Sinking New York Mets Face Season Defining Stretch
It’s really now or never for the New York Mets.
In June and most of July New York Mets fans had grown accustomed to spirited play, clutch hitting, and solid enough pitching, all while bowing to the alter of Mcdonald’s mascot, Grimace, and humming Jose Iglesias’ hit single, “Oh My God.”
Well, those days feel like three years ago at this point as the Metropolitans have been mired in an August swoon that has knocked them out of the wild card, sitting on the outside looking in. Entering play on Monday, the Mets sit two games back of the Atlanta Braves for the final wild card slot.
San Diego and Arizona, both of whom were struggling to stay in the mix over a month ago, have been on fire ever since the calendar turned to August.
The Mets have not helped themselves. It’s one thing to get swept by a good Seattle Mariners team. But Losing the series to the miserable LA Angels of Anaheim and Oakland A’s, and failing to finish off the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon has put this season on the brink.
SLUMPING OFFENSE
When things were going well for the Mets in June and July almost everyone in the lineup was hitting consistently. Not so much now.
With slight exceptions to Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, the rest of the Mets lineup has struggled. Brandon Nimmo is hitting .208 in August with only two homers and six RBI; J. D. Martinez is hitting a paltry .204, and Francisco Alvarez is hitting .220 with only one RBI.
TRADE ACQUISITIONS NOT ADDING UP
When the Mets acquired Jesse Winker from the Washington Nationals at the deadline, they thought they would get the hitter who routinely hit the Mets hard whenever he faced them in the past. While Winker is hitting .292, when he has played, he hasn’t produced much. In 15 games, he has only three RBI and two walks. Winker hasn’t even cracked a home run yet in a Mets uniform.
Meanwhile, the Mets pitching additions haven’t exactly lived up to their billing. Relievers Huascar Brazoban owns a 5.63 ERA in eight innings, while Ryne Stanek has an ERA of 10.50 in six innings.
Paul Blackburn, the lone starter whom the Mets acquired at the deadline from Oakland has been the best addition with a 3.68 ERA in 22 innings of work, but he also got shelled by his former team last week.
PITCHING PROBLEMS
It also doesn’t help the Mets with the fact that Kodai Senga made only one start before leaving with a calf injury in his first start back from the Injury List. There is no telling when he will return, if at all this year, despite President of Baseball Ops, David Stearns saying he was optimistic Senga could begin throwing again soon.
Aside from Senga, the Mets starters just haven’t been reliable enough. Yes, Luis Severino threw a complete game shutout vs. Miami on Saturday. It doesn’t change the fact he gave up four or more runs in his previous three starts before Saturday’s effort.
Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana have been equally frustrating to watch. The Mets’ most consistent starter, believe it or not, right now is David Peterson (7-1, 3.04 ERA).
NOW OR NEVER
So here are the Mets sitting at 64-60, and they face what is absolutely the stretch that will determine their season. It begins Monday at Citi Field against the AL Least co-leaders, the Baltimore Orioles. Then the scene shifts out west when the Mets face the top two NL Wild Card leaders in the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. While the Mets wrap up that road trip against the lowly White Sox, it’s pretty clear this season could be determined in the next 10 days.
Anything but a 6-4 record (at least) and Mets fans will have to turn the page to 2025.
