Mets and Yankees Headed in Opposite Directions as Summer Fades to Black

The Directions of Mets and Yankees Were on Full Display as Summer Ends In a stark contrast to the thrilling summer that saw the New York Mets and Yankees nearly play each other in the World Series last fall, the two teams' trajectories diverged dramatically over the weekend. The Mets officially fell out of playoff contention after a 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals on Sunday, September 21, while the Yankees continued their push for a postseason spot with a thrilling 6-4 victory over the same Nationals in extra innings. The contrasting results were on full display as the Mets' season slipped further away from relevance. Mark Vientos, the team's designated hitter, struck out in the sixth inning, and his frustration was palpable as he reacted to the call. "We're just not clicking right now," Vientos said in a postgame interview. "We need to find our rhythm and get back on track." Meanwhile, the Yankees' Aaron Judge continued his torrid pace, hitting two home runs to help propel his team to victory. The Yankees' offense exploded for six runs, including four in the 10th inning, to seal the win. The Mets' struggles have been well-documented this season, with a lack of consistency and depth contributing to their decline. Despite a strong start to the year, the team has struggled to maintain momentum, and Sunday's loss marked their fifth defeat in six games. In contrast, the Yankees have been on a hot streak, winning 10 of their last 15 games. Their victory over the Nationals was their second in as many nights, and it kept them firmly in the hunt for a wild-card spot. As the summer draws to a close, the Mets' season is all but over. With only a handful of games remaining, the team will focus on building for next year rather than making a push for the playoffs. The Yankees, however, remain very much in contention and will look to continue their winning ways as they head into the final stretch. The contrast between these two teams could not be more stark. While the Mets are already looking ahead to 2026, the Yankees are fighting for every win. As the season draws to a close, one thing is clear: the directions of these two teams could not be more different. *Reporting by Forbes.*