The New York Mets began their series in St. Louis in grand fashion. They dominated the Cardinals behind an awesome power display by Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. Alonso maintained his MVP campaign, which has him at or near the top in the major National League hitting categories. Nimmo capped his colossal slugging week, going three for three with another HR to help the Mets lock up a win.
Saturday brought torrential downpours in St. Louis and forced a rainout. Would the day’s delay slow down New York? Unfortunately, the answer was an excruciating “YES!” The Mets lost not one, but two games to the Cardinals, filled with terrible starting pitching, horrific luck, and inept clutch hitting.
Blade Tidwell made his MLB debut in Game One and struggled mightily. He pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits, six runs, walking three, and striking out two.
The 4th inning proved Tidwell’s downfall as he allowed St. Louis to knock him out of the game. They scored four runs off three hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch. Before he could blink, New York was down 6-2. They made a valiant effort but could not overcome the deficit.
Expectations shouldn’t have been high for any rookie making his first start. They should have been even lower for Tidwell, considering he was rushed into his debut. Game Two hopes should have been considerable for Tylor Megill, who has impressed. He instead struggled throughout.
Megill immediately gave up a 4-2 Mets lead in the bottom of the 3rd, walking two and giving up two hits. He never had his command, walking three in five innings. He also allowed four hits, including a monster shot by Alec Burleson. The starting pitching had been New York’s leading cause for victory into late April, but it has fallen on hard times over the last week.
Dreadful RISP production has been an albatross for the Mets. They have 13 losses, 11 by one or two runs. They have a .229 batting average with men on base, 24th, and a .252 balls put in play resulting in a hit, 27th. New York has one of MLB’s best records at 22-13, but they could easily have closer to 30 wins with better clutch hitting.
Sunday proved more of the same. The Mets went 6 for 26 in RISP opportunities, resulting in two losses, each by a run. They had scoring chances each inning and couldn’t cash any for a huge return. If New York wants to move towards the elite, it must figure out how to solve this.
The Mets’ approach when they have men on base changes. They stop being patient and start swinging away. They press and play into the pitcher’s hands. It doesn’t help them even when they have a productive bat, they run into horrifying luck.
In the 8th inning of Game 1, New York cut the lead to one run. They loaded the bases for Alonso, who had raked all day with one out. He worked a full count and then watched a pitch that looked half a batter’s length off the plate; he was called out. One of the season’s most egregious umpire calls, likely the worst, kept the Mets from tying the score and halted the comeback.
During Game 2 in the 4th inning, Victor Scott robbed Juan Soto of a three-run home run. This was the highlight of several outstanding defensive plays by the Cardinals. New York lost the opportunity to break the game open and salvage a split. St. Louis used the opening to take the game and send the Mets to a second demoralizing loss.
New York has hit their first bumpy stretch of the season. Over their last 10 games, they are 4-6, with 5 one-run losses and a boatload of injuries. They include the likes of A.J. Minter, Starling Marte, Jesse Winkler, and Danny Young.
Should the Mets maintain the six-man rotation with so many key contributors out? New York has had to use the likes of Tidwell and Brandon Waddell for lengthy appearances. Their bullpen is a ravaged mess and needs more certainty from the starting arms.
Kodai Senga is the biggest beneficiary of a six-man rotation; his track record indicates he pitches much more effectively on the extra day of rest. It has also helped Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning, but the rest of the team is suffering mightily. The Mets aren’t getting the innings needed from other starters, taxing the weakened relief corps more. The inconsistent lineup hasn’t been able to pick up the slack.
Manager Carlos Mendoza likely will have to go to a five-man rotation until Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas return. New York doesn’t have enough dependable starting arms to go to a longer rotation. They can’t afford to keep punting games every time through the order, not in the deep NL, where seven teams have legitimate playoff hopes
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