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2 Mets we're gaining confidence in for the Rays series, 2 that make us timid of a turnaround
After a strange weekend filled with four hour rain delays and a 4-4 Michael Perez game, the New York Mets left Washington D.C with a disappointing series split. With their record continuously slipping and their shots at a division title diminishing, Mets fans are rightfully angry with how their team has performed so far.
While there were many negatives that led to these losses, the Mets did see some positive contributions from some key players that hadn't been there before. They will need those players to step up in what figures to be an incredibly difficult series vs the Tampa Bay Rays this week. Owners of the best record in baseball, the Rays are currently in another class than the Mets, and New York will need to show vast improvements if they want to win this series.
Mets pitcher Justin Verlander showed fans signs of his dominance that helped him win his Cy Young award
Brought in to replace Jacob deGrom this past offseason, Justin Verlander had yet to make his season debut until earlier in May against the Detroit Tigers. With that start in the books, it appeared that the Mets gave Verlander the go ahead to go deeper into the games, and he did just that.
Verlander was dominant against the Cincinnati Reds. He went seven innings, which tied for the longest any Mets starter had gone all season. Across those innings, he scattered two hits and one run, striing out seven. Verlander threw 104 pitches, which is all the indication Mets fans need that the former Cy Young winner is back and fully healthy.
Verlander is slated to take the series opener against the Rays, scheduled to face off against lefty Jalen Beeks. With a clear pitching advantage, this feels like a game the Mets cannot afford to lose, especially given their recent struggles.
If the Mets can continue to get great performances out of Verlander, their chances in the NL East will significantly increase. With the rest of the staff struggling, this is a great opportunity for Verlander to show his stuff against the best of the best and will the Mets towards a huge victory.
Mets outfielder Starling Marte is showing signs of life after a horrific start to the season
Batting in the #2 hole during his tenure with the Mets, Starling Marte was a key piece of the lineup for the 2022 season. He was a reliable base stealer and would often set the table for the heavy hitters to drive in runs once he got on base.
However, 2023 has been a step back for Marte. Hitting .243 on the season, he has seen his role in the offense diminish. Marte has seemingly been bumped out of the top of the order, and has struggled to put any power behind the ball all season.
This recent four game series vs the Washington Nationals may have been just what Marte needed to break his season long slump. He hit 7 for 16 over the weekend, and his contributions were vital in every game for the Mets. Marte also recorded his 10th and 11th stolen bases, which lead the team by a considerable margin and are an important part of the Mets strategy that has been lacking thus far.
For what figures to be a difficult series, the Mets will desperately need Marte to continue his hot streak. Not only is his bat important, having a base stealing threat will be crucial to steal some runs for a team that is struggling to score any. If Marte can find his way on base frequently during this series, the Mets have a much better chance of coming away with a series win, and Marte might find his way back into the #2 spot in no time.
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is mired in a slump that he needs to break out of fast
Pete Alonso started off 2023 on a tear, quickly mashing home runs and even led the NL in home runs for some time. Since then, however, things have not quite been going Alonso's way, as he seems to have lost some power and more importantly, some confidence.
Alonso currently holds a .232 batting average, which is not what fans want to see given how great he started out. While he does still lead the team in home runs and RBIs, he hasn't been able to produce consistenlty for the Mets. More importantly, he is 8-46 for the month of May, with just six RBIs over those 14 games.
The Mets lineup is stuggling top to bottom, but the truth is that this team will only go as far as their stars take them. The team needs Alonso to step up and be able to deliver on a more consistent basis with some important series matchups looming on their schedule. In a series against a dominant Tampa Bay pitching staff, Alonso will need to turn it around if the Mets want to have any fighting chance. If he starts producing again, this slump will end up as just a thing of the past.
Mets designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach has not been able to provide a spark in that role this season
Daniel Vogelbach has been a solid piece for the Mets this season, posting the third highest OPS on the team. The more the Mets play, however, fans are starting to realize that Vogelbach has no place being the everyday DH for a team that is lacking power.
Vogelbach has focused his approach this season on being patient at the plate, and he is currently third on the team in walks. This method has worked in that regard, but the Mets and their offensive struggles will need more than just walks against teams like the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hitting at just .235, the Mets simply need more power out of the DH position than Vogelbach. He only has two home runs, and with the way the rest of the lineup underperforming Vogelbach has struggled to score, with just eight runs on the season. This can also be chalked up to his lack of speed on the bases, as shown in the Mets recent loss to the Nationals when he failed to beat out what should've been an easy infield hit due to error.
With Ronny Mauricio and Mark Vientos mashing in Triple AAA, it appears to only be a matter of time until one of them takes over DH duties from Vogelbach. The primary quesiton now shared amongst Mets fans is simple; what is taking so long? With many important series coming up, the Mets will need Vogelbach to step up and regain some power from previous seasons, or he could soon find his way out of the lineup quickly.
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