3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Winning Streak Out To Sewald

3 UP

MVP Nimmo

Bottom of the ninth, Mets down two, Brandon Nimmo hits an excuse me RBI double which not only puts the tying run on third, but also the go-ahead run, himself, on second. This was another example about how Nimmo has been not just the Mets best player, but one of the best players in all of baseball this year.

Nimmo has reached base safely in 28 of the 29 games he has made at least one plate appearance. He has the top WAR on the Mets, the third best fWAR in the National League, and the seventh best bWAR in the NL.

All told, Nimmo is having an All-Star season, and the way his season is going, he can and should garner MVP consideration. Part and parcel with that is the Mets having the type of season they are having. By and large, they are having it because Nimmo has been great.

Starting Pitching Additions

With Max Scherzer on the mound in the black jerseys on Friday the 13th, you expected something special. Well, we would get that. Over seven innings, he limited the Mariners to one run on three hits and two walks while he struck out six.

Scherzer has been absolutely everything as advertised when the Mets stepped up and signed him to a big deal this offseason. He was been that ace atop the staff the Mets needed when Jacob deGrom went down.

So far this year, Scherzer is 4-1 with a 2.66 ERA, 0.909 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9, and an 11.3 K/9. He has the fifth most strikeouts in the majors.

Chris Bassitt has been almost as good, and in fact, you could argue he has been better. Through his first seven starts of the season, he is 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA, 1.016 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and a 9.8 K/9.

His start on Saturday could’ve been his most impressive of the season. Through 5 1/3 innings, he battled the Mariners and catcher, Patrick Mazeika (they struggled to get one same page in pitch calling) to limit the Mariners to one run while he struck out eight. He put his team in line for the win after a tough loss the previous night.

Overall, the Mets are in the position they are because Scherzer and Bassitt have been great. They will continue to win because they are great pitchers.

Mets McCann Withstand Injury

With the news James McCann will be gone with a hamate bone injury which needs to be surgically repaired, the Mets desperately need Tomas Nido to step up big. After all, McCann has been a terrific framer with a starting level bat for a catcher in the majors this year.

As for Nido, this has been a career worst start for him. Nido would step up in his two starts after the news going 1-for-3 at the plate. Even more impressive was the fact he drew his first two walks of the season. To put in perspective how impressive Nido drawing two walks in one series is, consider he drew five walks all year in 2021.

Nido has the glove to play everyday, and he has some offensive success in the minors to suggest he could hit. However, he never got the chance to really prove he can be the main guy at the Major League level. He is getting his first crack now, and at least based on this series, he’s ready for the challenge.

It also helps the Mets got help from Patrick Mazeika in his role as the back-up to Nido.

The Legend of Mazeika grew as he followed a tough night behind the dish with a big game winning homer. He made that moment all the more legendary by chiding his friend and pupil Jeff McNeil by saying the balls aren’t that soft. Mazeika’s strong performance at the plate continued with a key hit in that failed ninth inning rally.

3 DOWN

Beyond the Sewald

Since leaving the Mets, Paul Sewald has been great for the Seattle Mariners, and he would be a difference maker in this series. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings striking out three.

This led to Sewald talk about how it felt good because the Mets gave up on him, and as Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen pointed out during their broadcast, he was right. More than that, they pointed out how Sewald was used in a manner where he was not permitted to thrive.

Sewald was met with boos, but those boos were more deserved for the previous ownership and front office. Remember, Sewald was designated for assignment over Ryan O’Rourke, Tim Peterson, and Jacob Rhame. None of those three pitchers have pitched since 2019.

Overall, the Mets completely screwed up in their handling of Sewald and Chris Flexen. As a result, the Mariners have two good pitchers. The good news for the Mets here is they have people in charge who shouldn’t let this happen again.

Ninth Inning At-Bats

The Mets streak of not losing a series should not have come to an end. There were runners at second and third with one out and the infield drawn in. With Drew Steckenrider not having it, the Mariners went to Diego Castillo with his 9.28 ERA and 15.2 H/9. Put another way, there’s just no way the Mets could lose this one.

Except, Starling Marte swung at a pitch in the dirt to strike out. After intentionally walking Francisco Lindor to load the bases, Pete Alonso got himself out. Of the six pitches in that at-bat, only one was in the strike zone. That one in the strike zone, over the heart of the plate, was a pitch Alonso did not swing.

These things happen from time to time, but it is not something that has happened to this team yet. Now, for the first time this season, we get to see how this team will deal with adversity.

Mets Pitching Takes a Hit or 10

After Max Scherzer‘s dominating no-decision on Friday, the Mets pitching staff fell apart in this series. The first dent was Drew Smith allowing his first run of the season. In fact, he would go on to allow runs in consecutive appearances in this series.

Seth Lugo wasn’t sharp, and Chasen Shreve allowed homers in consecutive games. All told, this was the worst the bullpen has looked all season.

The Mets needed a big start from Carlos Carrasco, but for only the second time this season, he didn’t have it. Now, the Mets are going to need him to have it because Tylor Megill has hit the IL with biceps tendonitis with us not knowing when he can return.

All told, for the first time this season, the Mets pitching did not carry them through a series win. It happens. They key is that they rebound so it doesn’t happen again.