The numbers behind why the Mets' offense has fallen off a cliff

The Mets are in a serious rut, only one game over .500, after scoring just six runs over their last four games. In 11 games this month, they are averaging 2.4 runs per game -- by far the worst rate in baseball -- and gone 2-9 in that span.

There is talent, if not much depth, in the Mets lineup. Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Frazier, and Asdrubal Cabrera are all strong hitters, with Brandon Nimmo showing signs of a real breakout, and Adrian Gonzalez seemingly rescuing his career from the brink. So why has a team that showed a solidly average offensive ability for the first five weeks of the season suddenly fallen off a cliff?

To begin with, they simply are not making solid contact at all this month.…