After just three games against the Houston Astros, the New York Mets’ offense, a unit primed to be a postseason powerhouse, has sputtered to a near-halt. The numbers have been among the worst in MLB in offensive production, dead last in home runs, and a batting average that suggests a collective ice-cold spell.

While it’s tempting to dismiss a three-game sample as a mere blip on the radar, Mets fans know better. The specter of prolonged offensive droughts, a recurring nightmare in recent seasons, looms large. To avoid a descent into early-season panic, a tactical adjustment is imperative, and it revolves around one player.

Mets need a Mark Vientos lineup shift

Vientos entered 2025 with a weight of expectation on his broad shoulders. His 2024 campaign, a breakout performance that saw him emerge as a crucial offensive weapon, particularly in the playoffs where he was arguably the team’s most consistent hitter, set the bar high. The power, the clutch hits, the swagger – it was all there.

Three games into the new season, the answer isn’t definitive, but the signs are troubling. A solitary hit, while statistically insignificant, masks a deeper concern in Vientos’ approach at the plate. He appears anxious, his swing a frantic blur, and his chase and whiff rates are skyrocketing.

Unlike other players on the roster, whose slumps might be attributed to the natural ebb and flow of a long season, Vientos’ situation demands a more nuanced approach. The pressure to prove his 2024 performance wasn’t a fluke is palpable, and it’s manifesting in rushed swings and poor plate discipline.

The solution, while seemingly simple, could be the catalyst for a much-needed offensive jolt. A strategic shift in the batting order. Moving Vientos one spot down the lineup is not a demotion, but a calculated maneuver to alleviate the mounting pressure and allow him to rediscover his composure.

Currently, Vientos is batting in a position where he’s expected to be a key offensive driver. Moving him down would allow him to see more pitches, face less pressure in crucial at-bats, and regain his confidence. This adjustment would also allow the Mets to experiment with a potentially potent left-handed tandem at the top of the lineup with Brandon Nimmo and Jesse Winker batting consecutively against right-handed pitchers.