After finishing with a (79-83) record, the Mets finished the 2014 season in third place. After the offseason, according to bleacherreport.com the Mets were projected to finish in third place with a .500 record (81-81) record. The Mets are looking to prove the critics wrong and finish higher in the standings and finish with a winning record. They are doing just that, the Mets are off to the best start in franchise history, tied with the 1986 and 2006 teams. The Mets currently hold a (13-3) record which is good enough for first place in the National League East Division.
The Mets have usually been known for their pitching staff, but this year the Mets have been having a successful All-Around season, which means they’re pitching staff has been pitching to their expectations, They are hitting; and their biggest impact to the Mets success is that they’re hitting with runners in scoring position. Last season the Mets were amazed on the power display that Lucas Duda put up last season finishing with (30) home runs, and (92) RBI’s. He finished the 2014 season with a (.253) batting average. Duda is picking up from where he left off, he is the best hitter on the team as he holds a (.339) batting average, he only has (1) home run, but still leads the team in hitting. Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud has by far been the Mets best hitter with runners in scoring position as he leads the team with RBI’s with (10), along with (2) Home Runs. According to metsblog.com, after being hit in the hand with a pitch on Sunday, Travis left the game with a fracture of the little finger on his right hand. He will be in a splint for three weeks. d’Arnaud says “he expects to be back with the Mets in four to five weeks”. Despite his low batting average Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson is helping the team out with his eye. Granderson owns a (.196) batting average, but has been getting on base as he has drawn (13) walks. The captain of the Mets third baseman David Wright, has bounced back nicely from a disappointing season. Wright has a (.333) batting average, with a (.371) on base percentage; and a(.424) slugging percentage.
The Mets have struggled with the offense in the past, but this year the Mets have turned things around. At the same time the Mets pitching staff has done what they usually do and that’s dominating on the mound. The return of Matt Harvey has brought a great presence to the Mets pitching staff. Harvey looks just the same since the last time he pitched which was August of 2013. Harvey currently holds a (3-0) record, with an era of (3.50) he has (24) strikeouts in (18) innings pitched. Terry Collins made the right move by sending out the 41 year old veteran right hander Bartolo Colon on opening day. He has been a big part of the Mets pitching staff. Colon is also (4-0) with an era of (2.77) and has (23) strikeouts in (29) innings pitched. Reigning rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom is also having a great start to the season, showing why he won rookie of the year. deGrom is currently (2-1), with an era of (0.93); and has (17) strikeouts in (19.1) innings pitched.
A good pitching staff needs a good bullpen, and the Mets have just that. The Mets had plans to make Jenrry Mejia their closer, but a change of plans occurred when Mejia tested positive for a banned substance. Mejia will be suspended for 80 games. The Mets then decided to hand the ball to Jeurys Familia in the 9th inning, and he has greatly accepted that role. Since the suspension Familia has recorded (8) saves, and has not blown a save. Familia currently owns an era of (2.08) and also has (10) strikeouts.
The Mets will wrap up the month of April on the road as they will take on their crosstown rival New York Yankees in the Bronx. Then will head down south and take on the Miami Marlins, and will look to continue on this winning streak.