For Phillies fans, 2018 represents a return to competitive baseball with a possible shot at the Wild Card Game, but firstly the red pinstripes must win the season series over our northern neighbor: not a slam dunk.

Determining factor:

Finishing second in the National League East will increase the Philadelphia Phillies‘ chances to make the playoffs, but their record against the New York Mets could decide the victor. And if both franchises play that one-game decider for an NLDS berth, the series winner might have home-field advantage.

IN OTHER WORDS: “In this day and time, with no competition you are really walking a tightrope. I mean you may think that no competition is good, but in reality no competition is really bad.” – Jerry Lawler

By month’s end, the Phils will be preparing for their series in New York. And these three contests will probably set the tone for the entire 162. But this summer, the results are not a foregone conclusion.

Barring unforeseen events, the Washington Nationals will be atop the NL East at campaign’s end, but free agency could weaken them in 2019. Therefore, they will go all out to win the World Series if they can get there.

At the bottom of the division, the Miami Marlins will probably have the first overall selection in the 2019 MLB Draft. And the Atlanta Braves will be a surprise if they play .500 ball. Of course, dominant performances against these two organizations could be a factor.

Like the locals, the Mets have many ifs. On the other hand, nobody expects them to go 70-92 in ’18 or have a 12-7 mark over the Phillies. So, how many more victories will the red and white have versus the Metropolitans? Two or three?

Mets records:

2017: 70-92

2016: 87-75

2015: 90-72

According to Fangraphs, the odds for our northern neighbors to make the playoffs are 42.4 percent and 24.7 percent to win a wild card. But what did this mean to their supporters?

Well, one New Yorker on a Mets site posted that the numbers indicate his team will capture the second wild card. Another cautioned not to make too much out of it. However, a third fan stated they are the favorite for a wild card.

On a national site, Philly locals debated being in the hunt for a one-game opportunity after the season, and they compared the competition from the other senior circuit divisions. Unfortunately, they didn’t mention the Metropolitans due to their 70 victories last year. That record is deceptive.