After feasting on MLB bottom-feeders, what’s next for resurgent N.Y. Mets?

NEW YORK — The preliminaries are over for the Mets. Now come the main events.

The Mets completed their 13-1 feast of the worst teams on their schedule (they don’t play the Orioles) on Wednesday with their sixth straight victory, a 7-2 win over the Marlins, the finishing touches on their four-game sweep of the worst team south of Baltimore.

Thursday is a day off for the Mets, a time to reflect on how they’ve put themselves back in contention for a wild-card berth and, at 59-56, are relevant again.

Then they should consider what’s ahead: In 10 of their next 11 series they’ll be matched against teams with winning records, beginning with a three-game series against Washington, another playoff contender, that begins Friday night at Citi Field, and a series against the NL East-leading Braves in Atlanta that starts Monday night.

“You want to play the best teams,” said manager Mickey Callaway. “That’s going to define who you are.”

New York Mets right fielder Michael Conforto (30) and center fielder Juan Lagares (12) react after defeating the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. (Photo: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports)

Right now, the Mets are the most improved team in the majors. They’re a league-best 19-6 since the All-Star break and 32-20 at home, after being 37-44 last season. Plus they will play 29 of their final 47 games at Citi Field.

Their latest victory was a lot like so many others they’ve crafted recently. Steven Matz provided a quality start (two runs in 6 2/3 innings) and Michael Conforto homered twice and Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil also homered.

Many in the matinee crowd of 26,349 must have thought they had seen this before.

“We’ve got a chance to do something really special,” said Alonso, whose two-run homer provided the Mets with first-inning runs for the seventh straight game. “We need to keep rolling.”

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They just might if the starting staff continues its dominance, the bullpen avoids the collapses that were too frequent in the pre-All-Star part of the schedule, and Alonso and Conforto improve on their rediscovered home run swings.

Alonso has homered in three consecutive games, silencing the debate about whether his Home Run Derby participation resulted in his homer fall off.

“It’s a game of adjustments,” he said. “I’ve been working on tracking the ball – with being short and compact with my swing.”

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hits a solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the first inning. (Photo: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports)

Conforto swung at a first pitch in the third inning and drove a 1-0 pitch in the seventh inning. McNeil jumped on a first pitch in the seventh, two hitters before Conforto. McNeil’s homer was his 15th and Conforto’s 24th and 25th give him 101 for his career. Conforto has hit seven homers in his last 11 games.

“Our offense can be very dangerous,” Callaway said. “If we continue to keep playing like this….”

Yes, these Mets are very confident, but not cocky. Most insist their ability to stay together during their early season woes has made them a better team.

“We knew we were better than that,” said Alonso.

Just as Conforto knew he was better when he was going through a homer drought.

His first homer was pulled down the right field line; the second was to left field against a left-hander.

“I feel good at the plate,” Conforto said. “A breaking ball down the line and a fastball the other way. That’s a good sign.”

For a team that’s ready to step up in class. Let’s see if they’re still standing in early October.

Patient Mr. Matz

Never known for his patience, Matz was calm and collected as he allowed two runs, including a solo homer by Brian Anderson in the sixth inning, in 6 2/3 innings.

“Definitely a conscious effort,” Matz (7-7) said. “I was trying to be mindful to take a second once in awhile.”

Confidence in Justin Wilson

After Matz gave up a two-out double by Bryan Holaday with two outs in the seventh, and the Mets clinging to a 4-2 lead, Callaway went to lefty reliever Justin Wilson, even though he knew Don Mattingly was sending up righty pinch-hitter Martin Prado.

Prado hit a soft single to right field, but it was not enough to score Holaday. Wilson then struck out Jon Berti, another righty, to end the threat.

“He can fulfill many roles,” Callaway said of Wilson. “I have the upmost confidence in him. He’s a bulldog.”

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