NY Mets News: Winning the season series versus the Padres says a lot

The New York Mets saw four games on their schedule against the San Diego Padres at the beginning of June and three more a week later on their home turf. June, the four-letter word month all fans have come to despise, hasn’t started off the same way as recent seasons.

The Mets did drop the first two in San Diego but rebounded quickly with a pair of victories. Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman disposed of the Padres on back-to-back days after a pair of hard-fought battles the two days prior.

Things lined up well the following weekend with deGrom and Stroman starting the series rather than ending it. This gave them the series victory early on as they once again took care of business.

Even if this didn’t perfectly resemble a seven-game series in the playoffs, Mets fans have to come away feeling really good right now.

The Padres are great, the Mets proved they can be greater

I know on paper the Padres had the better team in these two series. The Mets are still dealing with injuries. Their pitching staff is a little more top-heavy than the Padres and their offense hasn’t done what San Diego’s has on a regular basis. In a seven-game playoff series, the Padres could end up as a favorite even if the Mets have more regular season wins and home-field advantage.

Everything the Mets have accomplished this year has been with their backs up against the wall. I know this is the Steve Cohen era and the team is viewed differently. But with regular lineups sans their starting second baseman, third baseman, center fielder, and right fielder, it continues to amaze me that this club is capable of taking on one of baseball’s best.

We can see why. In a best of seven series, all it takes is two wins from your ace and a pair from your second or third best starter. Is it so crazy to think the Mets could roll into San Diego this October and steal two wins with deGrom on the mound and one apiece from Stroman and Taijuan Walker? Not in the least.

The Mets aren’t riding to the World Series for free. They have problem areas. Two spots in their rotation are questionable. Their lineup, as clutch as it has been at times, really does need to do more to sustain success.

Next up on the schedule, we have four games at Citi Field against the Chicago Cubs. Earlier this year, the Cubs swept the Mets in three straight. This was against a New York team that had fewer injuries but had yet to go into regular season mode in my opinion. It was only game number 12 of the year when they first played the Cubs. Rainouts, snowouts, and COVID-outs, all factored in.

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The Cubs are a good team and this week we can only hope the Mets have payback on their mind.