Mets' early-season success is even more impressive considering what they don't yet have
The Mets have been a well-oiled machine without so much of what should make them go in the near future.
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After starting the season 2-3, the Mets reeled off five wins in a row, often showing the resiliency that was a hallmark of the 2024 club.
But while what the Mets are doing early this season is very impressive, what's even more notable is that they're achieving it without so many elements that should be present sooner rather then later. Before getting to that, let's discuss what the Mets do have at the moment...
For starters, they have the best ERA in baseball -- a sterling 1.72 mark entering play on Tuesday.
While what the starting pitching is doing might be a bit of a surprise, it was easy to see before the regular season began that the Mets had the makings of a potentially dominant relief corps.
With Edwin Diaz, A.J. Minter, Ryne Stanek, Reed Garrett, Jose Butto, and Max Kranick, New York entered the year with six relievers who have late-inning potential, with two of them (Butto and Kranick) earmarked for multi-inning stints on the regular.
So far, it's worked out nearly perfectly.
And the bullpen has also gotten a significant boost from Huascar Brazoban, whose inclusion on the Opening Day roster was up in the air until Paul Blackburn landed on the IL. Brazoban has fired 7.1 scoreless innings over four appearances, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out six.
Meanwhile, Kranick has been nearly perfect, with one base runner allowed in 7.0 innings over four games.
Then there's the top of the lineup.
The trifecta of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso has been dynamic. And they have carried the offense so far.
After going hitless during the Mets' season-opening three-game series in Houston, Lindor has been terrific, posting an .878 OPS during his current six-game hitting streak.
Soto has reached base in all 10 games, has a .904 OPS, and has smashed doubles in three of his last four games.
Alonso has been on another level. Using a discerning eye at the plate and flashing eye-popping exit velocities, Alonso is slashing .314/.429/.657 with three homers and three doubles.
Now, let's talk about what the Mets don't yet have...
They are still without starting catcher Francisco Alvarez, whose absence has been offset a bit because of strong defense from Luis Torrens and Hayden Senger, and a spurt of hot offense from Torrens. But when Alvarez returns, likely in a few weeks, he should add thump to a bottom of a lineup that has been mostly anemic.
New York also hasn't found its rhythm offensively beyond the top three in the lineup, with Brandon Nimmo struggling recently, Jesse Winker up and down, and the aforementioned bottom of the order not doing much.
Some of that has to do with the struggles of co-second basemen Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña.
After a hot spring, Baty is again struggling at the big league level, with just two hits in 21 at-bats. And his approach at the plate has been more concerning than the results. Acuña, who got the start on Monday against a right-hander, has just two hits in 17 at-bats.
While it's easy for some to scoff at the idea of Jeff McNeil (who should be back from his minor oblique injury within the next few weeks) being an impact bat again, he clearly still has the ability -- McNeil slashed .289/.376/.548 in 157 plate appearances over his last 43 regular season games in 2024.
As far as the rotation, it's without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Both of them could be back around late May or early June, so there's still a lot of heavy lifting for the starting staff to do.
The bullpen should get a jolt soon, though, with Dedniel Nuñez -- who has been building up in the minors -- eligible to be activated as early as April 11.
As the 2025 bullpen has been mowing hitters down, it's been easy to forget that Nuñez was one of the Mets' best relievers in 2024, when he posted a 2.21 ERA and 0.91 WHIP while striking out 48 batters in 35.0 innings -- a rate of 12.3 strikeouts per nine.
Beyond the players the Mets will get back and the expectation that their offense will start clicking with their return, some progression toward the mean for others, and hitting in weather that isn't frigid, is the belief that this team will also be bolstered in other ways.
Right-handed pitching prospects Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean -- both of whom have top-of-the-rotation potential -- should make an impact in the majors at some point this season.
On the position player side in the minors, Ronny Mauricio and Jett Williams could make their presence felt, as could Drew Gilbert if he gets healthy and excels.
New York is also well-positioned to swing a trade for an impact starting pitcher around the deadline if there's a need. This is not the middle of last season, when they were rightfully hesitant to push some chips in.
The Mets have been a well-oiled machine without so much of what should make them go in the near future. When some of their performances get more even and reinforcements arrive, look out. Until then, the Mets will keep chugging along.
