The New York Mets were supposed to contend for the NL East. Despite the high profile departure of Jacob deGrom, their pitching staff actually appeared to have improved. The lineup was still a strength. After winning 101 games in 2022, the sky seemed to be the limit.
Instead, the sky is falling in New York. Despite a record high payroll, the Mets are languishing at 18-20, falling to fourth in the division. That high priced collection of talent is failing to meet expectations.
No easy fixes for New York Mets
It is not just one area that is struggling. The Mets have scored just 158 runs in their 38 games this season, 21st in the majors. Their lineup has produced a disappointing .237/.326/.389 batting line; their .715 OPS is exactly in the middle of the pack. For a team whose lineup includes Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Brandon Nimmo, that is unacceptable. One has to imagine that some of the other hitters will get going – Starling Marte will not have a 59 OPS+ all season and Francisco Alvarez is starting to heat up – but that has to start happening soon.
The same could be said for the pitching staff. Justin Verlander has finally made his Mets’ debut but that has not been enough. Max Scherzer has struggled, Kodai Senga cannot pitch deep into games, and David Peterson and Carlos Carrasco (when healthy) have been disasters. The Mets have a team 4.71 ERA, 22nd in the majors, barely ahead of the Rockies. Their 308 strikeouts also rank 22nd, a disappointing total for a team whose top three starters have plenty of swing and miss stuff.
There are not any easy fixes. The Mets may need to tread water and wait for their stars to perform and for the roster to get healthy. But that is going to take time. As the games pass, and the quarter point of the seasons comes and goes, time is going to be in short supply.
The New York Mets have been one of the biggest disappointments in baseball this year. Unfortunately, all they can do right now is wait.
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