Three big questions for New York Mets as injured players near return
Three big questions for New York Mets as injured players near return
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Seattle Mariners' newest player shares promotion with family
Cole Young announces his move to the big leagues playing for Seattle Mariners during an emotional phone call with his family.
After a week on the West Coast, the New York Mets are returning home in high spirits.
They just rolled to a three-game sweep of the Rockies in Colorado after splitting a four-game set and clinching the season series against the defending champion Dodgers in Los Angeles.
The Mets ended the trip in emphatic fashion, with Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil each homering twice, Juan Soto reaching base six times, and Francisco Alvarez collecting three hits in a 13-5 rout of the Rockies.
With Alonso's two blasts, he moved past David Wright and into sole possession of second place in Mets franchise history with 243 home runs.
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Everything seems to be going well for the Mets, who at 42-24 hold the best record in the National League. Their starting rotation has the best ERA in Major League Baseball, the bullpen the second-best ERA and collectively they have the fourth-best run differential in baseball.
The Mets have good problems as they try to build their lead in the National League. With several pitchers and positional players' returns on the horizon, the front office must make some difficult calls.
Here are three looming roster questions that will need to be answered this month:
Mets starting rotation: Who is the odd man out?
Frankie Montas is making progress on his way back from a high-grade lat strain, which he suffered early in spring training. The veteran right-hander, who signed a two-year, $34 million contract this offseason, made his fourth rehab start Sunday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks across 3⅔ innings for Triple-A Syracuse.
Notably, Montas threw 76 pitches and will make at least one more rehab assignment this week. After allowing eight earned runs in 7⅔ innings, the Mets could like some crisper performances before his return.
Sean Manaea is not far behind either. The lefty, who is rehabbing an oblique injury, made his first rehab appearance on June 6 for High-A Brooklyn and is slated for another one early this week.
The Mets have not had the need to rush either pitcher back to one of the top units in baseball. Now, as their returns loom, might Tylor Megill be the odd man out, despite quality efforts thus far?
Megill is 5-4 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 64⅔ innings, but he has one minor league option remaining. Kodai Senga and David Peterson are the only other arms with options in the Mets' rotation. Senga has been the Mets' ace, while Peterson is 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA.
Megill's spot could be protected if the Mets go with a six-man rotation until Manaea's return but then he could be a victim of a squeeze once Manaea is ready.
Where does this leave Mets' bullpen?
Paul Blackburn, who entered spring training as a contender to grab a rotation spot, has already nestled into a long relief role after making just one start in his return from injury.
Blackburn notched a four-inning save Sunday, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
The Mets called up Justin Garza on Monday. They acquired the right-hander in a trade with the San Francisco Giants on Sunday for cash. Once Montas and Manaea both return, Garza's bullpen spot is one that could be eliminated to produce a six-man rotation and keep Senga, Peterson, Griffin Canning and Clay Holmes all fresh.
The only other Mets relievers with options are Huascar Brazoban and Reed Garrett, who has been arguably the team's most dependable high-leverage arm this season.
Which infielder stays: Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna or Ronny Mauricio?
The Mets received encouraging news after Mark Vientos crumbled to the infield dirt with a low-grade hamstring strain at Dodger Stadium.
Vientos is now a week into the 10- to 14-day treatment period before being ramped up to return to the field.
The 25-year-old's injury has opened the window of opportunity for Ronny Mauricio, who has delivered encouraging results in his first five games back in the major leagues. Mauricio is 5-for-19 with four runs, two stolen bases and a 456-foot moon shot since joining the team last week. He also committed an error at third base.
The question when Vientos returns is who do the Mets deem to provide the biggest potential impact at the MLB level? Mauricio, Luisangel Acuña or Brett Baty? They can likely only keep two.
Acuña provides a flash of speed and arguably the most polished glove of the trio, but his bat could use some refinement. He's slashing .243/.293/.287 with six doubles, six RBI, 22 runs and 11 stolen bases.
At this point, it appears Baty might have finally locked in his major league spot. With a torrid close to May, Baty is now slashing .229/.272/.431 with seven home runs, 23 RBI and 15 runs.
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