At one of his postgame news conferences in April, Mickey Callaway surveyed his roster and said, "We're a really good team" -- and he was right. The Mets who opened the season had a top-heavy rotation, talented bullpen, and veteran lineup that was able to score enough to support the pitching.
Many bad losses and injuries later, the Mets are much weaker, but still a playoff contender for two reasons: Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Most flawed teams with two aces can at least push toward playing meaningful games in September.
That's why, as with deGrom's recent elbow scare, the news that Syndergaard is headed to the 10-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his right index finger represents a genuinely anxious moment for the 2018 Mets and their fans.