New York Mets Series Preview vs. Toronto Blue Jays June 15th-18th

Facing Familiar Foes

Jun 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes (7) rounds the bases after his RBI double during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Blue Jays won 13-5. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

In what seems like a continuing trend of recent series, the Mets will once again be welcoming back familiar faces and playing against old teammates. This time, it will be longtime shortstop Jose Reyes and Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey.

Reyes spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Mets before signing with the Miami Marlins and being traded to the Blue Jays. He spent part of the season on the DL, but when he plays he has produced like the rest of his teammates. Slashing .296/.326/.400 he has been a solid table setter at the top of the Blue Jays lineup, scoring 40 runs. He will enter the series against the Mets with an 11-game hitting streak.

The Mets have sorely missed Reyes as they have yet to find a replacement for him at shortstop and have struggled to have players replicate his production at the top of the lineup. He will be an important player in this series because if he is able to get on base with any consistency, the Mets will not only have to pay attention to him on the base paths, but pitch to the Blue Jays murder’s row of Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista with men on base.

For Dickey, this will be the first time he returns to Citi Field and faces the Mets since they traded him to the Blue Jays prior to the 2013 season. Dickey has been up-and-down with the Blue Jays, never quite replicating the success he had with the Mets during that memorable 2012 season when he took home the Cy Young award with a 20-6 record, 2.73 ERA and 230 strikeouts.

That trade has to be looked at as a huge win for the Mets, who got not only a top pitching prospect, but a top hitting one as well. Which brings us to our next thing to watch for in the series.

Next: Blue Jays See What Could Have Been