Mets projections for May

The first month of the MLB regular season has come to an end, and the Mets have finished with an above .500 record.  Although it got off to a rough start, the Mets began to emerge as threat despite their struggles offensively.  So what is to come in the month of May for the Mets?  Five predictions plus an overview of May’s series are listed below.

1.   The Mets will finish with a record above .500. 

The Mets do not have the most difficult schedule in the month of May.  The hardest it will get for them is four games against the Yankees in the middle of the month, and three games against the Dodgers just one week after.  Other than that, they will play on the road against the Rockies, Marlins, Nationals, and Phillies.  Also, they will host the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Pirates.  Therefore, half of their series they play in the month of May will be held at hitting friendly ballparks, which will give their lineup exactly what it needs.  The Mets have already proven that their starting pitching can go the distance, and shine against any lineup.  So as long as their offense is able to get the boost it desperately needs, they will have no problem maintaining an above .500 record.

2.   Jenrry Mejia will get his first loss.

Somehow, Jennry Mejia has been able to dominate hitters so far this season, and earn a 3-0 record.  But this will not last long.  By May’s end, Mejia will have at least one loss added to his record, and it will probably come during the Subway Series.  Mejia showed signs of weakness in his last start against the Marlins on April 26.  He allowed six runs in just 5.2 innings of work, and this will not just go away.  When he faces the Yankees, it will probably be at Citi Field.  Therefore, the Mets struggling offsense will play a key role this start, as it will lead to a loss for Mejia.

3.   Curtis Granderson will be hitting above .200

Curtis Granderson’s struggles are no secret.  Although he has two walk off RBI’s, which came within the same week, Granderson is currently hitting below .200 and has over 25 strike outs.  However, Granderson fans can look forward to the month of May, as Granderson will go on a tear this month.  He will be returning to Yankee stadium for two games, and there is no doubt that he will hit a couple of homers while he is there.  Also, he will be hitting at Coors Field and Citizen’s Bank Park.  These are two of the best all around hitting ballparks, and a player such as Granderson will greatly benefit from this.

4.   The Mets will figure out their shortstop dilemma.

For some reason, the Mets decided not to give Stephen Drew a two-year deal, leading to them having no legitimate shortstop in 2014.  However, fans have already seen Alderson pull the trigger on trading one player this season, and it would come as no surprise if he did it again.  Ruben Tejada and Omar Quantanilla have already proven that they cannot play in the majors this year, and the Mets can use a good player at the shortstop position in order to maintain their amazing start to the season.  That said, by May’s end, Alderson will have traded for a legitimate shortstop, and the Mets will have one less problem to worry about.

5.   The Mets will have a better record than the Yankees.

There is not much of a difference between the Mets record and the Yankees record so far this season.  But by looking at May’s schedule for both teams, the Mets seem to have the upper hand, as they will be facing easier teams in more hitter friendly ballparks.  Plus, the Mets have the better interleague play record, and they swept the Yankees last year.  They probably will not sweep the Yankees again, but the Mets will most likely win two out of three, which will be just enough to give them a better record than the Yankees by month’s end.

 

Series Overviews

1.     Mets @ Rockies:  From May 1^st until May 4^th, the Mets will take on the Rockies at Coors Field for a four game series.  The Rockies are doing well this season, but so are the Mets.  The Mets can easily beat the Rockies in a pitching duel, so this series will most likely depend on the success of the Mets’ offense.

Series Result: Mets take the series 3-1.

2.     Mets @ Marlins:  Starting May 5^th, the Mets will play the Miami Marlins at Marlins Ballpark.  The last time the two teams played each other, the Mets too two out of three games from the Marlins.  The tables will most likely turn this series.  The Marlins pitching has been good, and Giancarlo Stanton is always a threat.

Series Result: Marlins take the series 2-1.

3.     Mets vs. Phillies:  The Mets will return home for three games to play the Phillies from May 9^th until May 11^th.  The Mets are 8-8 at home this season, and the Phillies are 9-7 on the road.  The Mets will certainly show the Phillies who is boss, and sweep them in the three game set.

Series Result: Mets sweep the Phillies 3-0.

4.     Mets @ Yankees:  Last year, the Mets owned the Yankees by sweeping them in a four game set.  This season, results will remain similar.  The Yankees may have a better record than the Mets, but the Mets have Granderson returning to the Bronx.

Series Result: Mets take the series 2-0.

5.     Mets vs. Yankees:  After two games at Yankee Stadium, the Mets and Yankees will travel across the city to Queens and play two more games at Citi Field.  The Mets will struggle offensively against the Yankees rotation, and it will cost them in the two game series.

Series Result: Series ends with both teams winning one game.

6.     Mets @ Nationals:  These two teams met for the 2014 opening series, which resulted in the Mets getting swept.  So, now it is time for revenge… but it will not come so easy.  The Mets will not sweep the Nationals, but they do have a legitimate shot of winning the series.

Series Result: Mets take 2 out of 3 from the Nationals.

7.     Mets vs. Dodgers:  When the calendar reaches May 20^th, the Mets will return to Citi Field to face the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Dodgers are certainly a threat, and there is a possibility that Clayton Kershaw will be back by then.  Therefore, the Mets hot streak will begin a slow, but sure downslide.

Series Result: Dodgers sweep the Mets 3-0.

8.     Mets vs. Diamondbacks:  When the Mets faced the Diamondbacks in April, they swept them with no problems what so ever.  Since then, the Diamondbacks have not improved any, and are still one of the worst teams in the big leagues.  However, it will be tough for the Mets to replicate what they did in Arizona.  Therefore, the Mets may not win this series.

Series Result: Diamondbacks take 2 out of 3 from the Mets.

9.     Mets vs. Pirates:  The Mets and Pirates may not have played each other yet this season, but they have certainly made news together.  Just over a week ago, the Mets traded first baseman Ike Davis to the Pirates for a prospect and a player to be named later.  When Davis returns to Citi Field, it will be interesting to see the reaction he gets, and it will be of equal interest to watch him take his at bats.

Series Result: Mets take 2 out of 3 from the Pirates.

 

10.  Mets @ Phillies:  When the Mets take their second trip to Philadelphia in 2014, it will be the last series of the month.  By that time, the Mets will have probably pulled far ahead of the Phillies in the standings, but the Phillies will not be done yet.  They are called the “Fightin’ Phils” for a reason, and they will certainly give the Mets a hard time at month’s end.

Series Result: Phillies win the series 2-1.

 

            The season is far from over, but the month of May is just beginning.  It will not be an easy month, but it will be one that Mets fans will enjoy.  Projection wise, the Mets seem to have few problems coming up in May, and will finish with a total record of 31-23.  So to all the fans out there waiting for a playoff birth to emerge for the Mets, “you gotta believe” that there will be many more successful months like April and May to come.