In a brutal Friday night for the New York Mets, right-hander Paul Blackburn suffered a hand contusion after being struck by a line drive on his right hand. The severity of Blackburn’s injury is yet to be determined, pending a CT scan scheduled for Saturday morning. However, his potential absence could leave the Mets in a precarious situation, similar to their position just before the trade deadline when they relied on Tylor Megill as their fifth starter. While Mets manager Carlos Mendoza did not confirm if Megill would be the replacement, there are limited attractive alternatives available.
Blackburn’s struggles also exposed the vulnerability of the Mets’ bullpen. With José Buttó taking on high-leverage roles and a lack of trusted set-up options, the Mets do not have a long reliever. Considering Jose Quintana’s recent struggles, it may be wise for the Mets to address this issue. The identity of the long reliever and the depth chart beyond Megill remain open questions.
The Mets’ difficulties extended beyond the pitching staff. They were held to just two base runners throughout the game against the San Diego Padres. Starling Marte hit a double in the fifth inning, but the Mets failed to capitalize on the opportunity. It wasn’t until Francisco Lindor’s double in the ninth inning that the Mets reached base again. Padres starter Joe Musgrove showcased an excellent performance, throwing just 64 pitches by the end of the sixth inning, with 49 of them being strikes. The Mets struggled to pick up Musgrove’s breaking ball and cutter, resulting in 14 strikeouts.
With the Atlanta Braves increasing their lead in the playoff race, the Mets cannot afford to have many more nights like this. They face the challenge of turning things around in the remaining two games against the Padres’ talented pitching staff. The pressure is on for the Mets to secure a playoff spot and avoid any more ugly performances.