Mets: Lucas Duda is on fire, and he needs to keep it up

In addition to his hot hitting, Duda’s defense has been very good too. So far this season, Duda’s fielding percentage success has been 99.6%, which puts him in the top six among MLB first baseman. Duda’s fielding is overlooked because he is typically known for his batting, but he has done a stellar job at first base.

Even though earlier I pointed out that it looks like Duda will not return, it’s still impossible to know. The obvious replacement option is Smith. However, Smith is known for his defense more than his bat.

Right now, Smith is tearing it up in Las Vegas hitting .308 with seven home runs. However, Smith does play in a very hitters friendly location with the thin air of Las Vegas — he is going to have to prove that he can hit in NY when he’s a September call up.

In the event that Duda keeps it up both offensively and defensively, and Smith struggles in New York in the early going, it would make a lot of sense for the Mets to sign Duda to a short term deal to handle first base and to provide depth on the bench.

Next: Flores continues to push for more playing time

If Duda can put up similar stats to what he’s had on a consistent basis, then the Mets will continue to win. They need wins now, and it’s largely up to Duda to help the Mets put together a big win streak and lead the Mets to their third straight playoff appearance.