Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Washington Nationals play a four-game series in Washington, D.C. starting on Monday night…
Preview
The Mets’ bullpen is running on fumes
Without Edwin Diaz for the last five games and having to go five more games without him due to his 10-game suspension, the relief corps is in a very bad spot.
Add to Diaz’s absence the injury to Sean Reid-Foley (who could be back from the IL when first eligible on July 6), the recent likely season-ending injury to Drew Smith, and the prior season-ending injury to Brooks Raley, and the Mets’ bullpen is going through it right now.
They had just enough in the tank to withstand a barrage from the Yankees this past Tuesday, and a blowout win over the Astros on Friday helped. But the bullpen cost the Mets very winnable games on Saturday on Sunday.
On Sunday specifically, the Mets were in a really bad situation, forced to turn to journeyman Matt Festa — who had just been called up — in a tie game in the 11th inning. Festa gave up five runs.
The returns of Diaz and Reid-Foley should stabilize things, but the Mets still have a bit to go before that help arrives.
Thus begins the easiest 18-game stretch of the season
I’ve been tweeting about this 18-game stretch for a while and seeing various iterations of “there’s no such thing as an easy schedule.”
Sorry to say it, but there is.
That doesn’t mean the Mets haven’t struggled before when faced with easy slates, and it doesn’t mean they won’t again. But the next 18 games are a chance for them to do some serious damage.
The Nats were a fun early story, but have started to struggle, going 3-7 over their last 10 games.
The Pirates have Paul Skenes and Jared Jones (the Mets are set to face only Skenes during this weekend’s series), but not much offense.
The Rockies (28-55) and Marlins (30-54) are abysmal baseball teams.
The Mets will take care of business against these teams or they won’t, but — objectively — this is New York’s easiest 18-game stretch of the year.
Is Christian Scott about to be back?
With Tylor Megill demoted to Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets have an opening in the starting rotation.
Still down a roster spot because of Diaz’s suspension, they could theoretically have Adrian Houser slide from the bullpen to fill the rotation for one turn.
But Houser has emerged as a valuable bullpen asset, and it makes more sense to keep him there when you factor in his success in the role and the Mets’ massive need for reliable ‘pen arms right now.
If the Mets don’t turn to Scott, who has been excelling in Triple-A as the team has managed his innings, the other option would conceivably be Jose Butto.
But manager Carlos Mendoza hinted numerous times last week that Scott could be getting the call.
Is it time to consider Luisangel Acuña?
Acuña has been on fire in Triple-A over the last month and change, and that continued over the weekend when he smacked his fifth homer of the season.
His OPS for the year is just .701, but that’s due mostly to the really slow start he had.
Acuña slashed .298/.348/.413 in June, and had hits in 14 of his last 15 games to close the month. He’s also a menace on the bases, with 26 stolen bags this season.
Perhaps the Mets think he has more to prove in the minors, but it has to be tempting to consider calling Acuña up, sticking him at second base, and sliding Jeff McNeil to a corner outfield spot.
The alternative is continuing to use DJ Stewart (.667 OPS) or Tyrone Taylor (.648 OPS) in the starting lineup while Starling Marte is out.
The Nats are starting to fade
As is noted above, Washington is struggling.
The Nats are 3-7 over their last 10 games, and have lost five of their last six — a three-game sweep at the hands of the Padres in San Diego, and a series loss to the Rays in Tampa.
Their offense has been hit or miss, with the Nats getting blanked on Sunday after scoring eight runs on Saturday but just one on Friday.
If there’s one Nat the Mets should be wary of, it’s young shortstop CJ Abrams, who has fully emerged as a star this season and has an .858 OPS.
The Mets should also be careful pitching to James Wood — one of the best prospects in baseball — who was just called up.
Predictions
Who will be the MVP of the series?
Francisco Lindor.
Lindor went hitless in the final game of the Mets’ series against Houston after four-straight two-hit games.
While he’s remained hot, Lindor is in a bit of a home run drought, with just one in his last 11 games. That will change at Nationals Park.
Who fills the Mets’ empty rotation spot?
Christian Scott.
The Mets should go with their best option, even if it’s for just one turn. Scott is their best option.
Which Nats will be thorns in the Mets’ side?
Jesse Winker and Joey Meneses.
Winker because he’s always been a Mets pest, and Meneses because he can’t possibly get any worse after suffering a golden sombrero on Sunday.
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