NY Mets: 3 things that need to happen to make the playoffs

The entire lineup needs to remember how to hit with runners in scoring position — or just hit in general

Francisco Lindor coming back and hitting would be huge. Carlos Carrasco turning back into the pitcher he’s been for the majority of his career would be huge. But above all else, the Mets just need to score some runs, plain and simple.

At the beginning of the season, with all the injuries the Mets were facing, excuses could be made. Seriously, Cameron Maybin was hitting third for a stretch, that speaks for itself.

But at this point, the majority of the lineup, with the exception of Lindor, has been healthy. That also excludes Javy Baez, but he wasn’t in the plans at the beginning of the season, so the lineup the Mets envisioned heading into the year is still for the most part intact.

And they still aren’t hitting. Jeff McNeil has been bad. Dominic Smith hasn’t been nearly as good as he was last year. J.D. Davis can’t hit a fastball above his belt. Michael Conforto has been atrocious, so much so that even giving him the qualifying offer this offseason might be a stretch.

Only Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo have been passable, and even then they each have an OPS hovering around .800, which is just so uninspiring. It’s not bad by itself, but when it’s the best on the team (among qualifiers) then it’s VERY bad.

As of Thursday, the Mets have scored the third-fewest runs per game in the majors, only behind the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates. They’re bottom-10 in baseball in OPS with runners in scoring position, bottom-five in OPS with runners in scoring position and two outs and bottom-five in OPS in high leverage situations.

They aren’t hitting well to begin with, but it’s at its worst when there are ducks on the pond. At the end of the day, while a Lindor and Carrasco comeback would be huge, the one thing that is absolutely needed is the rest of the lineup remembering how to hit.

Everyone is seemingly having the worst offensive season of their career. They’re better than this. At least, they should be.

If the Mets are going to do anything this season, they need to hit. That’s the bottom line. Other things would help, but this is necessary.

If the hitting stays the way it is, there’s no chance for the Mets to make the playoffs. The way things are looking right now, that may already be the case.

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There’s still time — a little bit over a month’s worth — bit the season’s running out. It’s now or never for the Mets.