3 Most Important Takeaways From Mets' Impressive Second Half

The New York Mets’ season could well be divided into two completely different parts. First, the team’s initial stretch when they played to a 36-50 record between March and June, a disappointing run that sank the team’s expectations and inevitably turned them into sellers when the trade deadline arrived. When Carlos Mendoza was fired on June 26, one day after the 4-3, ten-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field, the Mets were playing to a 34-47 record. After that, managed by Andy Green, who was recently named the team’s full-time manager on a three-year contract, they played basically .500 ball with a 40-41 record.

The results have been much more encouraging with Green, as the team went 38-38 after the start of July, including a 27-24 mark after August 1.

With no chance to compete for a return to the postseason, the Mets gave several promising players an opportunity down the stretch. At the same time, they received some interesting signals during the second half of this season that generated some key expectations looking ahead to the 2027 season.

Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing Rebuild Mets' Outfield In One Season

Benge had a rookie season that exceeded my expectations. He posted a 118 wRC+ and 4.3 fWAR all while becoming the first rookie with a 20-20 season in franchise history. But when I look at his performance, the first number that, in a certain way, makes me think is his 654 plate appearances. At 23 years old, he has been an everyday player and his consistency adds much more value to his performance in his rookie season.

But it was in this second half of the season when Benge surprised the most, batting .310/.373/.471, with nine home runs, 34 RBIs and a 136 wRC+ in 62 games. But offensive value is not the only way Benge impacts the game. The great defensive complement that has made him the most powerful arm in the game and one of the best outfielders in the league also comes into play. Statcast credits him with +7 defensive runs, the best mark in MLB, with +8 runs generated by runners thrown out and +7 by keeping them at their base. He has had the impressive ability to change games with his throws, standing out in both power and accuracy, in addition to his ability to move around the outfield.

And this is where Ewing also enters the conversation. Ewing, 21, recorded 2.0 fWAR and a 97 wRC+ in 492 plate appearances during his rookie season, joining Benge to form a duo that has stabilized the Mets’ defense following the departures of Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor. Ewing has struggled offensively—mostly with problems against breaking balls—seeing his wRC+ fall from 121 in the first half to just 77 after the All-Star break, but his defense has been above average, recording +2 FRV. Although his tools have not been on Benge’s level, Ewing has enough talent to take a leap to another level in the future.

Daniel Duarte and Nate Lavender Emerge As Relief Aces

Duarte and Lavender were not only the two pitchers with the most innings accumulated in this second half of the season in the Mets’ bullpen, they also lead with a combined 1.4 fWAR, which represents 74% of the 1.9 fWAR recorded by all of the team’s relievers. The other 21 pitchers the Mets have used combine for 0.5 fWAR.

Still, there is a difference between Duarte and Lavender that could shape a decision going forward. In high-leverage situations, Duarte was vulnerable, seeing his xFIP rise from 3.84 to 6.21 in 21 matchups.

It may seem like a small sample, but it is equivalent to an average of one key at-bat for each of the 21 relief appearances he has made in this second half of the season. In fact, Duarte has been the pitcher who has faced the most pressure situations in the entire Mets bullpen. Duarte has shown that he can rely on his almost unhittable sweeper—opponents went 2-for-27 with 15 strikeouts against it—but he still has not been able to make the adjustments with his cutter. In contrast, Lavender was a master under pressure, with a 2.42 xFIP (the best on the team with at least 10 batters faced in high-leverage situations), a 12.3 K/9 rate and no walks.

Kodai Senga Saves His Career With Switch To Bullpen

Look, I’ll be honest: I still don’t trust Senga enough, but it is a fact that he solved some of his control problems, struck out more batters, and was much more effective in a relief role.

After his fateful start, when he pitched to an 0-8 record and 8.66 ERA with a 6.50 FIP in his first 13 appearances of the season, Senga was able to hold his own after being moved into the closer role. In his next 18 outings, he recorded eight saves in nine opportunities, improving to a 3.78 ERA and 4.00 FIP. The Mets played to a 13-5 record during that stretch with Senga’s contribution as the closer.

The forkball remains the Japanese right-hander’s lethal weapon, with which he has struck out 56% of his opponents (42 of 75), but his fastball remains an enigma, and hitters have crushed his sweeper and cutter, batting .500 and .345, respectively.

I’d like to know what you think, but I still haven’t gotten used to the idea of Senga being the most suitable pitcher to be the closer in the future. Either way, he seems to have regained a little confidence, and I’m sure this version of him can be useful in some type of role within the pitching staff for the 2027 season.

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