NL East Roundup: Mets Stay in First While Rest of Division Reels

Another week into 2021 and all we know about the NL East is that we know nothing about the NL East. The Mets remain in first on the strength of a seven-game win streak, but are reeling with injuries and got swept by the Rays over the weekend.

It’s been a month and a half and the Braves still don’t look much like the three-time defending champion. The Phillies meanwhile look like the Phillies, still hovering around .500, which is good enough for second place.

Next to Atlanta, the biggest surprise comes out of D.C., where the Nationals remain in the cellar of the division, not looking much like a team that has any realistic shot at a postseason berth. Then again, they looked like that around this time in 2019 and went on to win the World Series. So again, who really knows?

1. New York Mets (20-16)

Last 10: 7-3

Who’s Hot: Bullpen Backups

The entirety of the Mets pen has been mostly outstanding all year, but two big righties in Sean Reid-Foley and Tommy Hunter have performed extremely admirably given they weren’t even a part of the big league team on Opening Day.

Reid-Foley has gone more than one inning in each of his four appearances, pitching to a 0.96 ERA with a WHIP of 0.54 and 14 strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched. In Monday’s 3-1 win over the Braves, Reid-Foley threw perfect innings with five strikeouts.

Hunter, a 14-year veteran, has a cool 0.00 ERA over four outings. He’s thrown two innings in all of his appearances and didn’t allow a hit in his work Tuesday, striking out four. Hunter also picked up his first career hit, a single into left field ahead of a two-run home run from Jonathan Villar in a 4-3 Met win.

Who’s Not: Extenuating Circumstance

It’s hard to single out a player that is performing below expectations, as the roster is currently being held together by scotch tape and bubble gum due to a 2009-like slew of injuries (see below).

Injury Report

Think of three players on the Mets. Got them? Chances are two of them are on the IL.

Jacob deGrom has been mostly out of the lineup for the last two weeks as he deals with various soreness, while Carlos Carrasco, Noah Syndergaard and Seth Lugo have yet to make an appearance. Taijuan Walker was pulled after three innings Monday with his own tightness, but he seems to be OK.

Position players are faring no better as J.D. Davis (hand), Brandon Nimmo (hand), Jeff McNeil (hamstring) and Michael Conforto (hamstring) are all on the shelf.

Had enough? Too bad. The injury bug has invaded the bench as well, with Kevin Pillar, Albert Almora Jr. and Luis Guillorme all also nursing injuries.

Outlook

The Mets have had to empty both their bench as well as their Triple-A team as they try to navigate this immense injury situation. So far, things have gone pretty well, as they’ve taken the first two of their current series in Atlanta. After an off-day Thursday though, the Mets play 17 games in a row, and will surely be hoping to have the services of a least a few of their everyday players.

2. Philadelphia Phillies (22-20, 1 GB)

Last 10: 5-5

Who’s Hot: Zach Wheeler

The last three starts for the righty have looked like this: Complete game shutout, six innings of two-run ball, seven innings with no earned runs. He’s struck out 25 batters in that span and walked just one. There have been rumblings that maybe Aaron Nola isn’t quite the ace he was thought to be early in his career, but that’s no problem for the Phillies if Wheeler keeps pitching like one.

Who’s Not: Jean Segura

The second baseman is reeling in his last seven games, slashing just .161/.235/.258 in that span, but his biggest issue over the last week didn’t come on the field. After making his second error of the game Sunday, Joe Girardi made a comment to Segura that apparently set him off, having to be restrained from going after his manager in the dugout.

Injury Report

Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto are both nursing minor injuries and are considered day-to-day as the team is hopeful they can each avoid an IL stint. That same thought applied to Didi Gregorius last week, but he was placed on the list Tuesday retroactive to May 14 with a right elbow impingement.

Outlook

Since the start of May, the Phillies schedule has looked like this: Lose a series, win a series, lose a series, win a series, lose a series. Such is the life of a middle-of-the-pack team.

This current stretch, with seven games against the Marlins surrounding a three-game set with Boston, could bring the Phils even closer to first, or drop them towards the cellar. Then again, it’s the Phillies so there’s every bit a chance we’re right back in the same spot next week.

3. Atlanta Braves (19-23, 4 GB)

Last 10: 4-6

Who’s Hot: Austin Riley

After a slow start, the third baseman has been on-base over 50 times since April 18th. Over his last seven games, Riley is slashing .304/.429/.609, including a homer Tuesday.

Who’s Not: Huascar Ynoa

The 22-year-old righty was pitching (and hitting) admirably for a Brave team that desperately needed it, but after giving up five runs to the Brewers in 4.1 innings of work on Sunday, Ynoa took out his frustrations by punching a bench, resulting in a fractured throwing hand that will keep him out at least a couple months.

Injury Report

Outside of Ynoa, the Braves got another scare in their rotation when Max Fried was pulled from Monday’s game with a mystery ailment. Further investigation revealed it to be just cramps in Fried’s throwing hand, and indications are that he’ll be good to go for his next start.

Outlook

The bad news is that the Braves are four games below .500 at this point, having recently been swept by the Blue Jays and down 2-0 in their current series to the Mets. The good news is that the last four games of their current 13-game stretch are home against the lowly Pirates, presenting plenty of opportunity to climb back near that mark.

4. Miami Marlins (18-23, 4.5 GB)

Last 10: 3-7

Who’s Hot: Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Great news in Miami as Chisholm returned to the lineup this week after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury. The electrifying rookie picked up right where he left off in the two games since his return, going 4-for-9 with three runs, a homer and a stolen base.

Who’s Not: Jon Berti

Due to various injuries, the utility man has gotten a chance to play virtually every day, and has already started at every position besides first base and catcher in 2021. The results haven’t been there at the plate however, as over his last 15 games Berti is slashing an anemic .103/.255/.179.

Injury Report

Outfielder Lewis Brinson was placed on the 10-day IL Tuesday with an unspecified injury, which could mean a COVID-19 issue.

Outlook

Here’s the thing with the Marlins: They’re not bad. They’re not quite good yet either, but there’s really impressive young talent in Miami. Once they start getting guys like Starling Marte, Jorge Alfaro and Sixto Sanchez back, they’re going to be competitive every single night. I’m not sure if it’ll happen in time to make a true playoff push, but they can certainly play the role of spoiler down the stretch if the division remains tight at the top.

5. Washington Nationals (16-22, 5 GB)

Last 10: 3-7

Who’s Hot: Kyle Schwarber

It’s been a rocky go of it for Schwarber thus far, but the last seven days have been encouraging for the left fielder. Schwarber is slashing .286/.412/.607 in that span and has three home runs, including one in Chicago on Monday against his former team.

Who’s Not: Joe Ross

Looking to mask the absence of the injured Stephen Strasburg, Ross has been mostly decent for the Nationals. He only allowed two runs in each of his first two starts in May, but went just 5.1 and five innings, respectively, in those starts. In his most recent start on Saturday, Ross went four innings and gave up eight runs.

Injury Report

Strasburg threw an extended bullpen on Tuesday, as he looks to return from right shoulder inflammation. He could start as soon as this weekend.

Outlook

Yes, getting Strasburg back will help, and the three-headed monster at the top of the rotation with him, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin is as good as it gets, but the Nationals are flat out not a good team right now. They’ve lost three of their last four series’ and are down 2-0 in a four-game set with the Cubs.

The good news for Washington is that their next three are all at home against the Orioles, Reds and Brewers. If the Nats are going to climb out of this early season hole, this is the time to do it.