It seemed like the Mets were starting to click over this last month. Since the start of May they have gone 15-8. They have won with equally good pitching (combined 3.49 ERA) and hitting (.288 team batting average and 117 runs). Well the Mets are going to need this team effort to continue over the next two weeks as they sent two more starters to the DL on Monday. Jose Reyes and Ryan Church were both placed on the 15-day disabled list and will not return until early June.

Church’s hamstring has bothered him for the last week and he sat out the entire Red Sox series. Reyes has played sparingly since hurting his calf during the series against San Francisco two weeks ago. The Mets will be hard-pressed to replace two more starters in their already depleted lineup. They are also missing Carlos Delgado, Brian Schneider, and Alex Cora. They have called up the touted young outfielder Fernando Martinez and acquired journeyman IF Wilson Valdez from the Indians. I’m just going to link to Valdez’s paltry career statistics because, honestly, they’re not even worth the time typing them out. (If you follow the link, check out what team ESPN has Valdez on, then take a look at the hat he has on in his photo. They’re different and neither are the Mets…) Oh and by the way, all-star center fielder Carlos Beltran will miss at least the next 3 games with a bruised and inflamed tibia.

With so many injuries to their lineup, the pressure will be on the Mets pitching. For once, this is actually a good thing. The Mets starting rotation has been very good over the last three weeks and the bullpen has looked solid. Five of the Mets relievers and four out of their five starters have an ERA below 4 this month. They have a very strong strikeout-to-walk ratio and have given up only 14 home runs in 23 games. The pitching will have to remain strong as the Mets head away from pitcher-friendly Citi Field and play 13 out of their next 20 games on the road.

As for the everyday lineup, we should see a good amount of variation from Jerry Manuel. Fortunately, David Wright has been unconscious this month hitting .418 with 22 RBI and a 1.176 OPS. Gary Sheffield has also started to heat up hitting .340 this month and two home runs in the last two games. I wouldn’t expect too much out of the rookie Martinez just yet; the kid is only 20 years old and hasn’t developed into the player that the Mets had thought he was going to be. However, do expect the Mets’ other Fernando – as in Tatis – to step up. He hasn’t played as well this season as he did last year, but he always seems to step up when the Mets need him; and I think he will again over the next three weeks. I expect Tatis to play almost everyday either in the outfield or at first base. Daniel Murphy, who has actually looked decent playing first, will also see increased playing time. He has slowed down substantially after a scorching start at the plate, and the Mets will need his bat especially if Beltran is forced to miss more time and/or forced to play hurt.

Maybe the most important obstacle to overcome these injuries will be the Mets’ defense. They have struggled in the field this season, making mostly dumb mistakes. They will need to cut down on those mental errors if they want to stay within a handful of games of the division lead. Tough periods like this, though, are great tests for teams. If the Mets can make it through these injuries and still be close to the top of the East, look for them to have a solid summer once their stars are back to full health.