Here are five things to watch when the Mets and Nationals play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Tuesday night…
It hasn’t come easily for Alvarez at the plate since being called up, which is understandable given his age (21) and sporadic nature of his playing time (he’s started back-to-back games just twice). But it seems that he is starting to turn the corner.
On Sunday against the Giants in San Francisco, Alvarez had some of his best at-bats of the season.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second, Alvarez would’ve likely worked a walk, but home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz (who had an awful day calling strikes) incorrectly called the 2-1 pitch a strike before Alvarez eventually grounded into a double play on a 3-2 count. Ortiz also put Alvarez behind the eight ball his next time up, incorrectly calling the first pitch a strike.
In the sixth inning, Alvarez pounced on the first pitch he saw from Tyler Rogerssmacking a homer over the left field fence to tie the game after Rogers had shut down the Mets to that point.
It should also be noted that Alvarez’s defense — which was the big question — has been very good, including him being in the 76th percentile in pitch framing.
This has been said a lot over the last few weeks, but the Mets really need to start giving Alvarez the bulk of the playing time behind the plate.
Mets’ starting rotation is still patchwork
New York enters this series with only one pitcher from their initial expected five-man rotation still active — that’s it Kodai Sengawho will get the ball on Wednesday night.
They’ll get Max Scherzer back from his ridiculous suspension next Monday against the Braves, and Justin Verlander should be making his season debut a few days after that when the Mets face the Tigers in Detroit.
But against the Nats, the Mets will still be patching things together, which will include a fill-in starter or opener on Tuesday and Joey Lucchesi (who was phenomenal against the Giants in his first start back from Tommy John surgery) getting the ball on Thursday.
Things should get much easier after this series, which will in turn take some pressure off the bullpen.
After a bit of a cold snap in Oakland, McNeil is doing McNeil things again, with 12 hits in his last 26 at-bats — including four multi-hit games.
He’ll enter play on Tuesday slashing .296/.418/.407 with an OPS+ of 133.
McNeil’s decisions at the plate have been immaculate. He is in the 98th percentile in strikeout percentage, 97th percentile in whiff percentage, 84th percentile in chase rate, and 81st percentile in walk rate.
As McNeil has gotten going, the Mets’ offense has continued to be very good. Their 112 runs scored are the best in the NL East, and behind just the Dodgers and Cubs (both with 121 runs) in the National League.
Mets’ bullpen should be very fresh
With the Mets blowing out the Giants in the first two games of their four-game series (which included Lucchesi’s seven-inning gem), and Edwin Uceta saving the bullpen with three innings in the third game, the relief corps should be in strong shape.
Add to the above the fact that David Robertson and Adam Ottavino haven’t pitched since last Wednesday, and the Mets should be set up very well for their homestand against the Nats and Braves.
That is especially big considering the state of the rotation.
One other thing that could help the bullpen is the recent emergence of Jeff Brighamwho has fired four perfect innings while striking out seven since being called up.
The Nats are bad
After playing 17 of their first 23 games on the road, including the recently-completed 10-game West Coast trip, the Mets are finally getting what should be an easy series at home.
Of course, the Mets will have to take care of business against an inferior opponent — as they did in Oakland when they swept the A’s.
The Nats are 7-14, and have scored the second-fewest runs in the NL (76, ahead of only the Marlins, who have scored 72).
While it’s another rebuilding year for Washington, they do have some talented (albeit young) starting pitching, including Josiah Gray (starting on Tuesday) and MacKenzie Gore (starting on Wednesday).