As the New York Mets return to Citi Field for a series against the Nationals, they begin a stretch of playing four of their next five series at home. This comes as the team holds the third-worst home record in Major League Baseball, ahead of only the Oakland Athletics and the Washington Nationals. With the Mets out of playoff contention, many fans may be disinclined to watch the remaining games.
For those who do tune in, several storylines offer points of interest. Among them is the performance of Bo Bichette, who has shown improvement since a slow start to the season. Bichette's offensive production has been more robust on the road (.730 OPS) compared to at home (.643 OPS). Concerns about his move from shortstop to third base impacting his hitting have largely subsided. Bichette has a player option for $42 million for the upcoming seasons, which seemed unlikely to be exercised during his early-season slump. His future performance could be bolstered by potential improvements in health from teammates Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto next season.
Francisco Lindor has also seen an uptick in his performance, posting a .961 OPS since July 19, placing him among the league's top performers in that span. While Lindor has experienced uncharacteristic defensive and physical errors, his offensive struggles were partly attributed to recovery from hamate bone surgery. If the Mets aim for a stronger next season, Lindor's recent offensive trajectory will be crucial. However, his defense has been the weakest of his career by various metrics, and significant improvement at age 32 is not anticipated.
Rookie A.J. Ewing has demonstrated promise on both offense and defense. Despite playing left field after the trade deadline to accommodate Luis Robert Jr. in center field, scouts suggest this positional shift will not hinder his development. Ewing's bat has been less consistent than fellow rookie Carson Benge, but both rank among the top five rookies in stolen bases since Ewing's call-up in May. Ewing also boasts the team's second-highest home OPS (.810) among qualified hitters, trailing only Juan Soto.
On the pitching front, young arms Christian Scott, Nolan McLean, and Zac Thornton are slated to start in upcoming games. Scott has a 5.30 ERA in his last four starts. McLean has surrendered five home runs in his last four appearances, a stark contrast to his previous outings. Thornton, considered the least heralded of the trio, has struck out only seven batters over his last three starts.
The bullpen has been significantly impacted by trades and injuries. With key arms departed and Devin Williams sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Mets are looking for reliable pitchers to emerge. Candidates include Nate Lavender, who has struck out five batters and allowed minimal baserunners in 3 1/3 innings. Chris Devenski, who previously played for the Mets, has returned to the organization and pitched a scoreless inning in Triple-A Syracuse. He was recently designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.