NY Mets injury updates raises the stakes on the lineup's most underwhelming bat

Tyrone Taylor is on the IL and Jesse Winker is likely done for the year. It was a day of loss for the New York Mets who’ll be without two players who played pivotal roles for the team last season. Taylor became the team’s starting center fielder. Winker, as a DH, lit up in the playoffs and gave the Mets the kind of attitude they couldn’t find anywhere else.

Winker had already been questionable to return this year. With Starling Marte playing better than expected, the team committed to making him the more regularly used DH alongside doses of Jeff McNeil. More recently, Mark Vientos has been digging his heels into the role.

Not everyone has delivered for the Mets. Trade deadline acquisition Cedric Mullins has been one of the more underwhelming hitters in the lineup. His unimpressive .738 OPS with the Baltimore Orioles has tanked to .621 in 97 plate appearances with the Mets. Hitless since August 24 and regularly replaced in center field by McNeil, the stakes have been raised for him to start performing far better.

It’s time for Cedric Mullins to wake up

Mullins has, predictably, failed to move the needle. A weak hitter in recent seasons and average defender at best, this is quickly trending toward becoming an unnecessary trade deadline decision. McNeil has given the Mets far better offensive production. Mullins, relegated to the bottom third of the order, is having as little impact as anyone.

It wasn’t long ago the Mets seemed desperate to add a center field upgrade. Taylor was hitting miserably. Of course, with less playing time, he decided to elevate his game with a .367 batting average in August. Both players drove in 7 runs for the month. Taylor played far less while continuing to give the Mets superb defense.

Offense wasn’t much of a problem for the Mets in the month of August. Pitching is what let them down. Mullins’ struggles have been more of a footnote on the trade deadline miscues. Ryan Helsley’s blown saves, Tyler Rogers’ inability to keep inherited runners from scoring, and Gregory Soto’s recent mishaps seem to have hurt the Mets far more. Mullins needed to do the bare minimum to become an upgrade over Taylor. He hasn’t even accomplished that.

Let the loss of Taylor for however long and questionable return of Winker be the wake up call he needs.