All of this (plus hot starts from the likes of Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor) has added up to one of the best run differentials in the majors, carried by the fewest runs allowed by any team. The Mets sit in first place in the NL East.

While superstar slugger Juan Soto grabs the headlines, the Mets are being carried by a pitching staff that leads MLB in ERA. It's powered by a top-to-bottom infrastructure of coaching, data and talent identification.

Over the past 13 months, Paul Blackburn’s list of maladies has included a stress reaction in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot; a badly bruised pitching hand stemming from a comebacker that struck him on the mound;

The Mets plan to recall Max Kranick on Friday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.