3 keys to the Mets' weathering their brutal upcoming schedule

2. The offense must morph into a dominant, relentless unit.

The last two games of their series win against the Cardinals yielded encouraging results from their offense that should carry over soon and generate offensive success, which seems like a requisite with a weakened pitching staff.  

The Mets scored 18 runs and pounded 22 hits over their last two games, and they’re getting contributions from many players in their lineup and the big hits from their big bopper. They did it without a dynamic playmaker in Starling Marte, who will return to the team tomorrow after the sudden death of his grandmother.

Pete Alonso leads the major leagues with 36 RBI, and just smoked a walk-off two-run bomb off St. Louis closer Giovanny Gallegos that travelled 447 feet and warranted a Stephen Curry-like celebration at home plate . Alonso also co-leads the National League with 10 home runs.

Francisco Lindor has seen his OPS improve by 34 points since a miserable showing in Tuesday’s doubleheader by getting on base eight straight plate appearances.

Mark Canha’s ridiculous April averages have predictably moderated, but he is getting on base, and scored five runs in six times on base in their recent series against the Cardinals.

Jeff McNeil will carry a five-game hitting streak and a six-game RBI streak into this stretch. He has returned to his All-Star level of hitting from 2019 and it is refreshing for the Mets (the deadened ball was the wake-up call).

And, of course, have Brandon Nimmo be himself, getting on base and working pitchers at a high level.

But the Mets need other guys to step up. Eduardo Escobar is batting just .123 (7-of-57) in his last 16 games. Dom Smith is batting just .203 on the season. J.D. Davis has just one hit in his last 21 at-bats.