SAN DIEGO — Through the first month of their six-month, marathon regular season, the Mets have rinsed away much of the bitter taste of 2017. Their biggest off-season addition, new manager Mickey Callaway, has found his early footing with the team, and the club capped April with their most lopsided win of the season: A 14-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Somehow, they will enter May leading the National League East, with a 17-9 record, despite inconsistent contributions from most of the starting rotation and below-average production from their best hitters — outfielders Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce.