The Mets are in a good place right now — literally.
The Mets are 10th in the majors with a .276 batting average at home, where they’ve won eight straight and open up a three-game set tonight against the NL West-leading Padres. The Mets, though, rank 27th with a .233 average on the road, which is were San Diego waxed them less than a week ago, 25-11, in taking two of three games.
“Basically [our] fundamental approach has been to hit line drives and hope line drives turn into balls in the gap, and balls in the gap turn into home runs. The philosophy really doesn’t change on the road,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “I think sometimes when we get to smaller parks, we have a tendency to overswing and come out of our fundamentals. Here [at Citi Field], you have to try your best to put those guys in scoring position as quick as possible, and take your chances with a base hit.”
That formula has given the Mets the most home wins in the majors with 22. Now if only they could carry that momentum on the road, where they’ll be once again for nine games after this series.
“As we continue to play and continue to gain confidence here, it will flow over to some of the road [games],” Manuel said. “It will even out because I think we’re pretty much in those games.”
