Another necessary Mets lineup tweak to consider with Pete Alonso struggling with RISP

Beefy RBI numbers are what we expect from Pete Alonso. They get even more inflated by hitting in the clutch with runners in scoring position. This increasingly volatile weakness for the New York Mets clean-up hitter drew the ire of fans on Sunday. Call it the straw that broke the camel’s back as he had yet another day of leaving runners on board.

Alonso’s reputation as a non-clutch player has begun to grow more steam and some numbers to prove. It's just a .198 batting average in those situations, his 33 RBIs with RISP versus the 30 from Harrison Bader are terrifying. If not for home runs, the Mets’ ninth hole hitter would be right there alongside their lone All-Star this season.

The Mets successfully switched up the lineup a couple of months ago. When all of the cards were done shuffling, Francisco Lindor found a home at the top, Brandon Nimmo hitting second, J.D. Martinez third, and finally Alonso back in fourth. Another lineup change could be calling the Mets.

What should the Mets lineup look like?

There isn’t much room or purpose for demoting Alonso in the lineup. Dropping him just elongates the chances of leaving men on base. Mark Vientos is the only player worth moving up to fourth. Sadly, the .111/.158/.194 Francisco Alvarez has hit in the second half hasn’t won him any promotions in the order.

Conveniently, the best hitter on the Mets with runners in scoring position has struggled in the second-half, too. Brandon Nimmo is 9 for 54 after the All-Star Break without a home run and yet numbers this season with runners in scoring position remain some of the best in baseball. The 1.040 OPS remains his strong point.

Why not simply flip the pair? It keeps Lindor in the leadoff spot where he completely changed around his season. J.D. Martinez doesn’t lose a step either and can cozy up in the three-spot knowing he’ll hit in the first inning every game.

When the Mets did try Alonso out in the two-hole, he hit .232/.309/.455. It’s not all that much different from the .241/.325/.465 he has hit all year from every spot in the order. Nimmo, who has bounced around the order more than anyone else, would be a strange yet plausible number four hitter considering how well he has hit with runners on. The meat of a Martinez and Vientos sandwich, it should be an idea Carlos Mendoza has running through his head to get the best out of both of these players.

One trouble would be separating Jesse Winker and Jeff McNeil effectively as one would have to hit sixth and the other seventh. That is a bit overrated. Nimmo and McNeil have both hit well against lefties this year. Winker would, in most likelihood, get pinch hit for by Tyrone Taylor versus a tough lefty reliever anyway.

Proposed Mets lineup change:

1) Francisco Lindor
2) Pete Alonso
3) J.D. Martinez
4) Brandon Nimmo
5) Mark Vientos
6) Jesse Winker
7) Jeff McNeil
8) Francisco Alvarez
9) Harrison Bader