 Neither the Mets nor the Reds had made the playoffs the previous season. The Mets finished the 1998 season with an 88 – 74 record, while the Reds finished below .500 at 77 – 85. The Mets had been tied with the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants in the 1998 wild-card race as late in the season as September 25 at 88 – 72. However, the Mets did not win another game that year and finished their season one game back of the Cubs and Giants who tied at 89 – 73. The Cubs and Giants played a tie-breaker in 1998, with the Cubs ultimately winning the wild card. Sports writers said the Mets "blew" their lead and "collapse [d]", later comparing their 1998 season to the Mets' troubles late in the 1999 season. Rickey Henderson and Robin Ventura joined the Mets prior to the 1999 season and spent the year as their starting left fielder and third baseman. The Reds added right fielder Michael Tucker, center fielder Mike Cameron, and starting pitchers Denny Neagle and Steve Avery during the offseason.
