It’s crunch time for the Mets.
In the event that they’re going to point out that they’re worthy of a playoff spot, they should show it over the following two weeks. Their schedule the remainder of the best way by is unforgiving, with the one tender spot coming this week with three video games in opposition to the Washington Nationals on the highway. However then they proceed a interval of division play by visiting the Atlanta Braves, and after they return house, they face the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins.
No stress.
No matter the place these groups are within the standings, if the Mets preserve taking part in like they’ve been since June, they’ll be in for a brief summer time and an extended winter. Nonetheless, there are indicators of life.
They received a collection for the primary since late July, taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners over the weekend. A 3-3 week general, the three wins have been principally the results of an offense that has woken up once more. Francisco Lindor was named NL Participant of the Week after hitting .560 (14-for-25) to guide the league, with three house runs, seven RBI, three doubles, three walks, seven runs and two stolen bases in six video games. His 1.647 OPS additionally led all hitters.
Mark Vientos went 2-for-3 with a house run Sunday evening within the Little League Traditional, with a two-out, three-run, opposite-field house run within the fifth inning off George Kirby that put the Mets up 6-1. Brett Baty helped key a 3-1 win over Seattle on Saturday with manufacturing on the backside of the underside of the order.
The Mets have been averaging about 6.0 runs per sport over their final 9. The best way Lindor goes is usually how the remainder of the lineup goes as effectively, so getting him out of his months-long droop is kind of presumably the most effective signal for the Mets transferring ahead. Nonetheless, even the All-Star shortstop couldn’t out-hit the entire unhealthy pitching.
The rotation nonetheless isn’t getting size. It’s nearly comical at this level, however the relievers most likely aren’t laughing within the bullpen after they’re pressured to get sizzling within the fourth or fifth innings evening after evening.
The reduction corps is taxed, and supervisor Carlos Mendoza is doing what he can to plug the leaks. The Mets have stayed away from Ryne Stanek in latest video games. Proper-hander Ryan Helsley, fairly presumably the splashiest commerce deadline addition for the staff, has a 7.11 ERA since being traded from the St. Louis Cardinals. Nearer Edwin Diaz recorded a six-out save Saturday to safe a 3-1 win, the Mets’ first shut win since July 27 in San Francisco.
Presently, the Mets maintain the third Wild Card playoff spot, and are 5.0 video games behind the Phillies. There’s nonetheless time to make up floor within the division, however they’ll want to beat their very own deficiencies to make an actual run for the NL East title. Beginning pitching, or possibly lack thereof, is the most important storyline for the Mets as they head into the house stretch of the season.
On the offensive aspect, they’ve been rotating their younger infielders between second and third bases. Nonetheless, neither Baty, nor Vientos and even Ronny Mauricio have proven a ok hit instrument to have the ability to produce persistently off the bench, or in restricted motion. Vientos has began solely eight of the Mets 15 video games this month, with Baty and Mauricio getting nearly all of the taking part in time at third base. He’s been taking part in higher after slumping for many of the season, and but getting much less taking part in time.
A few of it’s in regards to the protection, since Baty and Mauricio are higher defenders than Vientos. But it surely’s robust sufficient for a younger participant to supply on the plate with out constant at-bats. To do it in the midst of a playoff push when the Mets badly want run manufacturing, is much more tough. The Mets haven’t made it clear whether or not or not they intend to let one among them take over the place the remainder of the best way by.
A number of weeks in the past, Mendoza mentioned he wasn’t fearful about a problem that was to date forward into the longer term.
The longer term is now for the Mets. Whereas it’s beginning to look brilliant as soon as once more, there are nonetheless just a few dim spots they’ll attempt to overcome this week as they begin a six-game NL East highway journey.
Initially Revealed: August 18, 2025 at 6:38 PM EDT
