NEW YORK -- Like many New Yorkers, the Mets had their best-laid Memorial Day weekend plans washed away.
Sunday’s Mets-Braves game was postponed due to rain, marking the second postponement of their three-game series at Citi Field. Call it a sweep? The Mets won the only game that was dry enough to play, 13-2, over the Braves on Saturday.
Between rain, snow and COVID-19 considerations, the Mets have had 11 postponements so far this season. They have played only 45 games, but are tied for the largest division lead of any team in baseball.
“It says a lot,” manager Luis Rojas said. “These guys, the camaraderie, I think their level of focus to not get down whenever they get to play, not get down whenever they see an injury -- all those things we’ve run into. It’s [been] put to the test since the opening series when we had the COVID situation there. I think the guys at this point, from that first series until now, I think they know how to deal with it. … I think they learned how to channel that.”
The Mets’ disjointed early schedule will turn into a difficult early summer for the team, which now must play three doubleheaders over a seven-day stretch from June 19-25. But the Mets have been routinely excellent in doubleheaders so far this season, relying on strong starting pitching and bullpen performances to go 6-2 in such games.
“We know that there’s a pile of doubleheaders coming our way, maybe in June, and I don’t think it’s bothering us,” Rojas said. “We’ll take it that it’s seven-inning games, right now when it comes to doubleheaders, but I think the guys just have that strong mentality that, ‘We’ll be ready.’”
What’s more, each missed game brings the Mets closer to the day when they will have their full complement of players back on the roster. Jacob deGrom, who returned from the injured list last week, will push back one day to start Monday’s series opener in Arizona. The Mets also expect to activate first baseman Pete Alonso, reliever Seth Lugo, and outfielder Kevin Pillar from the IL before that game.
With those three back in the fold, the Mets will be looking to prove they can play just as effectively on the road as at home, despite their 15-5 record at Citi Field and their 10-15 mark elsewhere.
“Here, the crowd helps a lot,” Rojas said. “I know the guys, they get energized by our crowd -- who by the way, they’ve been great, and our players feel the support. But I know that we can take this game to the road, too.”
Friday’s postponed game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on June 21. Sunday’s game will be part of another doubleheader on July 26. Only fans with tickets to the originally scheduled games those days will have access to the stadium.
Those with tickets to the rained-out games can exchange them for tickets to a future 2021 game at Citi Field, excluding the Sept. 10-12 Subway Series. Exchanges made for higher-priced tickets will result in credit toward those purchases. Full ticketing information is available at Mets.com.