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Pirates, Padres and Mets: Buy or sell their start to the 2023 season?

By Scott Roche

Oct 2, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) reacts after hitting a pop fly against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Larry Robinson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2022; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) reacts after hitting a pop fly against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Larry Robinson-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB, Mets pitcher Max Scherzer
Apr 19, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Mets manager Buck Showalter (11) and starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) react in the fourth inning after Scherzer was ejected in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Mets

There was a lot of hype surrounding the Mets entering the season, but things went off the rails starting in March. Closer Edwin Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon celebrating Puerto Rico’s win over the Dominican Republic at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. A big blow after Diaz recorded 32 saves in 2022 with a 1.31 ERA.

Then in April, Max Scherzer received a 10-game suspension after being ejected in Los Angeles for having several interactions with umpires during in-between inning substance checks and having sticky hands. In six starts this season, he’s 3-2 with a 4.88 ERA, not something the Mets can afford to have continued.

Offensively, New York has struggled. Pete Alonso is hitting just .232, Jeff McNeil .264, Francisco Lindor .223, and Sterling Marte .235. Brandon Nimmo is the only one over .300 at .320. Alonso has been boom or bust, with 13 home runs and 41 strikeouts. Lindor has whiffed 43 times. Yikes.

Sell: Like the Padres, there’s too much talent to continue this slide all season. Obviously, they need a spark, but looking at some of the teams ahead of them in the standings, there is no way that they finish the season ahead of the Mets. Once this team figures it out, they will be a factor as the season goes along.

Next. 3 reasons to be concerned about the Braves after early start. dark

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