Mets blog: Lucas Duda enjoying resurgence in MLB playoffs

Lucas Duda tends to be a streaky hitter, but after starting the postseason ice-cold, Duda could be entering a hot streak at the perfect time.

In the NLDS against the Dodgers, Duda looked completely lost at the plate. He struck out 11 times in 20 plate appearances and got just two hits. Duda was benched in Game 1 of the NLCS, then hit rock bottom by going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Game 2, dropping his average to .095. But after picking up a hit in Game 3, Duda burst out with two doubles and his first-ever playoff home run in Game 4 to put the NLCS on ice.

“It was definitely nice to finally contribute, especially to a win, a series-clinching win,” Duda told the media after the game, “It means everything to me that Terry [Collins] had the faith in me to not turn to someone else. He easily could have done that.”

Every decision Collins makes seems to be the right one lately, and he was as happy as anyone about Duda’s breakout performance.

“Once in a while you’ve got to show players you have confidence in them,” Collins said after the game, “I thought I did that with Lucas [Duda], knowing that if he breaks out, he can carry us. Tonight he broke out.”

Jacob deGrom, the Mets’ probable starter for Game 1 of the World Series, was very happy for his teammate.

“Duda is an animal and we knew it was only a matter of time,” deGrom said, “He’s such a big part of our team and our offense and we’ve all seen what he does for the lineup when he gets rolling.”

If Duda can string together some efforts like this in the World Series, the Mets will be extremely tough to beat.