MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 01: Jeff McNeil #6 of the New York Mets in action against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 01, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Mets are right on the cusp of a playoff spot, but they can’t afford to lose guys to injury at this point.
The New York Mets had an incredible run winning 15 of 16 games at one point to pull them within striking distance of a wild card spot. With the Brewers and Cardinals inconsistencies and one more three game series against the Nationals a playoff spot is most certainly attainable.
In order for the Mets to get to the postseason they’re going to need all hands on deck. They’ve already lost Robinson Cano for what seems like the rest of the season with a torn hamstring and Brandon Nimmo’s return doesn’t look imminent.
Now it looks like one of the teams best hitters Jeff McNeil could be headed to the IL with a hamstring injury of his own after leaving Tuesday nights game against the Braves early.
McNeil along with Pete Alonso have been among the Mets lone bright spots all season long offensively. The Mets as a team are 15th in baseball in runs per game, and at times struggle to score runs.
That’s no fault of McNeil who is fourth in baseball with a .332 batting average to go along with his 147 OPS+. He’s also one of only nine players in baseball with at least 45 extra-base hits and an on-base percentage of .400 or better this season.
To say that the Mets would miss his bat if he was to miss time would be a severe understatement. If McNeil were to miss time, it would be on Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto to shoulder the load until he returns.
Their starting rotation has the ability to carry this team for a short period of time because they’re that good, but they can’t be consistently asked to shoulder the load because it’s not realistic.
Everyone in Queens, NY is holding their collective breath as they await the results MRI.