5 predictions for the Mets in the second half

Now that the All-Star week observance in Major League Baseball has concluded, it is time for a round of predictions for the New York Mets as they open the second half of their season tonight when they host the San Diego Padres. 

These predictions are a combination of individual stats and milestones, individual impact, and team success outlooks that fans should keep their eyes upon as a critical stretch begins tonight. 

1. Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos will not only not be traded, but they will take meaningful at-bats in September for the Mets. 

It appears as if the Mets will need another bat or two to contribute to the big-league club at some point this summer, and they have two young options that they could consider to join the team in Flushing, especially when the rosters expand to 28 players after September 1. The Mets have one of the oldest rosters in baseball, and they could use a splurge of young talent at some point. 

If the Mets feel that Francisco Alvarez is who they want to plug in as their everyday catcher in a couple of years, they can give him some at-bats as the team’s DH in September (the DH spot is a point of weakness on this roster, and he can learn from James McCann and Tomas Nido about catching in the big leagues). 

Mark Vientos appears the most major league ready of the top 10 prospects in the organization. He swung the bat well leading into his recent trip to the All-Star Futures game in Los Angeles last week. Vientos has a .275/.352/.488 slash line over his last 21 games at Triple-A, with five home runs in 80 at-bats.