Zack Wheeler turned in another outstanding performance to lead the Mets to a 3-0 win over the Nationals. It was the second straight day the Mets won by that score.
Wheeler went seven shutout innings to win for the seventh time in his last eight games. He lowered his season ERA to 3.46 with the outing.
It took awhile for the Mets to give Wheeler some support, as they didn’t score until Amed Rosario homered in the sixth inning. Todd Frazier went yard in the seventh and Michael Conforto had an RBI single in the eighth to round out the scoring.
Glad Mets did not trade “Wheels”. They have 3 robust starters for 2019, that is more than most teams can say. Sad no one knows what they have in Matz. Off and on, injured seemingly all the time, not sure if they can count on him for 2019.
For the 5th spot, the Mets need to groom a young arm like Oswalt, Peterson, Dunn.
The 5th turn is vs the other team’s lesser pitcher as well should be used for a young hurler. So many BP arms and none except for Lugo and Gsellman have stood out.
I believe this is the key for 2019.The Mets need to find as many as 5 arms to fill out the BP.
This is where games are won and lost in today’s baseball.
New GM, fix the BP and probably a lineup like: 1B- Alonso (wins job in spring), 2B- McNeil (new Murph), SS – Rosario (steady if not slow improvement), 3B- Frazier (will end up with 20hrs, steady D)-C-??(may need to trade here) d’Arnaud, Plaw, not the answer), LF- Cespedes (May?), CF- Nimmo, RF-Conforto / Bench – Flores, Jackson, Bautista (bring him back on the cheap), Nido, D Wright (yes, the Cpt returns) as PH, DH, and clubhouse royalty. Many Met records are within his reach and he will get them next two years, then probably be a Manager…watch.
LAST POINT: How come the “Rays” of all teams with a full roster of no-names can be 69-61 and look at our Mets !! If the Mets had that record they would be 3.5 games out and totally in the NL East race with Braves and Phils with a month left to go. Crazy.
Center Field, the Mets need at least Avery good if not an elite CFer. If your team is based on pitching defense can’t be ignored! Neither Conforto nor Nimmo is an adequate CFer.