A routine single might have completed the NY Mets lineup puzzle

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple swing and a well-timed burst of speed to change the course of a game, and maybe a lineup. Cedric Mullins didn’t hit a towering home run or flip the dugout into chaos. He just delivered a clean single, swiped second, and nudged the New York Mets out of their early game sleepwalk. Suddenly, the rest of the order blinked awake, too.

For the first time in a while, the Mets’ lineup looked… whole. Mullins wasn’t just filling a spot in center field; he was filling a gap the Mets have been tripping over for weeks. His fourth-inning spark turned into a mini fire, and with the bottom of the lineup showing signs of life, the big bats up top finally got the kind of runway they’ve been missing.

Cedric Mullins has the potential to breathe life into the Mets’ struggling bottom of the lineup.

Mullins wasn’t brought in to be a savior, just a center fielder who could hit his weight and give the Mets something steady at the bottom of the order. Compared to Tyrone Taylor’s .199 average and .547 OPS, Mullins’ .229 with a .736 OPS, 15 homers, 49 RBIs is a clear upgrade. He may not be an All-Star, but his veteran savvy and consistently competitive at-bats bring much-needed stability to a spot that’s struggled all season.

And in his first start with the Mets, Mullins wasted no time showing why he’s here. After the Mets gave up the lead in the top of the fourth Saturday, Mullins led off the bottom half with a clean single and then swiped second after an Alvarez flyout. That was the kind of low-maintenance, high-value play this team has needed, especially from the bottom third. What followed? A walk, two singles, and the setup for the top of the order to drive the inning home.

Later in the game, Mullins reached again after wearing a pitch, because why not get on base the gritty way, too? By night’s end, the bottom three spots in the order had combined for six of the Mets’ twelve runs. And it wasn’t some outlier. Mullins looks like a strong fit near the bottom, especially if Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty keep rolling like they did in July. Get traffic on down there, and the top of the lineup can finally do damage without having to start the fire themselves.

If Saturday was any indication, Cedric Mullins might just be the missing spark the Mets needed to unlock their full lineup. Getting those runners on base and turning the bottom third into a threat doesn’t just add runs; it changes how pitchers approach the entire order. With Mullins helping to complete the puzzle, the Mets’ offense could finally start clicking the way everyone has hoped all season.