The Mets Can be Great If They Find Some Heart: Latest 2018 World Series Odds

Noah Syndergaard is the key to the New York Mets Success in 2018. The way goes Noah, the way go the Mets. That’s what happened last season. The Mets had no excuse and how they reacted to the loss of their best pitcher was a bit of a testament to the team’s heart.

If the Mets want to be great; they need to find some heart to go along with the skill. This team is talented and has the potential to win their division. How they manage themselves will be the key to winning or losing.

Zack Wheeler is nearly three years removed from Tommy John surgery. He showed immense promise in 2014, striking out over a batter per inning while posting a 3.54 ERA. Wheeler still possesses the raw stuff to get back to that level. If he can, he is arguably the best number four starter in the majors. The fifth starter role will be up for grabs as Rafael Montero, Steven Matz, Gsellman, and Seth Lugo battle it out for a chance to prove themselves. Montero and Matz have the best stuff of the four. In the interest of keeping Matz healthy though they may opt to keep him in the bullpen. He has the potential to turn into a multiple inning dominant relief arm in the mold of Andrew Miller or Chris Devenski. Considering the Mets have only one other lefty in their bullpen in Jerry Blevins, this could serve them well.

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The Mets added Todd Frazier, Jay Bruce and picked up the option on Asdrubal Cabrera. He finally settles the Mets third base issue. He does not hit for a high average, but he belted 27 HRs last year and his .344 OBP was 24 points higher than the team OBP. Bruce returns after a short stint with the Cleveland Indians. His power is unquestioned. He finished seventh among major league outfielders in HRs last year with 36 and eighth in RBI with 101, all while having less plate appearances than all of the players in front of him on those lists. Cabrera has shown the Mets consistency. He has hit .280 each of the last two years. He also had a .351 OBP, which was third on the team behind Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto.

Conforto should be back by May, but shoulder injuries can be tricky and the Mets need him to return to form. Cespedes only played 81 games last year and needs to solve his leg issues. They are the Mets’ best hitters when healthy. When they are both in the lineup, the Mets score runs. Amed Rosario struggled last year but showed flashes of what he can be and reminds many of a young Jose Reyes. Juan Lagares has been working with swing guru Craig Wallenbrock to improve his launch angle. While Lagares has not shown power in the past (20 HRs in 1,643 ABs), he is 6-foot-1 and 215lbs. A renewed swing could improve those power numbers drastically.

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As advanced metrics are showing us, it is just as important to save runs as it is to score them. The Mets improved their defense this off season as well. At third base alone the Mets were a combined -17 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) last year. Meanwhile, Frazier was rated a +10. And while Lagares may not stay in center field unless he hits, he did save 15 runs compared to the rest of the Mets who combined for a -13. Just having Frazier and Lagares play every day at their positions, the Mets will be saving 55 runs. The signing of Frazier also moves Cabrera to second base where, although his range has slipped a bit, he did not commit an error in the 32 games he started there last year.

This Mets team is very good. They need health from their star players like Syndergaard, Cespedes, and Conforto. They need some improvement from last year, especially on the pitching side from guys like Harvey and Wheeler. Those things combined with a developing Rosario, improved defense, and a deeper bullpen should have the New York Mets contending for the division title.

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