Syndergaard felt good after playing catch on Tuesday

After a blistering start during which the Mets bullpen was the best in baseball, they've hit a cold streak that's dropped them to 8th.

There are some reasons to expect improvement, but some players are still underperforming and the trade deadline may offer some appealing upgrades.

Antonio Bastardo has been the biggest culprit, sporting a 5.81 ERA and 1.48 WHIP dating back to May. His whole season has been a mess, with his lowest strikeout rate since his rookie season combined with a spike in homers and a characteristically mediocre walk rate.

The bad news is that his two-year contract means he's going to have to get a lot worse before he's cut loose and he'll almost certainly be hidden in the…