The Mets look the part of a team that’s for real after their strong month of May. Looking the part, however, is just part of the equation. We’re about to see just exactly how real this team is.
They compiled a 17-9 record in May with a handful of their regular starters and key players on the injured list. While impressive, the month of June presents another formidable challenge for the Mets.
After taking two of three games in Arizona this week, New York’s road trip continues west against the San Diego Padres for a four-game weekend series.
In the National League West division, the Padres — for those not keeping score — are not the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks. San Diego (34-23) is currently one game behind the San Francisco Giants for first place in the wild west.
The Mets (27-21) could be catching San Diego at the right or wrong time, depending on how you choose to view it. The Padres have dropped their last four games, this includes a three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs, at Wrigley Field. They’ll be happy returning home to Petco Park and will be looking to get back on the winning track.
This weekend’s matchup with the Padres will be the beginning of a key stretch to the season for the Mets. They’ll wrap up their current road trip with two games against the lowly Baltimore Orioles. Depending on how their time in San Diego goes, the Mets will need to avoid any complacency with Baltimore.
I know what you’re thinking, it’s the Orioles. And, yes, the Mets have done an admirable job this season of beating the teams they should beat. Trap games, however, are indeed a thing in team sports – including baseball.
The Mets must be careful, especially with the sharp turn their schedule takes after those two games with the Orioles.
They’ll return to Queens and open their homestand with the Padres for three games, followed by the Cubs for four games.
Chicago, at 32-23, are the frontrunners in the National League Central division. They’re also enjoying the best stretch of baseball in MLB over the last two weeks. They’re a hot baseball team with growing confidence.
The second half of June doesn’t get easier with consecutive four games each against division-rivals Washington, Atlanta, and Philadelphia.
Oh, and there’s no off day for the Mets from June 11, beginning with the Padres to June 23, against Atlanta.
Did you get all of that? If you’re like me, you’re reaching for a Gatorade, preferably fruit punch.
The Mets will wrap up the month of June with three games in Atlanta. And then it’s on to July, where the Yankees will be waiting for the Subway Series.
Keeping the train on the track
Jeff McNeil, Michael Conforto, and Brandon Nimmo remain sidelined. Two of their core players, Pete Alonso and Jacob deGrom, have returned from the injured list. Their third core player, Francisco Lindor, is finally showing signs of life with the bat after struggling for most of his first two months with the team.
The Mets, however, have managed to not only keep the train on the track, they’re currently sitting atop the National League East division.
Manger Luis Rojas has navigated this team through numerous injuries, stretches of inconsistent play, along with numerous postponements and rescheduled games.
Rojas and the Mets have mostly flown under the radar this season, that’ll change now as the calendar turns to June.
Image: Rob Schumacher via Imagn Content Services, LLC
