Ranking the 3 biggest Mets All-Star game snubs

The New York Mets have had a tremendous first half despite missing Jacob deGrom for the entire season thus far and surviving without Max Scherzer for over one month.

They are doing this largely thanks to their four all stars. Pete Alonso, Starling Marte, Jeff McNeil, and Edwin Diaz will all represent the Mets in Los Angeles and all four of them are very deserving of spots.

McNeil honestly deserved the start at second base in my opinion over Jazz Chisholm and Diaz has been so good he should be the closer for the NL team.

Even with four all-star representatives, the Mets still had three players I feel were snubbed.

3. Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor has finally lived up to what he was supposed to be. He really has since June of last season, but it's nice to see him put it all together for a full season.

The batting average might not be high, but he has slashed a respectable .245/.319/.424 with 15 home runs and 60 RBI. He's also added nine stolen bases and a really good glove at shortstop.

The National League happens to have two shortstops in Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson who both had excellent first halves, but Lindor's was very good as well.

Lindor's 60 RBI puts him in fifth in the National League and tied for seventh in all of baseball. His 15 home runs are second among National League shortstops.

Lindor has a 2.9 fWAR which is third among National League shortstops but top 10 in the NL. He probably doesn't deserve a spot over Swanson or Turner but he's been one of the best players in the National League even with a low batting average. He's been clutch, he's played good defense, he's hit for power.

1. Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker

Going into the season I had lost all confidence in Taijuan Walker. He was arguably the worst pitcher in baseball in the second half last season after being an all-star in the first half and I just thought that was it for him. Once Tylor Megill got off to his good start I assumed when Jacob deGrom returned he'd be the odd man out in the rotation.

Things changed. 2021 first half Taijuan Walker is back and better than ever. It's a shame he wasn't chosen as an all-star but he's probably one of the next guys up if there is an injury. He's been that good.

In 15 starts this season, Walker has gone 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA. He's allowed just four home runs in 85.2 innings pitched (0.4 HR/9) and has an ERA+ of 152.

In a season that has seen Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tylor Megill all miss significant time, Taijuan Walker has been the Mets most consistent and reliable starter. He has made four starts of at least seven innings pitched with no runs allowed, that's tied for second in all of baseball.

Since May 12th Walker has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 starts, pitching to a 2.29 ERA in that stretch. He's really only had one bad start all season and that was when he was working himself back from an injury facing the same opponent for the third straight time.

Clayton Kershaw and Luis Castillo both made the all-star team despite missing significant time. Walker has made four more starts than Kershaw and three more than Castillo. I understand that Castillo has to be in it as the Reds representative but Kershaw does not at all, and there were plenty of pitchers who deserved a nod.

There are always pitchers who pitch too close to the game so they don't end up playing, but Walker certainly got snubbed out of a spot to pitch in the all-star game for the second straight year with the first half he's had. Hopefully, something happens and Taijuan finds his way in Los Angeles next week.