Mets pass the first part of their litmus test with flying colors

The Mets are now in the midst of consecutive weekends in which they will play the Cubs, Yankees and Dodgers. 

And if this is a nine-game litmus test against fellow major-market powers that will take the Mets to Memorial Day — the traditional opening of the pennant race — then it hardly could have gone better. The Cubs arrived at Citi Field on Friday much like the host, having used the early season to grab a division lead and flex that they could be more than that. 

Then the Mets outplayed them in every way you could, beginning with baseball’s version of the irresistible force meeting an unmovable object. The Cubs were leading the majors in runs per game, the Mets in ERA. 

It wasn’t close.