New York Mets: What the start means for the 2018 season

The New York Mets are much better than we thought coming into the season.

There’s nothing like reacting to a six-game stretch in the beginning of a 162-game, six-month season, but let’s do it. The New York Mets are capable of winning the NL East and potentially the pennant the way things are going to start the season.

When the season began, the Mets were though of as a pitching oriented team that had to rely solely on that part of the team to win. Many though that in order for the Mets to be true contenders their pitching staff would have to remain healthy for the entire season, and one little blip could cost them the season.

The pitching is as good as advertised early on, as it should be, because pitching is supposed to be ahead of offense at this time of the year. Jeurys Familia has already notched three saves. The starters are 3-1, and as a pitching staff they have a 2.33 ERA and almost a 4-1 K-BB ratio.

That’s not the key to this start, though. The Mets have outscored the Phillies, Cardinals and Nationals 30-15 in their six games and already have three games of six runs or more. That shows us one important thing. The offense is capable of carrying the team if the pitching goes into a slump.

Next: Winners and losers from Mets opening week

Some thought the Mets would have severe limitations offensively, but they have shown otherwise through the first six games. The two games against the Phillies required some timely hits, and they have three blowout wins against the Nationals and Cardinals. So, the offense has shown us both the power surge and being able to come through when needed.

If this is a sign of things to come, the league should be on notice. Don’t take the Mets offense lightly, or you will get burned.