5 things to watch
The pitching staff is stabilizing
The Mets entered this past weekend’s series against the Yankees with their pitching situation being akin to a giant shrug emoji. That was due to the avalanche of recent injuries and a postponement early last week that resulted in a doubleheader.
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The plan, which resulted in two Mets wins as the team showed serious moxie, meant bullpen games on Friday and Sunday that were sandwiched around a Frankie Montas start on Saturday in what was his first time on the mound after correcting pitch-tipping issues.
New York has made it through the worst, and reinforcements are on the way. Additionally, every key reliever except for Huascar Brazoban will be on at least two full days of rest when this series starts.
Against the Orioles, the Mets will have Clay Holmes starting on Tuesday, David Peterson getting the ball on Wednesday, and likely Montas taking the mound on Thursday.
When the Mets travel to Kansas City this weekend for their final three games before the All-Star break, the expectation is that Kodai Senga will come off the IL to pitch on Friday or Saturday, with Sean Manaea penciled in for his season debut on Sunday.
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The offense is coming around
Since shaking off the terrible run they had to end June, New York’s offense has been humming along during their recent 4-1 stretch.
While winning four of five games against the Brewers and Yankees (and beating up on some really good starting pitching along the way), the Mets have scored 32 runs — an average of 6.4 runs per game.
The top of the lineup has continued to do much of the damage, but Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty have been hitting better as well.
Mauricio went 4-for-10 with a double and two runs scored against the Yanks over the weekend, and Baty went 3-for-6 with a homer.
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Mark Vientos still hasn’t found his form since coming off the IL, but he hit into a lot of hard luck on Saturday — a possible sign that things are about to turn for him.
Jesse Winker’s return
Winker last played on May 4, which is when he suffered an oblique injury that threw the Mets’ designated hitter situation into disarray.
After looking sharp at the plate during a rehab assignment, Winker is set to be activated from the IL ahead of Tuesday’s game.
And it’s possible Winker’s activation is coming at the perfect time, with the status of Starling Marte up in the air after his knee issue flared up.
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Winker wasn’t crushing it at the plate before he got injured, but he was solidly above average, with an OPS+ of 112.
His return should help lengthen the lineup in a serious way.
Baltimore’s pitching has been among the worst in baseball
The Orioles entered this season as the AL East favorites of many, but the year has been a nightmare for them — due in large part to their starting rotation.
While losing ace Corbin Burnes to the Diamondbacks in free agency, the O’s didn’t really do much to improve their rotation during the offseason. Their big signings were Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton.
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Then they were hit with injuries to Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez, and — most recently — Zach Eflin.
Baltimore enters this series having allowed 453 runs this season. That is the second-most in the AL (better than only the Athletics) and fifth-most in the majors (the Diamondbacks, Nationals, and Rockies have all surrendered more).
The O’s will trot out Brandon Young (7.02 ERA, 1.98 WHIP), Sugano (4.44 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), and Morton (5.47 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) this week against the Mets.
Orioles are looking to stave off a sell-off
With a record of 40-49, the Orioles are in last place in the AL East and 7.5 games behind the Mariners for the final Wild Card spot in the AL.
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That means that their six-game stretch against the Mets and Marlins before the All-Star break could be determinative when it comes to what they do at the trade deadline.
If Baltimore decides to sell, it’s likely that CF Cedric Mullins and 1B/OF/DH Ryan O’Hearn — both free agents at the end of the season — should be on the move.
Mullins could be an intriguing possibility for the Mets, who are in need of more offense in center.
The 30-year-old has a modest OPS+ of 102, but has clubbed 13 home runs.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Mark Vientos
The hits will start to fall for Vientos at Camden Yards.
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Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
David Peterson
Peterson returned to form in his last start, holding the Brewers to one earned run in 6.2 innings.
Which Orioles player will be a thorn in the Mets’ side?
Jackson Holliday
Holliday is coming off a 4-for-4 performance against the Braves on Sunday.
