PHILADELPHIA – When Carlos Mendoza was asked over the weekend about having three pitching prospects come up and immediately excel, he acknowledged that it was pretty special but mused that the Mets needed “the other guys to step up.”

At that point, he was talking about the veteran arms in his rotation, but over the last few games, and in Monday’s 1-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in particular, it’s become clear that the offense needs to be added to the list.

The Mets put runners on second and third off closer Jhoan Duran with one out in the ninth, but Jeff McNeil, who came a few inches away from an extra-base hit down the line, struck out swinging and Francisco Alvarez swung through three straight curveballs to negate a gutsy start by Nolan McLean.

“You could tell [Alvar

See Full Page