First Place Mets Stay Hot, Take Two of Three From Phillies

The National League West leading Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in the N.L. this season, but the New York Mets, leaders in the National League East, are giving them a good run. The Mets shut out Philadelphia 6-0 on August 14th, taking two of three in a weekend series with the Phillies. It was the 17th win in 20 games for the Mets, who improved to 75-40 on the season. They lead second place Atlanta by 5 ½ games.

After numerous seasons where the Mets underperformed or were hit hard by injuries, dashing the hopes of their fans, this season it’s pretty much all coming together. It didn’t quite start that way, with two time Cy Young Award winner Jacob DeGrom opening the season on the injured list after appearing in just 15 games last year. But DeGrom is back, and he’s in top form, with a 2-0 record in three starts and a 1.62 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings. Three time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer missed half of May and all of June with an oblique injury. He returned July 5th, and has been his usual effective self. Scherzer is 8-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 16 starts this year.

Right hander Carlos Carrasco had a hamstring injury last season and was just 1-5 with a 6.04 ERA in 12 games last year; he’s 13-4 with a 3.76 ERA this season. Chris Bassitt (10-7, 3.27 and a club leading 134 strikeouts) and Taijuan Walker (10-3, 3.43) round out a very deep starting rotation. Closer Edwin Diaz has been lights out, with 27 saves and a 1.33 ERA.

First baseman Pete Alonzo, who figures to be in the running for N.L. MVP, is hitting .281 with 29 homers and a league leading 97 RBIs. Second baseman Jeff McNeil, a lifetime .300 hitter who hit just .249 last year, is back up to .307 this season. After a disappointing first year with the Mets in 2021, shortstop Francisco Lindor is having one of his best seasons ever, with 20 homers and 82 RBIs.

The Mets open a four game series at second place Atlanta on August 15th, with a chance to put some real distance between themselves and the Braves.