Mashing Mets look like playoff team as Yankees show some cracks

The Yankees looked like the best team in baseball for a long while, and they still own the most wins (tied with the Phillies). Meantime, the Mets couldn’t beat the likes of the Marlins six weeks ago and they still possess a losing record.

Yet, there’s some question — at least for today — where the better team resides. It just may be in Queens.

The Mets are still only 38-39 even after blowing most of an eight-run lead and barely hanging on to beat the Yankees 9-7 in the first game of the Subway Series. But the Mets have the majors’ best record in June, and they are starting to steamroll some very good pitchers, including the best in the game Tuesday night.

The Mets blitzed defending AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole for four home runs before a celebrity-studded gathering at Citi Field, including Kenny Smith, Bill O’Reilly, Donovan Mitchell, Guy Fieri and Grimace. I’d venture to say most in the celeb sections would tell you the Mets resemble a serious threat now while the Yankees look fairly questionable — at least for now (I’m not counting Grimace, who’s obviously biased).

The Mets should be a playoff team (especially if they add some relievers). Yes, you heard they were October-bound here back on May 18 when I wrote they’d make the playoffs while watching them lose 8-0 to the Marlins, the worst team in the National League. But this time I really mean it.

The Mets will still need to make better pitches out of the pen, I get that. For nine more games they don’t have their banned closer Edwin Diaz, who put himself (and them) in a sticky situation. But with a six-run lead they simply can’t walk Juan Soto to load the bases for Aaron Judge. And they can’t throw an 0-2 pitch down the middle to Judge for a grand slam. We can’t pick on Reed Garrett for that one. He’s been a revelation. But geez.