The Mets have expected one good start after another on their way to the top of the race for a wild-card spot, but on Friday they were given NQ (non-qualitative) and were NC (non-competitive).

David Peterson’s worst start to the season and his disappointing performance ended the Mets’ four-game winning streak with a 12-2 loss to the Phillies in front of 41,474 spectators at Citi Field.

Peterson ended the Mets’ streak of good starts – defined as at least six innings pitched with three or fewer earned runs allowed – at eight by throwing a washout.

The left-hander lasted only 3 ²/₃ innings and allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts.

Adam Ottavino, Huascar Brazoban and Danny Young had tough nights as substitutes.

Infielder Eddy Alvarez was brought in as pitcher for the ninth inning and managed a scoreless inning, which elicited chants of “Ed-dy, Ed-dy” from the crowd.

For coach Carlos Mendoza’s team, however, the evening was not a complete disaster: Miami defeated Atlanta, allowing the Mets to maintain their two-game lead over the Braves for the NL’s third wild card.

The Mets and Braves are scheduled to play a three-game series in Atlanta on Tuesday.

The Mets played their fifth consecutive game without Francisco Lindor, who is out due to lower back pain.

Lindor participated in baseball activities before the game, which may be a positive sign after being limited to indoor practices the day before.

Jose Iglesias, who was the first batter to bat during Lindor’s absence, continued his brilliant play with a home run in the first inning.

The explosion extended Iglesias’ hitting streak to 14 games.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead after a single by Starling Marte and a walk for Mark Vientos – a wild pitch by Cristopher Sanchez put both of them ahead.

Brandon Nimmo’s ground out brought in the run.

Pete Alonso’s error resulted in the Phillies scoring an unearned run in the second inning.

Alonso misplayed JT Realmuto’s pop-up and the ball landed in shallow right field to load the bases with no one out.

With a sacrifice fly by Edmundo Sosa, the Phillies came within 2-1.

Nick Castellanos hit an RBI double in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2, but the Mets got lucky when Alec Bohm was picked off at the plate by Peterson while attempting to score after Luis Torrens missed a throw to home.

The Phillies knocked out Peterson in the fourth inning, in which they sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs.

Johan Rojas hit a two-run double that put the Mets behind 4-2 before Ottavino came on and allowed a single to Trea Turner for another run.

After Bryce Harper was intentionally walked, Bohm hit a three-run home run that gave the Phillies an 8-2 lead.

Ottavino, who had only appeared in one game in the last ten days, allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning.

Bohm’s big night continued with an RBI single in the sixth inning against Brazoban.

Before the inning was over, Castellanos scored another run with a ground out, extending the Phillies’ lead to 10-2.

Realmuto hit a two-run homer against Danny Young in the eighth inning.

It was the left-hander’s third tough appearance in a row, all three against the Phillies.