3 roster holes that could prevent Mets from winning the World Series
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The beauty of this year’s New York Mets squad is that you can nitpick where things are going wrong without having to worry about whether or not this team will make the playoffs unlike past years. However, with the season the Mets are having, it may be time to look at potential areas on the roster that could derail their season and prevent them from winning the World Series.
Mets roster hole No. 1: Left-handed reliever (or lack thereof)
The Mets will have to face some key left-handed power hitters come October if they want to win the World Series. Examples include: Matt Olson and Michael Harris of the Braves, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies, Juan Soto of the Padres, and Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, and Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers. That’s a lot of real estate that may go up against the Mets come October, with some of the scariest sluggers in the National League.
The lefty relievers on the active roster now are Joely Rodriguez, who has been wild all season, and Nate Fisher, who worked in finance 14 months ago. As impressive as Fisher was in his debut on Sunday in Philadelphia, you can’t expect him to replicate that result at all times.
Now, the Mets have someone in Eric Orze in Triple-A that can come up and neutralize lefties with his splitter, but throwing him right into the fire under pressure in October is a remarkably tall task.
If there is a spot late in a game when any of the aforementioned sluggers from National League rivals is at the dish, it should make Mets fans nervous about any swing they take.
Mets roster hole No. 2: Right-handed hitting off the bench
Part of the deal for the Mets in getting Darin Ruf from the Giants in a trade was that it was supposed to be an upgrade over J.D. Davis, who had a lot of trouble making contact this season. Ruf has been historically really good against lefties, but he hasn’t shown much of that with the Mets in the three weeks he’s been there.
Every Mets position player trade deadline addition has felt like an upgrade in a big way, except for Ruf. If Ruf can’t show up in a big spot to counter a pitching change that brings in a left-hander to pitch to him, then other teams will attack that hole and make Darin Ruf beat them.
The Mets as a team are batting .239 with a .695 OPS against lefty pitching, whereas they have a .266 batting average with a .756 OPS against righties.
The Mets let Bailey Falter of the Phillies pitch a gem against them over the weekend. Who on earth is Bailey Falter? The Mets as a whole have collectively struggled all year against left-handed pitching, and that has to change if they face guys like Max Fried, Julio Urias, or Clayton Kershaw in the playoffs.
Until Darin Ruf turns his season around, the Mets don’t have a strong counterpunch against the opposition’s lefty specialist.
Mets roster hole No. 3: Lack of trustworthy seventh Inning bullpen option
The bridge to Edwin Diaz has felt elusive at times this season for the Mets. Now, Drew Smith returning to quality reliever status upon return from the injured list would change the equation, but Smith has been inconsistent this season.
The Mets seem to feel comfortable with Adam Ottavino as their eighth inning man on the depth chart, and Ottavino has had a strong season. But neither of Trevor May, Seth Lugo, or Mychal Givens have distinguished themselves from the others to be thrusted into the seventh inning situation.
Lugo is the leader for this job amid Smith’s absence, as he has pitched to a 2.13 ERA and a 2.33 FIP since the All-Star break, but he still hasn’t earned back the confidence of the fans, yet. More needs to be seen.
May had that opportunity after returning from the injured list three weeks ago, but he has remained inconsistent after three months on the shelf.
Givens has given up nine earned runs in 8.2 innings since coming over at the deadline.
Other than strikeouts per nine innings, the bullpen’s ranks within the majors are not up to par with the rest of the team, and that has to do with the lack of consistency from their bullpen.
Next. Why the Mets are better than the Yankees. dark