Shortstop Amed Rosario’s bat is beginning to heat up. Not surprisingly, the New York Mets are heating up right with it.
The low point of the 2019 New York Mets season came May 17-19 when the club was swept in a three-game set by the Miami Marlins.
This sweep extended their losing streak to five games and ramped up the heat on manager Mickey Callaway. During this five-game losing streak, Amed Rosario went 1-for-15.
Since then, however, the team has won seven of their last nine games. In this span, Rosario has recorded at least one hit in six of the nine games and has three multi-hit games.
Look no further than Thursday’s 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. While Michael Conforto’s grand slam was the difference in the game, Rosario was the linchpin that got everything rolling.
The 23-year-old did a little bit of everything for the club. Facing the stingy Rich Hill, he went 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a run scored, an RBI, and a stolen base.
The stolen base was Rosario’s fifth of the season, but his first since May 3. This is not out of the norm for him though, 18 of his 24 steals in 2018 came after the All-Star break.
With Jeff McNeil not eligible to return from the IL until June 2, the Mets badly needed someone to seize control of the leadoff spot. Rosario has done just that.
Condensed even further, he is 7-for-22 (.318) over his last five games. This hot stretch has raised his season slash line to .262/.307/.421. Far from a world-beater, but Rosario’s steadiness has been instrumental in the Mets’ recent success.
Rosario, and the rest of the lineup, will have their hands full on Wednesday. Two of the National League’s best pitchers—Noah Syndergaard and Walker Buehler—will face off at Dodger Stadium. Currently 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched, Buehler has lived up to his billing as one of baseball’s best young arms.
The third of a four-game set, Wednesday is a must-win if the Mets want to secure their third straight series win.
Mets Roundup
Todd Frazier heating up as well
After struggling to stay above the Mendoza Line for most of the season, Todd Frazier appears to have found his stroke. Receiving the most consistent playing time he has all year, he is 12-for-36 (.333) over his last nine games.
With all the injuries, this club needs Frazier to be an impact bat. While he will undoubtedly go through cold stretches, he brings another dynamic to this lineup when hot.
