The New York Mets are projected to win over 90 games and seem poised to make their first postseason appearance since 2016. They have most of their stars returning from last season and made a number of significant additions over the offseason. 

But winning is the standard in New York and they need to get the job done this year. Hype is one thing, but execution is what matters. So without further ado, let’s take at the 3 most pressing questions the New York Mets will face in 2022. 

3 Biggest Questions Facing the New York Mets in the 2022 MLB Season

Can the Rotation Hold Up? 

On paper, the Mets’ rotation is arguably the best in baseball. The front-end of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer is the most intimidating duo in the game. So why are there any questions facing this star-studded pitching staff?

Health. Everything comes down to health. 

deGrom, Carlos Carrasco, and Taijuan Walker have dealt with their share of injury-related problems in recent years. 

Jacob deGrom was forced to miss the end of 2021 due to injury. The superstar ace has dealt with lat, neck, elbow, shoulder and other issues over the course of the past three years. Despite all of this, he has maintained a reputation as a top pitcher in the big leagues. But the Mets will need him to stay on the mound if they want to make any form of deep postseason run this year. The addition of Scherzer does add an elite secondary ace, but deGrom pushes New York over the top. 

Carrasco dealt with a hamstring ailment last year and has endured other various injuries as well. He is another pitcher that is excellent when healthy. His fastball velocity has looked good so far in Spring Training which is a great sign. The Mets will hope “Cookie” Carrasco can keep his health in check and play a key role for the Mets rotation.

Walker received surgery in January to remove damaged cartilage from his knee. Fortunately, the right-hander is on track to open the season on the active roster. Although, he is expected to be limited from a pitch count perspective early in the year. 

The Mets rotation is the strongest point of emphasis on their team. They will need their pitchers to stay healthy if they hope to contend for a World Series title. 

Who is Francisco Lindor?

Defensively, we know exactly who Francisco Lindor is. He is a two-time Gold Glove winner who is amongst the flashiest and most entertaining defenders in the MLB. 

But who is Francisco Lindor at the plate?

From 2015-2019, Lindor hit at least .273 each year. From 2017-2019, he blasted at least 32 home runs in each campaign. He never recorded an OPS of below .840 in either of those three seasons as well. 

But 2020-2021 told a completely different story. Lindor hit .258 with a .750 OPS with Cleveland in 2020. However, he was given a pass since it was a shortened 60 game sprint. 

The Mets were hopeful that Lindor could find his All-Star stroke at the plate when they acquired him from Cleveland prior to the 2021 season. 

Instead, the four-time All-Star fared even worse than 2020. 

Lindor finished the year with a career low .230/.322/.412 line with a .734 OPS. The shortstop hit 20 homers and drove in 63 runs on the season. He did miss sometime due to injury, but it was clear that this was not the same star hitter who had played in Cleveland. 

Maybe it was the pressure of playing in a big market, or perhaps the 2020 shortened season threw off his timing. Lindor is still just 28 years old and has time to prove himself to the Mets, but the clock is ticking given their desire to win now. 

Is the Mets Offense Good Enough?

The Mets have some big names in the lineup. The aforementioned Lindor and  Pete Alonso are key cogs for the ignition. But New York’s offense is coming off of a 2021 campaign that saw them finish in the bottom half of the MLB in batting average, slugging percentage, RBI’s, home runs, hits, and runs scored. 

They addressed the lackluster production by adding players such as Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, and Starling Marte. But the question still remains: Is their lineup good enough to win? 

One would likely argue yes given the state of their elite pitching rotation. But the real answer will come to fruition during the 2022 MLB season.