Finally, the team the Mets envisioned in the offseason will be on the field when they open the second half of the season Friday night at Citi Field. The question is whether or not that team will perform up to the expectations of David Stearns, Carlos Mendoza and the rest of the team’s decision-makers.
The Mets are 55-42 at the break, 0.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East and currently holding the second NL Wild Card spot, behind the Milwaukee Brewers and ahead of the San Diego Padres. It’s an enviable position to be in at this point in the season, but drastic highs and lows throughout June and July, it doesn’t exactly seem like the Mets are about to run away with anything.
Still, you have to like their chances. Here’s what’s up ahead for the Amazins’ the rest of the summer.
ROTATION RETURNERS
Left-hander Sean Manaea looked sharp in his return to action the day before the break in Kansas City, even if he did give up the walk-off run. Right-hander Frankie Montas has been good, though maybe not great, in his four starts this season, and if he can keep getting swings on his splitter, he’ll continue to have good results. The biggest addition is undoubtedly right-hander Kodai Senga, who was stellar in his first start after coming off the injured list.
Getting more length out of that trio will be an ongoing process, but getting length out of Clay Holmes is another story. The Mets have protected Holmes to avoid overworking the reliever-turned-starter and they will continue to do so. But now they have to protect three more starting pitchers as well. Some of the relievers have started to struggle. Ryne Stanek has had a few bad outings recently, as has Reed Garrett and Huascar Brazobán.
Left-hander Brooks Raley is set to return soon, which gives the Mets another high-leverage option. But the rotating door of relievers might not stop spinning anytime soon if starters are only able to throw 70-80 pitches.
“It’s fun, it’s part of where we’re at roster-wise with some of the guys coming into the season at this point,” Mendoza said last week. “We’re making a push the last two, two-and-a-half months here that we’ve got coming up, but we feel like we’re equipped for it.”
HOT HITTERS
It’s been feast or famine with the Mets’ bats this season, and the problems hitting with runners in scoring position haven’t gone away. Their .230 average is better than only the Kansas City Royals, the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox. Not exactly elite company.
“I think at times, we hit the ball hard right at people, there are times we chase, times we’re passive,” Mendoza said after the Mets went 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position in a doubleheader loss in Baltimore. “As long as we continue to have productive at bats, we’re going to be in a good spot, that’s where we need to get consistent with being able to get the job done.”
The top of the order is firing on all cylinders, especially now that Francisco Lindor has come out of his slump. Jeff McNeil is hitting again, though maybe not at the same rate he did in 2022, but he’s been plenty productive this season and provided power. His .805 OPS is third on the team behind Pete Alonso and Juan Soto, and with his defensive versatility, he becomes a huge weapon for Mendoza to deploy in various situations.
“I’m happy with it,” McNeil said. “It’s a little bit different than what people are used to seeing out of me being with a high-average hitter. So pretty good OPS this year, so that’s all I’m happy about. I’m hitting for more power and want to keep it going.”
The question is whether the kids can hit, and how the Mets will continue to spread out their at-bats. Brett Baty had a hot month in May, but has since cooled. Ronny Mauricio is clearly comfortable around the diamond defensively, but isn’t quite controlling the strike zone. Mark Vientos hasn’t looked like the same player who hit 27 home runs last year, but he went into the break on a positive note, going 7-for-22 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI on the Mets’ last road trip through Baltimore and Kansas City.
Francisco Alvarez continues to make progress in Triple-A, but he’ll still need to win playing time back from catcher Luis Torrens. The Mets have made no guarantees about calling him up following the break, but should the injuries to Starling Marte and Jesse Winker linger, the Mets might end up needing his bat.
TRADE DEADLINE
The biggest area of need for the Mets is pitching help. With the depth erased, they could be in the market for a back-end starter, and they’ll need relief help as well. They have to figure out if keeping all four young infielders around is sustainable. Baty, Vientos, Mauricio and Luisangel Acuña all offer different strengths, but all have some glaring weaknesses as well. If the Mets decide they aren’t comfortable with their production or their defense, getting an established utility infielder would make sense.
THE WRIGHT STUFF
This weekend will be all about David Wright with the Mets set to retire the former captain’s No. 5 and enshrine him into the team hall of fame in a dual ceremony Saturday. It’s a fitting moment for a player who was so crucial to winning seasons of the Mets’ past.
