NY Mets News: Could the Amazins benefit from all of these doubleheaders in 2021?

It feels like the New York Mets haven’t played a game in weeks. In reality, they’ve squeezed in a few including one doubleheader already.

The team plays its second twin bill on Saturday, April 17 versus the Colorado Rockies. The 7-inning affair might not feel like a full game. For the Mets, it may actually help them out.

Are the Mets built perfectly for the 7-inning doubleheader?

In 7 innings, the Mets can get a higher percentage of innings out of their starters. At the very least, they can cut down on the number of innings needed out of the bullpen.

It certainly depends on who the starter is. With Jacob deGrom on the mound, a 7-inning complete game feels possible. At the very least, we should always expect him to go six frames in any game he starts.

Cutting down on the number of arms used out of the bullpen makes the Mets a lot more dangerous. Starting pitching has been their most dangerous asset in the early part of the season. The bullpen, with mixed performances from them, needs to remain limited.

Further down the schedule when we see doubleheaders add up for the Mets due to weather or COVID protocols, the team is perfectly built to handle the rigors of needing that extra starting pitcher. Two of their main guys are out right now: Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard. Imagine them back and healthy. There won’t be any turning to an opener or some green prospect or some major league castoff. The Mets have an abundance of starter options to turn to in order to get through a short or even an advanced notice doubleheader.

Equally as helpful is how other teams don’t have this luxury. Many teams across the baseball landscape struggle to fit one of their regular five.

Pitching is one thing but what about the rest of the team?

We don’t usually think of position players feeling the burn of doubleheaders. Other than the catcher, just about everyone is capable of playing both halves.

For the Mets, this may mean a little more strain on catcher James McCann. Never a guy to challenge for the league lead in starts for a catcher, it shouldn’t make a major difference in how his season goes.

Mets position players do lose at-bats and opportunities to pad their stats. Other than this, I see no negative.

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I’m not hoping for too many more doubleheaders as much fun as they can be at times. Seven innings may benefit the club just as the other type of DH—the designated hitter—but I’m not quite sold on the change to lop off two innings of a game.