The Mets’ offense remains inconsistent. Though Saturday’s debacle can be placed solely at the feet of the pitching, the Mets were shut out twice this week—once by Aaron Nola (somewhat understandable) and again by Jesús Luzardo and the Marlins bullpen (less understandable). Francisco Lindor is slumping again and DJ Stewart has run into a cold spell, but J.D. Martinez seems to have found his groove.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25456361/Screenshot_2024_05_20_104909.png "Mets Player Meter: Position players, May 13-19 (1)")
We’ll start with J.D. Martinez, who is by far the Mets’ hottest hitter right now. He put up a blistering 225 wRC+ in 26 plate appearances this week, which leads the team. He also led the team in hits with ten, four of which went for extra bases, including a home run in Wednesday’s loss, in which he went 2-for-5. He also had a huge day in Monday’s extra inning loss, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, two RBIs, and a run scored. Martinez also leads the team in RBIs this week with six. Martinez finally heating up is a huge boost to an offense that desperately needed it.
Carlos Mendoza has moved Francisco Lindor from hitting third in the order to hitting leadoff amid his recent slump. This week, Lindor holds a putrid 19 wRC+, having collected just three hits all week—all singles. But Lindor was also hit by a pitch three times and walked twice and now that he leads off, he leads the team in runs scored this week with five. Hopefully this lineup shakeup will pay dividends for the Mets.
Brandon Nimmo is now hitting third and though he had a down week, he did provide a huge two-run homer in yesterday’s victory. Overall, Nimmo posted a 69 wRC+ (nice) in 24 plate appearances this week. He had to miss a couple of games due to illness and served as the DH yesterday. Nimmo matches Lindor’s five runs scored, despite having just two hits this week. But as usual, he led the team in walks with three.
Pete Alonso has five runs scored as well and though he has cooled off from his torrid pace of last week, he still put up a perfectly fine 118 wRC+ for the week. Alonso’s biggest hit this week was a solo homer in Thursday’s extra inning victory that got the Mets on the board in that game. That represents his only RBI for the week, but his eight hits are second only to Martinez for the team lead. He also walked twice and his three doubles also match Martinez for the team lead.
A couple of Mets who had spent some time in the red turned things around this week. Starling Marte posted a 138 wRC+ for the week, matching Alonso’s eight hits. Marte scored four runs and drove in a run this week. Marte had a big day on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a double, a hit by pitch, an RBI, and a run scored. Harrison Bader had eight hits this week as well in just 24 plate appearances. Bader’s five RBIs are second only to Martinez for the team lead this week. Bader was a major contributor to Thursday’s victory, notching two hits and driving in a run after he entered the game as a pinch runner.
Joey Wendle has continued to struggle on both sides of the ball and went hitless in three plate appearances before being designated for assignment on Wednesday. Mark Vientos was called up to take Wendle’s place on the roster and immediately contributed with an RBI double in the first inning that put the Mets on the board on Wednesday. Overall, Vientos has four hits—including two extra base hits—and two walks in his first 16 plate appearances back with the Mets.
Vientos will be sharing playing time with Brett Baty, whose week is nothing to write home about, but is certainly an improvement on his poop emoji performance from last week. Baty posted an 80 wRC+ in 14 plate appearances this week. He had two hits—a single and a double—two walks, and an RBI.
Tyrone Taylor salvaged what was otherwise an awful week with a bases-loaded double in the first inning of yesterday’s game which kicked off the scoring in that victory. It was one of just four hits for Taylor this week in 19 plate appearances and it was the only one that went for extra bases—good for a 35 wRC+ for the week. Taylor did not walk at all this week, but he did score three runs and drive in three runs.
Jeff McNeil had a middling week, posting a 76 wRC+ in 28 plate appearances this week. McNeil collected six hits, two of which went for extra bases. He walked twice, drove in three runs, and scored two runs. Now that the Mets have (justifiably) cut their backup second baseman, McNeil will be playing second base pretty much every day, so the Mets have to hope he stays healthy.
The biggest drop-off from last week to this week is DJ Stewart, who has hit a cold spell. Stewart had two hits—both singles—and a run scored in nine plate appearances this week. With Nimmo needing to DH some and Mark Vientos and Brett Baty competing for the same position, Stewart’s playing time will take somewhat of a hit.
Omar Narváez continues to contribute next to nothing with his poor defense and listless bat; he had just one hit in ten plate appearances this week. Tomás Nido, on the other hand, had a decent week with an 83 wRC+ in 16 plate appearances. He had five hits—all singles—and two RBIs this week.
