Mets’ recent offensive resurgence provides some hope
NY Post
WASHINGTON — Contrary to speculation last week that Buckingham Palace had called and told the Mets they were unwelcome in London, it turns out a semblance of a major league team was set to cross the pond Wednesday night, leaving one nation’s capital for another.
The Mets have obvious warts. But the manner in which the lineup in particular has produced lately is something to consider — and Francisco Alvarez appears ready for removal from the injured list after the Mets return to the States next week.
Then again, with Luis Torrens suddenly becoming Mike Piazza — the journeyman catcher blasted two homers in the Mets’ 9-1 victory on Wednesday that completed a three-game sweep of the Nationals — Alvarez can take his time.
One number resonates. The Mets are averaging 4.9 runs over their last 18 games since May 18. In their previous 44 games they averaged 4.2 runs. For comparison’s sake, the Phillies lead MLB with an average of 5.1 runs.
Two things occurred on May 18 that are noteworthy when discussing the offensive improvement (and it hasn’t been linear, as the three-game sweep by the Dodgers last week at Citi Field in which the Mets scored only four combined runs illustrates).
First, manager Carlos Mendoza flip-flopped Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor in the batting order. Lindor has benefited at leadoff, with a significant spike in .OPS. A batting average that sunk as low as .190 has suddenly become a more palatable .235. Nimmo’s numbers have declined slightly overall since shifting to third in the order, but over the last week he’s started to more resemble the player the Mets expect.
Aaron Judge had an Opening Day negotiating deadline in 2022 when he was coming up on the final year of his contract before free-agent eligibility, and that seems to have worked out just fine for No. 99 — perhaps the first time ever in a hockey column that numeral does not refer to Wayne Gretzky — and the Yankees.