Robinson Cano
Bill Kostroun/AP Photo

Robinson Cano was forced to leave Sundays game after putting up three hits for the New York Mets against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It just started looking like New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano was about to start heating up. After starting off Sunday’s game with three hits, two runs, and one run batted in, Cano was lifted with an apparent injury.

Every time it looks like the veteran second baseman is starting to find a rhythm, he suffers a setback. Prior to the injury, Cano was 10 for his last 19 and starting to swing the bat better.

Cano’s first season with the Mets hasn’t gone according to plan. He’s been a net negative despite owning a regular spot in the heart of the order.

Entering Sunday, Cano was carrying a minus-0.3 WAR with a glaring .692 OPS. Not to mention, he’s still due $96 million over the next four seasons.

Luckily for the Mets, they are one of the hottest teams in baseball at the moment. After Sunday’s drubbing of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets will have won nine of their last 10 games.

The NL East is more or less out of reach at this point. The Atlanta Braves have a double-digit lead in the loss column over New York and the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals are both ahead of the Mets.

However, a playoff run isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The Mets are only a handful of games out in the NL Wild Card and although the National League is a moshpit of teams, there are no standouts.

Even the Mets, who were mediocre for a majority of this season, still have a chance to make a playoff run.

NY/NJ hoops reporter (NBA/NCAA) & sports betting writer for XL Media. Never had the makings of a varsity athlete.