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3 struggling Mets players who need to step up most against the Dodgers in the NLCS

A big NLCS from any of these three can help make a difference.

By Tim Boyle |
Wild Card Series - New York Mets v Milwaukee Brewers - Game 1
Wild Card Series - New York Mets v Milwaukee Brewers - Game 1 / John Fisher/GettyImages
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The New York Mets have made it to the NLCS to play the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League pennant. You already knew that already. You haven’t been able to think about anything else since.

Dishes have gone unwashed. Children have been left at soccer practice. Your employer feels you’ve been distant from your work. Your spouse wonders if that overly polite “hello” exchanged with the neighbors has led to something more and guilt is eating you up inside.

No. You’re just distracted by the Mets.

In the coming NLCS, they’ll need to continue to do what has gotten them this far. Clutch hitting. Big time starting pitching performances. The top performers must continue to deliver. Meanwhile, these three need to step up and have a big series, too.

1) Edwin Diaz

Could the season really come down to whether or not Edwin Diaz is his old self again? It really feels like he, once again, is the crucial part of the Mets that can determine where they ultimately finish. Without him in 2023, it was an immediate death sentence—or so it felt. In 2022, his dominance on the mound was the reason why the ball club put together one of the franchise’s best years ever.

The Diaz we’ve seen this postseason has been shaky. An 8.10 ERA in limited action, it’s how he has done it that has fans worrisome.

Diaz’s struggles from the win against the Atlanta Braves have carried into the postseason. He did a tightrope walk (emphasis on the walk) in the bookend appearances in Game 3 versus the Milwaukee Brewers and Game 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The game in between was the one he blew and many are still unsure if he has it all corrected.

Diaz believes he has figured it out, though. We’ll hold our breath that this indeed a solution to the wildness we’ve seen from him lately.

2) Phil Maton

If you have concerns about Diaz, you probably have them with Phil Maton, too. At least Diaz has delivered regularly for the Mets in the past. We can’t say the same for Maton, the trade deadline mercenary whose inflated 13.50 ERA looks like fake news after how incredible he was in the regular season.

Alas, there it sits. Too old to be considered a child. Too young to be considered an adult. The 13-and-a-half ERA is as much trouble as most young teenagers whose ages match the number of runs he’s averaging per 9 innings in the postseason.

Maton has yet to have a strong outing for the Mets. Even his clean inning against the Phillies included a pair of hits. He, like Diaz, began to falter in the regular season. The same game where Diaz showed signs of defeat against the Braves included Maton surrendering a pair of runs while recording a single out.

The Mets do have other options to turn to in lieu of Maton. Ryne Stanek appears to have been elevated up the depth chart. David Peterson, in his role “anytime, anywhere” label out of the bullpen can fill in for Maton as well.

This doesn’t mean Maton can skate through the NLCS in a lesser role. The longer series has a chance to test the Mets bullpen more than ever. They’re going to need a once trusted arm like Maton to show signs of life again.

3) Francisco Alvarez

Give some credit to Francisco Alvarez for how he has played the catcher position all year and in the playoffs. Anytime a pitching staff overachieves, the catcher deserves a share of the credit. It shouldn’t be overlooked how well he has handled this staff.

For all of the sneaky-good things he has done this year, his performance at the plate hasn’t measured up to expectations. He had a great start to the season before landing on the IL after an injury at Dodger Stadium of all places. He’d come back in early June and picked up where he left off.

As the months went on, Alvarez slumped at the plate. He finished with some stronger offensive numbers and more present power in his swing.

The postseason has been less kind. All four of his hits have been singles. He has struck out 9 times in his 26 plate appearances. He has driven in a single run.

Buried in the number eight or nine slot each game, his absence from the offense has a tendency to kill rallies. He got things started in Game 1 against the Phillies once Zack Wheeler exited. He came close to botching the Francisco Lindor grand slam in Game 4 when he grounded out to shortstop and a force out at home plate created the first out of the inning.

The Mets can win the NLCS without Alvarez being a big part of their success. Without him contributing on offense, a moment could come where they leave one too many men on base.

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