Fansided

Which of these MLB teams can keep their hot streaks going?

By Joshua Sadlock

KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – APRIL 09: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 09: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on April 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3. New York Mets, 12-3

Fatalist fans of the New York Mets (of which there are many) will view the team’s meltdown on Monday night as a sign that the hot start is about to go up in smoke. Giving up a 6-1 lead with Jacob deGrom on the mound is never good, but bullpens will take it one on the chin from time to time, especially against a team as good as the Washington Nationals.

Mets fans — take a breath. Everything is still ok.

For the first time since they were climbing the ranks, Noah Syndergaard, deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler have all taken a pass through a starting rotation together. This quintet is so good, that keeping them all in one piece might be enough for the Mets to stay atop the NL East. Syndergaard has been scary good, deGrom has brought his quiet consistency and Matz looks recovered from last year’s injuries. Even Harvey has shown flashes of his old form.

The Mets lead the National League with a 2.93 ERA and have a nasty bullpen. Closer Jeurys Familia has yet to allow a run in 10.1 innings while striking out 13. Converted starter Robert Gsellman is one of the biggest stories in the league as he has struck out 14 in his first 8.1 innings of the year.

Offensively, the Mets have been right in the middle of the pack, but they don’t need to be much better than that to stay in contention. Yoenis Cespedes won’t carry a .617 OPS for much longer.

Conclusion: The Nationals, who are off to a slow start at the plate, should be very worried about looking up at the Mets, even if it’s early in the year. Health, specifically in the rotation, will determine how far this team goes.

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