The one where a NY Mets lineup lives on in infamy

Whenever the New York Mets put together a lineup that might feature a backup catcher, infielder, and outfielder, you probably recall one day in particular back in 2015. It’s the kind of lineup that more than 10 years later continues to get referenced. Against Clayton Kershaw and the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets lost the game as soon as the lineup card was handed in.

The date was July 23, 2015, and the Mets were battling to stay over .500. The magic had yet to begin on their magical run toward a pennant. For many, the lineup Terry Collins assembled for this one was the ultimate test of faith.

Was this Mets lineup really as bad as we remember?

Curtis Granderson remained atop the lineup despite going against a lefty and was one of three Mets to single. In fact, another of the regulars who swung from the left side, Lucas Duda, singled against Kershaw as well. Wilmer Flores picked up a hit as well out of the number three spot. Everyone else posted zeroes in Kershaw’s shutout over the Mets.

Granderson led off followed by Ruben Tejada and then Wilmer Flores. Things dropped off dramatically after. John Mayberry Jr. and Eric Campbell followed. At the end of this game, the righties were well below the Mendoza Line. Mayberry went to .165/.229/.321 and Campbell fell to .176/.299/.277.

After them it was Duda followed by Juan Lagares, Anthony Recker, and the pitcher’s spot. In this game, it was a pre-San Diego home run Bartolo Colon.

Kershaw had a perfect game going until the 7th when Granderson’s leadoff single broke it up. Flores had his hit between a Tejada strikeout. Kershaw escaped the jam. Duda led off the next inning with a single but was picked off to keep the number of batters Kershaw faced to only 29 on the day.

The next day, the Mets acquired Juan Uribe in a trade with the Atlanta Braves to give them an added right-handed bat. A week later, Yoenis Cespedes joined their side of the fray.

We like to laugh at this lineup and it gets referenced often whenever an equally as devastating lineup is assembled. It bent the Mets into action before they broke.

The amazing thing about this lineup is Campbell hit .143 against lefties in 2015. Mayberry was at .175. Meanwhile, Duda was shoved down in the lineup in a year where he hit .285 with 7 homers against southpaws. Granted, this was Kershaw. The Mets were still overthinking.

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