3 UP

1. Help Is on the Way

It’s very easy to get frustrated by a series like this, especially watching the pitching struggle. Things are about to get much better on that front.

Steven Matz and Seth Lugo are penciled into the rotation this week. It does not cure all of the pitching issues, but it gives the team a legitimate fifth starter, and with Robert Gsellman moving to the bullpen, it means at least one of Josh Smoker or Neil Ramirez will be taking their ERA over 7.00 elsewhere.

With the offense still clicking, there’s legitimate hope a much stronger rotation and bullpen will allow the Mets to get back in this thing. Lugo helped save the season last year. For the second straight year, he’ll be entrusted with the same task.

2. Cornerstones of the Offense

You’ll be hard pressed to find a pair of teammates hotter than Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores. In the series, both players were 4-for-11. Duda hit a double and two homers and Flores hit a double and a homer himself.

Over the past two weeks, Duda has been hitting .383/.442/.872 with five doubles, six homers, and 14 RBI. In the same time frame, Flores is hitting .355/.394/.581 with two doubles, two homers, and six RBI, and is hitting righties as well as lefties.

They’re both scorching hot, and are making the case to move up in the lineup.

3. Walker’s Back

After last year’s season ending back surgery and a terrible April, it was fair to question whether Neil Walker was ever going to be the same player again.

Since May 1st, Walker is as good as he ever was. He’s hitting .314/.377/.551 with nine doubles, two triples, five homers, and 21 RBI during that span. If he is better able to continue this run with a healthy back, he could surpasses the terrific numbers he put up with the Mets last year.

3 DOWN

1. Can’t Close Out Series 

Much has been made over the Mets inability to win Sunday games. This is emblematic of a larger problem: The Mets are 5-13 in the last game of a series. Part of the reason for that is many series, especially those ending on a Sunday, are day games. The Mets are 4-11 in day games while they are .500 in night games this season.

While the bullpen is certainly part of the issue, this may be a consequence of the Mets having an older veteran roster. The day games after night games may be too much to ask. Whatever the reason, the Mets are having a rough go of it in day games. Here are a few examples:

Curtis Granderson:
Day .136/.170/.273, 44 AB, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Night .217/.306/.384, 138 AB, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 17 BB

Jay Bruce:
Day .186/.300/.442, 43 AB, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB
Night .258/.326/.509, 159 AB, 10 HR, 29 RBI, 16 BB

Neil Walker:
Day .211/.348/.286, 38 AB, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 7 BB
Night .280/.330/.494, 164 AB, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 13 BB

Lucas Duda:
Day .217/.308/.261, 23 AB, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB
Night .293/.409/.707, 92 ABs, 10 HR, 18 RBI, 17 BB

Michael Conforto:
Day .262/.311/.667, 42 AB, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB
Night .315/.429/.606, 127 AB, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 24 BB

2. There’s No Defending Anywhere

Rightfully so, many have handed the blame to the Mets pitching staff for much of the Mets struggles. To be fair, the Mets pitchers aren’t getting help from a defense with hands made of stone.

In this series, the Mets made four errors which is emblematic of a larger issue. The team’s -11 DRS is fifth worst in the National League. The biggest culprit has been the left side of the infield which has combined for a -8 DRS at short and a -6 DRS at third. Just remember that the next time the Mets say Amed Rosario can’t help because he can’t pitch.

3. It Might Be Too Late

There have only been two teams since the 1930’s to enter June with a losing record and win the World Series. In that time frame, only the 2003 Marlins were at least five games under .500. Unlike the Marlins, it does not appear the Mets will have a managerial change, nor do they have Miguel Cabrera to call-up from the minors.

Over the past century, there have been exactly five teams have been at least eight games back to win their division.

The Mets entered June five games under .500 and 9.5 games behind the Nationals. While there are still two Wild Cards up for grabs, history dictates this Mets team will not make the postseason let alone win a World Series.

Despite the odds, these Mets fight on. The next stop is a three-game set against former friend Dillon Gee and the Texas Rangers.