Mets Depth Chart: 2 players moving up, 2 moving down

The ever-active New York Mets depth chart has featured some recent movement. Although hypothetical as much as it is real, the instant performances of certain players have them, at least in theory, moving up or down from day to day. This year’s Mets insert players into games for situational purposes. However, we have also seen them grow to favor one player over another even when it goes against splits and other analytical ways of thinking.

Entering Sunday’s finale against the Chicago Cubs, we can safely say these two moves are moving up the depth chart and these two others are dropping down.

Jose Iglesias is moving up the depth chart

Jose Iglesias got the start at third base for the Mets on Saturday to give Mark Vientos a breather. The lone middle infielder on the bench, Iglesias is becoming more than a backup. In fact, he probably should be starting.

The .400/.447/.457 slash line through 38 plate appearances is impossible to ignore. We’ve seen enough of him to understand what he injects into each game. There’s a certain energy. A terrific defender already, the impressive bat skills have helped give the Mets a more complete lineup whenever he starts.

Getting the most out of Iglesias would involve playing him as much as possible. He has fit in perfectly with his teammates. The veteran presence and attitude is something they lacked at the start of the year.

Naturally, with Iglesias moving up the depth chart, someone else will need to drop. The one Mets hitter still not doing much hitting at all is the one whose job he could take.

Jeff McNeil is moving down the depth chart

You could have predicted this. Jeff McNeil has truly fallen on the depth chart in every way possible. He is no longer an option against left-handed starting pitchers even though he has hit them better. The .215/.282/.300 slash line is intolerable. He is offering the Mets next to nothing at the plate this year. Even with a respectable 11 doubles, he is far gone from his glory days of competing for a batting title.

Iglesias is the guy who should be playing the bulk of the time at second base. Until Iglesias truly cools off, it’s what makes the most sense for a Mets team battling to get back to .500 and stay in the Wild Card race.

McNeil still carries value as a versatile defender. Unfortunately for him, this is a team that carries Tyrone Taylor on its bench and seems to have a strong affection for DJ Stewart in the corner outfield twice a week. This has left McNeil at second base where he has played good defense. The problem is Iglesias is an even better defender as well as a hitter.

Will there be a redemption arc for McNeil this season? We surely hope so. But in either case, it feels like McNeil’s time with the Mets may soon come to a close. The club has a plethora of minor league options at second base moving forward. Getting shoved down the depth chart so deep this year is a signal of what their plans will be.

Dedniel Nunez is moving up the depth chart

Everybody’s favorite rookie reliever this season, Dedniel Nunez, has pitched brilliantly. A 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings across 11 games has been one of the bigger surprises in a bullpen full of them. Only Reed Garrett’s early dominance and the success of Sean Reid-Foley might outmatch what Nunez has accomplished.

We should consider Nunez one of the top dogs out of the bullpen for the Mets. Although he’s no kid at 28-years-old, he is a rookie no less and one who has uplifted the team several times this month alone.

Gutsy 4+ out appearances while racking up strikeouts have been his modus operandi of late. In particular, it was the perfect 2.1 innings he pitched against the Miami Marlins while fanning 5 that stood out. He followed it up with a recent outing against the San Diego Padres with two more shutout innings and a pair of strikeouts.

Nunez is beginning to pitch in bigger situations for the Mets. Although more established big leaguers are in the bullpen to hand the ball off to Edwin Diaz, it’s not preposterous for Carlos Mendoza to begin handing those opportunities to Nunez. Frankly, he has earned every high-leverage situation the Mets can toss his way.