NEW YORK _ The bruising reality of an unfulfilling season has created a clear dividing line in the Mets' reshuffled clubhouse. There are those such as Seth Lugo, whose place in the organization appears secure even though the role he ultimately plays is far less clear. And there are those such as Jose Reyes, whose future with the club is at best uncertain.
That distinction came into sharper focus during the Mets' 5-1 victory over the Reds on Friday night, when Lugo (6-4) tossed six shutout innings and Reyes slammed a pair of homers.
As a team, the Mets (62-79) have little on the line except for draft positioning and player development. But for individuals, what unfolds in September may shape what comes next, whether it's here or elsewhere. While Lugo appears to be pitching to prove he belongs in the rotation, Reyes may be auditioning for his next team.
Reyes, 34, began the day hitting just .236, a reflection of his struggles early in the year. He has enjoyed a recent uptick, as shown by the pair of long balls he hit Friday. His solo shot in the third inning _ his 100th as a Met _ provided Lugo with a 2-0 lead. In the fifth, he delivered a two-run shot, his second multihomer game of the season.
The veteran switch hitter is a free agent at season's end and he has made no secret of his desire to return. During a season in which the Mets stripped their clubhouse of veteran leadership, Reyes has earned praise from manager Terry Collins for setting a good example for a roster that went from one of the most experienced in the league to one of the youngest.
"He's going to be somewhere," Collins said of Reyes' future before the game. "And he'll be playing a lot, too."
But that somewhere likely won't be with the Mets, the franchise that made him a star and later gave him a second chance following his domestic-violence suspension. Sources indicated that for now, Reyes isn't considered to be a fit for the Mets as they continue retooling for 2018.
Lugo, however, will play a role. The 27-year-old remains under team control through 2023. But his issues with pitching effectively deep into games has raised questions about whether he can stick as a starter.
Despite his second-half success in the rotation last season, many rival scouts have projected Lugo as a reliever, and his performance this season has only given his doubters more ammunition. Entering play Friday, the trend for Lugo has been clear.
In his first time through the order, he has held opposing hitters to a .291 average and .248 the second time through. The third trip through the order has brought trouble, with opponents hitting .373.
Collins chalked up the struggles to fatigue, noting that Lugo has been pitching with a partially torn ligament in his elbow and recently missed two starts with discomfort in his shoulder.
"We're going to be cognizant (about) that," Collins said, indicating that Lugo might be pulled at the 70-pitch mark. "When he gets to that point, he's probably going to be done."
Against the Reds, Lugo appeared intent on bucking the trend. He began the sixth inning at 69 pitches, and finished off a strong outing as Tommy Milone warmed in the bullpen.
In his third plate appearance, Jose Peraza lined out ahead of Joey Votto, who laced a single. But Lugo bounced back to get the next two batters. His 84th and final pitch was a slider that nicked the outer edge of the plate, freezing Scooter Gennett.
