CHICAGO — The Mets are often down, but they never seem to be out of the race.

Hours after the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to move to within a 1/2 game of the Mets in the NL Wild Card standings, the Amazins’ countered with a 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. Despite the Cubs outfield making several highlight-reel catches against the Mets, and their hottest hitter, Francisco Alvarez, on the bench after dealing with lower-body cramps in the second game of the series, they kept their season alive Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

The lead over the Reds is back to one game, and their lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks is up to two as the Mets head to Miami for the final series of the 2025 regular season.

“You want to stay alive,” said shortstop Francisco Lindor. “We’re in a posi

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