It mostly has been a charmed year for the New York Mets. Their stars generally have played like stars, and their starting pitching unexpectedly has been excellent, allowing them to compile the best record in the National League.

Tampa Bay Rays (38-32, second in the AL East) vs. New York Mets (45-26, first in the NL East) New York; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Shane Baz (5-3, 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 65 strikeouts);

Junior Caminero homered to ignite a five-run fourth inning Saturday, while Taylor Walls doubled twice and knocked in two runs as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays stopped the New York Mets by an 8-4 count.