HOUSTON -- Heading into Opening Day, the prevailing wisdom surrounding the Mets was that the lineup should be solid but the pitching might be an issue. So naturally through three games, the Mets have pitched well and struggled at the plate.
But it wasn¡¯t all bad, even accounting for New York¡¯s 2-1 loss to the Astros in Saturday¡¯s finale. Offensively, three things stood out during the opening series.
Francisco Lindor is at risk of another slow start
It¡¯s too early to assume Lindor will look sluggish for a third of the season or more, as he has most years since joining the Mets. Still, given such context, the fact that Lindor is 0-for-11 to start the season is at least worth noting.
Consider Lindor¡¯s recent history:
- In 2024, Lindor was batting .193/.268/.348 as late in the season as May 20.
- In 2023, he was batting .211/.291/.411 as late as June 17.
- In 2021, he was batting .194/.292/.303 on June 1.
Those starts included some of the longest 0-for streaks in Mets history, including an 0-for-24 spell last April. Lindor rebounded from that to play MVP-caliber baseball over the final four-plus months of the season, and he¡¯s always done well to separate the offensive part of his game from his baserunning and defense.
Still, the slow starts are frustrating for Lindor, who doesn¡¯t have a great explanation for why they happen.
¡°That¡¯s a fantastic question,¡± Lindor said. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone is asking that, and I¡¯m sure everyone is trying to figure it out, and I¡¯m right there with everyone.¡±
He shrugged. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve got to put the ball in play, focus on not hitting it to the opposing players.¡±
This year, three games is not enough of a sample size to assume Lindor¡¯s pattern will repeat itself, but it¡¯s still the type of beginning he had hoped to avoid.
The Mets have something interesting in Jose Siri
New York¡¯s lone offensive highlight in Saturday¡¯s finale came courtesy of Siri, who was drawing his first start of the season in center field. In the sixth inning, the free-swinging Siri drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a Lindor fly ball and then dashed home on a groundout.
But it was how he dashed home that raised eyebrows. When Juan Soto hit a tapper back to pitcher Spencer Arrighetti with one out, Arrighetti took a long look at Siri before turning and -- apparently satisfied that Siri would not run -- throwing to first. The moment Arrighetti broke eye contact, Siri took off, sliding home just ahead of first baseman Christian Walker¡¯s throw.
¡°That¡¯s instincts right there,¡± manager Carlos Mendoza said.
This was the type of thing the Mets envisioned when they traded reliever Eric Orze to the Rays this offseason for Siri, a player who boasts elite power and speed in an unpolished package. Siri won¡¯t start regularly for the Mets, as he did in Tampa Bay last season. Instead, the Mets will use him on a part-time basis in hopes that he can continue electrifying them when they need it.
¡°He can impact and help you win a baseball game a lot of different ways -- not only with his defense, with his legs, with the way he runs the bases, but he¡¯s also got power,¡± Mendoza said. ¡°He¡¯s a good player with a lot of tools. He¡¯s going to impact this team in a good way.¡±
Juan Soto has been as advertised
How would the Mets have looked this weekend without Soto? He recorded three of their 12 hits, seven of their 19 total bases and four of their 13 walks, establishing himself as their most consistent offensive force. It¡¯s clear that even in a lineup featuring Lindor and Pete Alonso, Soto is going to be the focal point of opposing teams¡¯ game plans.
Of course, things will look different once Lindor and Alonso heat up, as those two are a combined 1-for-20. But imagine if Soto was also slumping to open the year? Imagine if his strikeout to end their Opening Day loss marked the beginning of a trend and not a random blip?
If any player is slump-proof, it¡¯s Soto, given his excellent plate discipline and ability to hit the ball hard. The Mets will continue to lean on him all year.
As Mendoza put it: ¡°He¡¯s Juan Soto. He¡¯s going to come through more times than not.¡±