WASHINGTON – Juan Soto, a key figure for the Mets, maintains faith in his team’s possibilities. Despite the current situation, Soto affirms that the Mets are a playoff team “100 percent”. However, the reality of the New York team in the current season presents a complicated panorama.
Difficulties in starting pitching and injuries have affected the performance of the Mets, who suffered a defeat against the Nationals, the team that occupies the last place in the table.
Victories have been scarce since the end of July. Despite a streak of three consecutive wins, the Mets have lost 16 of 21 games, falling seven games behind first place in the National League East. They are currently half a game behind the Cincinnati Reds, who hold the last wild card spot. In the last two games against the Nationals, the team that saw him grow, Soto did not have the expected performance, going 0-8 with five strikeouts, after hitting his number 31 home run on Tuesday. In his first year with a $765 million contract for 15 years, Soto bats .247. Despite this, Soto remains healthy, something that several of his teammates cannot say. The Mets’ situation is complicated by injuries. Catcher Francisco Álvarez suffers a thumb ligament injury and may need surgery. Left fielder Brandon Nimmo was pulled from Wednesday’s game due to neck stiffness and did not play on Thursday. Second baseman Jeff McNeil also missed Thursday’s game due to a right shoulder discomfort. Manager Carlos Mendoza had to improvise, including McNeil as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of Thursday’s game. Nimmo did not show improvement in his neck on Thursday, according to Mendoza. Also, the Mets’ rotation of openers, with the exception of David Peterson, has failed to complete the middle innings. Kodai Senga, who lost on Wednesday night, has an ERA of 6.00 in his last six starts, averaging less than five innings per appearance. Sean Manaea had a good start on Thursday, but couldn’t get past the fifth inning and hasn’t completed six innings in eight starts this season.From day one, we believe in ourselves and that we can make the playoffs. We just have to play better as a team and win more games.
Juan Soto
The Mets face a weekend series in Atlanta before returning home to play the Phillies. With seven games remaining against the division leaders, securing a wild card spot seems to be the most viable route to the playoffs.It starts with our starters, with the starting pitching. They set the tone. When they perform, the whole team performs.
Carlos Mendoza
We don’t have much time left. So we have to play better.
Carlos Mendoza
