Mets Week in Review: Pitching Staff Continues to Dominate

Between COVID-19, rain, snow, active volcanoes, alien invasions and whatever else the universe throws the Mets way, the Amazin’s still haven’t been able to find much consistency in terms of games played through two weeks.

It’s been difficult, if not impossible, to find any sort of real rhythm and the team has been riddled with stops, starts and unplanned double-headers. The good news however, is this: If you were to take a look at the current National League East standings – maybe a futile practice in late April – you’ll see the New York Mets alone in first place.

Luis Rojas isn’t a perfect manager, but he’s made it work, and the Mets, who haven’t truly played their best, did enough to sweep a three-game set from the Phillies and take two of three on the road from the Rockies.

Weekly Record: 5-1

2021 Record: 7-4

162 Game Pace: 103-59

What Went Right: Mets in the Field

Winning five of six games is no accident, and that effort was driven, first and foremost, by the Met pitching staff. Jacob deGrom was stellar in his lone start, going six innings against the Rockies without an earned run and his second-straight 14 strikeout performance – tying his career high.

deGrom flirted with Tom Seaver’s 51-year old consecutive strikeout record on Saturday when he K’9 nine consecutive batters – one off of Seaver’s mark. After wasting deGrom’s eight-inning, one-run effort last Saturday, the Mets were able to give their ace his first win of the season with a three-run rally in the sixth and seventh innings of the seven-inning game.

Outside of deGrom, Marcus Stroman is enjoying an equally fruitful start to the season. After throwing just nine pitches last Sunday, Stroman felt good enough to start the back-end of Tuesday’s double-header, going six innings without allowing a run in a 4-0 Mets win. Sunday’s encore was just as brilliant, as Stroman threw eight innings of one-run ball to help the Mets take the rubber game of the series 2-1.

The rest of the rotation largely kept pace with the two at the top. Taijuan Walker went 4.1 innings in his lone start, allowing just one run and striking out eight. David Peterson rebounded from a tough first start against the Phillies to dominate the same Phillie squad on Wednesday, allowing just one run on two hits over six innings while striking out 10.

In the bullpen, Edwin Diaz made four appearances during the week, pitching four innings without allowing a run and striking out six.

Defensively, the Mets have been plenty good enough to win close games and back up their elite pitching, especially Brandon Nimmo, who’s played well in center after adjusting to playing deeper in 2021. James McCann throwing out Trevor Story to end Sunday’s game was the most exciting defensive play by a catcher in years.

What Went Wrong: Mets at the Plate

It’s hard to complain about a week in which the Mets were objectively successful, but if there’s a soft spot on the team right now, it’s the hitting of a lineup that was projected as one of the best in baseball.

Outside of Brandon Nimmo, who’s hitting .447 with an OBP of .543, there’s not another real hot hitter in the Mets lineup.

Power seems to be the biggest concern to date, as the Mets are last in the MLB with just six home runs. As the season picks up and there’s some consistency in the schedule, the Mets lineup should progress to the mean, but as of now there’s plenty of room for improvement.

Stock Up: Jonathan Villar

An integral part of Sandy Alderson and Co.’s plan for the 2021 Mets was to establish major league caliber depth. Enter Villar, a journeyman infielder with plenty of experience and success in the league.

Villar showed that off in a big way this past week, bashing a walk-off extra-inning base hit against the Phillies on Tuesday and again came up big Saturday with a pinch-hit game-tying double in the seventh inning of the Mets 4-3 win over the Rockies.

Stock Down: Jeff McNeil

You can really take your pick of struggling Mets hitters, but McNeil may be the most surprising given how good of a pure hitter he’s been since debuting in 2016. The flying squirrel is hitting just .176 in the early going with one homer, and went 5-for-21 during the past week.

Injury Updates:

JD Davis returned to action Saturday after taking a pitch off his left hand in the season opener landed him on the 10-day IL.

Week Ahead:

After an off-day Monday, the Mets travel to Chicago to take on the 6-9 Cubs, who are reeling after dropping two of three to the Pirates, Brewers and Braves in their last three series’. The Mets are scheduled to throw Walker, Peterson and deGrom in the series.

The Mets will wrap up the week at home, facing the Nationals for the first time this season. The 2019 World Series champions sit at 5-8 on the year.