Mets: 3 players who will make or break the 2nd half

The Mets‘ 2023 first half went how nobody expected. The blue and orange finished the first half at 42-48 and are seven games out of the final wild-card spot, with the division looking far out of reach.

If the Mets hope to make up some ground and have a successful second half, here are three players that will make or break the Amazins remaining 72 games.

Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander had big shoes to fill when the Mets inked the 40-year-old to a two-year contract worth $86.6 million to replace franchise icon Jacob DeGrom.

Verlander’s first half in Queens was certainly not up to the three-time Cy-Young Award’s standards, as injuries and poor performances left much to be desired.

Since debuting…