Here are five things to watch and predictions like the Mets and Washington Nationals play a four-game series in Washington, D.C. starting Monday night…
Preview
The Mets bullpen is depleted
Without Edwin Diaz in the last five games and having to go another five games without him due to the 10 game suspension, the relief corps is in a very bad situation.
Add to Diaz’s absence the injury Sean Reid-Foley (who could return from the IL when he is first eligible on July 6), the recent likely season-ending injury of Drew Smithand the injury at the end of the previous season of Brooks Raleyand the Mets bullpen is going through that right now.
They had just enough to withstand the Yankees’ onslaught last Tuesday, and a blowout win over the Astros on Friday helped. But the bullpen cost the Mets very winnable games on Saturday and Sunday.
Specifically on Sunday, the Mets were in a very bad situation, forced to turn to journeymen Matthew Party – who had just been called up – in a tie game in the 11th inning. Festa gave up five runs.
The returns of Diaz and Reid-Foley should stabilize things, but the Mets still have a bit to go before help arrives.
So begins the easiest 18-game stretch of the season
I’ve been tweeting about this 18-game stretch for a while now, and I’ve seen several iterations of “there’s no easy schedule.”
Sorry to say this, but it exists.
That doesn’t mean the Mets haven’t struggled before when faced with easy situations, and it doesn’t mean they won’t do so again. But the next 18 games are a chance for them to do some serious damage.
The Nats were a fun early story, but began to struggle, going 3-7 in their last 10 games.
Pirates have Paulo Skenes It is Jared Jones (The Mets will only face Skenes during this weekend’s series), but without much offense.
The Rockies (28-55) and Marlins (30-54) are terrible baseball teams.
Either the Mets will take care of business against these teams or they won’t, but — objectively — this is New York’s easiest 18-game stretch of the year.
AND Christian Scott About to come back?
With Tylor Megill relegated to Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets have a spot in the starting rotation.
Still losing a roster spot because of Diaz’s suspension, they could theoretically have Adriano Houser slide out of the bullpen to fill the rotation for an inning.
But Houser has emerged as a valuable bullpen asset, and it makes more sense to keep him there when you take into account his success in the role and the Mets’ huge need for reliable ‘pen arms right now.
If the Mets don’t turn to Scott, who has excelled at Triple-A as the team manages its innings, the other option would conceivably be José Butto.
But manager Carlos Mendoza suggested numerous times last week that Scott might be getting the call.
It’s time to consider Luisangel Acuña?
Acuña has been on a roll in Triple-A over the past month and change, and that continued over the weekend when he hit his fifth home run of the season.
His OPS for the year is just .701, but that’s mainly due to the very slow start he’s had.
Acuña slashed .298/.348/.413 in June and had hits in 14 of his last 15 games to close out the month. He is also a threat on the bases, with 26 stolen bags this season.
Maybe the Mets think he has more to prove in the minors, but it might be tempting to consider calling up Acuña, putting him at second base and sliding Jeff McNeil to an outfield corner.
The alternative is to continue using DJ Stewart (.667 OPS) or Tyron Taylor (.648 OPS) in the starting lineup while Mars Starling It is out.
The Nats are starting to fade
As mentioned above, Washington is in trouble.
The Nats are 3-7 in their last 10 games and have lost five of their last six — a three-game sweep at the hands of the Padres in San Diego and a series loss to the Rays in Tampa.
Their offense was hit or miss, with the Nats being blanked on Sunday after scoring eight runs on Saturday but just one on Friday.
If there’s one Nat the Mets should be careful with, it’s the young shortstop CJ Abramswho has fully emerged as a star this season and has an .858 OPS.
The Mets must also be careful when throwing to James Madeira – one of the best prospects in baseball – who was just drafted.
Predictions
Who will be the series MVP?
Francisco Lindor.
Lindor went hitless in the final game of the Mets’ series against Houston after four consecutive two-hit games.
Although he remains hot, Lindor is experiencing a home run drought, with just one in his last 11 games. That will change at Nationals Park.
Who fills the Mets’ empty rotation spot?
Christian Scott.
The Mets should pick their best option, even if it’s just for one inning. Scott is the best option.
Which Nats will be a thorn in the side of the Mets?
Jesse Winker It is Joey Meneses.
Winker because he has always been a pest for the Mets, and Meneses because he can’t get any worse after suffering a golden sombrero on Sunday.
