The Mets are operating in a can-do-no-wrong sort of mode, reminiscent of last summer, after going 7-0 on their homestand against the Cardinals and Phillies.
Here are three takeaways from their recent action:
1. The Mets are about to become more whole.
Don’t forget that they have done all this without their starting catcher and starting second baseman.
Francisco Alvarez (left hand surgery) and Jeff McNeil (right oblique strain) are due to return from the injured list Friday. Alvarez will slot right back in behind the plate, while the Mets will have to figure out how to divvy up playing time with McNeil joining Luisangel Acuna and others in the centerfield/second base picture.
That is unfortunate news for Hayden Senger, who had been the backup catcher, and perhaps Brett Baty, who may or may not get sent down to make room for McNeil.
Baty gave the Mets something to think about Wednesday with a two-run home run off Zack Wheeler, his first long ball of the year and the hardest-hit homer by any Met this season.
“It’s a tough one here,” Mendoza said of the pending roster decision.
Baty said of the uncertainty: “It’s really hard. But it’s part of the business. It’s what we signed up for. So can’t really do anything about it.”
2. The bullpen is so deep.
Mendoza wasn’t sure Wednesday morning how the Mets would piece together the pitching in what became a 4-3, 10-inning win. He wound up with a funky bullpen answer: Huascar Brazoban (three outs), Danny Young (two), Jose Butto (three), Edwin Diaz (four) and Max Kranick (two).
Incredibly, it worked.
Mets relievers have combined for a 2.35 ERA. That ranks second in the majors.
“You feel like the eight of them are getting huge outs for us.” Mendoza said.
3. It’s all coming up Mets in the NL East.
With the usual caveat that this is just four weeks — and the 2024 Mets can tell you how much things change over a six-month season — the degree to which the division is tilting in the Mets’ favor is striking.
At the outset, it seemed like a three-team race: Atlanta, Philadelphia, Mets (in some order). And that may well still be the case. But Atlanta looks lost and the Phillies did not impress in getting swept.
“It’s always good to win games, to win series’, especially when you’re playing against teams within your division. But understand it’s only April,” Mendoza said. “We’re going to see those guys a lot more. And they’re a good team. We just happen to be playing really well. It’s going to be a fun summer.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
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