Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets are currently experiencing a rough patch, with both their offense and pitching struggling to perform. When one area of the team’s performance falters, the other does not seem to compensate, resulting in an overall poor showing on the field. In particular, several players on the team are not meeting expectations, including right fielder Starling Marte. Although one player isn’t the main culprit, Marte’s underperformance has been a contributing factor to the Mets’ current struggles at the plate for the start of this season.

Marte has had a difficult start to the season, and his poor performance at the plate has led to speculation about his position in the lineup. Despite consistently batting second for the Mets, Marte’s .585 OPS is the worst of any regular player on the team. His slash line .213/.292/.278 isn’t anything to write home about as well. Manager Buck Showalter has considered moving Marte down in the lineup, but is wary of making changes that could affect the team’s overall composition.

Sitting on Sunday, Marte’s most recent start on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies highlighted his struggles, as he failed to register a hit in three at-bats and attempted to bunt in his first two plate appearances. While the Mets’ offense as a whole has been underwhelming lately, Marte’s slump has been particularly concerning. In his last 16 games, he has recorded no extra-base hits and a .379 OPS.

It is possible that Marte is not completely healthy, given his behavior on the field, which suggests that he may not be performing at 100%. Marte suffered an injury last season when he was hit by a pitch in Pittsburgh in September, which kept him out for the entire month. During the off-season, it was revealed that Marte had suffered a slight separation in the tendons that connect his groin muscles. Further examination also showed potential wear on the opposite side of the groin, leading to surgery being performed on both muscles in November.

Then during an exhibition game versus the Tampa Bay Rays, Marte was hit in the left ear flap by a fastball from Elvin Rodriguez. He then would leave a game with neck stiffness after sliding into a the leg of Jean Segura at Citi Field against the Marlins and would also leave a game against the Dodgers with the same issue. As of late, he’s been seen gingerly jogging down the first base line on grounders and some shaky moments in the field leads one to believe that part of Marte’s struggles can be due to him not being fully healthy from the ailments he’s suffered previously.

“Knowing Starling now like I do, I know it’s really bothering him, not doing what he’s capable of doing,’’ Buck Showalter said. “He’s far from the only one.”

Despite his recent struggles, Mets have confidence in Marte’s ability to turn his season around. While he has made some slight changes to his approach at the plate, hitting more fly balls and fewer pulled balls than in the past, his other advanced metrics remain consistent with his career average. Additionally, Marte was a valuable contributor to the team during his first season with the Mets, which adds to the team’s optimism. The team is hopeful that Marte can overcome whatever may be affecting his performance, as his contributions are crucial to the team’s chances of making the playoffs.