NY Mets: 5 things we must see in the second half for a successful season

The Mets need at least four starters we can trust on a regular basis

Who becomes the fourth starter in the Mets rotation we can trust? I would let Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker, and Marcus Stroman babysit my non-existent children and teach them all how to pitch. I can’t say the same thing about any of the other starters the Mets have put on the mound this year.

The team does have several options to fill this void. A returning Carlos Carrasco could do wonders for the club. Tylor Megill, the unexpected rookie promoted to the big leagues, may also become a valuable asset for the 2021 club.

Because of the timing of the first two weeks of the second half, a lot of the chatter will be about potential trades. The Mets are in a position to add at the trade deadline. A starting pitcher should be on their list of greatest needs.

Injuries to their starters have been the biggest plague on the team’s rotation. Joey Lucchesi was beginning to turn things around when he went out of the year. We have yet to see Carrasco or Noah Syndergaard because of their own ailments.

The best we can expect from any club is to have a strong five-man rotation and possibly a suitable emergency starter. The way things have gone in 2021, I’m good with just four reliable arms. An internal or external option, strength at 80% is all we need to feel a little more secure.