The New York Mets are flying high after an impressive weekend series win over the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers, taking two out of three games. But while the Dodgers were a major hurdle, the true test for the Mets begins this week.
Trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by just two games in the National League East standings, the Mets are set for a crucial stretch of six home games. Their opponents: the struggling Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies — teams with a combined record of 26-80 and an alarming joint run differential of -221. In short, these are games the Mets should win easily.
The White Sox, despite the steady hand of first-year manager Will Venable, remain one of the league’s most underperforming clubs. As for the Rockies, they’ve been widely described as a “Quadruple-A” team — not quite ready for MLB-level competition. Firing Bud Black last week might have been the only bright spot for Colorado in what’s shaping up to be another lost season.
Given their current momentum, there’s no reason the Mets shouldn’t clean up this week. Saturday’s victory over the Dodgers saw a spark from Juan Soto, who has been slumping but delivered a clutch two-run double. With energy high and a weak slate ahead, it’s an ideal time for the Mets to rack up some wins — and for fans using New York sports betting apps, a prime opportunity to back the orange and blue.
Still, there’s a note of caution. Even the weakest teams can bite when overlooked. The Rockies recently dropped a season series against the Yankees but managed to steal the opener in a tight 3-2 contest. The White Sox, too, showed signs of life, taking series wins against both the Astros and Rangers earlier this month. Upsets happen — especially when favorites get complacent.
And the Mets are not immune. As noted after Saturday’s game, their offense has an imbalance. The lineup, especially with Soto’s inconsistency, feels top-heavy, relying heavily on Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso to keep things moving. That’s a risky position to be in over the long haul.
So, what’s the simple message for the Mets this week? Don’t coast. Show up. Play hard.
While the Mets’ hitting has been serviceable — their team wRC+ of 108 is respectable, though they sit just 15th in home runs — it’s their pitching that’s been the true standout. Even with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas sidelined, the team boasts the best ERA in baseball at 2.81. That’s a testament to the depth and resilience of the staff.
Thankfully for New York, both the White Sox and Rockies are performing so poorly that anything less than four wins this week would feel like a disappointment. A loss here or there is forgivable — even elite teams can run into a hot pitcher or a tough inning.
But if the Mets were to drop either of these series? That should sound a few alarms in the front office. With June fast approaching, it could be time to consider reinforcements at the deadline — an extra bat, a bullpen arm, whatever it takes to keep pace in a division where every win counts.
Bottom line: This week is the Mets’ to lose. And if they take care of business as expected, they’ll be in a prime position to make a deeper second-half run.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
