Mets Player Performance Meter: Position players, August 20-26

After an offensive explosion last week on the road, the Mets offense has returned to Citi Field mode this home stand, struggling to score runs. Fortunately, with the exception of yesterday’s bullpen catastrophe, the pitching has been good enough for the Mets to carry a winning record for the week. Highlights include the revelation that is Jeff McNeil, Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce coming back hot off the disabled list, and Dominic Smith making the most of his limited at-bats.

There is no question that Jeff McNeil has been the Mets’ most consistent bat since he was called up from the minors. This week he carries a 251 wRC+ over 24 plate appearances, which leads the team. Prior to leaving yesterday’s game with quad tightness, McNeil extended his hitting streak to eleven games. He leads the team by far in hits with 12, five more than anybody else. He put up 0.6 fWAR for the week with the runner-up posting 0.2 fWAR.

That runner-up is Todd Frazer, who had his second good week at the plate in a row. Frazier had five hits this week, three of them home runs, good for a 136 wRC+. Frazier also walked twice and drove in four runs.

After a couple of down weeks, Wilmer Flores also had a hot week at the plate. He posted a 130 wRC+, collecting seven hits in 24 plate appearances, second only to McNeil for the team lead.

Jay Bruce returned from the disabled list on Friday and has been hot out of the gate, collecting three hits in eleven plate appearances. He also blasted a homer in his first game back. He holds a 142 wRC+ over 11 plate appearances since returning and will likely see time in the outfield as well as first base.

When Brandon Nimmo went on the disabled list, Dominic Smith—who had been called up as the 26th man for the Little League Classic—stayed with the team to take Nimmo’s roster spot. As has been the story of his Mets tenure, he’s getting limited at-bats, but he has made the most of it so far. He has already hit a solo home run this week among his five plate appearances.

Jack Reinheimer has also made the most of limited at-bats this week, collecting two hits and one walk in six plate appearances, with one run scored.

Devin Mesoraco also only had six plate appearances this week and failed to reach base in any of them.

Kevin Plawecki has received the bulk of the starts lately, but also hasn’t done well this week with the bat. He has three hits in his sixteen plate appearances, good for a 15 wRC+ on the week. He did not score any runs or drive in any runs.

With Mesoraco banged up and Plawecki due to go on paternity leave any day now, the Mets are briefly carrying three catchers with Tomas Nido having been recalled from the minors. He is hitless in his four plate appearances this week.

After being consistently good during his first few weeks as a Met, Austin Jackson had his first truly bad week at the plate. He posted a -23 wRC+ for the week in 27 plate appearances. He had four hits, all of them singles, and drove in a run.

Jose Bautista struggled at the plate as well this week, putting up a 53 wRC+ playing nearly every day in Nimmo’s absence. He had three hits, including a home run, and two walks in 27 plate appearances. His second half wRC+ is down to 76.

Michael Conforto’s second half resurgence has fallen off the past couple of weeks. His strikeout rate is back up this week at nearly 35%. He has four hits, three of them singles, and two walks in 23 plate appearances, good for a 65 wRC+ on the week. He does lead the team in RBIs, however, with five.

Amed Rosario, too, has faded after a good stretch. He holds a 27 wRC+ for the week. He had four hits and one walk in 26 plate appearances. However, his four runs scored lead the team for the week and he did steal a base.

Jose Reyes carries a 61 wRC+ for the week with two hits—both for extra bases—in eleven plate appearances. He came around to score one of the two times he reached base.