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There was a point in early June when it appeared as if everything had finally coalesced for the Mets.

Juan Soto was beginning to resemble the player the Mets thought they were getting for $765 million, Pete Alonso was still delivering many of the big hits, and the pitchers were providing daily gems, whether it was Griffin Canning frustrating opponents with his changeup or Kodai Senga unleashing his ghost fork.

It’s been a different story since June 13, a stretch in which the Mets are 10-18 but have still managed to stay close to the Phillies in the NL East.

Injuries were part of it, with Senga sidelined and Canning lost to a torn Achilles. Tylor Megill was also part of the IL parade. Just as Mets officials had begun answering questions about how they would find spots for excess starting pitchers, they had vacancies to fill.