Jeff McNeil has another big night in Mets’ blowout victory

WASHINGTON — Juan Soto (who contributed his own home run on the night) has been chilly and blistering hot at various points this season.

As have Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. Brett Baty’s bat has come (enjoying its own sizzling streak at the moment) and gone, which happens for most hitters.

But not all. Jeff McNeil’s bat has hit lefties and righties; hit in the clutch and in the ordinary; hit against starters and relievers; hit at home and on the road.

The most consistent of an inconsistent lineup simply has hit, which McNeil did again in a series-opening, 8-1 dusting at Nationals Park on Tuesday.

“He’s been super consistent for us,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after McNeil was more than that, reaching base four times in five plate appearances and finishing a triple short of the cycle.

Defensively, where McNeil has filled in well in all three outfield spots (holding his own in center) and played solid at second base, the versatile glove has looked like himself. But at the plate, he has deviated from past seasons by simply not deviating from his plan.

Inspired by a strong finish to his 2024 campaign, during which he abandoned a softer swing meant to guide hits into holes for a swing that was designed to blister balls, McNeil arrived in camp in February ready to pound pitches and has not stopped.

When one approach has not worked in the past, McNeil would be quick to switch paths. There has been no reason to trade approaches this season.

“I feel like I haven’t been tinkering too much this year,” McNeil said after his two-out, two-run double created distance in the third, he stroked a single in the fifth and launched his 10th homer of the season in the ninth. “I’ve been sticking with the same swing thoughts and same basic fundamentals at the plate.”

This season, the approach has been as consistent as the results. After an oblique strain delayed his debut until the end of April, he has posted a .779 OPS in May, .806 OPS in June, .742 OPS in July and .782 OPS in 16 August games.

The MLB average OPS entering play Tuesday was .719, so in his worst month he was an easily above-average hitter.

Only once all season — back on May 4-6 — has McNeil gone three straight games without a hit.

Surrounded by bats that have been erratic, he has been unrelenting and might have reached his best groove of the season, going 8-for-17 with a homer and two doubles in his past four games.

“I just have a good idea of what I want to do, what worked for me in the past,” said McNeil, whose OPS is up to .795.

“He’s been solid for us,” Mendoza said before essentially correcting himself. “He’s been huge.”