3 UP

1. Hot Wheeler

Based on his career splits, this is the time of the year Zack Wheeler pitches his best. That has proven true again this year.

In the Mets win against the Yankees Tuesday, Wheeler put the team in a position to win the game. Over 6.1 innings, he allowed two earned on five hits while walking one and striking out eight.

This was the third straight quality start for Wheeler. Over the three games, he has allowed just four earned over 19.1 innings (1.86 ERA). In this period, he has a 5.00 K/BB while limiting opponents to a .182/.229/.242 batting line.

This is the pitcher Wheeler looked like last year when his second half ERA was better than Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom. This is the pitcher the Mets need him to be right now to maximize his trade value.

2. Alonso Amassing Rookie Records

With his double off of Domingo German, Pete Alonso has 50 extra base hits. That ties Jose Abreu‘s record for most extra base hits by a rookie in the first half. It’s also one shy of Ty Wigginton‘s Mets rookie record for extra base hits in a season.

As the season progresses, we will see more Mets rookie records fall, and we may see more MLB rookie records fall as well. In total, this has been a historic season for Alonso. He’s already won two Rookie of the Month Awards and has been named an All-Star. If things continue, he should be a lock for Rookie of the Year.

3. Bullpen Healthy

It’s been frustrating to watch the Mets bullpen “depth” try to put together scoreless innings in the Month of June. Their inability to get outs made games nearly unwatchable for Mets fans.

As the Mets are want to do, they activated all of their players to be at full strength for the Subway Series. Both Justin Wilson and Jeurys Familia has scoreless appearances. It’s certainly a start.

Hopefully, the issues for Familia were injury related. Time will tell.

3 DOWN

1. All But The Marlins Got The Mets

With the loss yesterday and Giants win, the New York Mets now have the second worst record in the National League. Their -37 run differential is fourth worst in the National League.

All in all, this is a bad baseball team with a bad roster. Many may want to blame the bullpen, but the issues run much deeper.

2. Lowrie Not Close To Returning

At some point, it’s no longer going to be hyperbole to suggest Jed Lowrie will never play a game for the Mets. As noted by Mickey Callaway, Lowrie is not close to beginning another rehab assignment.

At this point, no one can be quite sure what the issue is he’s now classified as having “left side issues.” Perhaps, that’s the result of his suffering from multiple maladies.

While fans routinely discuss the worst free agent signings in team history, it’s getting increasingly more difficult to argue anyone but Lowrie. The main reason being is those other players actually played.

3. Pitchers Don’t Want Ramos

During the offseason, the Mets would not go the extra mile to sign Yasmani Grandal. For his part, Grandal is an All-Star this year, and by fWAR, he’s the best catcher in the game.

Most were fine with the decision as the Mets signed Wilson Ramos to a two year deal. He’s had his issues over the year including his power fading, but the biggest issue is a growing mutiny.

Apparently, Noah Syndergaard requested he be caught by Tomas Nido. Nido is already serving as deGrom’s de facto personal catcher. When your top two starters no longer want to work with the team’s starting catcher, there are real issues with how to handle a catcher under contract for another season.