Yoenis Cespedes has taken as many at-bats as Terry Collins in May. And yet, here is his team, scoring runs like last year’s Cubs, averaging a shade under 6.1 runs per game heading into Wednesday’s final game of the month, keeping the Mets within shouting distance of the .500 mark.
Michael Conforto has helped ease the absence of Cespedes (hamstring/quad injuries), who is expected back shortly, in left field. But he’s far from the only reason for the surprising production. The guy at first base has recently been as big a reason for the surge that has kept the Mets afloat despite the absence of their best hitter (Cespedes), starting pitcher (Noah Syndergaard) and reliever (Jeurys Familia).
Lucas Duda has already surpassed his home-run total from last year’s injury-shortened season, when he went deep seven times in 47 games. He has gone deep eight times this year, while posting a strong slash line of .260/.383/.580 with an OPS of .963.
“We said when Lucas Duda gets it going, he’s a huge piece of our lineup. Right now, he’s swinging good,” Collins said. “We’re seeing the results of a guy who knows how to drive in runs. He can be a little streaky, but when he’s hot, he’s dangerous.”
A hyperextended left elbow cost the 31-year-old first baseman 18 games — the Mets won just seven of the games he missed — and when he returned in early May his timing was off. He produced just three hits in his first nine games. But beginning with a three-hit game May 23 against the Padres, Duda has found his stroke.
Duda hit safely in seven of his last eight contests entering Wednesday, hitting .375 (12-for-32) with four doubles, four home runs, 11 RBIs and seven runs scored. In fact, he produced a .400 on-base percentage in 17 May games, reaching base in each one.
“For him to be back and healthy and swinging the way he’s swinging it has been a huge help for us,” second baseman Neil Walker said. “He’s got a great approach. He’s got one of the better eyes of any guy I’ve played with. He knows what he’s looking for, he knows what he wants to do, and a lot of times he doesn’t miss [his pitch]. Streaks like he’s putting together are not surprising given his strengths as a hitter. For us right now, it’s do what we can to get on base for him.”
The lineup could be getting even better shortly with Cespedes only about a week away from returning, creating depth the team hasn’t had.
“It’s just going to lengthen the lineup,” Walker said. “It’s going to push me down, it’s going to push Duda down. It’s going to make it harder to push to us, especially with another righty in the lineup.
“He’s a huge part of this. We’ve been producing and we’re going to be even better when he’s back and fully healthy.”
