Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

In recent years, the month of June has been nightmarish for the Mets, so getting off to a good start in 2021 was paramount.

Yes, through a week they’re just at .500, but they played all six games on the road – four against arguably the best team in the National League – and came out the other side just fine.

Losing in extras to the Diamondbacks was frustrating on Tuesday and David Peterson’s start in the rubber game Wednesday was less than ideal – recording just one out – but the bullpen was incredible again, pitching 8.2 sterling innings to help give the Mets a 7-6 victory and a series win.

With their big three guns – Taijuan Walker, Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman – all going in a four-game set with the Padres, I wrote last week that a series split wasn’t too much to ask for. I may not exactly be Nostradamus, but that’s precisely what happened over the four days in San Diego.

Weekly Record: 3-3

2021 Record: 29-23 (1st Place, NL East)

162 Game Pace: 90-72

What Went Right: Aces Stepping Up

Down 2-0 in the series with the offense reeling, it was up to deGrom and Stroman to be at their best to give the Mets a shot at a series split. In short, they were.

DeGrom continued his historic season, going seven innings without allowing a run and striking out 11 on Saturday. He has allowed either one or zero runs in each of his nine starts to begin the year, the only person to accomplish that feat in MLB history. His ERA is a comical 0.62 on the year.

Stroman may not be deGrom, but he’s proven he could be a No. 1 on plenty of other rosters. Despite not having his best command, Stroman went 6.2 innings Sunday, allowing just one run and struck out seven. He also contributed at the plate with an RBI double. His ERA is down to 2.41, which is an elite number in itself.

What Went Wrong: Fernando Tatis Jr.

Like most teams, the Mets had trouble all weekend trying to get Tatis out. The 22-year-old superstar went 4-for-14 on the series, which isn’t all that bad, but he made his chances count. In Thursday’s Padre win, Tatis’s two-run homer and steal of home on a wild pitch were the difference in a one-run game. Sunday, the lone San Diego run came after Tatis hit a grounder to Stroman that the Gold-Glover threw away, allowing Tatis to go all the way to third.

Stock Up: James McCann

During his early struggles, analytics tended to show that McCann wasn’t hitting as poorly as his numbers indicated. This version of the catcher (and first baseman?) is what the Mets thought they were getting when they inked him to a four-year, $40 million deal this offseason.

Over his last seven games, McCann is slashing .357/.357/.857. He has four homers and 11 RBI. He’s coming around at the perfect time for the Mets as they continue to navigate through their injury woes.

It should be noted that this section could have been dedicated to several streaking Mets. Francisco Lindor has also been surging at the plate, Dominic Smith is playing well and Billy McKinney has been outstanding of late in right field.

Stock Down: Trevor May

The righty reliever got off to a fast start in his first year with the Mets, not allowing a run in 12 consecutive appearances through April and part of May but has struggled a bit lately. It was May that allowed the walk-off hit on Tuesday – although he is adamant that Josh Reddick‘s game-winner should have been called foul – and has allowed at least one run in six of his last 10 appearances, dating back to May 11.

There’s not a ton of cause for concern yet, especially with the return of Seth Lugo to lighten his load, but May’s control hasn’t been what it was earlier in the year. Relievers go through rough patches, it’s the nature of the business, May just has to make sure it’s just that and doesn’t develop into something more.

Injury Report

The Mets are still without four everyday players in Brandon Nimmo, J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil, and Jonathan Villar is nursing a hamstring injury – though he’s been able to play sporadically – but this week’s developments are still decidedly more positive than they were for much of May.

Lugo’s return to action is huge for an already thriving bullpen. Utility man Luis Guillorme is on rehab assignment and can return as soon as this week, giving the Mets another plus-defender and good left-handed bat.

Albert Almora Jr. and McNeil are both progressing from their injuries and can feasibly return before month’s end.

Next Up

The Mets are off Monday before visiting the Orioles for two games in the middle of the week. The Orioles’ record is among the worst in MLB, but that’s largely because of their pitching staff. Their offense can put up runs, they had 18 of them Sunday, and guys like do-it-all center fielder Cedric Mullins and RBI-machine first baseman Trey Mancini are among the most dangerous in the game.

After another off-day Thursday, the Mets return home for another bout with the Padres – this one being a three-game affair. San Diego is decidedly better at home, and the Mets are scheduled to throw deGrom and Stroman in the series again.

What an opportunity they have to take the series and show that — even not at full strength — they can compete with anyone, and that they’ve put their June bugaboos behind them.