NEW YORK -- Officially, the Mets completed the first 10 percent of their season with a 4-0 win over the Nationals at Citi Field on Sunday. Leaning upon some help from his defense,
“I’m just ready to attack the meat of the schedule,” said first baseman
**2\\. The rest of the rotation is plenty good, too** \nThis projected as a strength of the team heading into the season, and not only because of deGrom. Walker’s seven shutout innings on Sunday lowered his ERA to 2.14, while
Manager Luis Rojas does have ways to improve this unit, mostly by choosing to give Almora (in center) and Luis Guillorme (at third base) more starts. But most days, the Mets will rely on their offense to be potent and their pitching staff, which entered Sunday’s play ranked second in the Majors in strikeout rate, to keep the ball out of play.\n\nSaid starting third baseman
Earlier this week, Davis committed three of the Mets’ six errors in Chicago. He’ll need to become a more consistent defender if he wants to continue drawing most of the starts at third, but for now, his bat remains too productive for Rojas to remove.\n\n**5\\.
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**7\\. Conforto will also be just fine** \nQuietly, Conforto is batting .290 with four extra-base hits over his past nine games after recording just three hits in his first eight. Much of the early narrative has surrounded Conforto’s defense, particularly after he misplayed two balls in Saturday’s loss. But he also homered in that game, and he began Sunday’s excellent relay to cut down Robles at third. Once again, the greater sample size here offers plenty of reason for optimism.
\n\n**8\\. Alonso is back** \nUnlike in 2020, Alonso is once again routinely driving the ball to straightaway center and right-center field. His solo homer off Corbin on Sunday fell just to the left of the Home Run Apple, giving him 74 for his career -- six more than any other Major Leaguer since his career began in 2019. Alonso credits it to his ability to choose the proper pitches at which to swing, rather than at more difficult offerings in the strike zone.\n\n“It’s because I’m a little bit more relaxed,” Alonso said. “And also, I’m sticking to my game plan.”
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