Rangers’ playoff push gets boost as reeling Mets await in Queens

The Texas Rangers are on a miracle run led by the youngsters of the group and now find themselves in reach of a postseason trip and will have a highly anticipated weekend trip to Queens to face the New York Mets.

Entering Friday, Texas is seven games over .500 for the first time in the season and trail the American League West Division and AL Wild Card by only two games. Not only have they won 14 of their last 18 games but are winners of four straight.

Backed by Jacob deGrom's return to Citi Field on Friday, the Rangers are looking to keep the momentum going against the Mets, who happen to be on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Rangers trip to Queens come as Mets have lost six straight

On August 29, the Mets held a four-game edge over Texas (72 wins to 69). Now, entering play Friday, the Rangers have flipped the script, sitting one game ahead of New York at 77 wins to 76.

That swing stems largely from the Rangers' hot streak, while the Mets have unraveled in a skid unlike anything they’ve experienced this season. Losers of their last six games, the Mets have seen their once 5 game lead for the final NL Wild Card spot slip to 1.5 games.

In that stretch, the Mets have just simply failed to score runs. Opponents have outscored New York 36-15, which includes a four-game sweep at the hands of the NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies.

Texas also has the benefit of facing three rookie pitchers with a combined eight big league games under their belt this weekend in Jonah Tong (Friday), Brandon Sproat (Saturday) and Nolan McLean (Sunday). McLean is easily the best of the three with a 4-1 record, 1.42 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings of work since his call up on August 16.

Mets script could flip quickly so it's up to Rangers to keep momentum going

Be careful though because those three pitchers do posses the ability to be filthy and the Mets' lineup is filled with dangerous offensive weapons.

Of course there's Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso who all have 30+ home run ability. But they have sneaky talent, including Brett Baty and catcher Francisco Alvarez.

They are just as easily able to score 5+ runs any given day, which they have to a tune of a 27-19 record in blowout games this year. They do however have a weakness of blowing leads (34 this year) while Texas has been one of the better comeback win teams over the last few months.