The idea of arriving to Atlanta for the penultimate series of the regular season with just a mathematical chance for the playoffs likely would have been palatable to the Mets when they last departed that city in April. Now the Mets get the bonus package. They are in the drivers seat. Brandon Nimmo rounds the bases after his home run on Sept. 22. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Edwin Diaz reacts after recording the final out of the Mets win on Sept. 22. Robert Sabo for the NY Post The last piece of busine s before the much-anticipated series was handled Sunday night, when the Mets got a shutdown bullpen performance in a Wesley Matthews Jersey 2-1 victory over the Phillies before a sellout crowd of 43,139 at Citi Field in the regular-season home finale. Next stop is Atlanta, with a National League wild card berth there for the taking. As Edwin Diaz completed the final out of his two-inning save, the Mets two-game lead over the Braves for the NLs third wild card was secure. Two victories in three games at Truist Park (since the Mets would hold the tiebreaker based on head-to-head with the Braves) will guarantee the Mets their second postseason appearance in three years. Explore More Its a beautiful thing, Brandon Nimmo said. But weve worked really hard to get into this position [and] the job is not done. Theres just as much pre sure on the next game as there was in this one. You just have to enjoy the moment. Its going to be a lot of fun in Atlanta. Still in play for the Mets is the NLs second wild card (for which they are tied with Arizona). And if winning three of four against the Phillies wasnt big enough, there was the satisfaction of letting a hated rival take its NL East-title celebration elsewhere (Philadelphia needs one victory or a Mets lo s to clinch). Phil Maton, Jose Butto and Diaz combined for five scorele s innings of relief on this night and Nimmo launched a go-ahead homer against Zack Wheeler in the sixth as the Mets completed a 6-1 homestand. Jose Butto reacts after pitching in the seventh inning on Sept. 22. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Harrison Bader, Brandon Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor celebrate after the Mets defeated the Phillies on Sept. 22. Jason Szenes for the NY Post We just have to go [to Atlanta] and win the series, Diaz said. If we win the series we will be fine. Manager Carlos Mendoza said he was unsure if he would use Diaz for the ninth until after the star closer had gotten three outs in only 11 pitches in the eighth. Diaz also pitched 1 / innings on Saturday. Weve been protecting him the whole year, but now its big boy time and hes our guy, Mendoza said. Brandon Nimmo rounds the bases after homering during the Mets win on Sept. 22. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Mendoza was asked how it felt to know if the Mets win the next series they will be in the playoffs. I dont want to get too far ahead, Mendoza said. We have to enjoy the fact we won this series against a really good team. Enjoy the [off] day and then well be ready. Pete Alonso, in potentially his final home game with the Mets he is set to hit free agency after the season in the first inning. The Mets slugger raised his helmet to acknowledge the crowd before taking a called third strike. Alonso went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Tylor Megill ran into pitch-count trouble and was removed after only four innings in which he allowed one run on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It was the second time in his last four starts that Megill (who threw 83 pitches) lasted only four innings. Megill needed 35 pitches through a first inning in which he allowed one run and left the bases loaded. Alec Bohm delivered an RBI single to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead after Trea Turner had singled and reached second on a wild pitch. Nick Castellanos singled following Bohms hit and Bryson Stott walked to load the bases before J.T. Realmuto was retired. Edwin Diaz pitches during the Mets win on Sept. 22. Jason Szenes for the NY Post Tyrone Taylor stroked an RBI single in the second to tie it 1-1. Mark Vientos stroked a two-out double against Wheeler before Taylor delivered. Luisangel Acunas swinging bunt put runners on the corners with two outs but Wheeler rallied to strike out Jose Iglesias (whose single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 16 games). Megill escaped trouble in the fourth by retiring Johan Rojas after surrendering a two-out single to Castellanos and walking Brandon Marsh with two outs. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Nimmo jumped on Wheelers first pitch in the sixth inning and cleared the right-field fence to give the Mets a 2-1 lead. The homer was Nimmos 22nd of the season and third in his last six games. We are having a lot of fun, Megill said. Were hungry, and keep going. J.R. Smith Jersey