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.
2. Pete Alonso will break the Mets season record for RBI’s and finish the season as the National League leader in that statistic.
Pete Alonso is 46 RBI’s shy of the franchise record that is owned by Mike Piazza (1999) and David Wright (2008) of 124 RBI’s each. Alonso’s at-bat discipline has improved, and is driving more runs in without relying on the home run ball. Now, it helps that some of Alonso’s home runs have come in big situations (his 10 home runs with runners in scoring position are the most in the majors).
But in a place where the offense sees Alonso as their biggest RBI man, he will be in many situations that require him to drive in runs, and as the cleanup hitter, he will have plenty of opportunities with on-base threats batting ahead of him in the lineup, such as Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte.
3. Max Scherzer will pitch his way to finish as a Cy Young Finalist.
Max Scherzer has dominated his opposition since coming off the injured list. In the three starts he has made since his return, he has a 1.40 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched, with 31 strikeouts and just one walk. He is pitching some of the best baseball he has had in his Hall of Fame career right now, and every Mets fan must be stoked about this.
He is primed to have an awesome second half with the fans behind him and the (sometimes crazy, out-of-control) attitude of winning that is resemblant of what Steve Cohen envisioned. And what better way for the Mets to open the second half with their ace on the hill tonight against the Padres, ready to dominate even further?
Sandy Alcantara seems like the favorite right now to win the Cy Young in the National League, but Max Scherzer will make it interesting.
4. The Mets will acquire a relief pitcher before the August 2 trade deadline.
It seems like the Mets are poised to acquire a reliever at the trade deadline, and there are some names that could be moved that have been discussed on Rising Apple in the past two weeks, from David Robertson of the Cubs, to Andrew Chafin and Joe Jimenez of the Tigers.
Either way, Billy Eppler knows that the bullpen could be improved upon its current state, and the Mets will be in the market for someone who can help the Mets match bullpens with those of the Braves and the Dodgers (reminder the Mets have twelve meetings with Atlanta following the deadline). They have been collectively a surprising success, but they are not a championship caliber unit yet.
5. The Mets will go 44-25 in the second half, giving them 102 wins and their seventh NL East crown.
The Mets schedule in the second half has its blend of weak and tough opponents, and the Mets will continue to grind out wins as they must with the Braves closing in on their division lead (Atlanta starts the second half 2.5 games behind New York).
The Mets have not played the Pirates yet this season, and still need to host the Nationals (twice), Rockies, Cubs, and Reds, teams that will look at 2023 and beyond when these meetings take place following the trade deadline, so the Mets have opportunities to cash in there. In fact, the Mets have the eighth easiest schedule among the 30 teams in the 2nd half (scheduled opponents have a combined .488 winning percentage this season).
So, look for the Mets to finish with 102 wins, win the National League East by seven games, and be the No. 2 seed in the National League playoffs and earn a first-round bye.