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Last season a utility infielder’s music spurred the Mets to an improbable playoff run. Could it be the music of their star player’s wife that sparks them this year?

Before the Mets’ much-needed offensive outburst against the Padres at Citi Field last night, Katia Lindor was the first star of the show when she played the national anthem on the violin. Her proud husband, Francisco, watched from outside the dugout surrounded by his three adorable children. Once she had finished, he celebrated by jumping up and down with that signature smile lighting up the Queens night, then went to embrace his wife at home plate.

About 15 minutes later, Lindor -- who was wearing No. 21 on his back and is once again the team's Roberto Clemente Award nominee -- started off the Mets’ five-run first inning by rapping a single into center field and then homered in the next frame. Some are saying his wife should play the anthem before every game.

Katia is a classically trained violinist who minored in music at St. Mary’s University in Texas, and she has weaved her passion into the fabric of her family’s life.

“I think classical music specifically has just provided a different mindset and perspective,” she said in a 2024 interview with SNY. “Music being such an intricate part of my education and upbringing since the time I was little, I just can’t imagine my life without it.”

When Katia was pregnant with her eldest daughter, she played classical music for her. Now Kalina has her own pink violin and loves to dance, whether by tearing up the dance floor at Sean Manaea’s wedding or bopping to the tune of “OMG” by her dad’s former teammate, Jose Iglesias.

That song (there’s never a bad time to give it another listen in this writer’s entirely unbiased opinion) became the soundtrack to the Mets’ 2024 season, and Iglesias finds himself in the opposite dugout at Citi Field this week. The Mets played a tribute video for him last night and then went out and pounced on the Padres. Every win is crucial down the stretch in the razor-tight NL Wild Card race, with the D-backs hot on the Mets’ heels and San Diego leading New York by four games for the second spot (they meet again tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET on MLB.TV).

The Mets can only hope they’ll be able to look back at Katia Lindor’s performance as a turning point, a string of good fortune that began with the strings.

-- Scott Chiusano

• Giants @ D-backs (LIVE on MLB.TV and MLB Network): There's still ground to make up, but it's hard not to draw parallels to the "Snakes Alive" underdogs of 2023 as the D-backs make a late push for the final NL Wild Card spot. In their way today is Justin Verlander, who has allowed just one run on 10 hits in his last 18 innings. His Giants, three games out, have dropped four straight.

• Mariners @ Royals (7:40 p.m. ET on MLB.TV ): As brilliant as everything looks in Seattle right now -- 10 straight wins and all kinds of history for Cal Raleigh -- even greater heights are in reach. Four homers in the final 11 games would make Raleigh just the seventh player ever to reach 60 in a season, while his club is now just two games behind Detroit in the race for a first-round bye. Starting for K.C. tonight is Cole Ragans, who is returning from the injured list for his first appearance since June.

• Phillies @ Dodgers (10:10 p.m. ET on MLB.TV, MLB Network ): If the Dodgers read Mike Petriello's breakdown of their scuffling bullpen, they weren't motivated by it last night, when their relief corps allowed nine runs in four innings. Blake Snell, who struck out 11 over six scoreless last time out, can give the bullpen a breather tonight. Yesterday's rally kept Philly 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the NL's top overall seed.

The Dodgers have a bullpen problem. Shohei Ohtani might just be the solution -- even if it means playing the outfield.

After Tuesday’s loss to the Phillies, Ohtani told Japanese reporters that pitching in relief during the playoffs has been discussed internally. The catch: If he starts the game as the DH and then comes on to pitch in relief, the Dodgers would lose the DH once his pitching appearance is over, which is contrary to the rule for starting pitchers. Putting him in the outfield would be one way to keep his bat in the lineup.

Ohtani hasn’t played the outfield since 2021 with the Angels, and he’s never made a relief appearance in MLB (though he famously closed out Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final). Still, he said he’s willing to do whatever the Dodgers need -- and manager Dave Roberts didn’t completely rule out the idea of using Ohtani as an outfielder.

It’s also possible that the Dodgers could address their leaky bullpen with a more conventional fix: old-school starting pitching. It took some time, but the Dodgers finally have the elite rotation they envisioned. 

But will that be enough? It wasn’t last night, after the bullpen squandered Ohtani’s five no-hit innings. Without some sort of breakthrough, the Dodgers may need to get creative to solve their relief woes -- and keep their title hopes afloat.

-- Thomas Harrigan

Every fan base has that one postseason letdown that's hard to shake, one game or series that went south and left a bitter taste that's lingered for years.

For fans of certain teams, 2025 represents a chance to wipe away all of that. As Will Leitch writes, there are eight playoff contenders this season that are positioned to cure old heartbreak with an exciting October run. Each of those teams -- the Blue Jays, Brewers, Guardians, Mariners, Mets, Padres, Reds and Tigers -- has either not won a championship this century or is still looking for its first. And in each case, a previous would-be championship campaign was derailed in painful fashion.

Take the 2018 Brewers, who were one win from a trip to the Fall Classic -- and even had a lead in Game 7 of the NLCS -- only to fall to the Dodgers. Or consider the 2016 Cleveland squad. It had a 3-1 lead in the World Series against the Cubs, but then lost three in a row, including Games 6 and 7 at home, as the Cubs ended their 108-year title drought. Or how about the 2006 Mets? They pushed the Cardinals to Game 7 of the NLCS and had the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth. But then Carlos Beltrán ... well, you remember.

Now, there's hope once again. Of course, only one team can win the World Series and it might not be any of the ones we just mentioned. But if one of them pulls it off, their fans can happily wash away that previous October pain and bathe in fresh championship glory. 

-- Jason Foster

We’ve already told you all about Cal Raleigh's historic exploits on the field, but what if we told you it’s also possible to chow down on a delectable dumpling inspired by his nickname? Lil’ Dumpers – hot and fresh steamed pork dumplings served with sesame and hoisin sauce – can be found at T-Mobile Park’s Walk-off Market (sect. 105, 141). Don’t miss out when the Mariners return to Seattle for their final homestand starting Sept. 23; you just might see a historic Big Dumper homer while enjoying a Lil’ Dumper. 

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