A playoff berth for the Mets is no longer within their control following a disastrous series loss to the Nationals. The two defeats in this crucial three-game set were marked by sloppy defense that allowed the Nationals to score valuable runs. Another issue was the team’s inability to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Key players like Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte fell short in Saturday’s loss. The Mets will now head on the road for their final six games of the season, where they must not only focus on their own performance but also keep an eye on the games played by their opponent for the final wild card spot, the Reds.