3 Up

1. The Bullpen

Coming into the opener on Tuesday night against the Royals, the Mets bullpen never could have anticipated the relief they would have to provide in it. Just four pitches into the game, starter Bartolo Colon took a ball right back at him, hitting him in the thumb. Colon would have to leave the game, and it was up to the bullpen to give the Mets the best opportunity to win. All they did was combine to throw 8 2/3 innings of one run ball. Hansel Robles pitched 3 2/3 of those innings, allowing just one run on five hits and six strikeouts. Goeddel, Blevins, Reed, and Familia followed and allowed just two hits in those five innings. It was not an ideal situation for the Mets, and one that could have gotten away from them early, but the bullpen stepped up big time.

2. Asdrubal Cabrera

Asdrubal Cabrera got the party started for the Mets in the opener on Tuesday night by taking a first inning pitch deep for a solo homerun. He then followed up by hitting another homerun on Wednesday, a two-run shot that gave the Mets the lead in the fifth inning. It seems as though the power is starting to come for Asdrubal, as it was his sixth homerun in the last 26 games, and his eighth on the season. Cabrera also had a fantastic slide at home plate on a James Loney single in the series finale.

3. Jeurys Familia

Jeurys Familia pitched back to back one run ninth innings in consecutive days against the Royals to help preserve Mets victories. His save on Wednesday was his 24th of the year, tying him with Armando Benitez for the most consecutive save conversions to begin a season in club history. He also rid himself of any demons that lingered from last World Series against these Royals, where he did not fare quite as well. Familia gave up just one hit in his two innings of work, while striking out three.

3 Down

1. Neil Walker

Neil Walker had a rough series against the Royals, going 0-8 with a strikeout while also leaving a total of six runners on base. Walker is now 0-15 in his last four games and his average has dipped down to .257 on the year. He also now has hit just one homerun in the last 16 games that he has played.

2. RISP Still an Issue

This has been an ongoing trend for the 2016 Mets, and it will need to get better if the Mets want to contend for the remainder of the year. In the two game set against the Royals the Mets went just 1-8 with runners in scoring position, while leaving a total of 12 men on base. Neil Walker was the culprit of six of those baserunners. The Mets are dead last in the majors with RISP, batting just .209, putting them being the Phillies who are batting .222.

3. Injury Bug Strikes Again

They say hitting in contagious, well apparently injuries are too, and the Mets just can’t catch a break in that department. Bartolo Colon exited the game on Tuesday night after taking a line drive off his thumb, and then Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes left the game early on Wednesday afternoon. The good news is that all three checked out okay with team doctors and they each avoid the DL.