Mets fans are facing yet another stark reminder of the team’s struggles as the Dodgers arrive at Citi Field for the start of a homestand on Friday. This follows a disappointing series against the Brewers, Stearns’ former team, which is now vying with the Dodgers for the best record in MLB history.
Ironically, the same Dodgers that the Mets aimed to emulate upon Stearns’ arrival in Queens, fueled by Steve Cohen’s financial backing, will now highlight the significant gap between the two franchises. Rather than a clash of elite teams, this series serves as a reminder of how far the Mets are from their aspirations.
Currently, the Dodgers boast the best record in the majors at 65-38, and they are expected to get even stronger in the coming weeks.
It’s perhaps telling that the Mets might need to reinstate closer Edwin Diaz before any other moves ahead of the August 3 trade deadline. He’s projected to return to the bullpen soon after surgery, but he likely won’t be back this weekend.
Meanwhile, Quique Hernandez is sidelined with an oblique strain but could make a comeback this month.
The Dodgers, despite injuries to key players like catcher Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani (who’s out due to knee inflammation), have been thriving. They just enjoyed a significant win over the Diamondbacks and have swept series against the Yankees and Phillies.
On the other hand, the Mets haven’t won three consecutive games since late May. They’re sitting a hefty 17 games under .500 and find themselves 17 games behind the first-place team in the NL East, as well as 10.5 games out of the final wild-card spot.
Now, the Mets are also looking at adding Luis Robert Jr. into the lineup, perhaps in hopes of boosting his trade value or, at the very least, providing some spark. “I can see the reasoning,” one National League scout remarked regarding Roberts’ decision to push for regular play following his injury struggles. But, it’s a tough situation; these rookies are playing, yet their development won’t be hampered by a short break in July.
The season has taken quite a downturn for the Mets, with scouts pointing out numerous uncertainties across the roster that will likely linger for the foreseeable future.
Questions abound—who will play first base next season? What about second or third? The Dodgers have figured out how to acquire the right players, while the Mets have struggled to do so even after years of attempts.
All of this will be evident as the two teams face off over the next three days, with Nolan McLean slated to pitch Saturday alongside Sean Manaea and Freddy Peralta.
By the conclusion of this 10-game homestand, the Mets are expected to look quite different. Likely not for the better.
