High grades at the quarter mark

Morning Dose: Monday, May 11

☀️ Good Morning:

The fact the Mets are 26–15 is impressive enough.

We have reached the quarter mark of the season and the Amazins are on pace to win 103 games. Only the powerhouse ‘86 squad has surpassed that total in franchise history.

There’s not much more you have to say. But what’s most impressive about this year’s start has been the way they have done it.

After taking two of three from the first-place Cubs, the Mets are 17–11 against teams with winning records. That’s the best mark in baseball.

Despite missing 40% of their original rotation and juggling injuries in their lineup, David Stearns’ work of art is beating the toughest competition with an offense that has the fourth highest OPS and a pitching staff that has baseball’s lowest ERA.

The Metsies are at the beginning of a 25-day stretch in which they only leave the New York area for three days to visit Fenway Park in Boston. This is when they can really cement themselves as division leaders and as a playoff-bound team.

They will face a tough and exciting test tonight with Paul Skenes in town to commence a three-game set with the Pirates.

☕️ Grab your coffee for your morning dose of Mets Fix!

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Box Score | Full Standings

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🎉 Birthday Performance

When Griffin Canning starts, the Mets win.

Quite the statement for a pitcher who has only finished one season in his career with a win/loss record above .500 and who entered the season with a career 4.58 ERA.

Starting on his birthday on Sunday, Canning continued an incredible first impression with his new team, tossing six innings of two-hit, one-run ball. He didn’t add the win to his ledger, but he did his job matching a strong performance from Matthew Boyd to give his offense a chance to win the game, as they did.

New York is now 7–1 in games started by Canning, a depth arm whom some wondered if he would even crack the rotation had everyone been healthy.

He’s done it by drawing new shapes around his slider and changeup, giving him effective offsets to his four-seamer against both righties and lefties. We saw the added drop of his changeup achieving great results on Sunday, getting Pete Crow-Armstrong to flail at a pitch near his shoes, one of five whiffs he earned on the day.

🗣️ “The change of scenery has been good,” Canning said of joining the Mets. “I fit in well with these guys over here. It’s always fun just going out there and trying to win and playing for the team. Everyone on and off the field have been really helpful.”