(Photo credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)

It's no secret that the New York Mets have had a disappointing season.

The Mets, who started this year with baseball's most expensive payroll, never got on track. They posted a 7-19 record in April and were sellers at the trade deadline last month.

However, what has happened since then has given the Mets optimism for 2027, as New York is 20-12 since the deadline.

Winners of five of their past six games -- including three games in a row -- the Mets will try to complete a three-game series sweep of the host Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.

Now with a 67-78 record, the Mets are set in the outfield, left to right, with Juan Soto, A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge. Other key pieces going forward include catcher Francisco Alvarez, first baseman Jared Young, shortstop Francisco Lindor and potentially third baseman Bo Bichette (if he does not opt out of his 2027 contract).

Young has been a big find this season. He is batting .266 with eight homers, 36 RBIs and a .328 on-base percentage.

'He gives you consistently good at-bats,' Mets team president David Stearns said.

The rotation appears solid with four young pitchers: Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, Zac Thornton and Jonah Tong.

Kodai Senga is 7-for-7 on save chances since being converted from starter to closer.

'On a good team, guys embrace what the team needs them to do,' Mets interim manager Andy Green said. '(Senga) has done that incredibly well.'

There's more work to be done, but the Mets could contend for a playoff berth next year. In the meantime, they will start journeyman right-hander Robert Stock (1-3, 5.81 ERA) on Wednesday. He is 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA in seven career innings against Miami.

But while the Mets keep one eye on 2027, the Marlins (72-74) remain focused on their long-shot bid for a 2026 wild-card playoff berth despite having lost five of their past six games.

The Marlins will counter Stock on Wednesday with right-hander Janson Junk (6-9, 4.00 ERA).

Junk has faced the Mets just once, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. That game happened on July 31 as Junk went five innings, allowing three hits, two walks and one unearned run in a game the Marlins won 5-2.

Wednesday will mark the final matchup this season between these two teams, and, so far, they have split 12 games.

Like the Mets, the Marlins have taken a step forward for the future.

Their rotation has a good foundation with Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez and Max Meyer (assuming he returns from injury).

The lineup includes 2026 All-Star shortstop Otto Lopez and 2025 All-Star first baseman Kyle Stowers. Rookie Joe Mack has been impressive at catcher, especially defensively, and Xavier Edwards, currently injured, has locked down second base.

There are questions at third base and center field, but corner outfielders Heriberto Hernandez (24 homers) and Griffin Conine (15 homers) have had breakthrough seasons as emerging power hitters.

The Marlins could get a boost on Wednesday, as closer Pete Fairbanks (team-high 18 saves) is set to return from a nerve-irritation injury. The last time he pitched was on Aug. 24.

Another bright spot for Miami is the play of backup infielder Jared Serna, who had a pair of doubles on Tuesday in a 7-5 loss to the Mets.

'Terrific game for Jared,' Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. 'He's aggressive.'

--Field Level Media