PHILADELPHIA -- The reigning National League champions are returning to the postseason. And this visit may be more of an accomplishment than a year ago.
Decimated by injuries, the New York Mets nonetheless clinched a wild-card berth Saturday with a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. They will host the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
It marks the second time in franchise history that the Mets (87-74) will appear in the postseason in consecutive years. They earned consecutive wild-card berths in 1999 and 2000.
The Mets have withstood significant injuries, particularly to their starting rotation.