Mets Player Meter: Position players, May 27-June 2 (2024)

The Mets were swept by the Dodgers in a ghastly series before winning the first two games of the Diamondbacks series (Winning two games in a row? Are they allowed to do that?). However, the Diamondbacks managed a split with the Mets thanks in part to yet another blown late-inning lead. The offense put up above league average numbers for the week, but this meter reveals a decidedly mixed bag.

Omar Narváez went hitless in four plate appearances this week before he was designated for assignment in favor of Luis Torrens, who the Mets picked up from the Yankees. Torrens reached base once via a walk and scored a run in his first three Mets plate appearances. On the same day Narváez was cut, Brett Baty, who had just one hit in 10 plate appearances this week, was sent down to Triple-A. Baty also walked twice this week before his exit off the roster.

This means more playing time for Mark Vientos, who continues to perform well with the bat since being back with the big league club. Vientos posted a 116 wRC+ this week, logging seven hits in 25 plate appearances. Six of those were singles, but the one that wasn’t was a home run—a solo shot in Saturday’s game. The seven hits are a three-way tie for second-most on the team. Vientos also drove in three runs and scored two runs in total. In need of a true backup infielder since parting ways with Joey Wendle, the Mets promoted José Iglesias, who notched two hits in his first six plate appearances; he also scored a run and drove in a run.

Tomás Nido continues to serve as the everyday catcher in Francisco Alvarez’s absence and was solid this week, putting up a 135 wRC+ in 16 plate appearances this week. Nido was tied for the team lead in runs scored with four. He also drove in three runs. Nido had a big day on Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs, and a run scored.

The other players with four runs scored this week are the Mets’ hottest hitters. Francisco Lindor leads the team in hits this week with ten, including two home runs—one in Tuesday’s doubleheader and one in the series opener against the Diamondbacks. In fact, Lindor’s 4-for-4 performance on Thursday is what helped lead the Mets to victory and end the losing streak. He holds a blistering 191 wRC+ for the week and gets a fire ball.

The team leader in wRC+ though is J.D. Martinez with a 202. Martinez share the team lead in RBIs with five apiece. Martinez was also the only Met besides Lindor this week to go deep multiple times. Martinez hit a go-ahead home run on Friday that ended up being the difference in the game. He followed that up with another home run in Friday’s game—a two-run shot.

Starling Marte drove in four runs in Friday’s game and the Mets would turn out to need every last one of them. Those four RBIs represent Marte’s only run production for the week, but he did collect six hits and walk twice this week—good for a 162 wRC+ for the week.

Pete Alonso is in the green too with a 178 wRC+ for the week in 24 plate appearances. Alonso scored four runs and drove in four runs. His seven hits match Martinez and Vientos for second-most on the team and four of those went for extra bases, including three doubles, which is the most on the team. Alonso had a big day on Saturday, going 2-for4 with a home run, a double, a walk, two RBIs, and a run scored, but he could not save the pitching staff from giving up ten runs.

That’s just about where the good news ends, folks. After a good week last week, Jeff McNeil had just three hits—all singles—in 22 plate appearances this week. That’s a -23 wRC+ for anyone keeping track at home. McNeil did not score any runs or drive in any runs this week. The same is true of DJ Stewart, who also gets a poop emoji this week for logging just one hit and two walks in 15 plate appearances. Tyrone Taylor spends his second straight week in the red for hitting .154 this week in 13 plate appearances. He did not drive in any runs, but he did score a run.

But perhaps the most concerning thing is that Brandon Nimmo struck out ten times this week, which is by far the most of any Met and certainly not what you want out of the three hole. Nimmo logged four hits and two of them were for extra bases, including a two-run triple on Sunday, which Martinez followed with another triple to drive him in. Unfortunately one of Nimmo’s only good moments this week was spoiled by yet another poor bullpen performance. Harrison Bader, meanwhile, posted an uninspiring 77 wRC+ this week in 18 plate appearances. He had three hits, but two of them were for extra bases. He scored two runs and walked twice.