What happened: Speaking on MLB on FOX, Ken Rosenthal said the New York Mets are seven games under .500 and that until a team gets to .500, it is difficult to take it seriously as a contender. He made the point even as the Mets sit just five games out of a playoff spot.
Why it matters: At 34-41, New York is chasing a wild-card berth while carrying a losing record into a road series in Philadelphia. Rosenthal's framing sets a clear bar: the Mets have to climb back to even before their postseason case carries real weight.
By the numbers: The Mets enter at 34-41, seven games under .500, scoring 4.1 runs per game and allowing 4.3, winners of two straight. The Phillies sit 40-35 but have dropped two in a row. New York took the most recent meeting between the clubs 6-4 on June 18.
What to watch: Watch whether the Mets can keep chipping at the deficit as they visit the Phillies in Philadelphia.