Sluggish Mets return home for a big series against the Dodgers

Plus, is there a spot for Ronny Mauricio?

What’s up with the Mets? ⚾

• The Mets were off on Thursday - they open a three-game series with the Dodgers beginning tonight at Citi Field

• The Mets made too many sloppy mistakes against the Yankees and Red Sox that they can’t afford to keep repeating against the Dodgers (Daily News)

• RHP Clay Holmes is enjoying the success of the analytics the Mets coaching staff has put together and is extending that knowledge to other Mets pitchers (Newsday)

• OF Juan Soto’s slugging percentage is down which could stem from diminished bat speed so far this season (NY Post)

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Down on the Farm 🌾

• RHP Nolan McLean (No. 6 prospect, Triple-A): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

• OF Carson Benge (No. 3 prospect, High-A): 2-for-3, 2B, 3B, BB

• C Ronald Hernandez (No. 26 prospect, High-A) 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG (PPD) | Triple-A SYR

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Today’s Game 🗓️

Match-up: Mets (30-20) vs. Dodgers (31-19)

Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY

Starters: RHP Griffin Canning (5-1, 2.47 ERA) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 11.25 ERA)

When: 7:10 PM EDT

Where to Watch: AppleTV+

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Should the Mets call up Ronny Mauricio?✍️

Kylie Richelle of the Syracuse Mets

Speculation among the fanbase ran rampant when Ronny Mauricio was scratched from the lineup in Syracuse on Thursday.

This came on the heels of his recent assignment to Triple-A following a long and arduous rehab from ACL surgery after he injured his knee in December 2023. In three games since being reinstated from the injured list, Mauricio is 7-for-11 with two home runs and four RBIs.

With the Mets offense struggling, it may have been a bit of wishful thinking on the fanbase’s part that Mauricio would be joining the team at Citi Field this weekend.

The Mets have said repeatedly they intend to take it slow with Mauricio. Originally, they didn’t plan to have him in Grapefruit League games until mid-March. That plan was scratched, and he didn’t appear in any Grapefruit League games in the end. He then went on a rehab assignment through the minor league ranks, during which he struggled to the tune of a 2-for-15 rut with one RBI and five strikeouts with St. Lucie and 2-for-17 with seven strikeouts and Binghamton.

So clearly, Mets officials are content to take it slow with the infielder.

While this recent hot start at Triple-A is encouraging, it is too small of a sample size to warrant a call-up at the moment. Given the way the lineup is currently constructed, there is no room for him on the roster anyway.

Brett Baty has been seeing more time at third base since his bat has started to come around, and Mark Vientos has struggled both in the field and at the plate. Both Vientos and Starling Marte give the Mets right-handed DH options, and when Jesse Winker returns from injury, he will be reinstalled as the team’s left-handed DH. The team also has both Luisangel Acuña and Jeff McNeil who need playing time. Acuña is the far superior defender of the group, and Mauricio is weak in the field.

Mauricio could still turn into a productive player, but right now, the best place for him is in Triple-A until there is a need and he proves ready to make his return to the majors.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Phillies moved two games up on the Mets in the NL East following their seventh straight win on Thursday, a 2-0 win over the Rockies in Denver

• The Nationals won their fifth straight game with an 8-7 win over the Braves, pushing Atlanta back under the .500 mark

• Former Met Darin Ruf is suing the Reds for damages after suffering a career ending injury at their ballpark (ESPN)

• Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will return to the lineup this weekend against the Padres after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament last season (MLB.com)

• There are already several teams who could be interested in becoming sellers ahead of the Trade Deadline in July (MLB.com)