Following a disappointing 2-5 West Coast trip, the Mets got a much needed day off last Monday before opening their home stand against the San Francisco Giants.
It was a successful six-game home stand for New York, as they won back-to-back series over the Giants and the Colorado Rockies. Todd Frazier continued his torrid stretch with another great week at the dish, while Jason Vargas put together a complete game shutdown for his best start of the season.
Pitcher of the Week – Jason Vargas
This is Jason Vargas’ second-straight week being named pitcher of the week, as he has shockingly turned into one of the Mets most reliable starters. After losing the first game of their series against the Giants, the Mets needed Vargas to be a stopper when he took the mound last Wednesday and the veteran delivered.
Vargas was in complete control during the start, only walking one batter and retiring eight on strikes. The Mets offense provided him with plenty of run support, scoring seven runs. With a low pitch count, Vargas went the distance to give the Mets a complete game shutout.
Here was Vargas’ final line: 9 IP, 5 H, BB, 8 K
Player of the Week – Todd Frazier
It is crazy to think that Todd Frazier almost lost his job a month ago, when Jed Lowrie was mere days away from returning off the IL to become the starting third baseman. Lowrie would suffer a setback and while the Mets hate to see that $20 million investment stuck in Port St. Lucie, Frazier has thrived in his absence.
Fraziers has hit .346 with a 1.029 OPS over his last 23 games, while providing the Mets with excellent defense over at third base. If Frazier continues to stay hot, no one will taking him out of the lineup any time soon.
Over the past week, Frazier’s stats are as follow: .350/.458/.700, 7 H, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R 3 BB, 4 K
Frazier led the team in runs batted in and was tied for the lead in runs scored with Michael Conforto last week, as he seemed to come through for the Mets in all the big moments.
The crazy thing about the performance of both Vargas and Frazier is the fact these were two of the most criticized Mets at the start of the season, as the last remaining pieces from Sandy Alderson’s failed 2018 offseason. Well somewhere in Oakland, Alderson is smiling as these guys have kept the Mets afloat over the past month.
