The New York Mets entered Friday’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies struggling mightily to score. Over their last 13 games, the Mets averaged slightly under three runs per contest. The absence of home runs, combined with terrible production with men on base, drove the pitiful stats. The Rockies provided a get-right opportunity. On Friday, the power blasts returned, keying a 4-2 victory.
Francisco Lindor, like the rest of the top of the order, experienced a difficult two weeks. He hit barely above the .200 Mendoza Line; his on-base plus slugging percentage hovered slightly above .700. He hit one HR with only four runs batted in. New York desperately needed him to get back on track. Could Colorado be just what the doctor ordered?
Lindor led off against Kyle Freeland, who had an earned-run average slightly below six. Hitting leadoff HRs has become a staple for Lindor during his time with the Mets, and he added another chapter to his story on Friday night, May 30. He blasted a cannon shot over left center, getting New York on board. Scoring early and hitting HRs are critical for the Mets, who need to figure out answers to their RISP struggles.
Lindor followed his first-inning dramatics with more exciting highlights. He singled to center in the third, coming around to score on Juan Soto’s double. He hit his second HR in the eighth, a 384-foot power blast over center, providing a needed insurance run. He closed his evening, going 3-for-4 with three runs, two HRs, and two RBIs.
Soto has not had an ideal start. Any player who signs a $765 million contract is going to inspire much scrutiny. It’s easy to overlook the adjustment to a new team, as well as carrying the weight of being the highest-paid player in the game. Soto’s struggles have only compounded the intensity of fan criticism.
The New York Mets have a lengthy history of big-time additions struggling in their initial campaign. Mike Piazza and Carlos Beltran are two prime examples. Soto entered the Rockies series with only two hits in his last 27 at-bats, which dropped his batting average to .224.
Soto, like Lindor, enjoyed facing Colorado pitching on Friday. He snapped a 0-for-17 skid with an RBI double in the third, bringing home Lindor. He followed up with a single in the sixth, getting his first multi-hit game in weeks. He finished the evening going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Soto will face similar poor pitching all weekend; it could provide the spark he needs to get on a much-anticipated hot streak.
David Peterson, since his breakout in 2024, has become one of the Mets’ most reliable pitchers. He consistently provides quality starts; his last one against the Los Angeles Dodgers might have been his best yet. New York came off a crushing opener against the Dodgers, where they blew multiple chances to win. He provided a salve to the bleeding by dominating Los Angeles, going 7 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and striking out seven.
Peterson showed no let-up against the pitiful Rockies. He held Colorado scoreless into the sixth while the Mets added to their lead. He finished his evening pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, one run, and striking out five. New York knows when Peterson is on the mound, they have an excellent chance to win; that continued Friday.
The Mets’ relief corps hit a rocky spot in early May as they worked through season-ending injuries to A.J. Minter and Danny Young. Ryan Stanek and Max Kranick struggled with inconsistency.
During New York’s scoring nosedive, the bullpen has stepped up. Edwin Diaz, Reed Garrett, and Huascar Brazoban have led the turnaround, dominating on a nightly basis. The excellence continued against the Rockies.
Brazoban took the baton from Peterson, shutting down Colorado’s scoring threat in the sixth. He responded to an inherited bases-loaded situation by getting Mickey Moniak to fly out to left. He worked around Sam Hilliard’s HR in the seventh with two quick outs.
Underrated Garrett took over the eighth and maintained his stellar pitching. He shut down the Rockies in order, striking out two. He lowered his ERA to a microscopic 0.73, pitching 24 2/3 innings, allowing 15 hits and striking out 28.
Diaz came in to shut down the ninth; he did so in electric fashion. He struck out each batter he faced, finishing with a high-octane punch out of Michael Toglia. He extended his streak of not allowing a hit to 30 consecutive batters, the longest active streak in the majors. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 13 appearances.
New York management has made it a mission to find a solution to the RISP struggles. The Mets rank near the bottom in all categories; they hit well under .200 over their last 25 games. During April, they hit ample HRs, allowing them to score even with poor RISP production. The power dried up in May, and they didn’t compensate with quality at-bats with men on base.
The Colorado series is an opportunity to turn the terrible hitting around. Friday evening provided a good start as the power returned in a big way. Starling Marte hit a HR to add to Lindor’s monster blasts. The slugging turnaround must continue. New York needs to build up its confidence and momentum going into a huge road series against the Dodgers.
Los Angeles has one of the most potent lineups in the game, if not the best. Shohei Ohtani hit two cannon shots last night and has continually been a thorn in the Mets’ side. New York is going to have to score runs likely in bunches; it can’t win the series if the hitting doesn’t show up.
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