Breaking down Mets’ three red flags as NL East gets serious

As we enter into an eventful week in the NL East, the landscape of the division is shifting. The Mets, coming off a series loss to their crosstown rivals, found themselves dethroned from the top spot on Monday night after a tough loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. This marked the first time since April 9th that the Mets were not leading the division.

On the other hand, the Phillies made a swift move to claim the top spot following the news of losing their star reliever, Jose Alvarado, to an 80-game suspension due to a violation of MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Despite this setback, the Phillies found themselves in a favorable position thanks to a recent streak of wins against weaker opponents. They swept the last-place Pirates over the weekend, secured a victory against the struggling Rockies, and are now facing off against the struggling A’s in Sacramento, who have been struggling with an 8-14 record in their temporary home.

The Phillies’ ability to capitalize on their schedule and maintain their momentum in the absence of Alvarado showcases their resilience and determination to stay competitive in the division race. As the NL East continues to heat up, it will be interesting to see how the Mets respond to being knocked off the top spot and how the Phillies navigate through their challenges to maintain their position at the top.