If the Mets aren’t going to get to the playoffs, they can at least make it more difficult for teams still in the race.

That’s what they did against the Cubs, who had won five of six after the trade deadline before they arrived Monday at Citi Field. The Mets beat them Wednesday night, 4-3, to win the series after they came in having lost six straight games.

And as long as the Mets have Pete Alonso in the lineup, they have a chance to make waves. Alonso homered for the fourth time in three games against the Cubs with a fourth-inning, two-run blast that tied the score at 2-2.

Jeff McNeil then hit a go-ahead homer to lead off the sixth after Alonso’s 35th blast of the season put some life into what had been another quiet night at Citi Field.

Alonso could make a run at 50 homers for the second time in his career, despite what has been an inconsistent season.

“You look at numbers and they don’t necessarily tell the whole journey of a season,” Alonso said. “That’s how people look to define a season, but the process of how I found success this year is definitely different than in years past.”