While still early, the last couple of weeks have been ugly, and the struggles continued with the Mets being swept by the Dodgers in LA. Over the course of the three games, New York was outscored 14-3. In all, the offense has managed a measly three runs over the last 38 innings.

Furthermore, mental errors continue to plague this team. The Mets are playing fundamentally bad baseball every single night. Players are making inexcusable, costly mistakes on a daily basis. It is just hard to watch.

So, let’s try to find a few positives while recapping all the negatives in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

3 UP

TIMELY BOOST

While not directly related to the Dodgers series, the Mets did get some positive news in LA. Juan Soto, out with a right calf strain, resumed running this week. Furthermore, he took part in some live at-bats at Citi Field on Wednesday. As a result, the superstar hitter could return in time for the Mets’ next homestand. Given how lifeless this offense has been, Soto’s return can’t come quick enough.

ADDING A SPARK

Due to injuries, MJ Melendez was recalled from Triple-A and made his Mets debut on Wednesday. It was a debut to remember. The outfielder hit two doubles and finished with an RBI. With the rest of the lineup going a combined 3-for-28 with 12 strikeouts, Melendez at least tried to provide a much-needed spark. While it didn’t amount to anything, Melendez did show that he could be a contributor for the Mets at the Major League level.

THE NOLAN SHOW 

Nolan McLean is legitimate. Like, he really is the real deal. The rookie entered this season with high expectations, and he’s quickly justifying all of the hype. McLean was lights out in his latest start, allowing just one run on two hits with eight strikeouts over seven stellar innings. He gave his team every single opportunity to win. It was just a shame his offense didn’t get the memo. Nevertheless, McLean is continuing to show why many feel he could be the future face of this franchise. He flashed filthy stuff against LA while impressing with both his arsenal and his command. When McLean is operating at the peak of his powers, as he was on Tuesday, he’s going to be hard to beat no matter the quality of the opposing lineup.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NO PULSE

There are few words remaining to accurately describe just how bad the offense is at the moment. Even without Juan Soto, there are no excuses for this lineup being this bad. Yet, 19 games in, and we’re approaching panic time with just how lifeless the entire offense is. Across the three games in LA, the Mets scored just three runs while being held to only 12 hits. Furthermore, they have managed just three runs total over the last 38 innings. If that wasn’t bad enough, the at-bats look lifeless and there appear to be no tangible signs of a turnaround. There is a lot of swing-and-miss with this team, not to mention a real lack of an offensive identity. Unless things turn around soon offensively, then the Mets could be in a lot of trouble.

AN UGLY MESS

“We’re not playing good baseball right now.” And manager Carlos Mendoza wins the most captain obvious statement of the entire year. Yes, the Mets aren’t playing good baseball right now. They are playing incredibly ugly baseball. They are whiffing on the very basic fundamentals of the game. And they are making sloppy errors that you would struggle to find in Little League. It is just a hot mess. Francisco Lindor failed to charge down a groundball that led to LA hitting a grand slam late in the series finale.

Francisco Alvarez was thrown out at second after misreading a play in the same game. Devin Williams struggled out of the bullpen on Wednesday. David Peterson threw yet another clunker in his latest start. All in all, the Mets aren’t helping themselves right now due to an inability to get even the basic fundamentals of the game right.

PILING ON

Everything tends to go wrong during the course of a losing streak. As so proved during the three-game stretch in LA. First, the Mets lost Jared Young for anywhere between 6-8 weeks with a left meniscus tear. Now, while not a major piece, Young has provided solid depth this year with a .391 on-base percentage. Perhaps more consequential was the news that a stint on the IL still hasn’t been ruled out for Jorge Polanco. The veteran was out of the lineup again on Thursday as he continues to deal with Achilles bursitis. Not only has Polanco been unable to log many reps at first base, but he’s also not produced offensively. He’s hitting just .179/.246/.286/.532 with one home run. There might be some concern that this lingering injury could lead to diminished production for the entire year.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets’ Woes Continue With LA Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets were swept by the A’s in a series where their offense again failed to show up. Poor pitching and mental lapses also defined all three games.

As a result, the Mets have now lost five straight and have dropped to 7-9 on the year. Furthermore, they have scored just nine runs over that span, with six of those runs coming on Saturday.

And, on that note, let’s unpack everything from the A’s series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Apr 12, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) pitches in the third inning against the Athletics at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 UP

BEST OUTING YET

Freddy Peralta did everything he could to help the Mets win on Sunday. He delivered his best outing in a Mets uniform yet, allowing just one run on four hits and three walks over six innings, while striking out six. Unfortunately, the run support just wasn’t there to back up Peralta’s strong start. Nevertheless, the righty showcased just how dominant he can be, and hopefully, this is just the first of many stellar outings.

MOMENTS OF RELIEF

While positives were few and far between this weekend, there were some kernels of hope to latch on to. For instance, Craig Kimbrel looked good in his Mets debut on Saturday. The veteran tossed one inning of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Although the sample size is small, Kimbrel showed that he could potentially become a significant part of this bullpen. Furthermore, Sean Manaea continues to impress in his new role. The lefty tossed three perfect innings on Sunday, striking out four in the process. Manaea kept the Mets in the game and is proving to be effective even with diminished velocity. With the offense struggling as much as it currently is, Manaea providinglength out of the bullpen is even more crucial.

SIGNS OF HOPE

Overall, this was another tough series for Francisco Lindor for reasons we’ll explain below. However, he did start to show signs of life offensively on Sunday. He hit two singles – half of the Mets’ total hits all game. That followed hits in the previous two games in the series, too. All in all, it was a nice afternoon that Lindor needed, and it offered some hope that he could be close to turning the corner at the plate. On the same note, Bo Bichette went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs on Saturday, his best performance at the plate as a Met. Maybe that can be the spark he needs to now push on.

Apr 11, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the first inning against the Athletics at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

HIT ABOUT

When a team isn’t hitting, that places even more onus on the starting pitcher to have a good outing on the mound. Unfortunately for the Mets, that wasn’t the case on Saturday. Kodai Senga was beaten up early and often, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits across just 2.1 innings. It was the first time in his career that Senga had given up seven earned runs or more in a game. The offense did try to fight back, and they made it close, but the damage was done by that point, thanks to one of Senga’s worst-ever outings as a Met.

SAME OLD STORY

We seem to be talking about the shortcomings of the offense a lot right now, and for good reason. While the lineup did hit six runs on Saturday, with Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco both hitting their first homers as Mets, the offense did nothing outside of that all series. For instance, the Mets were shut out twice by the A’s. They seemingly just can’t hit right now, and most of the at-bats look lifeless and devoid of any real contact.

As of Monday, the Mets have 129 strikeouts and rank near the bottom of baseball with only 19 home runs over the first 16 games. Furthermore, the Mets don’t have a single player with 10 RBIs, and just one player with 10 or more runs scored. Bichette has already struck out 19 times, which puts him on pace for a gaudy 192 strikeouts. And only Francisco Alvarez and Luis Robert Jr. have an OPS above .690.

All in all, the offense is the biggest problem facing this team right now, and it is costing them games at a high clip.

SLOPPY, UNINSPIRED BASEBALL

Watching the Mets just isn’t fun right now. The team is playing uninspired baseball and is committing sloppy mistakes at an incredibly high rate. In short, nothing seems to be going right. Francisco Lindor committed another costly brainfart on the basepaths on Friday night. The offense, as detailed above, has been awful. The team isn’t getting it done with runners in scoring position. The defense continues to be a huge fatal flaw. And, having started the season red-hot, Luke Weaverhas now put together back-to-back stinkers. He was bad again on Saturday, giving up four earned runs on just three hits and ruining the attempted comeback by the offense. In all, this team is playing fundamentally bad baseball and offering little in the way of hope. It is still early, but the Mets need to wake up and figure things out quickly.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Struggles Continue As Mets Swept By A’s appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Opening up the homestand with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Mets dropped two out of three to lose the series and fall to 7-6 on the year.

While there were some standout moments, a hit-and-miss offense, poor defense, and some bad pitching performances ultimately doomed the Mets.

Let’s recap everything in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

PITCHING GEM

Without a doubt, the highlight of this series for the Mets was Nolan McLean‘s stellar outing on Thursday. The righty was sensational, firing 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing only three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. It was arguably the best pitching performance of the season so far for New York, with McLean further highlighting his elite ability. And the numbers don’t do McLean’s dominant outing full justice. While the Mets went on to lose the finale, McLean stole the show in many ways and continues to look like the future ace of this team. I mean, he got 26 called strikes on Thursday, which is tied for the most in a game this season. In short, McLean is making accomplished hitters look average at the plate.

HERO BALL

Called up because of Juan Soto going on the IL, Ronny Mauricio delivered a real statement moment in the opener of this series. On a day when the Mets showed plenty of grit, Mauricio stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 10th with a chance to do something special. And he did just that. The infielder ripped a single to right field to score Francisco Lindor and seal the walk-off win. It was the fourth win in a row for the Mets, and also Mauricio’s first big league at-bat of the year. Talk about stepping up and making an impact.

SETTLING INTO A GROOVE

After a slow start to life as a Met, Bo Bichette is starting to find his game offensively. The former Blue Jay is looking more like himself at the plate, and he’s delivering the kind of results we all know he’s capable of. Over his last six games, Bichette is hitting .346/.393/.385/.777. That includes four hits against Arizona. Granted, there is still a lot more to come, but Bichette looks to be trending in the right direction.

Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

GROWING PAINS

The front office made sure that improving the defense was a priority this offseason, hence why it has become such a big talking point. Signing the likes of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco to play new positions on the diamond ran counter to the organization’s stated aim. And, a couple of weeks into the season, the whole experiment doesn’t look to be going so well. There have been defensive mistakes in almost every game, including throughout this series. That was painfully evident in the finale, with both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos getting caught out in new positions.

Bichette is struggling defensively at third, while Polanco’s health has stopped him from getting many reps at first base. Even Luis Robert Jr., who is a natural center fielder, made a couple of defensive mistakes in this series. All in all, it is still early and there is plenty of time for the Mets to iron out these early defensive kinks.

STRUGGLE CITY

While pitching has been a strength to start this year, there was some regression against Arizona. Freddy Peralta has yet to really hit his stride. On Tuesday, he pitched just 4 2/3 innings while allowing three earned runs. In all, the righty is pitching to a 4.80 ERA over his first three starts as a Met. On the more extreme end of the scale, the concerns around David Peterson continue to grow. The lefty was pummeled early in his start on Wednesday, allowing five earned runs over the first two innings. He did recover to retire 11 of his last 12 batters, but the damage was already done at that point.

Then, on Thursday, Luke Weaver allowed two earned and two inherited runs to score in a game-changing inning. Weaver entered the game having allowed just one hit across five scoreless innings, but his first bad night as a Met proved costly.

LACK OF SUPPORT

The offense certainly didn’t help the cause against the Diamondbacks. After scratching out four runs in the series opener, the lineup was held to just three runs total over the final two games. Over that span, the Mets went a combined 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving a total of 15 runners stranded on base. The lineup also struck out a total of 13 times over the final two games. While there were other factors that led to the two losses, the Mets will struggle to stack up wins if the offense can’t get anything going.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Defense, Offense Doom Mets in Series Loss to D-Backs appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After a disappointing start to the road trip, the Mets took three out of four from the Giants in San Francisco. All in all, they finished their first road trip of the year 4-3.

Furthermore, several encouraging trends emerged from the series against the Giants. The pitching continued to look strong, while the offense showed tangible signs of a breakout. And the depth really came through, too.

Through the first 10 games of the season, the Mets have scored 49 runs, fifth in MLB, while allowing just 32 runs, which ranks fourth best in the majors. While the sample size is small, those numbers do suggest that this Mets team is trending in the right direction.

So, on that note, let’s recap the four games in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Apr 3, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) hits an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images

3 UP

ANSWERING THE DOUBTS

Mark Vientos has had to deal with a lot of noise about his role on this team. Of course, a lot of that was of his own making. A tough 2025 season was followed by an ugly spring training. However, the infielder has started to answer some of those doubts early on in 2026. He has looked like a different hitter to start the year, and he was hugely productive in San Francisco. Vientos went a combined 8-for-16 with four RBIs and five runs scored in the four games against the Giants. He has embraced the challenge and has proved hard to drop from the lineup. He was a real spark throughout the series against San Fran, producing several key moments. Long may it continue.

BREAKING OUT

The offense went stagnant following a breakout on Opening Day. Well, we saw some real, tangible signs of life from the lineup in San Francisco. Aside from the opening game on Thursday, the offense exploded, giving the pitching the kind of run support it deserves. In all, the Mets outscored the Giants 26-12. More importantly, we saw some really encouraging individual performances. Bo Bichette had six hits and came through with runners in scoring position. Marcus Semien had his best series as a Met, including three hits and three RBIs on Friday. Francisco Alvarez hit a pair of home runs in the second game of the series and had at least a hit in the three games he played in. Luis Robert Jr. stayed hot and stole his first two bases of the season on Sunday. And Tyrone Taylor, Luis Torrens, and Jared Young all came up with big-time offensive contributions.

In the wake of the series against the Giants, the Mets rank high in a number of key offensive categories across Major League Baseball. But, more importantly, several key hitters began to show signs of breaking out over the weekend, notably Bichette and Semien. Let’s hope the entire lineup can now use these last four games as a launching pad for greater things.

PITCHING EXCELLENCE

The Mets continue to receive stellar performances from both the starting rotation and the bullpen. Nolan McLean didn’t have his best stuff, but still took a perfect game into the sixth inning on Friday. Clay Holmes delivered seven shutdown innings on Saturday, again showcasing just how big a piece he could be this year. And Kodai Senga was superb again on Sunday, striking out seven and allowing just two hits over 5.2 innings. All in all, Mets starters own a 3.13 ERA through the first 10 games of the season. As for the bullpen, Huascar Brazobán, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams all remained lights out, as did Tobias Myers and Brooks Raley. The pitching overall has been really impressive, and it was elite for the most part in San Francisco.

Apr 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after scoring a run on an RBI double hit by infielder Bo Bichette (19) against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

SCARY MOMENT

It appears as though a true crisis has been averted with Juan Soto. However, it was still heart-in-your-mouth time when the superstar exited Friday’s game with a calf strain. Now, Soto was placed on the 10-Day IL with a right calf strain on Monday. The organization announced that a typical return to play is approximately 2-3 weeks. That’s probably the best-case scenario, but still, being without your best hitter for any amount of time is hardly good news. However, it is probably wise for the Mets to be extra cautious with this type of injury, especially with a star player.

BRUTAL OUTING

David Peterson‘s start on Thursday was tough to watch. The southpaw was just brutal, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks across 4.1 innings. To compound an already bad night, Peterson dropped the ball at first base to allow a run to score in the first inning. That set the tone for the rest of the night. Again, it is early, but Peterson’s start to the season has featured many of the same problems that plagued him during the second half of last year. Poor location and poor pitch execution won’t lead to anything good in the major leagues.

OFFENSIVE FUNK

Welcome back to our regular scheduled programming. Francisco Lindor is off to a traditional slow start. Yes, he leads the National League in walks with 10. But, on the flip side, he is hitting just .135/.333/.243/.577 with two extra-base hits over the first 10 games of the season. Lindor didn’t have much success against the Giants, going a combined 2-for-16 with five strikeouts over the four games, including consecutive 0-for-5 outings. Perhaps more worrying is the fact that the shortstop has a 34.5 percent hard hit percentage, while he’s been hitting the ball on the ground more often than not (48.3%). That plays into the notion that hamate surgery tends to sap a hitter’s power. With that said, Lindor tends to start slow before hitting at a high level. Time will tell if the lack of power and the slow start is just par for the course, or if there’s something bigger to be concerned about.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Shine In San Francisco appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets dropped their first series of the year after losing two out of three to the rebuilding Cardinals. That included an all-around bad effort in the finale.

It was the lack of offense in clutch situations that really concerned, however. And it is something the Mets will have to try and fix on the fly in a hurry.

On that note, let’s recap the Cardinals series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down.

Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

3 UP

STARTING OFF HOT

Kodai Senga was electric in his 2026 season debut on Tuesday night. The righty allowed just two runs on four hits while striking out nine hitters over six hugely encouraging innings of work. Furthermore, Senga touched 99 mph on his fastball and just looked dominant at times. He did walk into some trouble in the third, but overall, this was a really impressive display and hopefully a positive portent of things to come.

HOLDING IT DOWN

Starting pitching certainly did its job throughout this series. Clay Holmes gave up two runs on four hits across 5 2/3 innings on Monday. He also showed his toughness, battling through a lot of traffic and overcoming a slow start. If he can increase his workload, then Holmes could become the dependable anchor in this rotation. Then, on Wednesday, Freddy Peralta was a lot better in his second start of the year. He allowed just one earned run and two walks while striking out seven over 5 1/3 sharp innings. All in all, the starting pitching has been really good to start the year, and it was more than solid in St. Louis.

GREAT RELIEF

Sticking with pitching, the bullpen also largely performed against the Cardinals. In the series opener, Tobias Myers, Brooks Raley and Devin Williams all combined to throw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Granted, we’ve probably seen enough of Richard Lovelady already, who gave up another earned run on Tuesday. But, in the finale, Raley, Williams, and Luke Weaver all impressed out of the ‘pen. Again, the pitching hasn’t been the problem for the Mets so far this year. But you can’t say the same about the offense, which will lead us nicely into our next section.

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

ALL-TIME BAD DAY

There are rough days at the office, and then there are the kind of days Francisco Lindor endured on Wednesday. The normally reliable shortstop just melted down in front of our very eyes. It started in the first inning when he lost count of how many outs there were, costing a chance at a double play. However, that mental error did not cost the Mets. What happened in the sixth arguably did. After taking a big lead, Lindor committed an ultimate brain fart and was picked off in no-man’s land. It was just an embarrassing play. Making it worse was the fact that Juan Soto hit a homer three pitches later. In a tight game, that extra run could have proved to be all the difference. Lindor also went 0-for-4 at the plate, capping off just a nightmare day at the office. We are used to seeing slow starts from Lindor, but not the kind of Little League mistakes we witnessed on Wednesday.

NOT CASHING IN

The Mets are struggling with runners in scoring position again. Where have we heard this one before? It was a fatal flaw that helped to sink this team in 2025. It also led to major changes on the roster and on the coaching staff during the offseason. However, just six games in, and the same old problems seem to be haunting the 2026 Mets. The lineup wasted countless opportunities in the series finale, going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. They couldn’t force a runner home during extra innings, despite loading the bases in the 11th. And a lack of clutch hitting proved to be a problem all series. In all, the Mets finished the three games against the Cardinals a measly 1-for-29 with RISP. That’s just outright bad. They are hitting .162 with runners in scoring position, which ranks 29th in the major leagues.

Furthermore, the Mets have a 40.9% chase rate with RISP, which tells the story that hitters are getting too tight and are pressing. The relentless, disciplined approach we saw on Opening Day seems a million years ago. But, averaging just 2.4 runs per game overall, this team needs to figure out a way to get back to basics offensively, and return to what led to success in the first game of the season.

JUST A BAD EFFORT

What really stood out from the loss on Wednesday was just the all-around bad effort put forward by the team. It just wasn’t a good showing full stop. There were way too many physical and mental mistakes. The defense was bad. So was the baserunning. Some of the decisions at the plate were beyond poor. It was just a brutal display. And there is no excuse for the team to be this sloppy this early. You can’t win a pennant in April, but you can sure lose one. Dropping two of three games to a rebuilding St. Louis team just isn’t good enough. Yes, it is still early, but the Mets need to wake up, and fast. Half-hearted efforts aren’t acceptable at any point in the season.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Drop Series To St. Louis appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The new-look team took two out of three from the Pirates. A 4-3 loss in extra innings on Sunday was the only real negative to emerge from the first series of the year.

Two of the three games went to extra innings, and there were a lot of positives to focus on. Of course, you have to be careful not to overreact to anything, good or bad, this early in the season.

On that note, we’re going to do our best to try to take our own advice in the first 3 Up, 3 Down of the 2026 regular season!

Mar 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (88) reacts to hitting a three run walk off home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eleventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 UP

STELLAR FIRST IMPRESSION

Talk about making an impact early. Luis Robert Jr. absolutely excelled in his first three games in a Mets uniform, providing a tantalizing preview of what could be to come. The outfielder was seen as a wild card following his trade from the White Sox. He has always had boatloads of talent, but he was coming off two poor years ravaged by injuries. However, he flashed that high ceiling throughout the series against the Pirates. He executed a 10-pitch walk that led to an offensive outburst on Opening Day. He hit a walk-off three-run homer on Saturday.

And he enjoyed another strong day at the plate on Sunday with two hits. In total, Robert Jr. finished the weekend 5-for-11 with three walks and five RBIs. While it is early, this version of the center fielder could prove to be a pivotal factor in helping the Mets accomplish their desired goals in 2026.

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF!

Carson Benge made the Opening Day roster after a strong spring, and he had an MLB debut to remember. The rookie blasted his first career home run in the big leagues on Thursday, drawing thunderous cheers from those inside Citi Field. It was a special moment for Benge, who also drew two walks and stole a base in his first taste of the big time. Granted, the rest of the weekend didn’t go quite as well with Benge striking out five times in total. However, every rookie will experience ups and downs early on in their career. That’s just a fact. And we saw enough on Opening Day to feel confident that Benge will be able to work through any growing pains.

GUTTING IT OUT

Gritty would be the word best used to describe the Mets’ pitching over the weekend. It wasn’t always pretty, but both the rotation and the bullpen got the job done. For the most part, anyway. Freddy Peralta gave up a couple of home runs but still got the win. David Peterson was more than solid on Saturday with 5.1 scoreless innings. And Nolan McLean faced a lot of traffic but was able to get through his first start of the season with only two runs allowed. As for the bullpen, both Luke Weaver and Devin Williams tossed scoreless innings in their Mets debuts. Weaver also didn’t allow a run to score on Sunday. Brooks Raley struck out two in a perfect inning on Saturday.

Sean Manaea also didn’t give up a run across 1.1 innings in his first outing out of the bullpen on Sunday. And Tobias Myers gave the Mets three innings of solid long relief with just one run allowed on Opening Day. All in all, while the pitching wasn’t always dominant or easy, the starters and relievers combined to do what was asked of them throughout the weekend.

Bo Bichette Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 DOWN

SWINGING AND MISSING

The lineup was relentless on Opening Day, emphasizing patience and elite contact. However, that approach went missing for the rest of the weekend. The offense struck out eight times on Saturday and a gaudy 16 times in the finale. Between the final two games, the lineup went a combined 5-for-24 with runners in scoring position. Over that span, there were 24 strikeouts and 17 runners left on base. Furthermore, the Mets scored just seven runs over the final 21 innings of the series. That just isn’t going to get it done. Granted, we’re just three games into the season, and there were some good moments too. However, with that said, this lineup was constructed to avoid the issues that proved to be fatal flaws throughout the 2025 season. There were just too many swings and misses, and that can’t become a habit.

UBER-AGGRESSIVE

You could make a compelling argument that the Mets could have swept the opening series were it not for one big mistake in the finale. In the bottom of the 10th with two runners on and nobody out, Juan Soto hit an RBI double to make it a one-run game. However, third base coach Tim Leiper gave the send signal to Francisco Lindor, who was tagged at the plate. It was way too aggressive a send. Plus, Lindor got wiped out in the process and was probably lucky to emerge unscathed. The decision ended the threat and, ultimately, led to the Pirates taking the finale.

BOO-OFF

Now, I’m going to preface what I’m about to say by admitting that fans are entitled to their opinions, especially if they pay a lot of money to go to games. However, booing a player in the third game of the season just isn’t the way to go. Yes, Bo Bichette had an ugly day at the plate on Sunday, finishing 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. Across the weekend, he went a combined 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts. He also left five runners stranded in scoring position over the final two games. But, despite that, it is just unwise to boo a player three games in. It doesn’t help anybody, least of all Bichette, who is still adjusting to a new team and a new city. He deserves credit for handling the whole situation in a mature and classy way, but he shouldn’t have been put in that position to begin with.

There is no doubt that Bichette will get going offensively soon enough. With that said, I’m just shocked he had to deal with boos in the first place. It is way too early, and that’s hardly going to help a new player settle in any quicker. Rant over.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Secure First Series Win Of 2026 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We are back! Three up, three down returns for the 2026 New York Mets season.

As we’ve done for several seasons now, we’ll be taking a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly after every series throughout the year.

With Opening Day this Thursday, excitement is very much in the air as we gear up for another year of Mets baseball.

However, before we look too far ahead, let’s take a step back and reflect on spring training and the Grapefruit League schedule.

Let’s kick off the 2026 edition of 3 Up, 3 Down with a camp recap …

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

3 UP

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 

At the time of writing, the Mets still haven’t officially announced that Carson Benge has made the Opening Day roster. Why the delay is a good question. However, public announcements aside, it would be a shock at this point if Benge isn’t in the lineup to face the Pirates on Thursday. The prospect entered camp with every chance to make the team, and he did everything asked of him to do exactly that. Benge hit .366/.435/.439/.874 with 15 hits and five RBIs. Furthermore, he showed impressive discipline at the plate, while flashing a plus-plus arm out in the field. All in all, Benge more than looked the part and improved week by week. Even if Mike Tauchman didn’t get hurt, Benge did more than enough to win the right field job.

RESURGENCE LOADING 

The Mets were sunk in 2025 because their starting pitching played party pooper. And Kodai Senga, continuing his downward trend, played a big part in those problems. Therefore, there were a lot of question marks surrounding the righty heading into spring training. And, while you have to take everything that happens in camp with a healthy dose of skepticism, Senga has proven a few doubters wrong over the past few weeks. He was stellar across three Grapefruit League starts, pitching to a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed over 9.2 innings. Granted, there is still a lot to prove, and Senga needs to both stay healthy and pitch at a high level over the course of a full season. But, still, there was a lot to like, including his pitch arsenal.

If the Mets can get the spring training version of Senga throughout 2026, then the starting pitching should be in great shape.

PITCHING DEPTH

One of the biggest positives to emerge from camp was the pitching depth the Mets now have in the organization. Christian Scott, coming off Tommy John surgery, showed flashes of his upside. He could certainly contribute in the big leagues at some point in 2026. Jack Wenninger pitched to a 2.70 ERA while striking out 10 over 6.2 innings. Will Watson and Jonathan Santucci also pitched well. All showed a lot of upside, and Scott and Wenninger in particular are names to watch in 2026. All of a sudden, the pitching depth looks incredibly strong, and that’s something to be uber-positive about.

Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

TRENDING DOWNWARDS

Are we in full-blown panic mode over Sean Manaea yet? After regressing in 2025, this year’s camp was an important one for the starter. However, rather than settle any lingering concerns, Manaea instead added fuel to the fire thanks to his diminishing velocity. There were some other concerning metrics, too, while he was out-pitched by everyone else in the rotation. As a result, the 34-year-old will now start the season out of the bullpen and in a piggyback role. Of course, Manaea was still working his way back this spring. He had loose bodies in his elbow, which likely impacted a few things. There is also still time to correct the worrying drop in velocity. If he can do that, then that will only further strengthen the rotation. However, if Manaea can’t correct the drop in velocity, and if it continues to diminish, then another conversation may be needed at some point.

LATE INJURY BLOW

Arguably, the biggest roster battle in camp from day one was the fight for the right field job. There was a slew of players all competing for that one spot, with Carson Benge and Mike Tauchman emerging as the leaders in the clubhouse. Before the weekend, it looked all but certain that Tauchman would be on the Opening Day roster in some capacity.

However, the veteran left Saturday’s game with left knee soreness and will now require surgery on a torn meniscus. That’s somewhat of a blow for the Mets, given the value Tauchman brought to the table. He could have been a mentor for Benge, while he showed all spring what he can do at the plate. Furthermore, Tauchman offers more offensive upside than Vidal Brujan, who could now make the Opening Day roster. We will see if Tauchman can win a roster spot once he returns from injury.

END OF THE ROAD?

It doesn’t seem like a stretch to suggest that things really aren’t looking good for Mark Vientos. The third baseman struggled offensively in 2025, and those struggles carried over to camp. He hit just .057/.108/.171/.280 with little to no production. It is also perhaps fair to question Vientos’ decision to play in the World Baseball Classic. After all, he’s been asked to take reps at first base for the Mets, yet he mostly played third for Team Nicaragua in the WBC. Given the uncertainty surrounding first base, it would have been preferable for Vientos to remain in camp and really dedicate himself to learning a new position. In any case, none of that may end up mattering. If a disappointing spring translates to a slow start, then maybe there won’t be much of a role for Vientos in Queens going forward.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Spring Training Recap appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Whether all the change will result in a positive or negative year in Queens is simply unknowable right now.

It will certainly look drastically different, that’s for sure. We can take that particular notion to the bank right now.

For starters, it is going to take some getting used to not seeing Edwin Díaz emerge from the bullpen in the ninth inning. I think the first time we don’t hear “Narco” blaring around Citi Field will be when it really hits home that Díaz is no longer a Met.

However, that won’t be the most galling change in 2026. No matter how many memorable moments Díaz gave Mets fans over six largely stellar years.

No, what will really come as a severe jolt to the system will be the absence of the three homegrown Mets. If you think the prospect of no Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil is weird now, think how much stranger it will be once we get to Opening Day.

It is hard to envision a lineup card without those three names in it. After all, Nimmo was a staple in a Mets uniform for a decade. McNeil has been a big part of this organization ever since making his debut in 2018. And Pete Alonso needed just seven years to establish himself as the best power hitter in franchise history. Not to mention taking Darryl Strawberry‘s home run crown.

Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

END OF AN ERA

In many ways, Nimmo, Alonso, and McNeil have been the very heartbeat of the Mets for the best part of a decade.

Nimmo was the longest-tenured Met and absolutely beloved by fans. He personified what it meant to play in Queens, embracing everything that came with playing for the organization. If the Mets were ever going to name a captain, Nimmo would have been the main contender alongside Francisco Lindor.

As much as McNeil frustrated the life out of this fanbase over the last couple of years, the veteran provided plenty of happy memories in Queens. He won a batting title, was named a Silver Slugger, and was always good for a highlight-reel play in the field.

And where do we even begin with Alonso?

Has a player ever won the hearts of an entire community and city like Alonso did with the Mets half of New York? From the moment he put on a Mets uniform, Alonso just got it. He knew what it meant pulling on that jersey every single day. He was proud to play for the fans and for the organization.

The slugger also produced a litany of special moments. Like hitting 53 home runs in his rookie year in 2019. Representing the organization at the Home Run Derby while putting on an absolute clinic. Destroying baseballs with so much ease you couldn’t help but be impressed no matter how many times it happened. And do we even have to mention THAT moment against the Brewers?

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

WHAT NOW?

Alonso, Nimmo, and McNeil, meant a lot to Mets fans because of what they were able to do on the baseball diamond. But, more importantly, they meant the world to Mets fans because they were drafted, nurtured, and developed right here in Queens.

Homegrown players just resonate more with fans.

Therefore, you can be forgiven for still feeling a little melancholy about the fact that a true end of an era has now come to a close in Queens.

Of course, there will be plenty of fans happy that the core has been blown up. A common refrain over the last few years has been that something needed to change with the core group given the relative lack of success.

That school of thought only grew in intensity in the wake of the embarrassing collapse down the stretch in 2025, resulting in the Juan Soto-led Mets missing the playoffs. When a set of players perform that badly, it would be franchise malfeasance for significant changes not to be made.

President of baseball operations David Stearns wasn’t hired to make sentimental decisions. He was hired to bring a World Series to Queens. Therefore, he can’t be blamed for making the tough decisions. Of course, it is easy to judge him for blowing up the core right now. There’s so much work still to be done, and as of right now, it is hard to envision the 2026 Mets being better than the 2025 Mets.

Pete Alonso (20) & Brandon Nimmo (9) Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

A DIFFERENT DAWN

It is also difficult to imagine what the identity of this team will be moving forward. As already mentioned, Nimmo, Alonso, and McNeil weren’t just good ballplayers; they were the soul of this team. That’s an intangible that is a lot harder to replace than just WAR. Furthermore, given Stearns’ risk-averse approach to this offseason, it seems unlikely that a Kyle Tucker or a Cody Bellinger will end up in Queens.

Of course, it is important to see how the full picture unfolds before making any real judgments. Stearns clearly has a plan, and it is possible that he has one or two big moves up his sleeve. It is entirely feasible that the departures of the homegrown trio lead to bigger and better things.

After all, change can be good sometimes. Whether that will be the case with the 2026 New York Mets very much remains to be seen.

But change will certainly look different. And that’s something we will all have to get used to over the coming weeks and months.

The post Will Different Be Good for the 2026 Mets? appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets should resoundingly look to sign Díaz to a new deal in free agency, no matter the cost. With so many needs to fill, president of baseball operations David Stearns should look for easy wins wherever possible. And bringing back one of the best closers in the game is about as easy a win as you can get.

Yes, it is true that, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, Díaz is looking for essentially the same deal he signed with New York back in November 2022. For those who need reminding, the closer signed a five-year, $102 million contract. It was, at the time, the largest in history for a reliever.

Now, granted, lots has changed since that last deal. Díaz has gotten older, he missed the entire 2023 season due to injury, and the Mets now have a baseball executive in charge who may be reluctant to give a 31-year-old reliever a long-term deal with big money. You can understand that school of thought given most closers who sign box office contracts don’t often age well and provide equal value. And you can understand other teams being reluctant to enter the Díaz sweepstakes given that they would have to surrender a draft pick in addition to a boatload of money.

However, it is hard to fathom why Stearns would be reluctant to give in to Díaz’s wishes. After all, Stearns knows exactly what he is getting from Díaz because he’s witnessed it for the last couple of years.

And that’s consistent excellence day in and day out.

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Mets would be foolish not to pay Díaz

Nine years into his MLB career, Díaz remains an elite closer. One could even argue that he’s at the peak of his powers, despite the fact that he’ll turn 31 in March. He is coming off one of his best seasons ever, having been lights-out in 2025. He pitched to a stellar 1.63 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 28 saves across 66 1/3 innings. Additionally, Díaz owned a 38 percent strikeout rate and an 8.1 walk rate.

It is always important to take the eye test into consideration, too. And, with the rest of the bullpen melting down around him, Díaz remained a perfect picture of prowess and stability in 2025. He always answered the bell, and he always delivered. He was particularly clutch in September when every win was crucial, posting a 0.61 ERA with 19 strikeouts and three walks allowed in 14.2 innings of work.

In short, Díaz proved once again in 2025 why he is considered one of the very best closers in all of baseball.

Furthermore, outside of a rocky first year, Díaz has been consistently elite in Queens since being acquired from the Mariners in 2019. The proven track record is there for all to see. He’s fifth in saves since the 2019 season – despite missing all of 2023 with injury – and his strikeout rate of 40.5 percent is tied with Josh Hader for the best in the sport. Plus, Díaz has now posted an ERA below 2.00 with the Mets on three separate occasions.

So, it begs the question, why wouldn’t Stearns fall over himself to bring Díaz back?

What are the alternatives?

Díaz’s return is a no-brainer

Devin Williams struggled in his first year with the Yankees, pitching to a 4.79 ERA. Is he really suited to pitching in New York? Ryan Helsley had his own struggles after being acquired by the Mets at the Trade Deadline. And Robert Suárez, Raisel Iglesias, and Kenley Jansen are all 35 or older. All in all, the options outside of Díaz aren’t exactly overly attractive.

On the flip side, Díaz is a proven commodity in New York. You know exactly what you are going to get. He has proven time and time again that he can deliver on the biggest stage. With the pressure at its highest in the most intense market, Díaz has shown that he can thrive. And then some.

Why would you sign another closer with a bunch of question marks? Especially when you already know what you’ve got in Díaz?

Díaz is tried and tested in the cauldron that is New York. He’s tried and tested in the regular season. He’s tried and tested in the postseason. And he’s tried and tested in the most high-pressured of situations. Díaz has already shown what he’s capable of in a Mets uniform.

He’s also got more efficient with his pitches over the last couple of years, meaning he’s more likely to age well. In addition, the Mets can always move Díaz to a set-up or middle-innings role in the later years of a new deal.

So, all in all, this is the very definition of a no-brainer move. Bringing back Edwin Díaz makes all the sense in the world.

It is a move the Mets simply have to make.

This should be the easiest decision of the entire offseason for Stearns and the Mets.

The post Mets Simply Must Bring Back Edwin Díaz appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It will also go down as one of the most embarrassing collapses in franchise history, too. Forget 2007—the Mets didn’t have a great team chasing them down this time around. They just flat-out blew it.

Consider this: New York owned the best record in all of baseball on the morning of June 13. The team nosedived and went 38-55 the rest of the way to miss the playoffs. They led the NL East by 5 1/2 games as late as June 12, and led the division in August, too. And yet, the Mets will now be getting ready for the beach instead of the playoffs.

Furthermore, needing just a win in order to get in on Sunday after the Brewers beat the Reds, the Mets couldn’t even score a single run against the Marlins. As a result, the Mets finished the year 0-70 when trailing after eight innings. That is not the hallmark of a good baseball team.

With the season now officially over, all there is left to do is trawl through the wreckage of a lost season that began with so much hope and excitement.

Before we do that, though, let’s review all the good and all the bad from an infuriating 2025 season. It is time for the final 3 Up, 3 Down of the year.

Juan Soto (22) & Pete Alonso (20) Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

THE BIG THREE

As heartbreaking as the finish was, this season did still have some high points. Most notably, the “Big Three” came exactly as advertised. Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor all produced monster seasons. That’s why the failure to make the playoffs is even more perplexing. Soto, despite getting off to a slow start in Queens, delivered quite the special first year in a Mets uniform. He hit .263/.396/.525/.921 while hitting a career-high 43 home runs and stealing a career-high 38 bases. Soto also led all of baseball in walks with 127, setting a Mets’ single-season franchise record along the way. The highlights were a red-hot June, followed by a strong finish where Soto carried this team on his shoulders at times. His first season in Queens did not finish the way he would have wanted it to, granted. However, we saw enough to know that Soto continues to be the real deal.

Meanwhile, Lindor also made some history by becoming just the first shortstop in MLB history to compile four seasons of 25+ home runs and 25+ stolen bases. Lindor and Soto also became just the third pair of teammates in all of baseball to go 30/30 in the same season. Yes, Lindor did have cold spells throughout the season. However, the shortstop still hit .267/.346/.466/.811 with 86 RBIs.

As for Alonso, the slugger officially took over as the Mets’ new home run king, surpassing Darryl Strawberry‘s mark of 252. Alonso finished the year with 264 career home runs after hitting 38 in 2025, while amassing 126 RBIs and 41 doubles—the latter of which is tied for the most in the National League and a personal best. Alonso was also consistently clutch for the Mets, finishing with a .309 batting average with RISP. Having confirmed that he will opt out of his contract this winter, it remains to be seen if the slugger has played his last game in a Mets uniform. Making Alonso a forever Met should be a priority for the front office.

David Banks-Imagn Images

SHUTDOWN MAGICIAN

Edwin Díaz is one of the best closers in all of baseball. Period. He proved that once again, thanks to a dominant 2025 season on the mound. The three-time All-Star finished with a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves over 66 1/3 innings. Furthermore, Díaz compiled a 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts. Beyond the stats, the righty stepped up and consistently delivered clutch moments in big spots. If the inaugural Relief Pitcher of the Year award started this season, Diaz would likely win the NL’s version. That’s even more remarkable when you consider how bad the rest of the bullpen was for the majority of the year.

With no real concrete setup man behind him for the large chunk of the season, Díaz still pitched at an elite level. It remains to be seen if Díaz will opt out of his contract this winter. (He likely will.) Given that he pitched at an elite level in 2025, it will be important that the Mets try to keep their electric closer in Queens.

ROOKIE PHENOM

The only real saving grace for Mets fans during an awful stretch run was Nolan McLean. The rookie was called up in August after lighting up Triple-A and didn’t disappoint. He didn’t seem fazed by the big lights of New York, instead stepping right up and putting on a show in his MLB debut. After striking out eight in his first start against Seattle, McLean only went from strength to strength. He looked like a seasoned veteran out on the mound, consistently giving his team length while looking like an ace every time he pitched. Therefore, the final stats shouldn’t shock you too much.

McLean finished with a stellar 2.06 ERA, while striking out 57 with a 1.042 WHIP over 48 innings pitched. He likely would have been the Game 1 starter if the Mets had made it to the postseason. In any case, with the starting rotation in flux heading into the offseason, McLean figures to be a huge part of the Mets’ plans in 2026 and beyond. Maybe the one silver lining of 2025 will be that we saw the emergence of a future stud ace.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NON-STARTER

The 2025 Mets had many flaws. However, arguably the biggest and most significant flaw was the starting pitching. Kodai Senga couldn’t stay healthy and was no good when he did return. Sean Manaea was not the pitcher he was in 2024, never really ramping up after starting the year injured. Frankie Montas was a bust. Griffin Canning was a positive until he got hurt. David Peterson was the ace of the staff until he fell off a cliff after the All-Star break. As a result, a once-dominant pitching staff quickly turned into a pumpkin. The Mets once boasted the best team ERA in baseball, but they finished the year with a 5.31 ERA. The starters had a 5.27 ERA from June 13 on.

While the front office had success with the current pitching philosophy and pitching lab in 2024, it clearly didn’t work this year. Hope is not a strategy—nor is expecting three rookie pitchers to save the season. Reclamation projects may work out every now and then, but expecting to have a 100% hit rate with that strategy is unrealistic. If the Mets want to bounce back in 2026, they will need to invest in more sure things in the starting rotation.

Mark Vientos (27) Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Nearly everything David Stearns touched in 2024 turned to gold. Nearly everything he touched in 2025 turned to dust. The president of baseball operations did not have a good year, and he does deserve a large slice of the blame here. As we trawl through the wreckage of a lost season, Stearns’ fingerprints can be found all over the damage. Outside of signing Juan Soto and bringing back Pete Alonso, Stearns got little right in 2025. His pitching philosophy blew up in his face. He never really addressed the lack of offense from center field. He misplayed the battle for third base. Maybe moving Mark Vientos in the offseason would have been the smart move. And none of the moves made at the Trade Deadline worked. In fact, they only served to make the Mets worse.

Additionally, Stearns’ failure to acquire another starter at the deadline ultimately came back to bite this team. He’s also got a lot to prove this offseason, and he owned up to the roster construction on Monday. A failure to rethink the overall approach and address all this team’s flaws could lead to further regression in 2026. Now is the time to pivot and go back to the drawing board.

DUGOUT SHORTCOMINGS

Like Stearns, Carlos Mendoza could do little wrong in 2024. However, like Stearns, 2025 proved to be a very different story for Mendoza. In his second year as a manager, Mendoza seemed out of his depth as the wheels began to fall off. He struggled to manage the pitching staff. His bullpen management was horrible and perplexing at times. He never figured out a way to balance the lineup and get more out of the bottom hitters. The fact that the Mets didn’t know who they were going to put on the mound for Sunday’s do-or-die game is an indictment on Mendoza.

Additionally, his in-game management left a lot to be desired. He got it wrong on multiple occasions when it came to pinch-hitting or -running situations, including in Sunday’s finale. Starling Marte was available on the bench—why wasn’t he used? This was just a fundamentally unsound baseball team, and the manager has to take some of the blame for that. Furthermore, as much as it is on the players to execute, a manager is there to prepare and motivate his players. The fact this team looked so lifeless for the best part of four months is a red flag, as were the litany of sloppy mistakes and mental errors. They just didn’t look ready at times, and, again, that’s on Mendoza, too.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets’ 2025 Season In Review appeared first on Metsmerized Online.