ATLANTA—As one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, the Mets don't find themselves ahead very much in the late innings of games. But for the first time in years, when they do somehow manage to procure a lead, they can actually hold on to it.

Just a couple months ago, it seemed impossible the Mets would reach this point. They began the season with significant holes in their bullpen and no clear ways to fill them. Then on opening day, closer Bobby Parnell, the one reliable piece in a group of misfits and castoffs, blew out his elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery, plummeting an already questionable unit into disarray.

"When you lose your closer, and you don't know who's going to replace him?" manager Terry Collins said. "Yeah, that's a little scary."

As the losses piled up, the Mets took drastic action. Within a matter of weeks, they cut ties with Kyle Farnsworth and Jose Valverde, two veterans who struggled in their attempts to replace Parnell. Instead, they turned to youth, staking the fate of their relief corps on two 24-year-old arms.

Jenrry Mejia was plucked from the starting rotation and quickly elevated to the closer role. Then Jeurys Familia was promoted from seldom-used middle reliever to primary setup man, thrusting him into high-pressure situations with no proof that he could handle them.