3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Offer Hope For 2026

One Tyrone Taylor swing turned what looked like another ho-hum loss in what has so far been a forgettable season into a reason for hope.

Keep in mind, the wild-card race is forgiving. The Mets lost seven games in a row three times last year and were alive to fight for a playoff spot on the season’s final day.

So despite all the horrors that the Mets have endured thus far, the injuries, the hitting slumps, the 12-game losing streak, they still stubbornly sit seven games back of the final playoff spot with 116 games to go. It can be done.

The Mets are 20-26. The last time they made the playoffs, back in 2024, they were 21-25 through 46 games and then lost five in a row. Our point? It ain’t over till it’s over!

3 Up

Ewing Injects Life

The Mets are 5-1 in the A.J. Ewing era, and it’s not a coincidence. He is 5-for-17 with a home run, a triple, seven walks and two stolen bases since coming up. He walked and scored from first on a Luis Torrens double in the sixth inning Sunday, and in the 10th, he executed the lost art of a sacrifice bunt that moved the free runner to third and set up the game-winning fielder’s choice.

(On an unrelated note, I think having an Ewing perform well sends good vibes to the Knicks for their playoff run).

Peterson Bulking Up

David Peterson threw four innings of two-run ball and struck out eight on Saturday to earn the win. His ERA in 20 innings as a bulk reliever: 2.25. His ERA in 23 1/3 innings as a starter: 8.10. (Hat tip to Newsday’s Laura Albanese).

Luke Weaver and Devin Williams also did fine work out of the bullpen in the Subway Series. Weaver was brought into a bases-loaded, none-out jam on Saturday with the Mets leading 5-3 in the seventh. He struck out Amed Rosario and Trent Grisham and got Anthony Volpe to ground out.

Williams earned the save Saturday with a perfect inning and the win Sunday with a scoreless 10th, stranding the free runner. He got a big assist from Mark Vientos, who made a nice throw to start a 3-6-3 double play.

Benge’s Bat

Carson Benge had three hits on Saturday, including a double, and scored twice. On Sunday, he singled to lead off the ninth and scored on Taylor’s homer. And while it wasn’t pretty, he got the job done with the game-ending bouncer in the 10th. Sometimes just putting the ball in play is enough, especially when it causes a couple of Yankees to collide and the winning run crosses the plate.

Benge is 18-for-54 in May, slashing .333/.390/.463/.853 for the month with a home run, eight RBIs, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases. We might be seeing Benge and Ewing starting in right field and center field for a long time.

3 Down

Holmes Hurt

Add Clay Holmes to the long injured list, which includes Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, Francisco Alvarez, Luis Robert Jr. and others. Holmes took a 111 mph comebacker off the leg on Friday and fractured his fibula. He will be out for months.

“I think we haven’t gotten off to the start that I think we wanted or everybody wanted,” he told reporters before Sunday’s game. “But just to see how the guys are all battling through it and seeing how things are starting to come together, you just want to be in the fight with everyone.

“I think just being on the sideline, it will be tough to watch just because I think everyone in here wants to contribute, wants to be a part of it, myself included. So it’s always tough. But the game moves on, and it will be a really good opportunity for someone, and I’ll be here to help whoever it is.”

Carlos Mendoza said the fibula will need six to eight weeks to heal, and then Holmes will need to ramp up for about six weeks, but that he will “definitely” pitch later this season.

Bo’s Bat Still a No Go

It is time to consider sliding Bo Bichette down the batting order. (Benge-Ewing at the top?) Bichette went 1-for-12 with two runs scored and a strikeout vs. the Yankees. He is 10-for-60 in May and hasn’t had an extra-base hit since April 28. The eight-year veteran had one poor season in 2024 when he slashed .225/.277/.322/.598, so let’s hope he can turn it around and not repeat that performance. He is hitting .210/.262/.269/.531. He did finish the weekend on a good note, singling in the ninth on Sunday, which allowed Taylor the chance to come through.

Benge’s Glove

Benge botched a routine fly ball in right for a two-base error on Saturday that allowed a run to score. He has three errors on the season. While he wasn’t charged with an error, but he misplayed a catchable ball into a double against the Tigers last Wednesday, and two runs came home later in the inning. He has also pulled off some pulchritudinous plays (hat tip to SNY’s Gary Cohen) in the outfield, but he has fallen to 0 outs above average on Baseball-Savant and ranks in the 28th percentile for arm value. He is in the 97th percentile for arm strength.