A strong showing at Citi would prove Mets belong
ATLANTA — The Yankees and Aaron Judge have taken back New York City in the biggest of ways. After finally showing some signs of life the last two days, though, the Mets get a chance to at least show the other team in New York may be able to put together their own big week of baseball. If the Mets can do that, they have the chance at making it a two-team summer in the city. A slim chance. As an added bonus Monday and Tuesday, the Mets get to break out the varsity. Yoenis Cespedes, who did not start the last two games to rest his tender left hamstring and right quad, will be back in the lineup Monday and Tuesday against the Cubs at Citi Field as the Mets begin a vital seven-game homestand against the world champions and NL East-leading Nationals. “Get your tickets early,’’ manager Terry Collins said with a smile. Getting Cespedes back has lightened Collins’ burden to a degree, but the manager knows it always comes down to pitching with the Mets as Seth Lugo’s superb seven-inning performance in the 2-1 win over the Braves on Sunday showed. Cespedes popped up with the bases loaded in a ninth-inning pinch-hitting appearance for Michael Conforto. Collins said he thought it was impor- tant to get Cespedes an at-bat — just his 69th of the season.
“He hasn’t faced this kind of pitching in six weeks,’’ Collins told The Post.
In many ways Monday is the real start to Cespedes’ and the Mets’ season.
“This is fun, you’re playing the world champs, you are playing arguably the best team in our division,’’ Collins said. “We’re a little healthier and having Ces back is big, but we’ve got to go pitch. It’s going to be a fun week. I just hope we go out and play well.’’
The Mets starting pitching was excellent the three wins against the Braves and since Wednesday Mets starters have compiled a 0.83 ERA. But, on Monday, Jacob deGrom has to figure out what’s gone wrong. He has had back-to-back fourinning starts, having allowing 15 earned runs over the two starts.
DeGrom said he can’t wait to get on the mound again Monday and said of his woes, “I just need to make pitches.’’
Over 43 career starts at Citi Field, deGrom is 17-12 with a 2.17 ERA.
The world champions have some problems of their of own as they are 31-31. In 2015 the Mets swept the Cubs in the NLCS and had the brightest present and future, but since then pitching injuries have derailed them and now the 37-23 Yankees are back on the top step of New York baseball as the Mets struggle along with this 28-33 mark.
“We went through that last year,’’ Collins said of the Cubs’ woes. “Going to the World Series really beats up your pitching and as a team, it takes awhile to get that energy back.’’
That’s the fight the Mets fought last season, and despite a slew of injuries, made it back to the postseason. This season is a much different fight. Injuries have rocked key players.
“You lose your best starter [Noah Syndergaard], your closer [Jeurys Familia] and your best hitter [Cespedes],’’ said one scout at the game, “and you’re going to have big problems.’’
Getting Cespedes back is an emotional lift.
Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera said the Mets finally have some momentum going into this battle with the Cubs and Nats. Cabrera made a couple good defensive plays Sunday after an atrocious time Saturday.
“We’re ready for this,’’ he said. “It’s nice to win three in a row.’’
Play well against the Cubs and Nationals and then it’s a four-game series in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, another first-place team.
Collins said this week could be a turning point.
“Very possibly,’’ the manager said. “The next 11 days are pretty big. We play some very good teams. ... If we are going to get back in this we’ve got to beat them.’’
It’s simple. The Mets need to show they belong.