The New York Mets have swung their way out of their annual June swoon, winning back-to-back series against the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees to right the ship.
Fittingly, the road will get a little easier now that the sky isn't falling. Three-game sets with the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals will precede the All-Star break, giving New York runway to reclaim first place in the NL East.
The Mets will have some reinforcements to help finish the first half on the right note.
New York's designated hitters just got turned upside down
A series of roster moves were announced before the Mets' trip to Baltimore. Outfielder Jesse Winker, the left-handed side of New York's DH platoon, was activated from the 60-day injured list. His counterpart, Starling Marte, in a corresponding move, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee bruise.
While the Mets won't be at full strength with Marte's absence, his placement was retroactive to July 7, which means he can return when New York plays host to the Cincinnati Reds to open the second half.
To his credit, Marte posted a .261 batting average against right-handed pitchers, exceeding expectations while Winker rehabbed from his oblique injury. Winker will slide in against righties, but the Mets may opt to maintain their platoon against lefties.
MORE: Jeff McNeil's major adjustment helping fuel Mets
Winker was treading around average when he went down in St. Louis. He brings ample pop from the left side, deepening a lineup that has hit some turbulence between injuries and inconsistencies in the bottom half of the order. His power comes and goes, but Winker has always been a good at-bat, controlling the strike zone and walking over 10% of the time.
Swapping veteran outfielders wasn't the only move New York announced on Tuesday. Starting pitcher Tylor Megill, despite manager Carlos Mendoza's optimism, was placed on the 60-day injured list, pushing his return deep into August.
Southpaw Sean Manaea is yet to make his 2025 debut but is set to make a final rehab assignment in Syracuse on Tuesday. If all goes well, he could get some Major League innings in on Sunday.
He'll be joining a pitching staff that is enduring constant turnover. New York announced that reliever Zach Pop, after just 1.1 innings of three-run ball, has been designated for assignment. Right-handed reliever Alex Carrillo will take his spot. He hasn't allowed a run in AAA after striking out nearly 14 per nine in AA. The Mets will hope to capture lightning in a bottle to give the bullpen some much-needed relief.
New York also signed right-handed pitcher Junior Fernández to a minor-league deal in its perpetual search for MLB arms.
With Winker back in the fold and pitching help on the way, the Mets are positioned well to get hot ahead of, and potentially through, the All-Star break.
MORE MLB NEWS
- Meet Alex Carrillo, the Mets' new pitcher who made it from the Washington Wild Things to MLB
- Padres writer makes strong case for Manny Machado to reach 3,000 career hits
- Dodgers add All-Star closer to roster after key trade
- Pirates' Oneil Cruz bringing record-setting exit velocity to Home Run Derby