3 UP

1. We Found Nimmo

While most of the Mets offense jumped out of the gate, Brandon Nimmo didn’t. While the Mets were scoring six plus runs a game, he was going hitless and striking out an inordinate amount of time.

In fact, over his first eight games, Nimmo was 2-for-26 with 17 strikeouts. Looking deeper, he struck out in 51.5% of his plate appearances. Good eye or not, you cannot succeed striking out that frequently.

Whether his timing was off due to his having some tweaks and illness during Spring Training, his getting hit on the hand by a pitch, or something else all together, Nimmo was off. Whatever the cause, he’s figured something out, and he’s been much better of late.

In his last seven games, Nimmo is 10-for-28 with three doubles, two homers, six RBI, two walks, and a HBP. Put another way, he’s finally looking like Nimmo again.

2. Doubling Down

Michael Conforto has doubled in three straight games, six of his last eight, and seven of his last 10. His seven doubles are fourth most in the majors.

His double on Sunday tied him with Pete Alonso for the team lead. When you include Jeff McNeil‘s double in the game, the Mets are tied for third in the majors (second in the National League) in doubles.

The Mets amassing these doubles is reflective of the power and speed their players possess. It speaks to a dangerous Mets lineup which is never out of it.

3. Four Aces?

With their previous seasons and postseason performances, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard have established themselves as aces. They may not be the only two in this rotation.

Last year, Zack Wheeler actually had a lower ERA in the second half than deGrom. After two poor starts to the year, we once again saw the Wheeler from the second half. In his victory over the Braves, he allowed two earned over six while striking out eight.

As good as this trio has been, Steven Matz has been the Mets best starter this year. In three starts, he’s 1-0 with a 1.65 ERA, 1.041 WHIP, and a 10.5 K/9.

Like Wheeler, Matz is beginning to fulfill his promise. If so, that’s four aces in this rotation. Four aces who give the Mets a chance to win the division.

3 DOWN

1. Mets Fifth Starter Situation Untenable

The Mets were coming off two impressive wins over the Braves, and they put themselves in a position to make a real statement. With a win on Saturday, the Mets would’ve won the four game set with a chance to sweep.

Instead, they split the series, and Jason Vargas no longer being a viable fifth starter played no small role. Vargas needed 36 pitches to get one out. He allowed four earned. He put the Mets directly behind the eight ball.

The Mets put themselves further back with their bungling of their handling of Corey Oswalt. The team rushed him up to have him be ready to relieve on three days rest. After he didn’t, and with him now being completely off his routine, he was asked to rush his warm-up to enter a game with runners on after not pitching in a week.

If you think that’s inept, the Mets are not removing Vargas from the rotation. Instead, they’re pushing his start back even with Dave Eiland saying no pitcher could be successful with the routine Vargas has.

At the core of this is the Mets do not trust any of the fifth starters they have. Worse yet, they’re not getting Dallas Keuchel. So, in the end expect more of this.

2. Not So deGrominant

For mere mortals, two poor starts in a row doesn’t merit any attention. Pitchers typically have ebbs and flows over the course of the season. Of course, the problem is Jacob deGrom is no mere mortal.

After his allowing six earned over four against the Twins, he allowed three earned in five against the Braves. He would take the loss in both games.

This is the first time deGrom has allowed three plus in consecutive starts since June 23 and June 30 last year. It’s the first time he hasn’t pitched past the fifth in consecutive starts since May 2 and May 13 last year.

For deGrom, this is likely a blip. That said, so long as the Mets fifth starter situation remains this way, the team can ill afford blips from their ace.

3. Mets Were An Afterthought

When Sunday Night Baseball is at its best, the two teams playing are at the center of the universe. Those games are at their best when the two teams are bitter rivals like the Mets and Braves are.

The Sunday Night Baseball showcase can truly be an event. This was the case when Lucas Duda helped propel the Mets to their season defining sweep against the Nationals.

That was not the case last night. With Hank Aaron in the booth, this was a Braves forward broadcast. More than that, it was the Game of Thrones season premier (and the Buddy v. Duff finale). The talk most of the day was Tiger Woods winning The Masters.

The first place Mets had the center stage yesterday and barely anyone cared or noticed. It’s now incumbent on the Mets to make sure they’re not overlooked again.