Mets Roster: Three key players that need to improve ASAP

Look, the 2021 MLB season did not start as planned for the New York Mets. The team has already seen a series canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, as well as multiple rain delays. In essence, things have literally not gone according to schedule.

At the same time, there has not been this much excitement and confidence from the team and fanbase in years. The Mets have a brand-new owner, an extremely deep and talented roster, and have started off the year well even with the scheduling setbacks. After all, with a 5-3 record, the Mets sit in first place atop the tough National League East division.

The Mets start is attributed to a handful of things. First, the starting pitching has been phenomenal. Jacob deGrom is off to a hot start as he looks for a third Cy Young award in four years. Between him, Marcus Stroman, Taijuan Walker, and David Peterson, the Mets starting pitchers have an earned run average of 2.14 through eight games.

As for the offense, Brandon Nimmo has been lighting it up out of the gate, taking 16 total bases in his first 28 at-bats. The duo of Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith has produced three home runs and 11 RBIs so far too. Even the big off-season additions of Francisco Lindor and James McCann have been heating up of late.

In order to contend, the New York Mets need these three players to improve their play as soon as possible.

Nevertheless, there are always improvements to be made, as the Mets are not perfect. Despite a small sample size, this team is far from being taken seriously as a World Series contender. In order to get there, the Mets need these three players to improve as soon as possible…

Relief Pitcher Trevor May

Going into opening day, the Mets were already without Seth Lugo. The star reliever is out following elbow surgery and has only recently begun throwing again. Additionally, the Mets have also lost reliever Dellin Betances to the injured list with a shoulder injury.

That being said, it has been known for quite a while that the other relieves in the bullpen would need to step up. Miguel Castro is the perfect example, as he has struck out six in 4.2 innings of work, posting a modest 3.86ERA.

At the same time, the big off-season addition to the bullpen, Trevor May, has not. May signed with the New York Mets on a two-year deal worth $15.5-million with the expectation he would be one of the shutdown relievers.

Instead, May has started off the 2021 season with mixed results. He has had four outings, spanning 3.1 innings, posting an impressive strikeout per nine inning mark of 16.2.

Then again, May has also given up six hits, two walks, and ultimately owns an earned run average of 5.40. Clearly, this has not been the start the Mets, nor May hoped to the year.

Even with his early struggles, May is a veteran who will remain a go-to guy out of the pen. Over the past three years for the Minnesota Twins, May had a 3.19ERA, which is what the Mets were hoping for him this season.

Again, the season is still very young, with only eight of the Mets 162 games played. Nevertheless, with Lugo and Betances out, May needs to pitch the way he did in Minnesota now.

Right fielder Michael Conforto

Yes, Trevor May and Jeff McNeil have not had the starts people expected, though their track records in recent years give fans immediate relief they can turn things around quickly. When it comes to Michael Conforto, the story is a little different.

Since hitting the majors in 2015, Conforto has had all the expectations in the world when it comes to being the Mets next superstar outfielder. Early on, it appeared that way, as he made his first All-Star game in 2017 at only 24-years-old.

Then, from 2018-2019, Conforto hit a plateau of being around a .250 batting average hitter who can hit around 30 home runs a year. Of course, those are excellent numbers, but based on his 2020 season, the superstar expectations have returned.

Conforto hit nine home runs and 31RBIs in 2020 to go with a .322 batting average – the highest of his career. Entering this season, which is also the final year of his contract, the idea that Conforto could possibly extend those numbers over a 162-game season had fans excited.

Rather than picking up where he left off, Conforto has had a minimal impact so far this season. He has a .120 batting average in 32 plate appearances and is without a home run. The bright spot for Conforto has lied with his on-base percentage of .313, which is thanks to eight walks, four of them being hit by pitches.

There is a lot riding on the 2021 season for both the Mets and Conforto. New York needs Conforto to produce in order to have a shot at winning it all. Meanwhile, Conforto must rake in order to get the massive deal in the off-season he believes he should get.

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The bottom line, the Mets need Trevor May, Jeff McNeil, and above all Michael Conforto to get their seasons going as soon as possible.