Answers for Mets might come from within

CHICAGO — Bartolo Colon rarely falls behind hitters when he’s on his game. Yet he threw 17 balls among 33 pitches in the first inning on Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Colon, who is 43, wound up giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings as the Mets lost to the Cubs 6-2. It marked his third consecutive non-quality start, and he’s given up 15 runs in 14 2/3 innings during this stretch.

You can’t help but wonder if his age is finally catching up to him.

“We have no other options right now,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “If he was 53 he’s going to be out there.”

The Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline is approaching, and few contenders could use some outside help more than the defending National League champions. General manager Sandy Alderson might have something up his sleeve, but there have been few indications he’s working toward making the kind of bold move he did a year ago.

Yoenis Cespedes, who came from the Tigers at the cost of pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa, cured everything that ailed a 52-50 team last year. He was so good that Alderson decided to re-sign him over the winter, which may limit the flexibility that Alderson has to strike again.

A deal for an innings-eating starting pitcher would be a big help now, but the Mets don’t have the deepest farm system around nor seem inclined to deal their top prospects, shortstop Amed Rosario and first baseman Dominic Smith.

It’s safe to say Collins isn’t sitting around waiting for the cavalry to ride in and rescue a team that is sliding farther behind the Nationals and recently fell out of a tie for the second NL Wild Card spot.

“I don’t go there,” Collins said about possible reinforcements. “I don’t ever worry about that. That’s not my job. My job is to walk through the locker room and see whose name …

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