Amid downward spiral, Mets set to host Diamondbacks (2024)

The Mets (22-33) are in disarray following a three-game series against the Dodgers that featured embarrassing losses, the placement of Edwin Díaz on the injured list, a potential injury for Pete Alonso as the result of a hit-by-pitch, and the DFA of Jorge López following a scene that saw him throw his glove into the stands and double down on it after the game during media availability.

While the team isn’t sporting the worst record in baseball right now, it is undoubtedly the worst team in baseball at this particular point in time. This group has mastered the art of losing games—especially winnable ones—and has effectively torpedoed its playoff chances before June begins.

A ten-game winning streak, which seems downright impossible for this version of the Mets, wouldn’t even get the team back to .500. Given Major League Baseball’s extreme lowering of the postseason bar with its current playoff format, it’s almost hard to believe—even if you came into the season with low expectations.

The Diamondbacks (25-30) are three games up on the Mets in the standings but feel like they’re a world away from the Mets right now. Theirs isn’t a pretty playoff picture, either, as Arizona sits 3.0 games out of the third Wild Card spot with four teams ahead of them. Compared to the Mets’ position—as close to the Diamondbacks in the standings as they are to the last-place Marlins—that sounds downright luxurious.

As for the Diamondbacks’ tendencies, the team has a pretty good offense, albeit one that plays in a park that has historically been a good one for hitters. With 4.57 runs scored per game, this is a team with an above-average offense. Run prevention is basically the opposite, as the Diamondbacks have given up 4.56 runs per game, more than the average team has this year.

Thursday, May 30: Christian Scott vs. Zac Gallen at 7:10 PM EDT on SNY

Scott (2024): 22.2 IP, 21 K, 5 BB, 3 HR, 3.97 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 104 ERA-

Very few things are going right for the Mets right now, but Scott’s first four starts in the big leagues have been one of the best parts of an otherwise miserable season. Regardless of what the team is doing around him, Scott could very well stake his claim on a spot in the rotation moving forward if he continues to pitch as well as he has thus far or better.

Gallen (2024): 57.2 IP, 60 K, 15 BB, 6 HR, 3.12 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 78 ERA-

Coming off a 2023 season that saw him finish third in National League Cy Young voting, Gallen has pitched even better in the early part of this season. While his ERA ranks 31st among 75 qualified starting pitchers, he’s nothing to sneeze at.

Friday, May 31: Luis Severino vs. Jordan Montgomery at 7:10 PM EDT on WPIX

Severino (2024): 58.2 IP, 50 K, 26 BB, 4 HR, 3.22 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 85 ERA-

Like Zac Gallen, Severino has been a good starting pitcher this year despite not being among the elite ranks of starters. The bounce-back from his poor 2023 season appears to be in full effect, and if the Mets decide to flip the switch and become sellers, Severino could make for a very appealing trade chip.

Montgomery (2024): 40.1 IP, 24 K, 12 BB, 4 HR, 4.69 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 117 ERA-

One of Scott Boras’s clients who missed spring training and wound up settling for a deal much less than what he deserved coming into the 2024 season, Montgomery has gotten off to a slow start with his new team. Since his really bad outing against the Dodgers on May 1, he’s been slightly better with a 4.07 ERA.

Saturday, June 1: Sean Manaea vs. Blake Walston at 4:10 PM EDT on SNY

Manaea (2024): 51.1 IP, 47 K, 22 BB, 3 HR, 3.16 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 83 ERA-

Continuing a theme with the probable pitchers in this series, Manaea’s been pretty good in his first year with the Mets. If games were decided solely on starting pitching, the Mets might have a chance to do well in it.

Walston (2024): 8.1 IP, 9 K, 5 BB, 0 HR, 2.16 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 54 ERA-

A 22-year-old rookie, Walston has a pretty good stat line going through his first few innings in the big leagues. In 35.2 innings in Triple-A this year, however, Walston had a 4.54 ERA and a 5.69 FIP. At both levels, walks have been an issue, and the Mets would be wise to approach him with patience.

Sunday, June 2: TBD vs. Brandon Pfaadt at 1:40 PM EDT on WPIX

TBD: Either Tylor Megill or Jose Quintana could make the start in the series finale after both pitched in the doubleheader against the Dodgers on Tuessday. Megill has a fantastic 1.69 ERA and a 1.94 FIP in three starts so far this year. Quintana has a 5.06 ERA and a 4.82 FIP in 58.2 innings of work so far. It’ll be interesting to see if the team sticks with a six-man rotation as it’s operating with half of its Opening Day bullpen out either temporarily or for the rest of the season.

Pfaadt (2024): 67.0 IP, 63 K, 12 BB, 7 HR, 4.16 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 104 ERA-

Right now, the five-start stretch that saw Pfaadt put up a 3.27 ERA in the postseason last year looks to be the outlier in his major league career. But what he’s done in the regular seaosn this year is a significant step forward from what he did in the regular season last year.