Kodai Senga. Photo by MMO’s Ed Delany


3 UP

GHOST FORK

Kodai Senga has been as advertised, and the ghost fork has been even more awe inspiring to watch in person.

It’s a small sample size, but he’s struck out 31.1% of the batters he’s faced. He has a 296 ERA+. In terms of the eye test, he looks like a true ace.

What’s scary about Senga and the ghost fork is he seems like he is still getting comfortable. Once he gets into a groove, no batter is going to have a chance (not that they do now).

Alons🍎

Maybe all Pete Alonso needed to get going again was the axe handle. Since switching back in the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, Alonso has been on a tear.

He’s homered in three out of his last four games. He’s driven in a run in four straight. Simply put, he’s the true clean-up hitter the Mets have rarely had in their history.

Surprising Arms

The Mets took a gamble signing John Curtiss when he was coming off Tommy John surgery. So far, the gamble has more than paid off.

On the season, he has a 1.69 ERA. In Milwaukee, he saved the rest of the bullpen pitching two innings. Against the Miami Marlins, he got Brooks Raley out of a jam and pitched another inning en route to picking up his first hold as a Met.

Stephen Nogosek pitched a career high 3 1/3 innings to save the bullpen after Carrasco’s poor start (more on that below). He’s posted a 1.69 ERA as he single-handed tried to salvage the Addison Reed trade for the Mets.

More than Curtiss and Nogosek is Tylor Megill. For the second straight season, he was thrusted into the rotation due to an ace’s injury. For the second straight season, he’s pitched like an ace while filling in for one.

We were never supposed to see Megill start this season. Now, we can’t imagine him being out of the rotation.  

3 DOWN

RISP-y Business

Last season, the Mets raced atop the NL East by excelling with runners in scoring position. This season, the Mets seemingly can’t buy a hit.

So far this season, they’re hitting an NL worst .186 with a league worst .577 OPS with runners in scoring position. At times, it seems the only way they’ll score with RISP is if one is forced home on a walk.

Fortunately, the Marlins obliged on that front issuing two bases loaded walks. It’s something that helped the Mets offense get back on track and score even if the team struggles driving in runs.

Still, if the Mets hit with RISP, they might’ve walked away with a sweep instead of two-out-of-three.

Cookie Cooked

With everything going on with the Mets, the last thing they need is for one of their starters to be non-competitive. That’s what happening with Carlos Carrasco.

After getting shelled by the Milwaukee Brewers, he allowed six runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Marlins. His ERA is 11.42, which somehow seems low.

His velocity is down. He’s walked seven against five strikeouts. Frankly, he looks like his career may be over.

MARTE INJURED

Starling Marte has been one of the bright spots early in the season. He’s hitting .303/.378/.485 while stealing four bases.

On the fourth stolen base, his head collided with Jean Segura’s knee injuring his neck. The good news is early reports are he did not sustain a concussion.

Losing Marte for any period of time hurts. The outfield is thin as is. They can’t afford to lose their top performing one.

If Marte is out an extended time, it could be an opportunity to call up to replace the offense. However, seeing how Buck Showalter has alluded to Francisco Álvarez being a backup, perhaps we shouldn’t be too hasty calling for Baty.