Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Carrasco‘s Mets career hasn’t gotten off to the start many were expecting when the Mets acquired him from Cleveland in January. After pitching four strong innings in each of his first two starts, allowed four runs in just one inning against the Nationals before allowing six runs in just two innings against the Dodgers. The Mets turned to the right-hander on Friday night against the Dodgers while trying to keep pace with the red-hot Braves in the division race.

Carrasco found himself in early trouble when Trea Turner led off the bottom of the first inning with an inside-out bloop double to right field. Turner moved to third on a fly out to centerfield from Max Muncy before scoring on a ground out from Justin Turner. Corey Seager flew out to left field to retire the side.

The Dodgers got their leadoff runner on base when Chris Taylor blooped a single just over Jeff McNeil into centerfield, but Carrasco was able to keep the Dodgers off the scoreboard in the second inning. He retired Cody Bellinger and Billy McKinney on consecutive fly outs before striking out Austin Barnes for the third out.

The top of the Dodgers order got to Carrasco again in the third inning. Walker Buehler led off the inning with a strikeout, but the next four batters reached base. Trea Turner hit a bloop single and was immediately driven in again on a Muncy double. After Justin Turner walked, a Seager base hit up the middle drove in Muncy for the Dodgers third run of the game. Carrasco was able to get Taylor to fly out before Bellinger struck out to end the inning.

Carrasco recorded his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the fourth. He struck out McKinney and Buehler for his fourth and fifth strikeouts of the night with a fly out from Barnes in between the two strikeouts.

Trea Turner led off the fifth inning, and despite hitting the ball hard for the first time all night, he was retired for the first time all night when he flew out to centerfield. Carrasco struck out Muncy looking before Justin Turner grounded out to Jonathan Villar at shortstop. Carrasco finished his night by retiring eight straight Dodgers, and it was the first time this season he completed five innings.

Carrasco’s final line: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.

Despite Carrasco’s final line not being great, Friday’s outing was a significant step forward for him. Carrasco was hit hard by these Dodgers last Sunday at Citi Field. The Dodgers got him for six runs on six hits over two innings on Sunday, with all of the hits being hard hit balls. On Friday, Carrasco held them to just five hits over five innings with three of the five hits not being hit particularly hard. Even with some poor luck leading to runs, Carrasco was able to settle down and keep the Mets in the game in his longest outing of the season.

“I got three runs, but at the same time it feels good,” Carrasco said. “My last start was kind of a little but rough, but this time it feels a little bit better.”

Although things are starting to look bleak with the Mets falling to 60-62 and six games out of a playoff spot, Carrasco returning to form would be a huge boost for this Mets team. If you are an optimistic Met fan, you will be happy to know that the last Mets team to make the playoffs was also 60-62 through 122 games before catching fire over the seasons final six weeks to win a Wild Card. With plenty of reinforcements potentially returning soon and the Padres suddenly struggling to hold onto their Wild Card spot, Carrasco returning to full strength could fly under the radar.

If Carrasco is able to stay consistent and pitch like the star he was in Cleveland for the last six years, he could play as big a role as anyone in helping the Mets make another surprise September run.