1998 New York Mets season

Offseason

• November 24, 1997: John Olerud was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.
• December 18, 1997: Dennis Cook was acquired from the Florida Marlins in exchange for Fletcher Bates and Scott Comer.
• February 6, 1998: Al Leiter and Ralph Milliard were acquired from the Florida Marlins in exchange for A. J. Burnett, Jesus Sanchez, and Robert Stratton.

Regular season

Despite their collapse toward the end of the season, the 1998 season was notable for the Mets due in large part to the acquisition of All-Star catcher Mike Piazza. The Mets were in need of a catcher due to an injury suffered by their own star catcher Todd Hundley, and took advantage of both Piazza's disagreement over a new contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the ongoing salary dumping by the defending World Series champion Florida Marlins; unable to negotiate a deal, the Dodgers traded Piazza to the Marlins, who turned around several days later and dealt Piazza to the Mets for outfield prospect Preston Wilson, among others. Piazza contributed a .348 average with 23 home runs and 76 RBI during his time with the Mets and once again was voted to the National League All-Star team. Hundley, meanwhile, attempted to make a move to left field when he rejoined the team, but it did not work. His tenure with the Mets ended when he was traded to the Dodgers after the season.

John Olerud was again the hitting star for the Mets. He recorded a .354 average, the second best in all of baseball behind Larry Walker, and once again led the team with 93 RBI, to go with his 22 home runs. On the pitching side, another Marlins castoff made his presence felt as Al Leiter had his career best marks as a starter. Leiter won a career high seventeen games and added a 2.47 ERA. Rick Reed continued his career renaissance by adding sixteen wins of his own.

Opening Day starters

• Edgardo Alfonzo
• Carlos Baerga
• Bernard Gilkey
• Butch Huskey
• Bobby Jones
• Brian McRae
• John Olerud
• Rey Ordóñez
• Tim Spehr

The Mets played an unforgettable opening day game at Shea Stadium on March 31 against their division rival Philadelphia Phillies. Both of them were involved in the longest scoreless opening day game in the National League and the longest one in MLB since 1926 when the Washington Senators beat the Philadelphia Athletics 1–0 in 15 innings. The Mets won the game 1–0 in 14 innings when backup catcher Alberto Castillo delivered a full-count, two-out, pinch-hit single to right with the bases loaded off Philadelphia closer Ricky Bottalico.

Notable transactions

• May 10, 1998: Steve Decker was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.
• May 22, 1998: Mike Piazza was traded by the Florida Marlins to the New York Mets for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz (minors).
• June 16, 1998: Rich Becker was selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the New York Mets.
• July 3, 1998: Josías Manzanillo was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets.
• July 31, 1998: Tony Phillips was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Mets for Leo Estrella.
• July 31, 1998: Bill Pulsipher was traded by the New York Mets to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mike Kinkade.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 1 || March 31 || Phillies || 1–0 (14) || Wendell (1–0) || Bottalico (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 49,142 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 2 || April 2 || Phillies || 5–6 || Portugal (1–0) || Leiter (0–1) || Bottalico (1) || Shea Stadium || 13,591 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 3 || April 3 || Pirates || 2–1 || McMichael (1–0) || Peters (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 15,245 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 4 || April 4 || Pirates || 7–6 (13) || Wendell (2–0) || Peters (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 17,633 || 3–1 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 5 || April 5 || Pirates || 7–0 || Yoshii (1–0) || Silva (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 18,205 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 6 || April 6 || Pirates || 2–4 || Cordova (2–0) || B. Jones (0–1) || Loiselle (2) || Shea Stadium || 13,528 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 7 || April 7 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Leiter (1–1) || Gonzalez (0–1) || Franco (1) || Wrigley Field || 16,293 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || April 8 || @ Cubs || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for July 24 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 8 || April 9 || @ Cubs || 7–8 || Trachsel (2–0) || Reed (0–1) || Beck (5) || Wrigley Field || 17,313 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 9 || April 10 || @ Brewers || 3–5 || Juden (2–0) || Mlicki (0–1) || D. Jones (4) || County Stadium || 10,330 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 10 || April 11 || @ Brewers || 2–1 || Cook (1–0) || Wickman (0–3) || Franco (2) || County Stadium || 24,140 || 6–4 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 11 || April 12 || @ Brewers || 6–4 || Wendell (3–0) || P. Wagner (0–1) || Rojas (1) || County Stadium || 10,459 || 7–4 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || April 13 || @ Brewers || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for July 22 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 12 || April 14 || Cubs || 6–0 || Leiter (2–1) || Gonzalez (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 15,965 || 8–4 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 13 || April 15 || Cubs || 2–1 || Reed (1–1) || Trachsel (2–1) || Franco (3) || Shea Stadium || 16,012 || 9–4 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 14 || April 16 || Cubs || 4–8 || Tapani (3–1) || Mlicki (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 50,814 || 9–5 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 15 || April 17 || @ Reds || 3–4 || Remlinger (2–2) || B. Jones (0–2) || Shaw (5) || Cinergy Field || 21,384 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 16 || April 18 || @ Reds || 5–4 (10) || Rojas (1–0) || Belinda (0–2) || Franco (4) || Cinergy Field || 21,213 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 17 || April 19 || @ Reds || 14–0 || Leiter (3–1) || White (0–2) || — || Cinergy Field || 16,743 || 11–6 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 18 || April 21 || Astros || 0–6 || Hampton (4–0) || Reed (1–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 14,774 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 19 || April 22 || Astros || 10–7 || Cook (2–0) || Henry (1–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 12,772 || 12–7 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || April 23 || Astros || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for April 27 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 20 || April 24 || Reds || 3–2 || B. Jones (1–2) || Shaw (0–2) || Franco (5) || Shea Stadium || 15,546 || 13–7 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 21 || April 25 || Reds || 0–2 || Weathers (2–1) || Yoshii (1–1) || Shaw (7) || Shea Stadium || 22,652 || 13–8 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || April 26 || Reds || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for May 19 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 22 || April 27 || Astros || 3–4 || Nitkowski (1–1) || Franco (0–1) || B. Wagner (6) || Shea Stadium || 17,656 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 23 || April 28 || @ Astros || 3–4 (10) || Magnante (2–1) || Hudek (0–1) || — || Astrodome || 14,943 || 13–10 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 24 || April 29 || @ Astros || 1–6 || Lima (4–1) || Mlicki (0–3) || — || Astrodome || 14,448 || 13–11 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 25 || April 30 || Rockies || 0–4 || Kile (3–3) || B. Jones (1–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 12,599 || 13–12 |- |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || May 1 || Rockies || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for August 18 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 26 || May 2 || Rockies || 3–7 || Leskanic (2–3) || Cook (2–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 19,968 || 13–13 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 27 || May 3 || Rockies || 5–2 || Reed (2–2) || Astacio (2–4) || — || Shea Stadium || 19,493 || 14–13 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 28 || May 4 || Diamondbacks || 2–4 (11) || Olson (1–1) || Bohanon (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 18,980 || 14–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 29 || May 5 || Diamondbacks || 9–1 || Mlicki (1–3) || Daal (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 13,205 || 15–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 30 || May 6 || Diamondbacks || 8–2 || Rojas (2–0) || Sodowsky (1–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 17,681 || 16–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 31 || May 7 || Cardinals || 4–1 || Yoshii (2–1) || Osborne (1–2) || Franco (6) || Shea Stadium || 14,715 || 17–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 32 || May 8 || Cardinals || 9–2 || Reed (3–2) || Politte (2–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 16,132 || 18–14 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || May 9 || Cardinals || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for August 20 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || May 10 || Cardinals || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for August 21 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 33 || May 11 || @ Padres || 1–2 || Brown (3–2) || Leiter (3–2) || Hoffman (10) || Qualcomm Stadium || 15,291 || 18–15 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || May 12 || @ Padres || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for May 14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 34 || May 13 || @ Padres || 4–3 || Jones (2–3) || Hamilton (3–3) || Franco (7) || Qualcomm Stadium || 14,929 || 19–15 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 35 || May 14 (1) || @ Padres || 1–3 || Boehringer (4–1) || Cook (2–2) || Hoffman (11) || Qualcomm Stadium || N/A || 19–16 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 36 || May 14 (2) || @ Padres || 2–6 || Miceli (3–1) || McMichael (1–1) || — || Qualcomm Stadium || 26,488 || 19–17 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 37 || May 15 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Hershiser (2–3) || McMichael (1–2) || Nen (8) || 3Com Park || 14,678 || 19–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 38 || May 16 || @ Giants || 4–1 || Reed (4–2) || Rueter (4–3) || Franco (8) || 3Com Park || 30,131 || 20–18 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 39 || May 17 || @ Giants || 2–4 || Gardner (3–2) || Leiter (3–3) || Nen (9) || 3Com Park || 24,408 || 20–19 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 40 || May 19 (1) || Reds || 7–3 || Jones (3–3) || Tomko (5–2) || — || Shea Stadium || N/A || 21–19 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 41 || May 19 (2) || Reds || 5–3 || Bohanon (1–1) || Winchester (2–2) || Franco (9) || Shea Stadium || 15,558 || 22–19 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 42 || May 20 || Reds || 6–8 || Harnisch (4–0) || Hudek (0–2) || Shaw (14) || Shea Stadium || 12,834 || 22–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 43 || May 21 || Reds || 6–1 || Yoshii (3–1) || Hutton (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || 13,766 || 23–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 44 || May 22 || Brewers || 3–2 || Reed (5–2) || Woodall (0–2) || Franco (10) || Shea Stadium || 22,307 || 24–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 45 || May 23 || Brewers || 3–0 || Leiter (4–3) || Juden (5–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 32,908 || 25–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 46 || May 24 || Brewers || 8–3 || Jones (4–3) || Eldred (0–4) || — || Shea Stadium || 47,291 || 26–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 47 || May 26 || @ Marlins || 10–6 || Bohanon (2–1) || Larkin (2–5) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 14,760 || 27–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 48 || May 27 || @ Marlins || 8–2 || Yoshii (4–1) || Meadows (4–5) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 15,854 || 28–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 49 || May 29 || @ Phillies || 11–0 || Reed (6–2) || Beech (1–3) || — || Veterans Stadium || 21,567 || 29–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 50 || May 30 || @ Phillies || 6–4 || Leiter (5–3) || Green (3–4) || Franco (11) || Veterans Stadium || 30,660 || 30–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 51 || May 31 || @ Phillies || 8–6 || Rojas (3–0) || Winston (2–1) || Franco (12) || Veterans Stadium || 23,025 || 31–20 |- |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 52 || June 1 || @ Pirates || 3–4 || Schmidt (8–1) || Mlicki (1–4) || Rincon (4) || Three Rivers Stadium || 11,274 || 31–21 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 53 || June 2 || @ Pirates || 2–5 || Peters (1–3) || Bohanon (2–2) || Rincon (5) || Three Rivers Stadium || 9,040 || 31–22 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 54 || June 3 || @ Pirates || 0–3 || Lieber (3–7) || Reed (6–3) || Christiansen (1) || Three Rivers Stadium || 17,691 || 31–23 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 55 || June 5 || @ Red Sox || 9–2 || Leiter (6–3) || Martinez (6–2) || — || Fenway Park || 32,214 || 32–23 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 56 || June 6 || @ Red Sox || 1–0 || Jones (5–3) || Wakefield (6–3) || Franco (13) || Fenway Park || 32,545 || 33–23 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 57 || June 7 || @ Red Sox || 0–5 || Avery (3–1) || Yoshii (4–2) || — || Fenway Park || 30,630 || 33–24 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 58 || June 8 || Devil Rays || 3–0 || Reed (7–3) || Springer (2–10) || — || Shea Stadium || 24,186 || 34–24 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 59 || June 9 || Devil Rays || 4–5 (11) || Mecir (2–0) || Hudek (0–3) || R. Hernandez (12) || Shea Stadium || 30,336 || 34–25 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 60 || June 10 || Devil Rays || 3–2 || Leiter (7–3) || White (0–3) || Rojas (2) || Shea Stadium || 21,682 || 35–25 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 61 || June 11 || @ Marlins || 5–3 || Jones (6–3) || Sanchez (3–3) || Franco (14) || Pro Player Stadium || 14,003 || 36–25 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 62 || June 12 || @ Marlins || 3–4 || Mantei (1–0) || Bohanon (2–3) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 35,652 || 36–26 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 63 || June 13 || @ Marlins || 7–4 || Reed (8–3) || Meadows (4–6) || Franco (15) || Pro Player Stadium || 31,887 || 37–26 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 64 || June 14 || @ Marlins || 4–5 || Mantei (2–0) || Hudek (0–4) || — || Pro Player Stadium || 23,924 || 37–27 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 65 || June 16 || @ Expos || 2–0 || Leiter (8–3) || Hermanson (4–6) || — || Olympic Stadium || 12,662 || 38–27 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 66 || June 17 || @ Expos || 4–5 || Urbina (4–2) || Rojas (3–1) || — || Olympic Stadium || 7,606 || 38–28 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 67 || June 18 || @ Expos || 6–7 || Bennett (2–3) || Yoshii (4–3) || Urbina (17) || Olympic Stadium || 8,788 || 38–29 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 68 || June 19 || Marlins || 2–3 || Meadows (5–6) || Reed (8–4) || Mantei (1) || Shea Stadium || 32,738 || 38–30 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 69 || June 20 || Marlins || 3–8 || L. Hernandez (5–4) || Nomo (2–8) || — || Shea Stadium || 44,355 || 38–31 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 70 || June 21 || Marlins || 3–2 || Leiter (9–3) || Fontenot (0–5) || Franco (16) || Shea Stadium || 30,673 || 39–31 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 71 || June 22 || @ Orioles || 2–7 || Mussina (6–4) || Jones (6–4) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 45,535 || 39–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 72 || June 23 || @ Orioles || 6–3 || Hudek (1–4) || Rhodes (3–3) || Franco (17) || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 46,385 || 40–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 73 || June 24 || Orioles || 6–3 || Reed (9–4) || Smith (3–4) || Franco (18) || Shea Stadium || 29,789 || 41–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 74 || June 25 || Orioles || 3–2 || Cook (3–2) || Benitez (2–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 35,156 || 42–32 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 75 || June 26 || Yankees || 4–8 || Mendoza (5–1) || Leiter (9–4) || Rivera (19) || Shea Stadium || 53,404 || 42–33 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 76 || June 27 || Yankees || 2–7 || Pettitte (9–5) || Jones (6–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 53,587 || 42–34 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 77 || June 28 || Yankees || 2–1 || Cook (4–2) || Mendoza (5–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 53,749 || 43–34 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 78 || June 30 || @ Blue Jays || 3–6 || Clemens (9–6) || Reed (9–5) || — || SkyDome || 30,322 || 43–35 |- |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 79 || July 1 || @ Blue Jays || 10–15 || Plesac (3–2) || Rojas (3–2) || — || SkyDome || 37,252 || 43–36 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 80 || July 2 || @ Blue Jays || 9–1 || Jones (7–5) || Hentgen (9–5) || — || SkyDome || 27,325 || 44–36 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 81 || July 3 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Glavine (12–3) || Bohanon (2–4) || Ligtenberg (9) || Turner Field || 48,757 || 44–37 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 82 || July 4 || @ Braves || 1–4 || Millwood (10–4) || Yoshii (4–4) || — || Turner Field || 47,900 || 44–38 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 83 || July 5 || @ Braves || 2–3 (11) || Seanez (1–0) || Franco (0–2) || — || Turner Field || 40,430 || 44–39 |- bgcolor="#bbcaff" |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 84 || July 9 || Expos || 8–9 (11) || Maddux (2–2) || Franco (0–3) || Urbina (21) || Shea Stadium || 27,193 || 44–40 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 85 || July 10 || Expos || 6–8 || Bennett (3–3) || Franco (0–4) || Urbina (22) || Shea Stadium || 36,538 || 44–41 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 86 || July 11 || Expos || 8–4 || Reed (10–5) || Pavano (2–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 48,006 || 45–41 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 87 || July 12 || Expos || 5–2 || Tam (1–0) || Vazquez (3–7) || Cook (1) || Shea Stadium || 51,568 || 46–41 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 88 || July 14 || Braves || 2–4 || Smoltz (7–2) || Jones (7–6) || Ligtenberg (11) || Shea Stadium || 38,000 || 46–42 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 89 || July 15 || Braves || 1–12 || Neagle (10–7) || Yoshii (4–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 41,347 || 46–43 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 90 || July 16 || Phillies || 2–4 || Portugal (5–2) || Reed (10–6) || M. Leiter (20) || Shea Stadium || 20,283 || 46–44 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 91 || July 17 || Phillies || 6–0 || Nomo (3–8) || Loewer (4–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 23,298 || 47–44 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 92 || July 18 || Phillies || 7–0 || A. Leiter (10–4) || Green (6–6) || — || Shea Stadium || 37,208 || 48–44 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 93 || July 19 || Phillies || 6–7 (10) || M. Leiter (3–7) || Cook (4–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 29,520 || 48–45 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 94 || July 20 || Pirates || 1–3 || Cordova (8–8) || Yoshii (4–6) || Rincon (11) || Shea Stadium || 18,088 || 48–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 95 || July 21 || Pirates || 4–0 || Reed (11–6) || Schmidt (8–7) || — || Shea Stadium || 22,844 || 49–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 96 || July 22 (1) || @ Brewers || 7–5 || Cook (5–3) || Wickman (3–6) || Franco (19) || County Stadium || N/A || 50–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 97 || July 22 (2) || @ Brewers || 6–1 || Nomo (4–8) || Patrick (4–1) || — || County Stadium || 23,920 || 51–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 98 || July 23 || @ Brewers || 6–5 || McMichael (2–3) || Myers (2–2) || Franco (20) || County Stadium || 27,046 || 52–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 99 || July 24 (1) || @ Cubs || 5–0 || Reynoso (1–0) || Gonzalez (7–7) || — || Wrigley Field || N/A || 53–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 100 || July 24 (2) || @ Cubs || 7–3 || Cook (6–3) || Adams (7–6) || — || Wrigley Field || 40,684 || 54–46 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 101 || July 25 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Tapani (12–6) || Franco (0–5) || Beck (30) || Wrigley Field || 40,436 || 54–47 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 102 || July 26 || @ Cubs || 1–3 || Wood (10–5) || Reed (11–7) || Beck (31) || Wrigley Field || 40,329 || 54–48 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 103 || July 28 || Padres || 7–3 || Nomo (5–8) || Ashby (14–6) || McMichael (2) || Shea Stadium || 21,005 || 55–48 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 104 || July 29 || Padres || 7–6 || Rojas (4–2) || Wall (4–3) || Franco (21) || Shea Stadium || 23,694 || 56–48 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 105 || July 30 || Padres || 1–3 (10) || Miceli (8–4) || Cook (6–4) || Hoffman (34) || Shea Stadium || 22,882 || 56–49 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 106 || July 31 || Dodgers || 3–4 || Osuna (6–0) || Franco (0–6) || Shaw (32) || Shea Stadium || 49,407 || 56–50 |- |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 107 || August 1 || Dodgers || 2–1 || Reed (12–7) || Shaw (2–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 42,224 || 57–50 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 108 || August 2 || Dodgers || 9–3 || Reynoso (2–0) || Bohanon (4–7) || — || Shea Stadium || 33,843 || 58–50 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 109 || August 3 || Dodgers || 5–8 || Mlicki (6–5) || McMichael (2–4) || Shaw (33) || Shea Stadium || 24,416 || 58–51 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 110 || August 4 || Giants || 7–6 (10) || Cook (7–4) || Mesa (5–5) || — || Shea Stadium || 32,943 || 59–51 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 111 || August 5 || Giants || 4–6 || Ortiz (1–1) || B. J. Jones (7–7) || Nen (29) || Shea Stadium || 35,571 || 59–52 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 112 || August 6 || Giants || 9–8 || Wendell (4–0) || Nen (7–3) || — || Shea Stadium || 36,920 || 60–52 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 113 || August 7 || @ Rockies || 8–7 || Reed (13–7) || Astacio (10–11) || Franco (22) || Coors Field || 48,365 || 61–52 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 114 || August 8 || @ Rockies || 4–3 || Reynoso (3–0) || B. M. Jones (5–5) || Franco (23) || Coors Field || 48,312 || 62–52 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 115 || August 9 || @ Rockies || 4–11 || Kile (8–14) || Nomo (5–9) || — || Coors Field || 48,014 || 62–53 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 116 || August 10 || @ Cardinals || 4–2 || Leiter (11–4) || Morris (3–2) || Franco (24) || Busch Stadium || 41,252 || 63–53 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 117 || August 11 || @ Cardinals || 8–3 || B. J. Jones (8–7) || Mercker (8–9) || — || Busch Stadium || 34,489 || 64–53 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 118 || August 12 || @ Cardinals || 4–5 (14) || Frascatore (2–3) || Franco (0–7) || — || Busch Stadium || 34,260 || 64–54 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 119 || August 14 || @ Diamondbacks || 3–2 || Reed (14–7) || Telemaco (4–7) || Wendell (1) || Bank One Ballpark || 47,562 || 65–54 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 120 || August 15 || @ Diamondbacks || 5–4 || Reynoso (4–0) || Chouinard (0–2) || Franco (25) || Bank One Ballpark || 48,307 || 66–54 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 121 || August 16 || @ Diamondbacks || 1–6 || Daal (6–7) || Nomo (5–10) || — || Bank One Ballpark || 44,537 || 66–55 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 122 || August 18 (1) || Rockies || 6–2 || Leiter (12–4) || Astacio (11–12) || — || Shea Stadium || N/A || 67–55 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 123 || August 18 (2) || Rockies || 6–3 || Rojas (5–2) || McElroy (4–3) || Franco (26) || Shea Stadium || 21,611 || 68–55 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 124 || August 19 || Rockies || 2–1 || Yoshii (5–6) || B. M. Jones (5–7) || Franco (27) || Shea Stadium || 19,395 || 69–55 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 125 || August 20 (1) || Cardinals || 0–2 || Osborne (3–2) || Blair (4–16) || Acevedo (3) || Shea Stadium || N/A || 69–56 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 126 || August 20 (2) || Cardinals || 5–4 || Reed (15–7) || Oliver (7–9) || Wendell (2) || Shea Stadium || 45,308 || 70–56 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 127 || August 21 (1) || Cardinals || 5–10 || Morris (4–3) || Nomo (5–11) || — || Shea Stadium || N/A || 70–57 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 128 || August 21 (2) || Cardinals || 1–0 || Reynoso (5–0) || Aybar (3–6) || Franco (28) || Shea Stadium || 52,320 || 71–57 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 129 || August 22 || Diamondbacks || 9–4 || B. J. Jones (9–7) || Benes (11–12) || — || Shea Stadium || 42,654 || 72–57 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 130 || August 23 || Diamondbacks || 3–4 || Anderson (9–12) || Leiter (12–5) || Olson (22) || Shea Stadium || 36,039 || 72–58 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 131 || August 24 || Diamondbacks || 5–9 || Telemaco (5–8) || Yoshii (5–7) || Banks (1) || Shea Stadium || 29,850 || 72–59 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 132 || August 25 || @ Giants || 3–7 || Ortiz (2–3) || Reed (15–8) || — || 3Com Park || 20,916 || 72–60 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 133 || August 26 || @ Giants || 4–1 || Nomo (6–11) || Hershiser (9–9) || — || 3Com Park || 18,227 || 73–60 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 134 || August 27 || @ Giants || 3–11 || Darwin (8–10) || Reynoso (5–1) || — || 3Com Park || 17,823 || 73–61 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 135 || August 28 || @ Dodgers || 5–4 (10) || Cook (8–4) || Shaw (3–7) || Franco (29) || Dodger Stadium || 52,154 || 74–61 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 136 || August 29 || @ Dodgers || 4–3 || Leiter (13–5) || Shaw (3–8) || Franco (30) || Dodger Stadium || 49,181 || 75–61 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 137 || August 30 || @ Dodgers || 2–4 || Mlicki (8–6) || Yoshii (5–8) || — || Dodger Stadium || 44,746 || 75–62 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 138 || August 31 || @ Dodgers || 8–3 || Reed (16–8) || Park (11–8) || — || Dodger Stadium || 37,806 || 76–62 |- |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 139 || September 1 || @ Padres || 8–9 || Myers (2–2) || Wendell (4–1) || Hoffman (45) || Qualcomm Stadium || 18,489 || 76–63 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 140 || September 2 || @ Padres || 4–1 || Reynoso (6–1) || Ashby (16–7) || Franco (31) || Qualcomm Stadium || 17,565 || 77–63 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 141 || September 4 || Braves || 2–1 || Leiter (14–5) || Glavine (18–6) || — || Shea Stadium || 34,617 || 78–63 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 142 || September 5 || Braves || 5–4 || Wendell (5–1) || Seanez (4–1) || Franco (32) || Shea Stadium || 43,573 || 79–63 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 143 || September 6 || Braves || 0–4 || Smoltz (14–3) || Reed (16–9) || — || Shea Stadium || 40,311 || 79–64 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 144 || September 7 || Braves || 8–7 || McMichael (3–4) || Rocker (1–2) || Franco (33) || Shea Stadium || 22,953 || 80–64 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 145 || September 8 || @ Phillies || 4–16 || Byrd (3–2) || Nomo (6–12) || — || Veterans Stadium || 18,661 || 80–65 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 146 || September 9 || @ Phillies || 6–2 || Reynoso (7–1) || Schilling (14–13) || Franco (34) || Veterans Stadium || 16,193 || 81–65 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 147 || September 10 || @ Phillies || 7–5 || Leiter (15–5) || Green (6–10) || Franco (35) || Veterans Stadium || 16,715 || 82–65 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 148 || September 11 || @ Expos || 1–5 || Pavano (5–8) || Jones (9–8) || Urbina (30) || Olympic Stadium || 10,584 || 82–66 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 149 || September 12 || @ Expos || 3–5 || M. Maddux (3–3) || Reed (16–10) || Urbina (31) || Olympic Stadium || 22,047 || 82–67 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 150 || September 13 || @ Expos || 1–0 || Blair (5–16) || Telford (3–6) || Franco (36) || Olympic Stadium || 15,152 || 83–67 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 151 || September 14 || @ Astros || 7–4 (13) || McMichael (4–4) || Magnante (4–7) || Franco (37) || Astrodome || 24,241 || 84–67 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 152 || September 15 (1) || @ Astros || 5–6 (12) || Powell (7–5) || Tam (1–1) || — || Astrodome || N/A || 84–68 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 153 || September 15 (2) || @ Astros || 8–4 || Leiter (16–5) || Powell (7–6) || Wendell (3) || Astrodome || 40,835 || 85–68 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 154 || September 16 || @ Astros || 4–3 (11) || McMichael (5–4) || Bergman (12–9) || Wendell (4) || Astrodome || 24,269 || 86–68 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 155 || September 18 || Marlins || 6–7 || Edmondson (4–4) || Franco (0–8) || Mantei (9) || Shea Stadium || 34,862 || 86–69 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 156 || September 19 || Marlins || 4–3 || Yoshii (6–8) || Sanchez (7–9) || Franco (38) || Shea Stadium || 52,062 || 87–69 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 157 || September 20 || Marlins || 5–0 || Leiter (17–5) || Meadows (10–13) || — || Shea Stadium || 52,767 || 88–69 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 158 || September 22 || Expos || 3–5 || Thurman (4–5) || Reynoso (7–2) || Urbina (33) || Shea Stadium || 32,467 || 88–70 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 159 || September 23 || Expos || 0–3 || Pavano (6–8) || Jones (9–9) || Urbina (34) || Shea Stadium || 29,728 || 88–71 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 160 || September 25 || @ Braves || 5–6 || Martínez (4–6) || Reed (16–11) || Rocker (2) || Turner Field || 48,443 || 88–72 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 161 || September 26 || @ Braves || 0–4 || Neagle (16–11) || Leiter (17–6) || — || Turner Field || 48,117 || 88–73 |- style="background:#933;color:#fff" | 162 || September 27 || @ Braves || 2–7 || G. Maddux (18–9) || Reynoso (7–3) || — || Turner Field || 48,685 || 88–74 |-

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

All-Star Game

• Mike Piazza, Catcher, Starter
• Rick Reed, Pitcher, Reserve

Farm system

References

References

1. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/o/olerujo01.shtml John Olerud Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
2. "Ultimate Mets Database - Dennis Cook".
3. "Ultimate Mets Database - al Leiter".
4. "1998 New York Mets Roster by Baseball Almanac".
5. Salisbury, Jim. (April 1, 1998). "For Openers, Zilch Phils Fall in 14th Without a Run". Philadelphia Inquirer.
6. Diamos, Jason. (April 1, 1998). "A Midsummer Classic in March as Mets Nip Phillies". New York Times.
7. Pedulla, Tom. (April 1, 1998). "Mets edge Phillies 1-0 in 14 innings". USA Today.
8. Vecsey, George. (April 1, 1998). "Mets Take An Opener For the Ages". New York Times.
9. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/d/deckest01.shtml Steve Decker Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
10. "Rich Becker Stats".
11. "Josias Manzanillo Stats".
12. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/phillto02.shtml Tony Phillips Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
13. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pulsibi01.shtml Bill Pulsipher Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com]
14. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition''. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007