Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Houston Astros play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Friday night…
Preview
Franciscos. That’s fun to say
As the Mets’ offense has turned into one of the most potent in baseball over the last month and change, pretty much everyone has gotten in on the fun. But Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez have been on another planet.
Lindor is slashing .291/.354/.547 with four homers and 10 doubles in 96 plate appearances over 21 games in June. With that hot streak, Lindor’s OPS+ for the season is up to 118.
He is on pace to finish the year with 27 homers, 48 doubles, and 106 runs scored.
As far as Alvarez, he is starting to look like a budding superstar. He’s also swagger personified.
During his eight-game hitting streak, Alvarez is hitting .556/.647/1.037 with three homers and four doubles over 34 plate appearances. One of those homers came in Game 2 of the Subway Series, when he took a 98 mph Luis Gil fastball the other way for a missile of a two-run shot.
Overall, Alvarez is hitting .313/.383/.521 in 30 games this season.
Mets’ bullpen is being held together by tape and glue
Over the last week, the Mets have lost three of their most important relievers.
Edwin Diaz has eight games left to serve on his sticky stuff suspension, and is eligible to return on July 6.
Sean Reid-Foley is making progress as he recovers from a shoulder impingement, and could be activated from the IL on July 5 when first eligible.
Drew Smith is dealing with forearm tightness, and his potential return date is much less clear.
As the Mets wait for Diaz and Reid-Foley, they’re going to have to keep navigating the late innings with a bullpen that features Reed Garrett and Dedniel Nunez as the two most reliable arms.
That ‘pen bent but didn’t break during Game 1 of the Subway Series, and was better in Game 2, with Adrian Houser tossing the final three frames.
McNeil and Megill
While the Mets have turned their season around, serious questions remain when it comes to Jeff McNeil and Tylor Megill.
McNeil has very slowly started to show signs — he hit the ball hard in three at-bats against the Cubs on June 23, had two hits against the Yankees on Tuesday, and had an RBI against the Yanks on Wednesday.
But with Jose Iglesias eating into…