But, as we’ve learned through the years, no lead is ever safe in Coors Field. The Mets chipped away in the top half of the fourth when Yoenis Cespedes drove in a run on a double play, and then Jay Bruce hit a solo shot, his 29th of the season, to make it 5-2.

In the fourth, after Curtis Granderson reached on an error, Amed Rosario chopped a ball down the third base line that went under the glove of Nolan Arenado and bounced in the corner. It was a triple for Rosario, his first MLB extra-base hit, and it scored Granderson from first to lob another run off the deficit and make it 5-3. Rosario then scored on a Travis d’Arnaud groundout, and it was 5-4.

The Mets were back at it in the sixth, and that’s when things really took off. Asdrubal Cabrera led off with a single, and then Cespedes doubled him home to tie the game. After Bruce walked and Brandon Nimmo grounded out, Granderson stepped in and launched one into the right field bullpen. The three-run dinger gave the Mets their first lead of the game and made it 8-5.

Four runs were already home in that sixth inning, but the Mets still weren’t done. Later in the inning, d’Arnaud singled, Jose Reyes singled, Michael Conforto singled d’Arnaud home, and then Cabrera doubled Reyes in. Two more runs scored before the side was finally retired. It was a six-run inning for the Mets, and they led 10-5.

Meanwhile, the Rockies never scored again after the third inning. Here’s something you haven’t read much this year: the Mets’ bullpen was staunch all night long. Flexen was pulled after the five-run third, and the bullpen—even with its best pitcher now pitching for the Red Sox—had one of its best showings of the season. Chasen “Don’t Call Me Chase” Bradford entered in the fourth and delivered two shutout innings. Fernando Salas pitched a scoreless sixth. Paul Sewald handled the seventh and eighth innings without issue, and A.J. Ramos closed out the win with a scoreless ninth.

Imagine reading that paragraph in April.

The Mets are now 49-56.

ROSARIO REPORT

Let’s face it: the main reason to watch the Mets going forward is really to monitor the progress of Amed Rosario and, eventually, Dominic Smith. We already talked about Rosario’s RBI triple last night. Overall, that was Rosario’s only hit at the plate. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and a groundout. He hasn’t looked totally comfortable at the dish yet, and even his two hits so far have been weakly struck balls. That said, it’s been literally eight plate appearances.

However, Rosario has looked totally comfortable in the field, aside from his misplay in the ninth inning Tuesday night. He’s made every play, he’s looked smooth, and even made a nice diving catch going to his left last night on a liner ticketed for center field in the third inning. There was also a base hit up the middle by D.J. LeMahieu in the third inning that Rosario couldn’t reach on a dive; he probably gets to that on a non-Coors Field infield. Through two games, we’ve seen the evidence of Rosario’s high floor; even if he doesn’t hit, he’s still got his glove, and he’s still got his speed.

OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY

ALERT: DAVID WRIGHT IS DOING BASEBALL THINGS IN PORT ST. LUCIE. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. DAVID WRIGHT IS DOING BASEBALL THINGS. 

Okay, this is probably nothing, and we don’t know how well this will go this time around. But it’s nice to see the captain still giving it the ol’ college try and doing his best to get back on the field to help the team. I could talk about the how wholly unfair it is that Jose Reyes is the one passing the metaphorical torch over to Amed Rosario instead of Wright, but we get good news on Wright so little nowadays that I refuse to put a negative spin on even the smidgen of positive developments we get.

TODAY’S GAME

Rafael Montero takes on German Marquez in the rubber game of this series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET.

Photo credit: Ron Chenoy – USA Today Sports

Lugo came out Sunday like a pitcher who didn’t fully trust his arm. He kept throwing pitches over the middle of the plate and hoped that he could fool hitters just by moving up and down the zone. Nelson Cruz struck first, with a three-run upper deck homer. When Leonys Martin hit his first home run of the season off the facing of the upper deck, it was pretty clear that this wouldn’t be Lugo’s day. When Yoenis Cespedes lost a ball in the sun and it fell for a “triple,” it felt like we could just fast forward to the end of a seemingly inevitable 9-1 loss.

Every pitcher the Mets threw out raised more questions about what this team’s plan is. Lugo only allowed one infield hit over the next three innings to stabilize his day. When the Mets activated A.J. Ramos, it seemed like Fernando Salas would get released. Instead the Mets designated Josh Edgin for assignment and Salas came in for the sixth. He got an out, then a routine ground ball that Neil Walker couldn’t handle at second. Salas isn’t good enough to survive giving a team extra outs – he walked Mike Zunino and later Ben Gamel singled in a run. With Edgin out of the pen, Terry Collins turned to Josh Smoker as his lower leverage lefty for the seventh. It was his turn to give up a run.

Finally it was Ramos’ turn. Collins wanted to get him work, even down 7-0. Ramos pitched like the stereotypical closer who doesn’t focus well when used in non-save situations. He gave up a walk, single, and then a double play ball that Walker threw away on the turn. After allowing a run, Ramos gave up two wild pitches in the dirt and another single to make it 9-0. The Mets mounted a small two-out rally in the top of the ninth to avoid a shutout, but Michael Conforto looked at strike three to end the game.

Reyes Injured

Jose Reyes got drilled in the forearm by a 98 mph fastball in the top of the fifth inning. He crouched over in pain and had to leave the game immediately. Matt Reynolds moved over from third base to shortstop, while Asdrubal Cabrera entered the game at third. Marc Carig reported after the game that Reyes’ X-rays are negative.

If Reyes is out for a while, remember that Reynolds is primarily a shortstop. It would be a mistake to assume that the Mets have to call up Amed Rosario because they don’t have any shortstops on the current big league roster. After all, they kept Reyes’ .286 on base percentage, weak glove, and awful off-field character there every day.

More Trades Coming?

The Mets don’t play again until after the trading deadline, but Addison Reed has been on the rumor mill for over a week. Many assumed the only rational reason for the Mets to designate Edgin for assignment was if they had lined up a trade. Once a player is designated for assignment, the team still has a week to trade that player before releasing him. However, Anthony DiComo reported just before the game that the Mets don’t have a trade for Edgin in the works.

Photo credit: Steven Bisig – USA Today Sports

Nevertheless, life goes on and the team played their first game in the post-Lucas Duda era. Unfortunately, it did not go as planned as the Mets dropped their second in a row to the basement-dwelling San Diego Padres by a score of 7-5. A poor Major League debut from Chris Flexen and an offense that didn’t wake up quickly enough were the recipe for last night’s disaster. Here’s how it shook out:

Not Flexen On The Haters

Ravaged by injuries and desperate for depth, the Mets called on 23-year-old Chris Flexen to start last night in San Diego. Flexen was the first player to debut straight from Double-A Binghamton since Michael Conforto did so in 2015. He also joined prestigious company thanks to the first batter he faced, but not in the way he would have liked.  After surrendering a home run to Manuel Margot, Flexen joined Jon Niese and Steven Matz as the only Mets pitchers to give up a homer to the first batter they faced in the majors. Flexen’s night didn’t get any easier and he struggled to the tune of four walks, four runs (three earned), and five hits in only three innings pitched. Flexen took Thursday’s events in stride, calling his debut a “dream” despite the rough outing, but his future in the Mets rotation depends on everyone else.

Don’t Trade Jay

Jay Bruce continued to buoy the Met offense, driving in three runs, two of which came on a two-run home run in the seventh. The blast was Bruce’s 26th of the year, inching him up to 70 RBIs on the season. Bruce is on path to reach 42 home runs and 113 runs, which would set new career highs for the 30-year-old outfielder. I have repeatedly emphasized how important of a piece Jay Bruce could be to the 2018 Mets and he keeps giving Sandy Alderson more cause to extend him. If competing in 2018 is truly the goal, then trading Bruce at the deadline would be a cataclysmic mistake. Pairing Bruce with Yoenis Cespedes in this lineup gives the Mets the formidable and powerful 3-4 they need to contend for a championship. Here’s to hoping Sandy and the braintrust makes the right choice.

Our All-Star Continues To Shine

For those worried about an impeding Michael Conforto slump following the All-Star break, you can put those fears to rest. Conforto continued to solidify his reputation as a reliable, Major League-caliber hitter last night after a two-for-five performance. To open the game, Conforto sliced a ground-rule double down the left field line, followed by a single to right in the fifth. He can bat for average, he can hit to all fields, he can hit for power, and he plays a heck of an outfield. The Mets have a star in the making in Conforto and I personally look forward to watching him play in the orange and blue for the next 10 years. Yes, there are more ideal fits in center field. But at the cost of having Bruce and Cespedes in the lineup, I can live with Conforto patrolling center.

Where is Dom Smith?

The departure of Lucas Duda to the Tampa Bay Rays opens up the first base slot for Mets prospect Dom Smith, currently residing in Triple-A Las Vegas. You had to figure that in the wake of the Duda trade, some sort of promotion news would break about Smith. Instead, Sandy Alderson confirmed that there are no immediate plans to promote the 22-year-old. This feels a bit peculiar as the Mets are very much out of the Wild Card race and have openly acknowledged their willingness to sell assets and focus on 2018. There are multiple roster moves coming Friday, including Neil Walker and Brandon Nimmo expected to join the team in Seattle, but as for Smith, I guess we’ll have to continue to wait and see.

Back-End Bullpen Success

When Chris Flexen was removed after the third, Tyler Pill came in to relieve him. Pill faced similar struggles, surrendering three runs, two walks, and two hits in two innings. In what seemed like a game that would be an utterly hopeless performance on the mound, the back-end of the bullpen rallied together to toss three perfect innings to end the game. Josh Edgin, Fernando Salas, and Erik Goeddel pitched a shutdown sixth-seventh-eighth which did allow the Mets to creep back into this game. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done and the effort turned out to be in vain. Any success this ball club receives out of this scrap heap of relievers should be praised, especially if any of them are going to fit into next season’s plans.

The Dads Go Yard

Manuel Margot launched a leadoff home run off Flexen over the left field fence to open the game and Dusty Coleman would later launch a three-run bomb over the right-center field fence off Tyler Pill in the fifth. Said bomb would, in fact, go on to be the difference in the game. The Padres are essentially fielding a team of young, on the rise Triple-A players due to their lack of depth, so its always nice to see the prospects flash their potential.

What’s Next?

The Mets open up a three game set against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Rafael Montero faces Ariel Miranda with a start time of 10:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Jake Roth – USA Today Sports

When and Where

Game 1: Monday @ Citi Field, 7:10 p.m. (TV: SNY; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Game 2: Tuesday @ Citi Field, 7:10 p.m. (TV: SNY; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Game 3: Wednesday @ Citi Field, 7:10 p.m. (TV: SNY; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Game 4: Thursday @ Citi Field, 12:10 p.m. (TV: SNY, MLB Network; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Baseball Weather

Monday: Partly cloudy with a high of 84

Tuesday: Partly cloudy with a high of 84

Wednesday: Morning thunderstorms with a high of 89

Thursday: Partly cloudy with a high of 91

Probable Pitching Matchups

Monday: RHP Adam Wainwright (10-5, 5.20 ERA, 5.42 DRA, .272 TAv, 0.2 WARP) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (3-6, 4.86 ERA, 6.08 DRA, .283 TAv, -0.4 WARP)

Tuesday: RHP Michael Wacha (6-3, 4.10 ERA, 4.39 DRA, .265 TAv, 1.1 WARP) vs. RHP Rafael Montero (1-5, 5.77 ERA, 5.23 DRA, .300 TAv, 0.1 WARP)

Wednesday: TBD vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (10-3, 3.48 ERA, 2.78 DRA, .237 TAv, 3.7 WARP)

Thursday: TBD vs. RHP Seth Lugo (4-2, 4.50 ERA, 7.88 DRA, .284 TAv, -1.0 WARP)

Who’s Hot?

Jay Bruce: 9-for-26 over the last six games going into Sunday, including four home runs

Jacob deGrom: 1.53 ERA in 47 innings over the last six games

Tommy Pham: 9-for-15 over the last four games going into Sunday

Who’s Not?

Fernando Salas: His entire season

Actually, most of the Mets bullpen

The Mets bullpen makes me so sad

Please make it stop

When We Last Met

The Mets lost two of three just before the All-Star Break.

It’s Literally a 10-Day DL

Mets: Yoenis Cespedes left the game Saturday with a hip injury and sat out Sunday, but the Mets claim he’ll be ready for the series opener.

Cardinals: Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty were both placed on the disabled list over the weekend with various maladies.

Notable Quotables

“You’re always looking to see what transpires over the next seven to 10 days. But I think we’re at the point in the season where things would have to go exceedingly well for us to realistically change direction,” Sandy Alderson said Friday about the trade deadline.

Photo credit: Jeff Curry – USA Today Sports

The Good: Wheeler and d’Arnaud

Zack Wheeler hit a cold stretch, went on the disabled list, and came back with another awful start. All season long, it’s been hard to tell if Wheeler was fading due to lingering injury effects or whether he just hasn’t learned how to effectively use his breaking pitchers to fool hitters and put them away. Terry Collins said Wheeler needs to throw more offspeed pitches in the strike zone, and the righty responded, going to his slider more and managing to locate some to keep the hitters off balance. The Cardinals helped him out several times by running their way out of good two out scoring threats; Travis d’Arnaud threw out three baserunners – two attempting to steal and the lead runner on a bad bunt. Wheeler’s improved command and d’Arnaud’s defense were enough to keep the Mets in a low scoring game.

The Bad: Most of the Lineup

At this point in his career, Adam Wainwright has to fool hitters to have a chance. He doesn’t have the same command any more. His fielders can’t reliably turn ground balls in to outs. The crafty veteran was able to pitch to the scouting report and take advantage of an undisciplined Mets’ lineup. Curtis Granderson guessed wrong several times and Asdrubal Cabrera followed him with several strikeouts, throwing his bat in frustration in the fourth, then slamming his helmet in the sixth. The Mets only had two hits through six innings before Jay Bruce hit his 23rd homer of the season. T.J. Rivera and Jose Reyes also got hits, prompting the Cardinals to go to the bullpen. Bruce, Rivera and Reyes combined for all seven Mets hits.

The Ugly: Bullpen Merry-Go-Round

Since the Mets were down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Collins turned to Fernando Salas. I’m not sure whether this counts as going to the low leverage guy or not. Salas gave up a leadoff double to red hot rookie Paul DeJong and it got worse from there. Four of the five Cardinals’ hitters reached, although Stephen Piscotty ran his way into an out and a major Keith Hernandez rant. Erik Goeddel blew away Yadier Molina to end the seventh. Collins dumped out Rafael Montero, Josh Edgin, and Neil Ramirez for the eighth. Watching this bullpen feels like watching someone go to the craps table and think they can beat the house. When one reliever fails, Collins will happily bet on the next one. In fact, just after I wrote this, Collins said he’s going to use Ramirez more.

The Weirdly Tragic: Nimmo to DL

Brandon Nimmo was placed on the 10-day disabled list after being diagnosed with a partially collapsed lung Friday. Collins told reporters that there does not seem to be any specific acute cause, like a collision. Nimmo said “I really don’t expect [to be out] too long — we’re not talking months. I don’t think we’re talking anything like that. It’s obviously already healed or else air would still be leaking into my chest cavity.”

Conforto Back (But Only Technically)

Michael Conforto was reinstated to the active roster to take Nimmo’s spot. However, the All Star did not play on Saturday. If you follow anyone who writes about the Mets on Twitter, you’ve probably seen the screaming about the lineup already. Conforto stood in the on deck circle in the seventh inning to see if the Mets could have extended the inning against a right-handed pitcher, but the Cardinals got out of the inning and used lefty Brett Cecil for the eighth.

What’s Next?

One more game in St. Louis, then the All Star break. Seems like a great time to start talking to other teams about deals.

Photo credit: Jeff Curry – USA Today Sports

But the obvious counter-argument to that is that, for as bad as Washington’s bullpen has been, the Mets’ second-best non-specialist reliever is literally Paul Sewald. Which is to say, the Mets bullpen is almost as bad. What’s more, the Nationals have the team around them to overcome a leaky bullpen, whereas the Mets do not. And last night, we saw the actual embodiment of that argument/counter-arugument exchange played out in front us.

Yes, the Mets bullpen is bad. With the game tied at 0-0, an obviously overworked Jerry Blevins—who, even with more sporadic appearances lately, still leads the majors with 43 games pitched—came into the game in the eighth inning, and allowed a walk and a two-run homer to Michael A. Taylor.

However, the Nationals bullpen is still worse than the Mets’. Sammy Solis, the Nats’ de facto closer who won the job immediately upon his return from the DL by simply not being any other reliever on the Nats, blew his first save attempt of the season in the ninth inning. Curtis Granderson came up as the tying run with two outs and got down 0-2 in the count, but blasted a clutch, game-tying homer that appeared to send Bryce Harper into a very dark place.

But the Nationals still have the skill to overcome their woeful bullpen, whereas the Mets do not. Sewald began the bottom of the ninth inning, walked a batter and got an out, and gave way to Josh Edgin, who followed suit. Then Fernando Salas came in, and it only took two pitches for Ryan Raburn to end the game. Raburn dropped a walk-off single in front of a sliding Yoenis Cespedes, who also apparently cramped up on the play, because of course he did.

There are two more games to go in this series, but hopefully Mets’ upper management has realized by now that they’re not nearly on the level of Washington and will not catch them nor even put up a fight, and the Nats’ poor bullpen isn’t enough to change that. It is imperative for them to sell at the trading deadline and restructure this team for 2018.

Of course, both of these bullpens ruined what had been a maginifcent pitcher’s duel between Stephen Strasburg and Steven Matz. Both pitchers matched zeroes for seven innings before being relieved. Strasburg fired seven sparkling innings and only yielded two hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Matz was only slightly less stellar, allowing four hits and two walks while only striking out four in his seven innings.

Matz flashed his best velocity of the season, with some pitches coming in the 95-96 mph range. He’s still not getting strikeouts like he used to, and if he’s going to be succesful in front of this defense he will probably need to get those back before long, but his return has been a boon for this entire pitching staff.

Starting pitching like this is really fun to watch, and something I’m sure we all wished we saw more of in the first half of this season. On Wednesday, I metioned that the Mets’ starting pitching ERA- was tied for the worst mark in franchise history with the 1963 Mets at 122. But thanks to the exploits of Matz, Jacob deGrom, and Seth Lugo in the past week, that has been lowered to 117, which is now tied with the 2009 Mets. Mike Pelfrey led that team in innings pitched.

Also, in This Week In Evidence Of Juiced Baseballs, Michael A. Taylor is now rocking a .238 ISO on the season. This is not a reality I am used to or particularly enjoying.

OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY

Yoenis Cespedes is not expected to play in today’s game due to his leg cramps suffered last night. Curtis Granderson, however, is playing.

Some really serious news here: Las Vegas 51’s pitcher Logan Taylor was diagnosed with a concussion after being attacked by a tire iron during an attempted robbery by a homeless man on Saturday in Salt Lake City. Here’s wishing the best to Taylor.

TODAY:

Set your alarms! The Mets play an early morning game on Independence Day in our nation’s captiol. First pitch is (ridiculously) scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Seth Lugo takes on Joe Ross, and I can only imagine how much caffeine is necessary to pitch a baseball game at 11 in the morning.

Photo credit: Patrick McDermott – USA Today Sports

In one short month, the Mets have gone from Sandy Alderson proclaiming “A lot of the story [is] to be written,” to a resigned general manager sighing, “I think we have to be realistic about where we are” and “I don’t want to whitewash this. We haven’t played very well.” Most of that underperformance can be attributed to an injury epidemic that’s infiltrated every corner of the roster. The rest is that Jose Reyes and Rafael Montero suck. Whatever the cause, the 2017 Mets have played half their schedule, and they’re 38-43, nearly as far out of first place as they are close to the NL East basement. Worse, they’re just as far away from the second wild-card spot.

The competitive part of the Mets’ season has ended.

Yet the Mets’ competitive window remains open. The 2018 rotation will feature Flushing’s favorite pitcher, When Healthy. Other guys like Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman might also make some appearances.

With Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto as offensive building blocks, the top-level talent is there for a 2018 return to prominence. That’s why the next two months may be Alderson’s most important since he became @MetsGM after the 2010 season.

The catchphrase is “retool, not rebuild.” If the Mets trade their veterans on expiring or short-term contracts for pieces that will slot into next season’s lineup or bullpen, the 2018 story could look a lot different than this year’s. Here, then, is the Mets’ inventory for a potential #FireSale that looks more realistic by the day. — Scott D. Simon (@scottdsimon)

Addison Reed

Perhaps the most valuable piece that the Mets have that they’d actually move at the deadline, Reed is a known late-inning commodity that every team would like. Finding the right fit and right return could be challenging, but I agree with Jeff and Jarrett that a prospect floating around the edges of the BP Top 100 list sounds about right. So with the surprising Milwaukee Brewers needing more ‘pen arms to support a questionable pitching staff, I think they could be a nice fit, and perhaps High-A outfield prospect Trent Clark could be a return. Clark has question marks about future power production, but can likely hit for average and has speed. With the Brew Crew already possessing lots of young outfield talent, they could afford to part with him to snag an establish relief ace. — Bryan Grosnick (@bgrosnick)

Lucas Duda

Lucas Duda is a pending free agent with a pulse, so the Mets will be taking calls on him. Since becoming the full-time first baseman in 2014, Duda’s 129 wRC+ ranks 25th in baseball (min. 1000 PAs) and he’s on track for the best season of his career. With Dominic Smith waiting in the wings, it’s unlikely the Mets would re-sign Duda, so he’ll be an attractive piece to any team looking for lefty power at first base or DH.

Jerry Blevins

You’ve read above why Reed should be on the move. Much of the same logic applies to dealing Jerry Blevins. Blevins has been very, very good: Here is a list of the eight best left-handed relievers (by FIP) who have thrown at least 60 innings since the start of 2016:

Chapman and Miller are signed to eight-figure contracts. Britton received downballot MVP consideration last year, and will almost certainly sign for close to Chapman’s $86 million over five years when he hits free agency after the season. Then you have Blevins making $5.5 million this year with a 2018 club option for $7 million. That’s a bargain — and it justifies the Mets seeking more than just a fifth outfielder or C-minus prospect in return.

Maybe the Mets could flip Blevins and Reed to the Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte. Arizona already has four infielders — Chris Owings, Jake Lamb, Brandon Drury, and Nick Ahmed — under team control for next season and beyond, so it’s worth flipping their backup infielder for a huge bullpen upgrade. For the Mets, Marte, who’s hit .338/.391/.514 in Reno this year, with a 34:25 strikeout-to-walk ratio, could start at second base when Neil Walker is traded or departs as a free agent, or he could back up Amed Rosario at short. — Scott D. Simon (@scottdsimon)

Rene Rivera

I know, I know. 33 year old backup backups with a career .268 on base percentage are usually why you trade for an upgrade.

Alexa isn't doing shit for your catcher situation pic.twitter.com/Ik6feSJNPt

— Jeff Sullivan (@based_ball) June 29, 2017

But Rivera was a 1.5 win player as a backup last year. He’s on pace to duplicate that performance this year. Now let’s take a look at the eight teams most likely to make the playoffs. The Nationals have two below replacement catchers. Arizona regularly uses Jeff Mathis, a much worse version of Rivera. Colorado is using a converted second baseman who ranks poorly behind the plate. Cleveland and Boston are each getting 0.8 wins combined from all their catchers – the same as Rivera has given the Mets as a backup. Let the bidding war begin! After all, what would symbolize the absurdity of 2017 more than good teams outbidding each other for the services of a 33-year-old backup? — Noah Grand (@noahgrand)

Jay Bruce

The Mets’ crowded outfield has been a problem since last offseason, when they picked up the option on Jay Bruce’s contract, then signed Yoenis Cespedes. In an otherwise-lost season, the Bruce signing has paid dividends: he’s second on the team in bWARP at 1.9. But with his contact expiring at the end of the season, the time to trade Bruce is now.

The Mets’ could try to convince the Yankees to use Bruce as a first baseman and DH in addition to right fielder. While Bruce has played limited innings at first base for the Mets this year, the Yankees need to replace the struggling Chris Carter. He could also spell Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier in the outfield. Although Bruce doesn’t have veto rights, he should welcome the opportunity to hit tons of homers over the right field wall and a chance at the playoffs.

If a Bruce-to-the-Bronx deal happens, the Mets should not expect to receive any of the Yankees’ top prospects. Instead, the Mets can aim for a pitcher such as Dillon Tate, who the Yankees received in 2016 for Carlos Beltran, or an outfielder such as Billy McKinney, who has struggled recently but could be given more of a chance to play in the Mets’ system. The Mets will get nothing for Bruce once the offseason arrives, so they might as well try to get whatever they can right now. — Seth Rubin (@sethrubin)

Neil Walker

Despite the hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the past few weeks, Walker is having another great year and, like a bunch of other Mets, is set to be a free agent this offseason.

With a .270/.352/.468 slash and nine home runs in just over 200 at-bats, the 31-year-old can definitely bring something to a contender needing a second baseman. The Rockies, whose D.J. LeMahieu is dealing with a groin issue, could be a trade partner should LeMahieu require a DL stint.

The defensive numbers aren’t great for Walker — like for the rest of the Mets’ infield — but his bat would fit into any lineup, as would his reputation as a good teammate. A possible turnoff to a deal is that the acquiring team would need to pick up a prorated portion of his $17.2 million qualifying salary, however. For a contender with a hole at second base, that could be a deal worth making. — Joshua Burton (@Josh_Burton1)

Jacob deGrom

Hear me out for just a second. I know deGrom has been pretty much the only thing the Mets have going for them these days, but there’s an argument to be made that his trade value has never been higher. Since his 8-run blowup in Texas, he’s won each of his last 4 starts with a 0.84 ERA over that span.

The Astros are clearly in the market for an ace, and that need might have just gotten a bit stronger with David Paulino being suspended 80 games for using PEDs. They have a slew of guys working their way back from injury (Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton, Collin McHugh), but could use an ace like deGrom to help take them deep into the postseason.

The Mets would be wise to take advantage of a team in dire need of pitching, while selling high on their own guy. Here’s what the deal could look like:

Astros receive: Jacob DeGrom, Dominic Smith

Mets receive: Alex Bregman, Francis Martes, Daz Cameron

— Adam Kaufman (@adamkaufman315)

Asdrubal Cabrera

Putting aside his reported (and then retracted) trade request, it makes sense for the Mets to move on from Asdrubal Cabrera with Amed Rosario waiting in the wings. Cabrera isn’t the smooth defender he once was, but a recent move to second base could give the twilight years of his career a second life.

The Mets could match up for a Cabrera trade with the Angels, who currently find themselves 1.5 games out of the Wild Card despite receiving little to no production at second base. With a team option for 2018 on the table, Cabrera could fetch a middle-tier prospect from the Angels like OF Trey Montgomery, or RHPs Abel De Los Santos and Elvin Rodriguez. — Justin Birnbuam (@birny53)

Fernando Salas

Salas is a free agent after the season, so any future value derived from the righty will likely come through trade. Unfortunately for the Mets, he has struggled this season. The walks have been an issue, but some of his peripherals suggest he has pitched better than his ERA. If a team thinks they can reign in his control, they may look to acquire him at a reduced cost. Most contenders will look to reinforce their bullpens before the deadline, but those that have especially struggled in the pen are the Nationals, Twins, and Rangers. Mets fans should not expect any kind of impact talent in a trade, but perhaps Salas could be packaged with one of their more attractive pieces to sweeten the return. — Zane Moran

Curtis Granderson

Traded, along with $3 million, to the Chicago Cubs for RHP Thomas Hatch and RHP Dakota Mekkes

I would like to start off with a disclaimer here that I am not entirely sure the Mets trade Curtis Granderson. I think he is the sort of veteran that the Mets would like to keep around as they sell off other pieces at the deadline and potentially re-sign in the offseason. However, I’m going to operate here under the assumption that the Mets trade him to a contender and give him a chance to contribute to a playoff contender in his age 36 season. Unlike every other rental that could be traded at the deadline, I believe Granderson, and only Granderson, stands a decent chance of re-signing with the Mets this winter even if he spends the last few months of the 2017 season with a different club. With that in mind, I believe one of the strongest fits for Curtis might be the defending World Champion Chicago Cubs.

With the demotion of Kyle Schwarber, struggles of Jason Heyward, and overall underperformance of the Cubs, Chicago could be in the market for a veteran corner outfield bat, specifically a rental. Granderson, a free agent this coming winter, would be an ideal fit for the Cubs and could hit at the top of their order as they look to recover from a dismal first half.

In Thomas Hatch, the Mets would be acquired a polished starting pitching prospect who the Cubs selected in the third round out of Oklahoma State in 2016. The 6’1″ righty boasts a low-mid 90s two seamer and a potential plus slider. While his upside is not too dreamy, he has a decent chance to become a major league starting pitcher and perhaps a middle of the rotation starter if it all works out. Dakota Mekkes, the second piece in the deal, is a reliever who has an ERA south of 1 in his first full professional season. The 2016 10th round pick has been able to achieve this despite a largely mediocre arsenal and lackluster control. His fastball averages out at around 91 mph and is complemented by a high 70s curveball with below average spin and a low 80s changeup with decent sink. However, his 6’7″ frame and deceptive delivery give him a chance to continue to manage his way to success at higher levels of the minors. — Skyler Kanfer (@skylerkanfer)

Photo Credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports

WHEN AND WHERE

Game 1: Monday @ 6:05 p.m. EST (TV: SNY, MLB Network; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Game 2: Tuesday @ 11:05 a.m. EST (TV: SNY; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

Game 3: Wednesday @ 7:05 p.m. EST (TV: SNY, ESPN; RADIO: 710 WOR, ESPN Deportes)

BASEBALL WEATHER

Monday: Mostly sunny. High of 94F. Winds WNW at 6 MPH

Tuesday: Afternoon thunderstorms. High of 90F. Winds NE at 6 MPH.

Wednesday: Afternoon thunderstorms. High of 87F. Winds E at 11 MPH.

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Monday: LHP Steven Matz (2-1, 2.67 ERA, 4.14 DRA, .236 TAv, 0.4 WARP) vs. RHP Stephen Strasburg (9-2, 3.51 ERA, 2.53 DRA, .233 TAv, 3.5 WARP)

Tuesday: Seth Lugo (3-1, 3.55 ERA, 6.41 DRA, .283 TAv, -0.2 WARP) vs. RHP Joe Ross (4-3, 5.12 ERA, 5.08 DRA, .280 TAv, 0.4 WARP)

Wednesday: Jacob deGrom (8-3, 3.55 ERA, 2.69 DRA, .238 TAv, 3.3 WARP) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (6-6, 5.27 ERA, 5.42 DRA, .269 TAv, 0.2 WARP)

WHO’S HOT?

Mets OF Curtis Granderson: .359/.469/.872 over his last 49 plate appearances. Except also he’s hurt.

Mets INF Asdrubal Cabrera: .405/.463/.811 in 41 plate appearances going into Sunday’s game.

Nationals OF Bryce Harper: .333/.463/.888 in 41 plate appearances going into Sunday’s game.

Nationals INF Anthony Rendon: .382/.500/.824 in 42 plate appearances going into Sunday’s game.

WHO’S NOT?

Mets INF Wilmer Flores: .077/.143/.077 in 14 plate appearances going into Sunday’s game.

Mets RHP Fernando Salas: 10.29 ERA, .424 BAA in seven innings (and also most of the season).

Nationals C Matt Wieters: .146/.167/.244 in 42 plate appearances going into Sunday’s game.

The entire Nationals bullpen

WHEN WE LAST MET

The Mets dropped three of four to the leaders of the NL East in mid-June during a 1-7 skid.

IT’S LITERALLY A 10-DAY DL

Mets: The Mets finally placed Michael Conforto on the DL with a bruised left hand after days of not being able to swing a bat. Curtis Granderson also missed Sunday’s game with a tight hip, which is more concerning at 36 years old than at 26.

Nationals: Stephen Strasburg complained of back spasms during his last start, but he’s still expected to meet the Mets on the mound. Koda Glover, Shawn Kelley and Jayson Werth were all recently placed on the disabled list for various ailments, but the real killer is the loss of Trea Turner with a broken right wrist and no projected return date.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“We got our work cut out for us, but there’s no reason why we can’t be optimistic and think you’re going to have a good second half because our pitching’s starting to come around and Yoenis Cespedes is not going to continue to struggle. He’s too good of a player,” Terry Collins said Sunday.

“We needed this victory to get off this losing streak,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said Sunday. “We needed it for the getaway.”

Photo credit: Jeff Curry – USA Today Sports

The Good: Power

When the Mets hit balls squarely, they drove them all over the ballpark; nine of the team’s ten hits went for extra bases. Jose Reyes doubled twice and drove in the Mets’ first run. Lucas Duda homered into the apple to give the Mets the lead in the fourth. After falling behind, T.J. Rivera homered in the seventh and Asdrubal Cabrera launched a two-run shot on his bobblehead day to give the Mets a 7-6 lead they would not relinquish. This lineup was built to rely on power to get around the team’s other shortcomings, and they needed all of that power today.

The Highlight: Cabrera

While we wait for the game to resume…Enjoy this! pic.twitter.com/DRE5wdyeOr

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 1, 2017

The Bad: Wheeler’s Concentration

Zack Wheeler came off his 10-day DL stint for “biceps tendinitis” throwing 97-98 miles per hour in the first inning. He looked like he wanted to strike everyone out, getting three strikeouts in the first but racking up the pitch count. Things fell apart for Wheeler pretty quickly in the fourth after a one out error by T.J. Rivera. Callup Nick Williams worked an eight-pitch walk, then Wheeler was so far out of the zone he couldn’t tempt the free swinging Makiel Franco to swing. With the bases loaded, Duda made a great stop to start the double play. Reyes threw back to Wheeler…who was looking down to try to find first base. Two runs scored as the ball flew by, giving the Phillies their first lead of the game. Wheeler threw two more balls, then hung a 2-0 slider for a single to Cameron Rupp. Terry Collins went to the bullpen after 82 pitches.

The Ugly: Salas’ Second Inning

Fernando Salas came in to the sixth inning and gave up a hit to former Met Ty Kelly. Salas was good after that, getting two strikeouts and, with 19 pitches under his belt, he probably thought his day was done. How much can we expect from the below replacement reliever? Terry Collins expected more, sending Salas out for the seventh in a tied ballgame. Salas immediately gave up two singles and a massive homer to Tommy Joseph. Philly led 6-3. Now that there was no lead or tie to protect, Collins figured we might as well go to the lame end of the bullpen. “Fernando! Don’t go anywhere!” Salas retired the next three hitters.

The Weird Stat: Salas “won” the game

Since the Mets scored four in the bottom of the seventh, Salas is credited with the win. Feel free to use this later in arguments about pitcher wins (since I assume those arguments will never truly go away).

The Latest Mismanaged Injury: Conforto to DL

Michael Conforto was finally placed on the disabled list and will be eligible to come back the Saturday before the All Star break. With the new 10-day DL, teams are limited in how far they can retroactively assign someone to the DL. If the Mets would have placed Conforto on the DL immediately after his injury, he would have been eligible to return this Thursday.

What’s Next?

The Mets look to sweep the Phillies. Rafael Montero starts.

Photo credit: Adam Hunger – USA Today Sports