The Mets offense finally clicked last night, erupting with 10 runs scored on 15 hits. Unfortunately, the night was mired by the loss of Juan Soto.

The left fielder left the game after the first inning and later received an MRI Saturday to determine the severity of his injury. The MRI revealed a minor calf strain, and while the IR is still a possibility, Soto was optimistic he would avoid being shelfed. Carlos Mendoza also spoke to the media and stated that the Mets would make a decision Tuesday when the club was back in New York.

Still, the night was overwhelmingly positive for the Amazins’. Five Mets players had at least two hits, with Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien each getting three hits. In addition to the hit parade, the Mets worked six walks and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Let’s keep that momentum going tonight!

Mar 30, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Bo Bichette – 3B
3. Jorge Polanco – DH
4. Brett Baty – RF
5. Mark Vientos – 1B
6. Jared Young – LF
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. Carson Benge – CF
9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Clay Holmes

Clay Holmes allowed only two runs from four hits and three walks in his first start of the season over 5 2/3 innings. He’s coming off his first season as a full-time starter, where he had a 3.53 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.304 WHIP, and a 114 ERA+ over 165 2/3 innings. He had a solid start against the Giants last season, where he allowed one run on six hits and a walk over five innings. The Giants have the following career stats against Holmes:

• Willy Adames 2-4, 2 2B, BB
• Luis Arraez 3-7, 3B, 2 BB, K
• Harrison Bader 3-5, 2 2B, K
• Patrick Bailey 1-2, K
• Matt Chapman 3-11, 2 BB, K
• Rafael Devers 3-10, 2B, HR, 2 BB, K
• Jung Hoo Lee 0-2
• Heliot Ramos 2-4, K
• Casey Schmitt 1-3

Opposing Lineup

1. Willy Adames – SS
2. Rafael Devers – DH
3. Heliot Ramos – LF
4. Luis Arraez – 2B
5. Matt Chapman – 3B
6. Jung Hoo Lee – RF
7. Harrison Bader – CF
8. Patrick Bailey – C
9. Jerar Encarnacion – 1B

Landen Roupp had an excellent start to the season, allowing no runs from two hits and two walks over six innings while striking out six batters. Last season, he made 22 starts totaling 106 2/3 innings with a 3.80 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.481 WHIP, and a 106 ERA+. Only a few members of the Mets have seen Roupp in a major league game:

• Brett Baty 0-0, BB
• Francisco Lindor 0-1
• Tyrone Taylor 1-1, 2B

Game Notes

• The Mets recorded a season-high 15 hits in last night’s win. The team went 15-39 with 10 runs, two doubles, three home runs, and six walks.
• The Mets are fifth in the Majors with a 2.89 ERA (24 ER/74.2 IP). That is the third-best mark in the Senior Circuit. The Mets have struck out 79 batters this season, fifth in MLB and the most in the NL.
• In five games this season, Mark Vientos is batting .417 (5-12) with two runs, one double, one homer, two RBI, two walks, a .500 OBP, a .750 SLG, and a 1.250 OPS. He has safely hit in four of his five games.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Bo Bichette. Bo wasn’t going to slump forever! Last night, Bo broke out of his slump in a huge way, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. It was the second straight game that Bo had an extra-base hit, and his fifth straight game getting on base. He has a .304 OBP in his last five games, which is much better than his .067 OBP in his first three games. Bo also has struck out only two times in his last five games, compared to eight times in his first three games.
2. Mark Vientos. Spring stats don’t count for a reason. Vientos had a terrible spring with only two hits. Over five games this season, he is 5-for-12 with a double, a home run, and a .500 OBP. His 0.4 bWAR is already greater than his 2025 -0.2 bWAR. With Polanco dealing with an Achilles injury, we are going to need Vientos to keep his hot streak going.
3. Grounders. Clay Holmes had a 66.7% ground ball rate his first time out this season, which was good for the 91st percentile in the league. As the season goes on, that rate will probably drop and get closer to his 55.9% rate that he had last season, which was actually the 94th percentile in 2025.

Let’s go Mets!

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Jorge Polanco‘s Achilles continues to be a problem, as it held him out of the lineup again on Friday. Manager Carlos Mendoza called it tendinitis, and he considers Polanco day-to-day. Polanco has not played first base since last Saturday and has not been in the lineup at all in two of the last four games. Mark Vientos, who has been swinging the bat well, will figure to see more playing time if Polanco needs to miss time.

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets (4-4) defeated the Giants (3-5) 10-3 on Friday night. Mets bats exploded to stop their three-game skid, including three-hit games from Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien, who also homered, and two home runs from Francisco Alvarez.

The Mets continue their series in San Francisco at 9:05 p.m. ET on Saturday. Clay Holmes (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will take the mound against Landen Roupp (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who threw six shutout innings in his first start of the season.

Juan Soto left the game on Friday with right calf tigthness. Soto was seen slowing down and showing discomfort on his way from first to third on a base hit. Mendoza told reporters after the game that Soto will receive imaging on his calf Saturday.

Latest MLB News

Giants reliever and former Met José Buttó underwent a procedure for a blood clot in his throwing arm Friday night. The Giants placed Buttó on the 15-day injured list and have given no timetable for return.

Byron Buxton left the Twins game Friday with a right forearm contusion. X-rays came back negative.

The Blue Jays signed pitcher Patrick Corbin to a one-year contract. Corbin pitched for the Rangers in 2025 and had a 4.40 ERA in 31 games (30 starts).

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna names two under-the-radar prospects with each Mets minor league squad.

Jorge Eckardt lists three non-top 30 Mets prospects to watch for this season.

On This Daet in Mets History

1988: The Mets set an Opening Day record with six home runs in a 10-6 win over the Expos.

Born on This Date: Ronny Mauricio (2001), Cameron Maybin (1987), Eric Valent (1977), Tom Herr (1956), Jim Fregosi (1942), Ron Locke (1939), Gil Hodges (1924).

The post Morning Briefing: Jorge Polanco Still Held Back by Achilles appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starter David Peterson was hit hard, early, and often following a strong season debut. He gave up three runs in the first inning, allowing a single, double, and triple. Peterson also hurt his own cause by dropping a toss while trying to cover first, which allowed the third run of the inning to score.

The Giants added two more runs against Peterson in the third inning on two sacrifice flies after the first three batters all singled. The lefty lasted only four and a third innings, giving up nine hits, five earned runs and two walks while striking out five.

Sean Manaea pitched in relief, and while his outing wasn’t particularly pretty, he gave the Mets some much-needed length. Manaea allowed just one run, a Rafael Devers homer, over 3 2/3 innings despite giving up four hits and two walks.

After scoring just two runs over their last two games against the Cardinals, the Mets’ bats were quiet once again. Bo Bichette doubled home Juan Soto in the first, and Mark Vientos homered in the second, but New York mustered only five hits on the night.

”We just couldn’t put a lot together there,” said Carlos Mendoza after the game.

During the three-game losing streak, the Mets are hitting .134, and 0-18 with runners in scoring position. Their 11-run outburst on Opening Day just a week ago seems like a distant memory. On the positive side, Marcus Semien snapped an 0-for-20 skid at the plate.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Vientos hit his first homer of the year after doubling in Wednesday’s game. It was his third consecutive start.

NEXT UP

The Mets and Giants resume their four-game series on Friday night, with Nolan McLean (0–0, 3.60 ERA) facing righty Tyler Mahle (0–1, 4.50 ERA). McLean battled in his first start of the year against the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving up two runs over five innings with five strikeouts. First pitch is 10:15 PM ET on WPIX. 

The post Peterson Hammered By Giants As Mets Lose Third Straight appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

What a strange start to the Mets’ season. The Mets are 3-3 over six games, and have already played in three extra-inning games. On Opening Day, the offense was humming, and it has been largely absent since. The pitching had hiccups on Opening Day and has been great since. The Mets need another game where they get a bunch of hits with runners in scoring position and keep the line moving. Today is a great day to make that happen!

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – LF
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Jorge Polanco – DH
5. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
6. Mark Vientos – 1B
7. Marcus Semien – 2B
8. Francisco Alvarez – C
9. Tyrone Taylor – RF

Starting Pitcher: David Peterson

David Peterson started the season with a bang. In his first start, he scattered six hits and two walks, allowing no runs while striking out three over 5 1/3 innings. Peterson faced the Giants in back-to-back starts in 2025, holding them to only three runs over 12 innings with 12 hits and five walks while striking out eight. The Giants have the following career stats against Peterson:

• Willy Adames 3-13, 2B, 9 BB, 2 K
• Luis Arráez 2-8, 2 BB
• Harrison Bader 1-5, 2B, K
• Patrick Bailey 1-4, K
• Matt Chapman 1-5, BB, K
• Rafael Devers 5-16, 2B, 6 K
• Jerar Encarnación 0-4, 2 K
• Jung Hoo Lee 2-5
• Heliot Ramos 3-8, 2B, 2 K
• Casey Schmitt 1-7, 2B, BB

Opposing Lineup

1. Willy Adames – SS
2. Rafael Devers – DH
3. Heliot Ramos – LF
4. Luis Arráez – 2B
5. Matt Chapman – 3B
6. Jung Hoo Lee – RF
7. Harrison Bader – CF
8. Daniel Susac – C
9. Casey Schmitt – 1B

Starting Pitcher: Robbie Ray

Robbie Ray came back in 2025 in a big way. After being derailed by Tommy John surgery from 2023 to 2024, Ray made 32 starts last season, totaling 182 1/3 innings with a 3.65 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.212 WHIP and a 110 ERA+. In his first start of the season, he allowed two runs on five hits, including a home run, over 5 1/3 innings while striking out four. Like Peterson, Ray faced the Mets twice in back-to-back starts last season. He picked up the loss in the first one, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a game the Mets eventually won 2-1. His next time out, he held the Mets to only one run over 7 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 1-2, 3B
• Brett Baty 1-3
• Bo Bichette 2-8, 2 2B, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-8, HR, BB, 2 K
• Jorge Polanco 1-6, BB
• Luis Robert Jr. 1-10, HR, 4 K
• Marcus Semien 2-11, 2B, 4 K
• Juan Soto 1-10, BB, K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-4, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 3-14, 2B, 5 K
• Mark Vientos 2-6, 2B, K

Game Notes

• In a transaction involving a pair of former Mets, the Giants recalled Blade Tidwell from Triple-A and placed José Buttó on the injured list with forearm fatigue. Both players were dealt along with Drew Gilbert in exchange for Tyler Rogers at the trade deadline.
• Jonah Tong endured a rocky outing in his second start of the season for Triple-A Syracuse, getting tagged for seven runs (six earned) in 1 2/3 innings. Tong threw four shutout innings in his first start.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Triples. Francisco Lindor hit two triples in the first four games of the season, putting him in a prime position to pass his single-season record of five at some point this year. He’s not a triple hitter, and there is more that goes into hitting triples that is outside of a hitter’s control. We’re bringing the possibility of him breaking his record for a second time in a week only because the Mets are starting a series in San Francisco, one of the best parks to hit a triple. Over the last three seasons, Statcast has Oracle Park with a 138 park factor for triples.
2. Walks. Robbie Ray led the league in walks last year (73). It’s actually the second time in his career he’s led the league in walks (Covid-shortened 2020 season, 45). In his first start of the season, he didn’t walk anyone. The first time he faced the Mets last year, he walked three batters and had to leave before finishing the sixth inning. In his second start, he didn’t walk any Mets, struck out six, and pitched seven innings. The Mets are currently sixth in the league in walks (29) and could easily leapfrog the Astros (32), who are in second.
3. Hits. 2-for-10. 1-for-14. 0-for-4. 0-for-11. That’s how the Mets have hit with runners in scoring position for the last four days. The Mets have lost three of those games by a combined total of five runs. At some point, the pitching will start to break down with a prolonged, increased pressure to be perfect. Let’s get some hits today!

Let’s go Mets!

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Baseball began Wednesday night with the Yankees defeating the Giants 7-0, kicking off an exciting 2026 season. The Dodgers still have a target on their heads coming off back-to-back World Series rings, and will look to be the first team to three-peat since the Yankees from 1998-2000.

Meanwhile, the other 29 teams will look to dethrone the champs, especially in the National League, which features a loaded resume of teams. The Mets, Phillies, and injury riddled Braves will compete for an NL East title, the Reds bolstered their roster by re-signing Eugenio Suarez to battle the Cubs and Brewers for the NL Central, and the Giants will have a full season of Rafael Devers to try and keep up with the Padres and Dodgers, who have mainly fought for the NL West the past two seasons.

Will anyone knock the Dodgers off? Probably not. They spent another offseason reloading their roster with All-Stars, signing Edwin Díaz away from the Mets and winning the arms race for Kyle Tucker. But if anyone in the NL can’t end their season prematurely, maybe the Yankees and Aaron Judge can in the American League.

Still, it’s too early to be talking about October. It’s March. And I know you all missed these absolutely, positively correct power rankings every week. This season, every article will include a link to the old power rankings at the bottom of the article. Let’s kick off 2026 with a fresh top-10.

Juan Soto
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

1. Dodgers

Until they’re dethroned, the champs are No. 1.

The Dodgers loaded up again to go for a third consecutive World Series. They signed the best closer in Díaz after their bullpen was suspect in the playoffs, and poached Tucker away from the Cubs, Yankees, and Mets in free agency to shore up their offensive hole in the outfield.

They’re incredibly talented, but also banged up. This, funnily enough, might be the only time they sit in first on the power rankings. Their strategy of coasting to a playoff spot, then attacking with a healthy roster in October has worked the last two seasons.

That being said, there are some questions surrounding the Dodgers. Is Mookie Betts going to bounce back from a .732 OPS in 2025? What does Freddie Freeman offer in his age-36 season? And can the rotation provide enough to survive a strong division that holds the Giants and Padres?

2. Blue Jays

I won’t lie. I incorrectly slept on the Blue Jays the entire 2025 season. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

This roster is loaded, and the front office bolstered it in the offseason. The Jays inked Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract in the offseason, shoring up third base with a righty that OPS’d 1.014 with the Yomiuri Giants last season in Japan. They also signed power-throwing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal to lead a strong rotation already headlined by Kevin Gausman and rookie Trey Yesavage.

The Jays are ready to make a push at another pennant. And with power in their lineup and rotation, they’re positioned to win a tough division that features the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox.

3. Mariners

Seattle quietly had an impressive offseason. They traded for Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals, a gap-to-gap lefty bat who will fit nicely in T-Mobile Park.

They also signed Josh Naylor, who they acquired at last year’s deadline, to play first again, spacing out their big right-handed bats in Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena. The lineup is intimidating, even after losing Suarez and Jorge Polanco in free agency.

Of course, the talk of the roster is their loaded pitching. The lineup features four arms that could win the Cy Young. Take your pick against Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, or Luis Castillo, it most likely won’t end well. Then there’s the bullpen, which is anchored by the most underrated closer in the game: Andrés Muñoz. The flamethrower put up a 1.73 ERA and 38 saves in 62 1/3 innings, and has a cohort of strong options behind him in Matt Brash, Jose A. Ferrer, and Gabe Speier.

4. Phillies

Philadelphia is running it back with the same core for 2026. Which isn’t necessarily bad.

The club won 96 games last year and took home the NL East. They also re-signed Kyle Schwarber, who clubbed 56 homers last season and drove in 132 runs. So what is there to complain about?

The fan base will say this core hasn’t done anything since 2022. And that’s fair. But they did add Adolis García, who could return to his 2023 form, and will insert Justin Crawford into their lineup at center, the son of former major leaguer Carl Crawford who batted .334 with 49 stolen bases in Triple-A last season.

Additions were also made in the bullpen. Philadelphia signed Brad Keller, acquired Jonathan Bowlan from the Phillies, and will get a full season from Jhoan Duran and José Alvarado, the later who was suspended in 2025 for steroids. It has the potential to be the best ‘pen in the sport.

Pair that with a starting rotation that’s led by Cristopher Sanchez and Jesús Luzardo, and you’re in business. This team is good. World Series level good. Oh, and did I mention they’ll be adding Zack Wheeler and Andrew Painter at some point this season?

5. Yankees

The Bombers are poised to make a run at their 28th World Series title.

They’re the favorites again to win the AL, and it’s for a good reason. Judge is the best right-handed hitter of all-time (argue with a wall), and he’s backed up by household names in Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Giancarlo Stanton.

The narrative is the same as always with the Yanks. Health. Will Stanton play this season? Can Chisholm stay on the field? Can Bellinger and Trent Grisham play, and repeat their phenomenal 2025 seasons? If they can, they’ll push for the AL East title.

Pitching health will also be a storyline this season. Gerrit Cole is returning from Tommy John at 35, yet was sitting at 96 miles per hour Tuesday. If he can return, Cole has the juice to compete for a Cy Young. Luis Gil‘s return will also be massive for the Yankees, and give them much-needed depth. It’s reported the Yankees will begin the season with a four-man rotation, but a rotation that sends Max Fried and Cam Schlittler out will be fine to begin the first two weeks of the season.

6. Mets

The narrative of the Mets’ offseason was that they got worse. I disagree.

The lineup lost Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, yes. But they added Polanco, Bo Bichette, and Luis Robert Jr. It’s deeper, and contact-oriented. Emphasis on contact-oriented. Too often last season, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto would get on base, then jog back to the dugout after consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. It’s completely rethought. And they removed two players in their top four who swung and missed a lot.

Also, remember the rotation is set to be healthy in 2026, and features a true ace in Freddy Peralta. That takes pressure off rookie Nolan McLean to pitch like a No. 1, allows David Peterson to slot into the third spot and hopefully return to his 3.06 first-half ERA, and Kodai Senga to be a No. 4 starter with No. 1 stuff. It’s all in front of them.

Plus if it doesn’t work out, the rotation has depth. Sean Manaea is waiting in the wings, Tobias Myers has the potential to be a back-end guy, and Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger are close to being major league starters. Last season, the rotation faltered. 2026 won’t see the same issue.

The fate of the season truly hangs on the bullpen. Is Devin Williams still among the best closers in baseball? Or did New York break him? And what are they going to get out of Luke Weaver? If one of those two arms don’t produce, this team’s in trouble.

7. Cubs

Give Chicago credit. The ownership has been blasted due to missing the playoffs since 2018 (COVID doesn’t count), and they added this offseason after an NLDS appearance in 2025.

The big signing was Alex Bregman. He’ll man third base and is coming off his third All-Star appearance in 2025, where he clubbed 18 homers and OPS’d .821 in 111 games with the Red Sox. Combine that with a loaded offense featuring Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch, and the Cubs are positioned to score more runs than in 2025 (793).

Don’t sleep on the rotation either. They traded for Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, who has always had the stuff to develop into a top-of-the-rotation arm. And even if he doesn’t, the rotation is top-heavy with Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd.

8. Red Sox

Boston has made moves the last couple of offseasons to build a championship team. Now, they’re ready to push for a pennant.

The young core of Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela will be the cog that turns the wheel for the Red Sox, and veteran bats of Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, and Willson Contreras will carry the weight.

The rotation will also limit runs, headlined by Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet and young-budding star Brayan Bello, and finished by veteran additions in Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez. They’re talented, but find themselves in the toughest division in baseball.

9. Giants

San Francisco had a weird 2025. They went 81-81 despite a threatening roster, and missed the playoffs with an experienced manager in Bob Melvin.

I’m willing to bet on the 2026 Giants being a playoff-caliber team. The lineup is dangerous with Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos, plus the additions of Harrison Bader and Luis Arraez should help lengthen it.

The rotation also is playoff caliber. Logan Webb is never talked about despite consistently pitching like an ace, and Robbie Ray made 32 starts last season and pitched to a 3.65 ERA. Round that out with Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, and this team has the arms to compete with the top teams in the West.

The bullpen is a little suspect compared to the All-Star names on the Padres and Dodgers 40-man rosters. Ryan Walker registered a 4.11 ERA last season and will be the closer heading into 2026. Plus, the Giants should do themselves a favor and call up Bryce Eldridge.

10. Royals

Kansas City finalizes the first top-10 of 2026. And it’s not hard to love them.

They’re led by the best shortstop in baseball in Bobby Witt Jr., and rounded out by other impressive infielders in Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino.

It’s a scary top-three in the lineup. But the 4-6 are just as strong. Salvador Perez is coming off another 30-homer season, Jac Caglianone slashed .304/.448/.522 in spring, and Jonathan India provides a solid floor. Add in Carter Jensen as well, the Royals’ exciting top prospect.

The rotation also has a great floor. Seth Lugo looks to bounce back after an average 4.15 ERA and Cole Ragans is only one year removed from looking like an ace. The bullpen will also hold leads, primarily due to Carlos Estévez and Nick Mears, who was acquired from Milwaukee.

Rest of the Field

11. Padres
12. Orioles
13. Guardians
14. Braves
15. Tigers
16. Brewers
17. Astros
18. Rangers
19. Reds
20. Diamondbacks
21. Rays
22. Athletics
23. Pirates
24. Marlins
25. Nationals
26. Twins
27. Cardinals
28. Angels
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

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Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Nationals was their 11th defeat in the last 15 games, and this one carried more weight than most. It dropped them into a tie with the Reds at 80-76 for the final NL Wild Card spot. The catch? Cincinnati owns the tiebreaker, leaving New York on the outside looking in. The Diamondbacks (79-77) lurk just one game back, while the Giants (77-79), Cardinals (76-80), and Marlins (76-80) remain alive.

Manager Carlos Mendoza is maintaining confidence in his players.

“We’ve got to keep going. We’ve got six more. A lot can happen. That’s where we’re at,” he said postgame on Sunday.“You look at the talent there, we’re one hit away, making one play, making one pitch. We’re close.”

“It’s a tough hill to climb right now, but the boys in here are ready for the challenge,” Sean Manaea, who struggled on the mound Sunday, said. “We just have to put things together. If anyone can do it, it’s us.”

Brandon Nimmo acknowledged the stakes:

“It’s been happening right in front of our eyes, so yeah, I can definitely believe it. We’re down to the last week of the season, and our playoff hopes are in front of us. We’ve got to play winning baseball.”

The urgency isn’t just in the standings — it’s in the small details. Little things, such as misplayed grounders and outfielder errors, have cost the Mets too many games, and they cannot afford any more. Francisco Lindor, one of the players who struggled defensively this weekend, said it bluntly:

“We’ve put ourselves in this position, so we’ve got to find a way to get out of it. If we want to be where we want to be, those things can’t happen. Full accountability on that. I have to be better.”

Every at-bat, pitch, and defensive play is magnified in these final six games. The Mets have little margin for error if they hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Cincinnati Reds (80-76)

The Reds have now won five consecutive games, capped by a huge 1-0 shutout win over Chicago on Sunday. Their surge has flipped the Wild Card race on its head, and Cincinnati now holds control over its own destiny. Before their winning streak, however, they were swept by the Oakland Athletics in a three-game set.

Remaining schedule: Home – Pirates (3); Away – Brewers (3)

New York Mets (80-76)

Remaining schedule: Away – Cubs (3), Marlins (3)

Arizona Diamondbacks (79-77), 1.0 GB

Arizona was riding its usual rollercoaster, alternating short winning streaks and losing streaks for the past month. They sit just one game behind both the Mets and Reds. However, they are currently on a little hot streak, having taken two of three in three straight series against the Twins, Giants, and Phillies.

Remaining schedule: Home – Dodgers (3); Away – Padres (3)

San Francisco Giants (77-79), 3.0 GB

San Francisco still has a path to the postseason, but must play near-perfect baseball and hope for collapses in front of them. They close with six games at Oracle Park.

Remaining schedule: Home – Cardinals (3), Rockies (3)

St. Louis Cardinals (76-80), 4.0 GB

Like the Giants, the Cardinals will need a miracle to sneak in. They finish on the road against two solid clubs in the Giants and Cubs.

Remaining schedule: Away – Giants (3), Cubs (3)

Miami Marlins (76-80), 4.0 GB

Miami has played their way back into the race, winning ten of their last eleven, including back-to-back sweeps of the Rockies and Rangers. They’ll get a chance to deal a direct blow to New York in the final weekend of the season.

Remaining schedule: Home – Mets (3); Away — Phillies (3)

The post NL Wild Card Update: Mets Lose Control of Their Own Destiny appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Despite loading up at the Trade Deadline, the Mets lost two of three to the Giants to drop their second straight series. Furthermore, they’ve now lost five of their last six games.

There were some positives sprinkled in among a sea of negatives. But, overall, this series was another step in the wrong direction for the Mets.

To that end, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

ELECTRIC FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Ryan Helsley sure put on a show in his Mets debut. The right-handed reliever, acquired from the Cardinals at the Trade Deadline, was electric on Friday night. He entered in the ninth and treated Citi Field to another awe-inspiring walk-out entrance. Helsley backed up those theatrics by allowing just two hits while striking out three in an impressive first impression. He also touched 101.4 mph on his fastball. The Mets went on to lose the opener, but Helsley did give the home fans a tantalizing glimpse of just how valuable a bullpen piece he could become.

Now, technically, Cedric Mullins also made his Mets debut on Friday night. However, he came off the bench and got just one at-bat as a pinch-hitter. His first full outing on Saturday was the more notable first impression. The veteran center fielder delivered a hit, two runs scored, and a stolen base. In doing so, Mullins showcased the variety of ways in which he can be an asset to this offense going forward.

WAKING UP

Both Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have largely struggled since the All-Star break. However, both players are now trending in the right direction in the wake of the Giants series. Alonso hit a home run and drove in another run on a sac fly in the opener on Friday. He also hit a huge three-run bomb in the bottom of the first inning of Saturday’s game to open the scoring and set the tone for the day. Alonso finished the middle game of the series 2-for-4 with a homer, a double, three RBIs, and a walk. As a result of his two home runs in this series, Alonso now has 250 career homers and is just three away from becoming the Mets’ new home run king.

As for Lindor, the shortstop went a combined 5-for-11 over the weekend, including a monster 3-for-4 day at the plate on Saturday. Lindor drove in four RBIs in the middle game of the series, before hitting his 21st home run of the season on Sunday. He is hitting .310/.370/.524 with two home runs and three doubles over his last 10 games. Overall, Alonso and Lindor coming out of their respective slumps was one of the biggest positives to emerge from this weekend.

TASTE OF THINGS TO COME

Saturday’s win provided us with an exhilarating first glimpse at the new-look bullpen. Tasked with protecting a one-run lead over the final five innings, five relievers combined to get the job done. Reed Garrett got things rolling with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out one while not allowing a hit or a walk. Gregory Soto came in and struck out two in the sixth, before Tyler Rogers delivered a clean inning in his Mets debut. Brooks Raley tossed a scoreless eighth, and then Rico Garcia shut the door despite allowing a two-run homer. All in all, those five relievers allowed just two runs on five hits in five innings of work. If Saturday is anything to go by, then this bullpen could quickly become the real strength of this team moving forward.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

TIME TO WORRY?

Concern is growing over Kodai Senga. The righty is stuck in a downward spiral right now, and that continued in his latest start on Saturday. He allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. That included three doubles and a home run. As a result, Senga lasted just four innings. He’s now allowed three or more earned runs in three straight outings, while he’s pitched five innings or more just twice in his last five starts. Senga is throwing a lot of uncompetitive pitches during this stretch, and the Mets will hope that the righty can get the train back on the tracks as quickly as possible.

POWER OUTAGE

Juan Soto reached base safely in all three games against the Giants, but still finished the weekend 3-for-13 with no extra-base hits. The superstar hitter is now mired in a 10-for-68 slump. Furthermore, he has just one home run and one double since July 18. He’s also gone five straight games without a walk. We’re in August now, and the Mets can’t afford for Soto to be this pedestrian offensively. The fact that he’s also hitting just .184 with runners in scoring position is also incredibly concerning. All in all, the Mets need Soto to hit at an elite clip and play to the back of his baseball card consistently, and fast.

BUYER’S REMORSE

Is the Frankie Montas experiment already a failure? There were doubts when the Mets signed the veteran pitcher back in the offseason. And now we’ve seen Montas get a few starts under his belt after coming back from injury, those doubts are only growing by the day. His latest start was a house of horrors. Montas gave up seven earned runs on seven hits and two walks in an outing that very quickly got ugly. He gave up a three-run home run to Rafael Devers in the third inning that effectively won the game for San Francisco.

Montas has now allowed 19 earned runs in his last five starts, and he’s failed to give the Mets six innings since his return. New York starting pitchers have a 5.01 ERA over their last 43 games, and Montas has been a huge part of those struggles. Concern is rapidly growing over Montas, and over this starting rotation as a whole.

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Frankie Montas (47)
Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Montas had his second consecutive blow-up start in the rubber game of a three-game weekend set against the Giants. The 32-year-old gave up seven runs in four innings, including a three-run home run to Rafael Devers, helping San Francisco put the game and the series out of reach.

His fastball looked good on the radar gun, with his four-seamer averaging 95.6 mph. Unfortunately, the more telling stat was the speed of the ball coming back at him. Of those 26 pitches, Giants hitters swung at half of them, only whiffing once, and the average exit velocity was exactly 100 mph.

Mendoza spoke postgame about what caused the difficult afternoon, and his answer ran the gamut.

“He (didn’t) get swing and misses, pitch selection, location,” Mendoza said, “I mean that pitch to Devers was right down the middle.”

Montas gave some more credit to his opponent and brought up bad luck as a factor.

“It was definitely a tough day for me. I feel like I made some good pitches but just went through the (infield),” Montas said, “They have a really good hitting lineup, I missed a couple spots… on Devers, you know he’s a great hitter and he put a good swing on it.”

The Mets have been looking for some more length out of their starters, but at this point, will just trade the quantity for more quality outings. Their trade deadline moves left the bullpen with seven of eight spots secured by late-inning relievers. Austin Warren, the final reliever, pitched the next four innings of the game to spare those other pitchers and will surely be replaced on the active roster as a result.

With the bullpen built this way, it leaves a very difficult decision for Mendoza, David Stearns, and the rest of the Mets brass. Fans are clamoring for one or both of Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat to make their big league debuts in the rotation. Paul Blackburn is also scheduled to come off the injured list in the near future. With just one free bullpen spot to play with as of now, it remains to be seen what will happen with the struggling members of the Mets’ rotation.

Mendoza was asked postgame if Montas’s role is now up for discussion, and the Mets manager was non-committal.

“I mean, we just got done with a game here. He’s got to be better. He knows that,” Mendoza said.

Both Montas and the Mets know that if he does not pitch better, he will be relegated to that final bullpen spot, or perhaps even designated for assignment, an abrupt ending to that two-year commitment no one could have foreseen in December.

The post Montas Comes Up Small Against Giants appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It was also another day where Kodai Senga struggled and didn’t have it. The top of the order, which has been much maligned recently, had a big day in the win. The Mets’ bullpen also performed well after Senga only pitched four innings and kept the Giants at bay for New York’s offense to score runs.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Nimmo, Lindor, and Alonso Have Big Days

Pete Alonso, who had an excellent day at the plate by hitting the ball hard in every at-bat, got things started with a three-run home run to give the Mets a 3-0 lead. After the Giants took a 4-3 lead, Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor tied and gave the Mets the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a Cedric Mullins single and stolen base, and a Brett Baty walk, Nimmo singled to score Mullins, and Lindor bunted a hit that scored Baty.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Nimmo notched his second RBI hit of the afternoon with a base hit to left field. Lindor then got a hit to make it 7-4 Mets for his second RBI hit of the day. Nimmo notched another RBI in the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded, Lindor hit a two-RBI double to make it 10-4 New York. Overall, Nimmo, Lindor, and Alonso combined for 10 RBIs on eight hits.

Mets Bullpen Picks Up Senga

Senga had another rough outing, struggling with command and control. He allowed five hits, four earned runs, and three walks. The bullpen had to pitch for five innings and, with the Giants up 4-3, had to keep the Mets in the game. Reed Garrett, Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers, and Brooks Raley shut out the Giants for four innings as the Mets scored nine runs from there.

Players of the Game: Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso

Nimmo, Lindor, and Alonso had big days and contributed to 10 of the 12 runs the Mets scored.

On Deck

Frankie Montas pitched for the Mets on Sunday afternoon against Giants top prospect Carson Whisenhunt. The game will be telecast locally on SNY at 1:40 pm EDT and broadcast on Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880 am.

The post Mets Bats Break Out in 12-6 Win Over Giants appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets got close last night but couldn’t finish the comeback.

The Giants took a three-run lead early, which the Mets were able to claw back late. The Mets were able to rally with two outs in the bottom of the tenth to load the bases, but couldn’t get any runs across and ultimately lost 4-3. Now the Mets look to snap their four-game losing streak this afternoon at Citi Field.

Kodai Senga (34) Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo – LF
2. Francisco Lindor – SS
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jeff McNeil – DH
6. Ronny Mauricio – 3B
7. Cedric Mullins – CF
8. Francisco Alvarez – C
9. Brett Baty – 2B

Kodai Senga has made 16 starts this season, totaling 85 2/3 innings with a 2.00 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 1.214 WHIP, and a 193 ERA+. It’s been a bit of a struggle for Senga since the All-Star break, allowing seven runs over eight innings from eight hits and eight walks. The uptick in walks has also come with an uptick in homers. He’s allowed three in his last two starts, including two against the Giants last weekend. The Giants have the following career numbers against Senga:

• Willy Adames 1-5, BB, K
• Patrick Bailey 0-2, K
• Matt Chapman 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, BB, K
• Rafael Devers 0-6, 2 BB
• Wilmer Flores 0-3
• Andrew Knizner 0-2
• Jung Hoo Lee 0-2, BB
• Heliot Ramos 0-2, BB
• Dominic Smith 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 K

Opposing Lineup

1. Heliot Ramos – LF
2. Rafael Devers – DH
3. Willy Adames – SS
4. Matt Chapman – 3B
5. Dominic Smith – 1B
6. Casey Schmitt – 2B
7. Jung Hoo Lee – CF
8. Andrew Knizner – C
9. Grant McCray – RF

Kai-Wei Teng makes his 2025 debut this afternoon for the Giants. Teng pitched 11 innings over four games in the majors last season with a 9.82 ERA, 6.71 FIP, 2.091 WHIP, and a 41 ERA+. He’s pitched in 25 games, making four starts with Sacramento (the AAA team, not the Athletics) this season, totaling 54 innings with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.111 WHIP. The Giants have been stretching him out since the end of June, and he’s up to 80+ pitches now. Over his last 21 1/3 innings (five games), he has a 0.42 ERA, allowing only one earned run while striking out 39 batters.

Game Notes

• Despite the Mets’ loss, Ryan Helsley was dominant in his Mets’ debut. Mojo Hill broke down the flamethrower’s outing.
• Carson Benge went 3-for-4 and continues to impress in the minor leagues. Read about how the Mets’ minor leaguers performed Friday here.
• Mark Vientos is on a 10-game hitting streak, which ties his career-high. He is batting .343 (12-35) with one run, two doubles, one homer, seven RBI, one walk, a .361 OBP, and a .486 SLG. Over the last 16 games, Vientos is batting .343/.361/.486 (12-35) and has posted a .822 OPS over his last 16 games.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Pete Alonso. Alonso showed signs of breaking out of his slump Friday night! He went 1-for-3, including a massive solo home run, a sacrifice fly, and a walk. Pete Alonso now sits at 249 career home runs. He’s one really good day at the plate away from Strawberry’s 252 franchise-leading home runs.
2. Keeping the basepaths clear. Friday night had the potential to be much more lopsided for the Giants. The Giants went 3-for-14 with RISP, leaving 11 batters on base (the Mets left a staggering nine batters on). More runners on means more pitches thrown. With only David Peterson giving the Mets consistent length as a starter right now, the Mets’ bullpen needs quick innings. Between the seventh and ninth innings last night, the Mets’ bullpen allowed six base runners (only one scored).
3. Stealing Bases. Juan Soto stole his 16th base of the season last night. This was the Mets’ 88th team stolen base, putting them 9th in the majors and just six behind the Phillies. The Phillies lead the league in team average spring sprint speed (28.1 ft/s). The Mets are 27th in the league at 27 ft/s. Stealing is obviously more than just speed, and Antoan Richardson deserves so much praise for what he has created for the Mets on the basepaths this season. Even when the Mets are struggling to get extra-base hits, there is now a feeling that when the Mets get on, they may get themselves into scoring position.

Let’s go Mets!

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