Author:
mikeg
Publish Date:
06/29/2022
The New York Mets have had a terrible June historically. They have seen many seasons end in the third month. The Mets had a tough June schedule and their starting rotation was hurt. This set the stage for another June slump. Although the Mets lost their third consecutive game in June, they posted a 13-12 record for their first winning June since 2012.
The highlight of June was a 10-game West Coast trip to Los Angeles and San Diego. It was very similar to the 13-game stretch against the Dodgers & Giants last August that ended in defeat for the Mets. The team managed to manage a 5-5 record on the trip. This allowed them to weather a strong push from the Atlanta Braves and maintain their first place in the National League East. The Mets won a homestand against Milwaukee, Miami and it brought more positive vibes. However, they were mostly squandered by the Houston Astros who won four games from the Mets in a pair of series at the end of the month.
New York has some good news. Max Scherzer may be back in their rotation next week, while Jacob deGrom might return soon after the All-Star Break. This will add some star power to their top rotation. Trevor May is recovering from an injury and could provide a boost to a struggling bullpen. Billy Eppler, the GM, will have an opportunity to address his roster's issues. This includes building a stronger bridge to Edwin Diaz and finding another bat that can help extend a lineup that is getting shorter behind its top five hitters.
Second baseman Jeff McNeil was the Mets' offensive star in June. He led the team with a month-high. 357 batting percentage. McNeil was hurt in June and missed five games. This stretch saw the Mets go just 2-3 with an average of 3.4 runs per game. Starling Marte (.276/1HR/5 RBI) was another top performer, as well as Pete Alonso (0.272/9/22), who led the team in power categories.
Diaz was the standout pitcher on the pitching side. He racked up five saves, a hold and pitched to a 1.01 ERA while striking out 19 batters over nine innings. Adam Ottavino had a 0.84 ERA in 10 appearances and Taijuan Walker was 3-2 with 2.63 ERA in six starts. Taijuan Walker was 3-2 with a 3.18 ERA in six starts.
July's schedule is much more relaxed. The Mets will play eight games against winning teams in July, with three in Atlanta before the All-Star Break. The Mets' problem is that they have 17 consecutive games before the break. This includes seven road games and seven home games. The Mets will have to face stiff competition from the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds as well as the Miami Marlins, and the Chicago Cubs . The Mets' toughest stretch is the one immediately following the All-Star Break. They host the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, and Chicago Cubs on a five-game homestand before returning to Miami at the end of the month.