New York Mets backstop Wilson Ramos just concluded one of the more prolific offensive months in franchise history with his scorching hot August, and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

Over 104 plate appearances last month, the 32-year-old slashed .434/.462/.576 with three homers, five doubles, and just 10 strikeouts.

The Mets went 17-11 in August, keeping themselves in the postseason mix after watching their red-hot second-half start slow down a bit in recent weeks. There’s no telling where they’d be without Buffalo’s substantial contributions through the dog-days of summer.

Ramos’ August batting average and 9.6% strikeout rate both ranked highest among qualified National League hitters, and his .440 wOBA and 179 wRC+ placed seventh and fourth, respectively, among that same group.

MMO’s Mathew Brownstein put into perspective just how extraordinary Ramos’ August was and where it stands in the 58-year history of this organization.

The 24-game hit streak Ramos carries with him into September began on August 3 with his 4-for-5, six-RBI effort in Pittsburgh. From then through the end of the month, Ramos went 41-for-92 with a 1.067 OPS, .452 wOBA, and 186 wRC+.

Buffalo’s torrid stretch has his season line up to more than respectable levels. His .299 batting average ranks first among qualified MLB backstops, and his .360 on-base percentage and 110 wRC+ both rank second among the same group.

The latter puts Ramos just behind Milwaukee’s Yasmani Grandal (116 wRC+) and just ahead of Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto (105 wRC+). Maybe Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen got more right this offseason than just adding J.D. Davis, no?

Sure, Ramos’ 59.7% groundball rate is worst in the majors this season, but his 12.3% strikeout rate ranks 13th-best among all qualified MLB hitters in 2019. He’s putting the ball in play (.320 BABIP) and good things are happening. Tough to argue with that…

Shoddy defense or not (-13 defensive runs saved, -8.8 framing runs above average in 2019 — both worst among qualified MLB backstops), there’s no way Wilson Ramos should spend any unnecessary innings on Mickey Callaway‘s bench from here on out.

With the Mets sitting four games out of a postseason berth heading into Sunday’s series finale in Philadelphia, the stakes are just too high to not have one of their more consistent bats in the lineup on an everyday basis.