Momentum Achieved as Mets Fall into Rhythm
Three-game winning streak just what the doctor ordered for Metsies
Over the last week, New York Mets manager Luis Rojas has spoken often about the importance of game-speed repetitions for his roster in the wake of a slew of postponements.
With three games under their belt over the last 48 hours — all victories over the consistently cooling-off Phillies — the Mets appear to be finding their collective rhythm. And this beat is a certified banger.
The starting pitching has been lights out, the offense has begun to awaken, the relief corps is settling into their respective roles. The plan is coming together. It’s a beautiful thing.
Following his team’s wholly satisfying 5-1 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday — their third consecutive victory, tying their longest winning streak of 2020 — Rojas seemed to know this level of production was on its way.
“This is what our offense can do,” Rojas said. “Tonight, we created situations to score. We just haven’t been getting the big hit. The bats are starting to heat up. It’s just the reps, once again. Those reps are helping — in-game reps.”
This checks out. The Mets scored two first-inning runs (always a recipe for success) and kept the pressure on former Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler throughout his night, eventually getting to Philadelphia’s bullpen and blowing things open.
David Peterson led the way on Wednesday, striking out 10 over six innings, walking none with a lone earned run attached to his line (Jean Segura solo rocket).
If this is the level of production we can expect from Peterson moving forward — not without some developmental speed bumps, of course — the Mets could be sitting pretty once their pitching staff is at full capacity again.
“I felt good,” Peterson said after the game. “I thought [James McCann] and I were on the same page pitch-wise and he did a hell of a job back there. Just getting ahead of guys and putting yourself in a good position leads to good results.”
You can say that again. Big step forward for the 25-year-old southpaw.
Brandon Nimmo continued his torrid stretch to start the year, going 3-for-5 and increasing his early batting line to a gaudy .464/.583/.571 with eight walks over 36 plate appearances.
Dominic Smith went 3-for-5 in the three-hole with a run batted in. Francisco Lindor added two hits, a walk, and a couple of runs scored. James McCann’s two-run homer in the ninth — his first dinger with the Mets amid a 3-for-4 night — sealed the deal.
We absolutely love to see it.
Heck, even the bullpen was abuzz with efficiency. Mostly.
Jeurys Familia found himself in trouble following a walk and a base hit but Aaron Loup took the form of Steve Carlton, inducing an inning-ending double play and striking out two over 1.2 innings of work.
Edwin Diaz’s strikeout of Bryce Harper in the ninth was a sight to behold. After dropping three sliders low in the zone to start the at-bat, Diaz launched a 101 MPH four-seamer darting up and away from a flailing Harper. No chance.
And then, following all of these encouraging developments, we awoke on Thursday with an apparent afternoon window for these two teams to wrap up their four-game set.
When you’re hot, even Mother Nature pulls strings to keep that momentum building. LFGM.
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