Consider this weekend a golden opportunity wasted by the New York Mets.
Taking two out of three, or even sweeping the series against the Reds, would have all but closed the door on Cincinnati’s postseason chances.
Instead, the Mets dropped two of three in another frustrating weekend. As a result, the NL East race looks all but over. Furthermore, the race for the playoffs is far from being a forgone conclusion with three weeks of the regular season remaining.
On that note, let’s dive straight into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…
New York Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat (40) pitches in the first inning between Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2025.
3 UP
ROOKIE DELIGHT
The wait to see Brandon Sproat arrive in the majors was well worth it. The righty made his Major League Baseball debut on Sunday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and four walks over six innings. He became just the second Mets pitcher since 1974 to have a no-hit bid of at least 5.1 innings in his MLB debut. Despite eventually giving up three runs, Sproat did not look overmatched. Instead, he looked like a seasoned veteran out on the mound. It is just one start, but we got a glimpse of what Sproat could be for this team both now and in the future.
HOUDINI ACT
The Mets’ only win in this series came on Friday night. And they had Edwin Díaz to thank for ultimately not being swept. Coming in to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, Díaz quickly loaded the bases with no outs. To compound matters, the closer suffered a weird cleat malfunction that only added more pressure to an already tense situation. However, equipped with a pair of new cleats, Díaz proceeded to work his way out of an almighty jam. The all-time highlight? Díaz sprinted to cover first base and combine with Luisangel Acuña for an all-time defensive play to record the final out. The rest of the weekend was a wash for New York. However, Díaz’s Houdini heroics served as a welcome reminder of just how critical the closer is to this bullpen.
BAILED OUT
The Mets were probably busy thanking the Baseball Gods on Sunday night. Despite dropping the series to the Reds, both the Giants and the Diamondbacks lost on Sunday. Consequently, New York maintains a four-game cushion on the rest of the field in the race for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. However, the Reds now own the tiebreaker over the Mets, and that could prove critical come the end of the season. It still looks incredibly likely that the Mets will make the playoffs. However, with the NL East race all but over, they can’t afford to keep dropping series like the one in Cincinnati.
New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
3 DOWN
WELCOME TO THE SHOW
After an impressive debut, Jonah Tong got a taste of just how hard life in the big leagues can be on Saturday. The rookie gave up four runs in six innings of work, including three home runs. It was a tough second act for Tong, who also didn’t get a whole lot of run support, either. The first home run allowed – a two-run blast in the second inning – really set the tone for the rest of the game. However, all rookies will face challenges early on in their careers, and Tong did show some grit and poise by finishing his outing strong.
UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT
The Mets’ ceiling in the postseason may be very low unless David Peterson can find a way out of his current slump. The lefty was better in his last outing on Friday, but still wasn’t exactly great. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits across just 5.1 innings. As a result, Peterson has now allowed 27 earned runs over his last seven starts. He owns an ugly 6.69 ERA over that span. Peterson has been the reliable anchor for this rotation for the majority of 2025. His ability to be an absolute workhorse will be needed in the playoffs. If he continues to struggle, it will put tremendous pressure on the three rookie starters to carry the team in October. And that may be a bridge too far this early in their respective careers.
NOTHING DOING
The offense didn’t make it easy for the pitching staff all weekend long. They scratched out just enough runs to win Friday’s game, although it was too close for comfort. The lineup then managed a total of four runs in the final two games of the series. That just won’t get the job done. Nor will going a combined 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position, leaving a total of 22 runners stranded on base. Despite the likes of Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor staying hot, the offense just couldn’t come through with a crucial hit in the biggest moments. The glaring example of that came on Sunday when Starling Marte grounded into a double play with two runners on in the ninth. The Mets can’t afford to slip back into old offensive habits this close to October. It could end up costing them dearly.
