LOS ANGELES — The New York Mets hit rock bottom in late May, the nadir being a three-game home sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mets fell to a season-worst 11 games under .500 after getting outscored 18-5 in that series, punctuated by reliever Jorge López throwing his glove into the stands after getting ejected and then giving a bizarre postgame interview. The team cut him hours later.
Star shortstop Francisco Lindor called a players-only meeting in hopes of the team turning things around.
Did it ever.
Since June, the Mets have the best record in the majors. They've been on a roll in the playoffs, too.
''That's when the guys got together and we started turning the corner,'' rookie manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday.
After defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 in a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series, the Mets went on to beat the rival Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 in their best-of-five Division Series.
Next up is the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, who took four of six from the Mets in the regular season while compiling baseball's best record at 98-64. New York won two of three at Dodger Stadium in April, although the Mets got outscored 18-15 in that series.