How 2018 actually went.
The Mets opened 11–1 under new manager Mickey Callaway, then fell apart through injuries, weak offense, and a long June collapse. The team’s record became background to Jacob deGrom’s historic season. Every fifth day he allowed almost nothing and often watched the lineup allow even less support.
deGrom finished with a 1.70 ERA, 269 strikeouts, and only ten wins, forcing voters to look beyond the old win statistic. He won the Cy Young Award easily. Brandon Nimmo became an on-base threat, Zack Wheeler finished with a dominant second half, and Jeff McNeil arrived late to show the pure hitting skill that would keep him in the lineup.
David Wright returned for one final game in September after years of fighting spinal stenosis. His goodbye filled Citi Field with the emotion the standings could not provide. The Mets ended 77–85, but deGrom’s greatness, Wright’s farewell, and the arrival of Nimmo and McNeil gave three different generations a place in the same season.
deGrom could not buy a run, and Wright could barely take the field—fans loved them harder because of it.