Mets Face Crucial Decisions After Disappointing Road Trip
After enduring their longest road trip of the season through Philadelphia, Miami, and Cleveland, the Mets find themselves at a critical juncture. The trip ended on a sour note with a 6-3 loss to the Guardians at Progressive Field, culminating in a dismal 2-6 record over eight games. The series finale saw the Mets swept by Cleveland, leaving them to ponder their immediate future and necessary adjustments.
“It doesn’t feel good,” said shortstop Francisco Lindor. “You’ve just got to learn from it and move on.”
### *Evaluating Third Base: Vientos vs. Baty*
The Mets’ management faces pressing decisions, particularly at third base. Mark Vientos has made a compelling case for consistent playing time, demonstrating offensive prowess and reliable defense. Manager Carlos Mendoza’s approach of mixing statistical data with gut instinct has resulted in Vientos’ increased presence in the lineup. Over the recent series, Vientos has gone 3-for-7 with a homer, two doubles, and a walk, indicating his readiness and effectiveness against both left and right-handed pitchers.
“He’s not missing pitches,” Mendoza noted. “He’s ready to go from pitch one, and he’s getting pitches in the strike zone and he’s doing damage. It’s a shorter swing. He’s impacting the baseball, not chasing as much — not only against lefties, but righties. I like where he’s at right now.”
This performance led to Brett Baty sitting out two of the three games against right-handed pitchers, highlighting the competitive nature of securing a spot in the lineup. Mendoza has described the situation as “fluid,” and while the immediate future remains undecided, further evaluations will take place during Thursday’s off day. Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns will use this time to strategize the best path forward.
What’s clear is that Vientos has done everything possible to solidify his roster spot. Whether Baty remains alongside him remains to be seen.
### *Rotation: Houser’s Struggles and Peterson’s Opportunity*
The rotation is another area under scrutiny. Adrian Houser, despite showing improvements in his mechanics and a significant increase in fastball velocity, struggled in his latest start. He allowed six runs, causing his ERA to balloon to 7.88 over 37 2/3 innings. Houser’s occasional demotion to the bullpen underscores the uncertainty surrounding his role.
However, Houser remains optimistic. “I’ve been working really hard the past few weeks on repeating my mechanics,” Houser said, focusing on his alignment to home plate.
Given the upcoming off day, the Mets have a chance to realign their rotation. One potential move includes skipping Houser’s next start and inserting David Peterson. This adjustment would not only provide each starter with an extra day of rest but also enable the team to maintain a six-man rotation until their next set of off days on June 6 and 7, preceding their London Series.
### *Moving Forward*
The Mets are acutely aware of the need for improvement to salvage the season. The disappointing road trip has highlighted areas for potential changes. By reassessing the situation at third base and making strategic adjustments to the rotation, the team aims to foster better performance and results.
As the Mets prepare for their upcoming series against the Giants, the decisions made in the next few days could be pivotal. The aim is clear: to turn lessons from recent struggles into actionable strategies that will bolster their performance and prevent the season from slipping away.
