In Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Atlanta Braves destroyed the New York Mets. While it’s always eye-popping when a team scores 21 runs, the Mets losing to the Braves was almost expected. This is especially true considering the ridicule towards the Mets lineup when it was posted online. Even Braves fans and media couldn’t believe who the Mets were playing.
This Mets lineup for Game 1 of the doubleheader might seriously be the worst lineup I’ve ever seen for an MLB game outside of spring training. pic.twitter.com/8e0gUIIz5J
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 12, 2023
Despite having a payroll of over $350 million, the Mets ran out a lineup featuring five of nine players with an OPS below .600. To a certain degree; a thin lineup makes sense after trading away several veterans at the trade deadline. However, the team only subtracted Tommy Pham and Mark Canha from the lineup. After removing two role players, a solid lineup does not become a black hole. Yet, the Mets have played more fringe big leaguers recently than players traded away.
Injuries to important players, not trades, represent the real cause of the uninspiring Mets lineups in recent days.
Quadruple-A Players in the Mets Lineup
Rafael Ortega might be the best among the Mets that made their team debut after the trade deadline (although the bar isn’t high). In a small sample of 31 plate appearances entering Saturday, Ortega’s 9.7 percent walk rate is roughly league average. He has also provided solid defense in left and center field. The 32-year-old is a serviceable fourth or fifth outfielder.
While that might not sound impressive, it’s potential in Abraham Almonte and Jonathan Araúz aren’t going to reach. A competitive team might get away with having Almonte or Araúz as the last man on the roster. Having both simultaneously on the roster hurts competitive chances. Having both in the starting lineup, which the Mets have had twice this week, almost kills any hopes of seriously competing in a game.
Their playing time is worse because none of the trio represents any part of the team’s future. Ortega and Almonte are over 30. While Araúz just turned 25, he’s already a low-potential journeyman better suited as an emergency depth piece stashed in Triple-A.
The Mets have also seen the likes of Danny Mendick and DJ Stewart get playing time. At their best, these are two players better than the trio of Ortega, Almonte, and Araúz. But they don’t project higher than role players off the bench on a winning team.
For where the Mets currently are, the vibes of a lineup with primarily sub-.600 OPS players would be better if those players were young prospects rather than journeymen. However, the Mets don’t have this type of outfielder at Triple-A, thus forcing the need to call up the trio of emergency veteran depth options.
Injuries, Not Trades, Are Hurting the Offense
Blaming the talent shortage directly on the trade deadline fails to represent the offense’s state accurately. Injuries to core players immediately after the deadline intensified the exodus of talent from the starting lineup. The cause of recent uninspiring Mets lineups is injuries to key players.
Starling Marte and Brandon Nimmo have been in and out (mostly out for Marte) since deadline day. Francisco Lindor’s status is not stable after missing two games with side soreness. Lindor returned to the lineup for Game 2 on Saturday, but side/oblique issues tend to linger. No matter what the organization says, Lindor’s situation should be monitored for the rest of the season.
When healthy, the Mets roster has an above-average core of position players. Based on 2023 statistics, Nimmo, Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Alvarez are solid foursome. They all have a wRC+ of 112 or higher, meaning each has hit at least 12 percent better than the league average this season. Marte and Jeff McNeil are also core pieces, but both produce below-average seasons (in the lineup, in Marte’s case).
A foursome with this production should keep a team in games. However, Nimmo and Lindor missing time recently have made this a productive duo. Digging deeper, Alvarez, as a catcher, will likely only play five days a week. Among the core offensive players that have produced this season, Alonso was the only one in the horrendous Game 1 lineup. Predictably, Atlanta constantly pitched around Alonso on Friday and intentionally walked him in the first inning of Game 1.
An intentional walk to Pete Alonso in the 1st inning. The #Braves nor any other team wants a piece of him, and I don’t blame them with what remains of the #Mets lineup. #LGM
— Bill Lekas (@BillLekas) August 12, 2023
At this point, it’s fair to question how healthy Nimmo and Lindor are. Nimmo played left field in Game 2 to put less stress on his troublesome quad. Lindor, a gamer in his Mets career, will likely find a way to play no matter what obstacle arises. These injuries can quickly negatively impact production from these two key players. There must be more reason to expect Marte to return to the lineup this year or play well if he does return.
If their production suffers and McNeil fails to overcome his struggles, teams will have no reason to pitch to Alonso. Ortega, Almonte, and Araúz replace the injured Nimmo, Marte, and Lindor, not the traded-away Pham or Canha. If the Nimmo and Lindor stay healthy and produce like usual, the Mets’ offense will have a sliver of life. But right now, the cause of uninspiring Mets lineups is injuries, not trades.
Main Photo Credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, Rafael Ortega, Abraham Almonte, Jonathan Araúz, Danny Mendick,
DJ Stewart, Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil
