Three changes the Mets should make immediately

Vientos has struck out in 25.8% of his at-bats, a high figure, but that shouldn't be an issue for the Mets, who are not a strikeout-prone team. New York has only 290 strikeouts, the fourth fewest in the NL.

Vientos would primarily be DH for the Mets, but in a pinch, he could play first or third. To make room for the power hitter, the Mets could option utilityman Luis Guillorme to Syracuse or designate DH Daniel Vogelbach or outfielder Tommy Pham for assignment.

2. Call up Ronny Mauricio

Like Vientos, Mauricio is raking in Triple-A (.340/.373/.590) Once rated as the top prospect in the Mets' system, he has revitalized his career after struggling the past couple of seasons.

Mauricio began to turn heads this winter when he was named MVP of the Dominican Winter League. In spring training, he blasted a 450-foot home run.

Unlike Vientos, who does not have a good glove, Mauricio is a good defender. He is primarily a shortstop but can also play second, third and in the outfield. Mauricio, of course, wouldn't play much at shortstop with Francisco Lindor on the roster.

To make room for Mauricio, the Mets could demote fellow infielder Guillorme, who has a good glove but a weak bat. 

3. Use an opener

Largely because of subpar pitching (4.73 ERA), the Mets are 18-20 and trail the first-place Braves by 7.5 games. New York pitchers have allowed 53 homers, the third most in the big leagues.

Pitchers Tylor Megill, Jose Butto, David Peterson and Joey Lucchesi have filled in for injured Mets starters Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco and Jose Quintana. None of the fill-ins have had much success.

Through 38 games, opponents have outscored New York, 34-9, in the first inning, so it's time for a new approach. New York should pitch a middle reliever—either Drew Smith, Dominic Leone, Stephen Nogosek or Tommy Hunter—in the first inning, and then turn the ball over to a depth starter in innings two or three.

The Rays modernized the concept of the opener with great success. By employing this strategy, the Mets' middle relievers will pitch the first inning, and then New York's depth starter will enter the game in the second inning. 

This will allow Peterson, Megill, Butto, and Lucchesi to enter against the middle or bottom of the order, and avoid pitching to the top. All four of those pitchers will skip over the first inning, an inning they have all struggled in. 

Big-time starters Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Kodai Senga will continue to start as usual. Until Carrasco and Quintana are healthy enough to return, the Mets should ride with the opener on days Peterson, Megill or Butto are due to pitch.

New York has won just four games since April 22. The opener strategy cannot be worse than how the Mets starters are currently performing.