes. "I did find one other team that also went exactly 32-49 over an 81-game stretch in May, June, and July - but then awoke from its slumber to get all the way to the World Series. And if you're riding the No. 7 back then, you'd remember it well ... because it was Tu McGraw's 1973 You Gotta Believe Mets!"
It's an incredible coincidence, as the only team in MLB history with a rough patch in the middle of the year like the one the Mets had happened to be another Mets team that just so happened to make it to the World Series.
While the Mets have plenty of flaws, especially with their pitching staff in the second half, the team is still full of players with potential to make a run for the Mets this October.
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Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat have reignited the Mets' starting rotation, while Edwin Diaz and the cast of relievers are strong enough to make it through a postseason series or two.
The offense is also very strong, with Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor leading a dangerous offense that can go toe-to-toe with some of the top teams in baseball this season.
It's not an easy road, nor will the Mets have home-field advantage. But they have the scrappiness of a championship team, and if the pitching can work, then they have what it takes to make a run to the World Series.
Of course, this team isn't heading into the postseason nearly as hot as they'd like. But, with a strong final nine games, the Mets could be looking at some momentum heading into October.
Stark's comparison is one to keep in mind, and channel as the Mets head into the final weeks of the 2025 season. It's going to be a challenge to match the 1973 Mets' magic, but with the rookie trio of starters and some great offensive talent, anything's possible for this Mets team.
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