Kallet: Mets Desperately Need Matz, Bruce To Get Their Acts In Gear
By Brad Kallet
» More Columns
As the regular season winds down and the playoffs -- potentially -- loom ahead, the Mets' fate may very well come down to two players: Steven Matz and Jay Bruce.
Who would have ever predicted that at the start of the season? Matz, you could easily have argued, was the Mets' fourth-best starting pitcher behind Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard (and perhaps even Bartolo Colon). And Bruce was in Cincinnati.
But here we are, on Sept. 20, and the Mets find themselves, improbably, in the throes of a playoff race. In sole possession of the first National League wild-card berth, a game ahead of both the Giants and Cardinals, the Mets are piecing together a roster that back in April you would have believed came out of a video game. (Or, more realistically, a farm system.)
MORE: Palladino: DeGrom's Injury May Be The One That Pushes Mets Over Edge
Harvey is done for the season, as are deGrom and Zack Wheeler. Only Syndergaard and Colon, of the six starters that were expected to be part of the staff of a lifetime, are still standing on the active roster. And that's why the Mets so desperately need Matz, who is currently on the disabled list with left shoulder impingement, healthy and back in the rotation.
Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman have done a fine job as replacements, but they've mostly faced lackluster, punchless lineups. If the Mets win the Wild Card game and play the Cubs or advance to the NLCS and take on the Dodgers or Nationals, talent-laden lineups will have a field day with these inexperienced pitchers. For the Mets to have any chance of going on a postseason run and getting back to the World Series, they'll need three impact arms -- Syndergaard, Matz and Colon -- firmly entrenched in the rotation.
Mets fans take all encouraging health-related news with a grain of salt these days, but they got some this past weekend and on Monday. On Saturday, Matz threw a 30-pitch bullpen session in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and later reported that he felt no pain. Prior to New York's loss to lowly Atlanta on Monday, manager Terry Collins told reporters that the young left-hander could rejoin the rotation as soon as Friday against Philadelphia at Citi Field. Matz, who is expected to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday in advance of his return, would likely be limited to 40 or 50 pitches against the Phillies.
Fingers crossed. But if we've learned anything from this roller-coaster ride of a season, it's to never expect the expected and, to make things easier on yourself, brace for the worst conceivable outcome.
Bruce's situation is a different one entirely. The slugger -- can I still refer to him as one? -- has been downright dreadful since being acquired from the Reds on Aug. 1. When the three-time All-Star arrived in Flushing, he had 25 home runs and led the NL with 80 RBI. The 29-year-old outfielder was also incredibly clutch in Cincinnati, sporting a sparkling .360 average with runners in scoring position.
But in 39 games in New York, Bruce has been a non-factor, and even a liability due to his high strikeout pace. In 139 at-bats with the Mets, he is hitting just .180 with four homers and 11 RBI. With 39 strikeouts and a .260 on-base percentage, Collins has, rightfully so, benched him on more than one occasion.
Is he suffering from Jason Bay Syndrome, as we refer to it in these parts? Whether it's pressure, difficulty with change after eight years in one uniform or a standard slump, nobody but Bruce -- and even he might be at a loss -- knows why he's not producing. But whatever the reason, whatever the cause, the bottom line is that this proven run-producer is doing anything but producing runs.
On Monday, Collins sat Bruce for a second straight game in an effort to restart his motor.
The Mets have been scoring runs of late despite Bruce's struggles, but for them to have a playoff-caliber lineup the two-time Silver Slugger Award winner needs to mash like a prototypical cleanup hitter. That means walks, doubles, protection for Yoenis Cespedes and, most importantly, home runs in big spots.
Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera, Cespedes and Curtis Granderson, as currently constituted, make up the foundation of a strong lineup. Add a hot Bruce into the equation and the Mets suddenly have a scary, imposing lineup that can score with almost anyone.
I assumed, based on his track record alone, that Bruce would get in a groove sooner rather than later. It hasn't happened, and more alarming than even his numbers has been the eye test. He's barely putting the ball in play, and when he does he's not making hard outs. Once one of the top power hitters in baseball, Bruce has played himself out of the starting lineup, at least temporarily, and if he doesn't turn it around quickly Collins might be forced to platoon him with Michael Conforto in right field.
Monday night was a step back for the Amazins', but they're still in position to reach the postseason for the second consecutive year.
For them to get there -- and stick around for more than a cup of coffee -- a rookie and a veteran will have to right the ship and live up to reasonable expectations.
Brad Kallet is the managing editor of TENNIS.com and a frequent contributor to WFAN.com. Follow him on Twitter @brad_kallet
