The expected selloff should start happening any day now, which means we may have seen this current incarnation of the 2026 Mets for the last time.

If that’s the case, then they went out on a high. Stellar pitching and some clutch hitting saw the Mets take two out of three from the first-place Braves.

With trade talk set to dominate the next few days, let’s recap everything from the Atlanta series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

DO IT-ALL CARSON

Carson Benge had his fingerprints all over this series win. He stole the show in the doubleheader on Wednesday after being rested on Monday. The rookie hit the winning run with a go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh in the first game. Then, in the second game, Benge made a stupendous diving catch to keep a runner off base in the eighth inning. In back-to-back games, Benge showed off his ability to come through in the clutch as well as his elite defensive skillset.

TURNING HEADS

Christian Scott grabbed everybody’s attention for multiple reasons in the nightcap portion of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Not only did he toss a gem, but he did so while completing six full innings for the first time this season. That latter point is crucial when considering the bigger picture. Arguably the biggest hurdle facing Scott was his ability to go deep in games. Now he’s done it once; hopefully he can make that the standard going forward. In terms of the actual performance, Scott flashed his high upside once again. He allowed just one earned run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. In doing so, Scott is cementing his place in this rotation long term.

PROVING A POINT

I’ll preface what I’m about to say by acknowledging that I’m aware Francisco Lindor went a combined 0-for-6 in the final two games of this series. However, his offensive outburst in the first game provided a welcome reminder of just how elite Lindor is when he’s at the peak of his powers. The shortstop had his best night of the year, becoming just the second Met to crush a pair of home runs and hit a triple. He also finished with six RBIs. Look, it hasn’t been a great year for Lindor, but injuries have had a lot to do with that. Monday night was proof that he still has a lot to offer this franchise.

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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OFFENSE OFFENSIVE 

If you want a neat encapsulation of what has gone wrong for the Mets this season, look no further than the Braves series. After exploding for 14 runs in the opener, the offense managed just three runs across the final two games. That included being shut out in the series finale. The Mets recorded just two hits all night in the final game against the Braves. And that has been the crux of their woes all year. The lineup, despite having talent, just hasn’t been nearly consistent enough, and it has more often than not doomed the entire team.

UNWELCOME REMINDER

The odds were always going to be stacked against Jorge Polanco given that he was replacing a franchise icon in Pete Alonso. Well, Polanco’s first year in Queens has been a bust thanks to an inability to stay healthy coupled with a lack of production when he has been on the field. He struggled in his one game in this series, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. He also opted for a sacrifice bunt, which suggests the confidence has gone. Polanco is now hitting a lowly .144/.202/.216/.418 on the year, which is no doubt making Mets fans miss Alonso even more.

TIME TO SAY FAREWELL

With the Trade Deadline on Monday, it is entirely possible that we’ve seen certain Mets for the very last time. Luke Weaver will almost certainly be dealt. He will be missed after what has been a superb season so far. Tyrone Taylor, who has been on a heater lately, will also likely be on the way out. There could be some surprises too. All in all, while the selloff needs to happen, there will be certain players who will be missed. That most certainly includes Clay Holmes if he ends up being dealt too.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Down Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.

After dropping the first two games at Citi Field, the Mets used some clutch hitting and big hits to take the series finale and avoid the season sweep.

As a result, the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak. However, they are still 18 games below .500 with a 44-62 record.

With that, let’s recap everything from the Dodgers series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

May 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets left fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

3 UP

RED-HOT TAYLOR

Not only is Tyrone Taylor on a heater right now, but he’s probably also turning himself into a pretty valuable trade chip. The veteran outfielder was a spark plug throughout the Dodgers series. He gave the Mets a chance in Saturday’s game with a clutch two-run pinch-hit double. While those runs ultimately proved to be in vain in a close loss, Taylor did play a huge role in Sunday’s win. He hit a three-run bomb in the sixth inning to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead, a lead the Mets never relinquished. Furthermore, since returning from the IL in late June, Taylor has five homers in 18 games with a 1.403 OPS. He could be a tantalizing target for a contender in need of offensive depth and strong outfield defense.

DOING HIS BIT

Sean Manaea held up his end of the bargain on Friday night by delivering a more than solid outing on the mound. He allowed just one run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings. In other words, Manaea largely shut down the vaunted Dodgers lineup. While the Mets still lost the game, Manaea’s quality start gave them every chance, and that’s all you can ask out of your starter.

CLOSING IT OUT

Other than Friday night, the bullpen delivered for the Mets over the weekend. While Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter gave the series opener away, others stepped up over the rest of the weekend. It started on Saturday when Daniel Duarte and Huascar Brazobán combined for three scoreless innings to keep the Mets in with a chance. Then, on Sunday, Cionel Pérez provided two scoreless innings of relief in a big spot. That was backed up by Raley, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams coming together to shut down the Dodgers the rest of the way. No matter what, this bullpen finds a way to come through.

Juan Soto by Berto Carlo

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TIME TO SHUT DOWN?

Maybe it is time for the Mets to put Juan Soto on the shelf for the rest of the year. The superstar outfielder was placed on the IL on Saturday with a left calf strain. It is more severe than the right calf strain he suffered earlier in the season. Given that Soto is expected to miss up to four weeks of action, the Mets should do the sensible thing and shut him down until 2027. With nothing left to play for, it makes no sense to mess around with a guy who has now had two separate calf injuries this year, especially when talking about a player of Soto’s importance.

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE?

If Sunday’s game proves to be Freddy Peralta‘s last in a Mets uniform, then it will be a fitting farewell. In a mirror image of his entire season, Peralta struggled in the series finale. He gave up three runs – two earned – on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He also needed a whopping 93 pitches just to get through four innings. With a 4.99 ERA on the year, Peralta’s time with the Mets has been a monumental failure. It might be best for all parties to have a fresh start.

ERROR CITY

It wouldn’t be the 2026 Mets without an error-laden game. With the first two games of the series both being decided by two runs or less, small margins were going to be key. Well, as has been the case this year, the Mets couldn’t get out of their own way in that regard. Take Saturday’s game, for instance. With the game scoreless in the third inning, Brett Batyand Nolan McLean both made critical mistakes, effectively handing the game and series to the Dodgers. Sloppy play continues to doom the Mets.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Use Big Bats To Avoid LA Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized.

Losing two out of three to the Brewers, the Mets only had themselves to blame for dropping the series. Sloppy defense, bad pitching, and a lack of clutch hitting ultimately doomed them in two of the three games.

Fine margins are often the difference between winning and losing baseball games. And this team just isn’t doing the small things well enough that help to win games.

With that, let’s recap everything from the Brewers series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

3 UP

THE FUTURE IS HERE

Zac Thornton looks like the real deal. The rookie secured his first career MLB win with a stellar outing on Tuesday, allowing just three hits over six scoreless innings. Furthermore, over his first 23+ MLB innings, the lefty owns a stellar 1.93 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP. What really stands out about Thornton is just how poised he is on the mound, while his command and location are both excellent. At this point, it looks like the Mets could have another young stud to build next year’s rotation around.

OLD SELF ACTIVATED

Francisco Lindor is starting to settle in at the plate. The shortstop has seemingly shut out the outside noise and has been dangerous offensively post-All-Star break. He continued his recent eruption in Milwaukee, recording at least a hit in all three games. Lindor’s finest work came on Tuesday when he went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and a run scored. This is the Lindor we know and love, and why he’s still important to this franchise.

KID SPIRIT

A.J. Ewing is easy to fall in love with. He’s all action all the time, and he does everything well. Just look at the series against the Brewers. He made another superb diving catch during Tuesday’s game, while he made several other big-time plays out in left field too. Then, offensively, the rookie reached base three times in the first two games, before going 2-for-5 with a double in the finale. Ewing is incredibly fun to watch every single day, and he can be an impact player in a multitude of different ways.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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UNHAPPY HOMECOMING

It is official: Freddy Peralta has been an absolute bust in Queens. The veteran couldn’t use his return to Milwaukee as extra motivation to get the train back on the tracks. Instead, he imploded yet again. Peralta allowed a gaudy seven earned runs on eight hits over 5.1 miserable innings. Consequently, Peralta has allowed 15 earned runs over his last five outings. At this point, it would behoove the Mets to try and trade Peralta and wipe the slate clean.

ANOTHER DEFENSIVE MISCUE

The whole mission to improve run prevention has backfired. The Mets have been awful defensively, and they continue to doom themselves thanks to routine mistakes. Just look at Wednesday. Brett Baty misplayed a routine fly ball in right field, leading to the Brewers taking the lead on an RBI triple. The entire tenor of the game changed in an instant. As much as Baty was to blame for the mistake, it is also the Mets’ fault for consistently playing players out of position. Furthermore, the Mets now have the second-most errors in baseball with 69, while they rank 24th in baseball with minus-11 Fielding Run Value, per Statcast. That just isn’t good enough, and it is on the Mets for how they built this team.

CROWDED HOUSE

Luis Robert Jr. returning to the lineup and hitting a monster home run on Tuesday was certainly a highlight. However, let’s not celebrate it too much. Once Juan Soto returns on Friday, the Mets suddenly have a crowded outfield. And, while Robert Jr. can offer power and great defense, I don’t think he’s a better option than either Carson Benge or A.J. Ewing. Furthermore, it would be criminal at this point to take meaningful playing time away from either of the two rookies. That just can’t be allowed to happen. If the recently reported trade interest in Robert Jr. becomes concrete, then maybe it would be best to pull the trigger on that for the good of the future.

The post 3 Up 3 Down: Defense Costs Mets In Milwaukee appeared first on Metsmerized.

In Philadelphia for a three-game series, the Mets took two out of three from the Phillies. As has been the case throughout this season, it wasn’t always perfect or pretty.

However, while series wins don’t matter all that much now, it was nice to see some things click, especially in a dominant performance on Sunday to clinch the series.

With that, let’s recap everything from the Phillies series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down..

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts before an at bat during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

LINDOR’S BIG DAY

Boy, did Francisco Lindor need Sunday. The shortstop has struggled since returning from injury, and he suffered another defensive mishap on Saturday. Furthermore, Lindor has been the subject of intense trade speculation in recent days. However, ignoring the noise, he reminded everyone in the series finale just how valuable he can be to the Mets. Lindor was a triple shy of the cycle, reaching base a total of five times. He finished 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, one run, three RBIs, and two walks. Talk about a monster day at the plate. It was easily Lindor’s best game of the year, and hopefully a precursor of greater things to come.

DAZZLING MCLEAN

Nolan McLean, the ace, is well and truly back. The young starter has seemingly put his struggles behind him, and he was stellar in the finale on Sunday. He was virtually unhittable, allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts. As a result, McLean has now given up just two earned runs over his last four outings, while striking out 29 batters against seven walks over that span. This is exactly the level of dominance we expected to see from McLean. Long may it continue.

RISING STAR

McLean wasn’t the only starter to impress over the course of this series. Christian Scott showed on Thursday why he could be a cornerstone of this rotation moving forward. The righty was outstanding in his latest start, allowing just three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings. Scott is trending in the right direction, and the talent and potential are clearly there. Now all he needs to do is start going deeper into games.

Jun 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) looks to the video board during an ABS system challenge during the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

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END IN SIGHT?

Is it nearly the end of the road for both Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga? One could make a compelling argument that it certainly should be. The duo was responsible for chucking Saturday’s game away, combining for six earned runs over just 5.3 innings. Manaea was the worst culprit, surrendering a pair of homers. With the offense doing nothing, Manaea and Senga only doomed their team thanks to their respective poor efforts. Consequently, it is hard to envision either pitcher having much left to offer the Mets going forward.

HURTING THEMSELVES

What has been most infuriating about this season has been how the Mets have found new ways to lose games on an almost daily basis. They’ve been unable to get out of their own way while committing the most basic of errors. Look at Saturday’s game as a case in point. The Mets made three errors and committed a slew of sloppy defensive miscues in just an ugly, dispiriting display of ineptitude. The fact that the team also finished with the same number of errors as hits truly says it all. With 69 errors on the season – the second-most in the majors – it is no wonder why the Mets have struggled as much as they have.

BRACE YOURSELVES

I hate to be a gloomy Gus, but the two wins we saw in Philly may be about as good as it will get the rest of the way. Not only do the Mets have one of the toughest remaining schedules, but they also seem truly open for business. With only five players considered untouchable, we could be about to see a lot of talent go out the door. That will likely include Luke Weaver, who has been the team’s best and most reliable reliever this season. As a result, maybe we should enjoy this series win before things potentially fall off even further once pieces begin to be traded away.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Come Out Of Break Strong appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets got swept by the Red Sox and invented new ways to lose in all three games. It was a miserable end to what has been a rotten 2026 season so far.

What happens now with the Trade Deadline rapidly approaching remains to be seen. But what is clear is that these Mets aren’t anywhere close to being good enough. That was on full display over the weekend against Boston.

With that, let’s recap everything from the final series of the first half in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down.

Nolan McLean by Berto Carlo

3 UP

THORNTON’S GEM

Zach Thornton gave the Mets a rare reason to be encouraged over the weekend. Making just his third career start, the lefty excelled on Sunday. He tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out five. It was truly an incredible performance by Thornton, who needed just 86 pitches for his masterpiece. Furthermore, he has also allowed just one earned run over his last two starts. While a small sample size, Thornton has flashed a lot of potential. Therefore, he could have a big role to play for this team after the All-Star break.

STEADY PRESENCE 

It looks like Nolan McLean‘s struggles are behind him. The righty was excellent against the Red Sox on Friday night, allowing two unearned runs with two walks and seven strikeouts across six innings. Consequently, McLean has now given up just two earned runs over his last three starts. He’s back to being the reliable anchor of the rotation that the Mets need. More importantly, McLean is pitching like a true ace again.

UNTOUCHABLE

Luke Weaver‘s dominant season continues. The reliever tossed a scoreless inning during Sunday’s series finale, making it 25 consecutive outings without giving up an earned run. That’s incredibly impressive. Weaver has been a real strength all year so far, and he’s remained consistent even with the bullpen struggling as of late. As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising if Weaver gains a lot of interest the closer we move to the Trade Deadline.

Francisco Lindor by Berto Carlo

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FATAL ERROR

Francisco Lindor is not having a fun time of it right now. The shortstop has largely struggled since returning from the IL, and his struggles were compounded on Sunday. With the Mets holding a 2-0 lead in the ninth, and with one out, Lindor had the chance to end the game with a double play. Instead, he fumbled the play badly, leading to Boston tying the game and then winning it in extras. It was yet another sloppy, ugly play by Lindor, who actually had a nice day at the plate. But he continues to make basic mistakes in the field, and that should be a real concern for the Mets.

WHAT NOW?

What do the Mets do with Freddy Peralta? The starter has been a major disappointment in Queens so far, and things don’t look like they will get any better. He was underwhelming on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits but walking five batters. More importantly, Peralta lasted just 4 1/3 innings. It was the third consecutive start in which the righty failed to complete five innings. Now owning a 4.66 ERA on the year, it is hard to figure out what has exactly gone wrong with Peralta this year. And it is also hard to envision his trade value picking up now, leaving the Mets with a potential dilemma.

FALSE HOPE

It turns out the offense was just teasing us after all. After scoring 48 runs in the previous two series combined, the Mets lineup reverted back to type against the Red Sox. They managed just four runs all series, including being shut out for the ninth time this season on Saturday. The entire offense struggled all series, especially in clutch situations. For instance, the Mets went a combined 1-for-24, leaving 21 runners stranded on base. Given how bad the offense has been in 2026, it was fitting that the bats went ice cold in the final series before the All-Star break.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Swept By Red Sox To End Woeful First Half appeared first on Metsmerized.

Namely, we saw a lot of improvement from the offense. To be more precise, the Mets got consistent production from the lineup throughout the entire three-game series. And we haven’t been able to say that all too often this year.

Were it not for a bullpen implosion, then the Mets might have secured a first series sweep since the end of May. With that said, a first series win since June is just what this team needed.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Royals series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

A.J. Ewing by Berto Carlo

3 UP

EXPLODING INTO LIFE

Where has this level of production from the offense been all year? The bats truly came to life against Kansas City, outscoring the Royals 25-21. Furthermore, they have scored six-plus runs in five consecutive games. The offense was averaging 8.75 runs per game over a four-game stretch prior to Wednesday’s finale. This is without a doubt the best and most consistent stretch of the entire season for the lineup. Why it has taken this long for everything to click is a good question, but hopefully we see similar levels of production the rest of the way.

FUTURE LOOKING GOOD

The Mets may well have just found their outfield of the future. Juan Soto, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing are all showing that the future does indeed look bright. The trio were red-hot throughout this series, going a combined 15-for-33 with 14 runs, four homers, one double, nine walks, and 10 RBIs. That’s elite-level production, and it is the kind of talent that could provide the Mets with a foundation of success for years to come. Ewing was the standout of the three, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBIs in the opener. Furthermore, the rookie is continuing to prove that he’s the perfect fit as this team’s leadoff hitter. Benge came up with some clutch hits, including a big single that broke the game open in the finale, and Soto just continues to stay hot. All in all, the outfield looks set to be a considerable strength for the foreseeable future.

ROTATION HOPES

The overall pitching picture was an ugly mess in the first game of the series. However, things settled down after that largely thanks to the starting rotation. Christian Scott continues to ascend for the Mets. He tossed five scoreless innings on Wednesday night, giving up just three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Scott once again showed that he has the talent and the potential to be a future cornerstone of this pitching staff, as long as he can clean up on a few things. For instance, wiping out mental lapses and being able to go deeper in games will be musts if Scott is to develop into a reliable No. 2 or No. 3 starter. Meanwhile, Sean Manaea continues to trend in the right direction. The veteran went a full seven innings on Thursday, giving up two earned runs while striking out six. Maybe Manaea’s best stuff is behind him, but this new version could offer the Mets the solid, dependable back-of-the-rotation starter they need.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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UNWELCOME HISTORY

The Mets made history for all the wrong reasons on Tuesday night. Following an all-time epic collapse, the Mets lost when scoring at least 11 runs at home for the first time in franchise history. They had been 129-0. Furthermore, they lost for just the second time in franchise history when scoring 12 or more runs. Not good. The cause of all that embarrassment was the pitching. In short, a bullpen game well and truly backfired. Kodai Senga started the damage by allowing four earned runs on five hits over three innings. It only got worse from there. Austin Warren, who has since landed on the IL, gave up five earned runs. The biggest culprit, however, was Matt Seelinger, who allowed seven earned runs across just two innings in a nightmare MLB debut to forget. The bullpen has largely been a strength this year, but Tuesday night was rough.

UNFORESEEN HINDERANCE  

The Mets may have to change some of their Trade Deadline plans. Mark Vientos has landed on the IL with a fracture in his right hand after getting hit by a pitch. With the infielder likely to miss weeks, it is unlikely that he will now be moved at the Deadline. It also continues a nightmare season for Vientos, who has struggled defensively and offensively while struggling to hold down a regular role. A parting of the ways may have been beneficial for both parties, but that’s now unlikely to happen anytime soon.

SLUMP CITY

Francisco Lindor is not having a good time of it right now. He is still being eased back in with days off here and there, but maybe that’s impacting his rhythm. The shortstop recorded just one hit in the Royals series, with no extra-base hits, no RBIs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Furthermore, Lindor is hitting just .192/.276/.192/.468 with no extra-base hits and five strikeouts over his last seven games. He looks lost at the plate, and the Mets will hope that is just rust rather than something more troubling.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Offense Powers Mets’ Series Win Against Royals appeared first on Metsmerized.

After dropping the first two games of the series, the Mets rallied to win the final two to split the series with the Braves. Yes, it wasn’t exactly pretty. And, yes, it could have easily been a series sweep.

However, you have to celebrate the small victories too. In winning the final two games of the series, the Mets showed a lot of heart, a lot of grit, and a lot of character. You have to applaud that in the moment.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Braves series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

HEART & SOUL

We touched on it above, but the Mets did show some fight in Atlanta. Whether it leads to anything, remains to be seen. But the final two games of the series deserve to be celebrated for now. Yes, the Mets hardly made it easy for themselves. And the bullpen did its utmost to give the final two games away. But the fact that the team was able to gut both games out and salvage the series says a lot. At least we know now that there is some fight in that clubhouse. Again, it will mean nothing if another losing streak follows. But, for now, we should be encouraged that this team simply didn’t fold on the road against a very good team.

CLUTCH HITTING

Superstar players get that billing because of their ability to step up in the biggest moments. That was certainly the case for Juan Soto on Monday night. In the series finale, trailing 3-2 in the ninth and with two outs, Soto showed why he is one of the best hitters on the planet. With ice in his veins, the outfielder crushed a dramatic three-run homer deep into the night to change the entire complexion of the game, and the series. Soto was red-hot throughout the entire series too, hitting two homers and finishing with three runs scored and seven RBIs.

In terms of clutch hitting, Soto wasn’t the only one to come through. After the bullpen blew the lead in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Torrens stepped up in the 10th and delivered a two-out, two-run double to give the Mets the lead for good. The catcher continues to show his value for this ballclub.

EXCELLENCE IN RELIEF

Luke Weaver continues to set the gold standard for relief pitching for the Mets. In a series where the bullpen wilted badly, Weaver remained a paragon of excellence. Sure, he allowed the ghost runner to score in extra innings on Monday. However, he did battle back to get the final outs and secure the save. Plus, Weaver still hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 30. That’s 24 appearances and 26 consecutive innings without giving up a single earned run. During that time, he’s struck out 34 while allowing just 11 hits and seven walks. That is pure dominance right there. And, if this run continues, Weaver could emerge as the team’s biggest trade chip.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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LOTS OF UGLY

In many ways, the Mets were lucky to escape Atlanta without getting swept. They were outplayed in most areas for the majority of the series. Defensive issues were again front and center. The offense was ineffective for the first two games of the series. The pitching was hit-and-miss and required herculean efforts on the mounds. And the bullpen showed the first real signs of buckling under a heavy workload. It wasn’t pretty, and the Mets’ slew of faults were on full display. Granted, they did rebound to split the series. Still, the overall play of this team remains incredibly sloppy. So much so, it is hard to envision the fightback in Atlanta meaning all that much in the grand scheme of things.

MELTING DOWN

It wasn’t an easy series for the bullpen. Although that would be putting it lightly. There were a couple of homers given up by that unit on Friday, and again on Saturday. However, the headlines belong to the final two games of the series. A rusty Huascar Brazobán entered Sunday’s game in the ninth armed with a 10-3 lead. Easy work, right? Nope. Brazobán imploded, allowing five earned runs and even committing an error. Devin Williams came in and, while he did eventually stop the meltdown, he also gave up a run. Then, on Monday night, it was Williams’ turn to really struggle. Trusted to protect a 3-2 lead, Williams instead gave up a double and then a two-run homer to Matt Olson to make it a tied game. Thankfully, the offense bailed him out in extra innings.

ANOTHER COMICAL BLUNDER

Not only do the Mets make defensive mistakes, but they also have an ability to comically screw up even the most routine of plays. Take Saturday’s lopsided loss, for example. In the bottom of the third with Atlanta already leading and the bases loaded, the Mets just needed one more out to escape the jam unscathed. Instead, a routine pop-up caused chaos between Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor. Lindor just dropped to the ground, missing the ball completely, while Taylor, who carried on charging in despite Lindor’s calls, also missed the ball. As a result, three more runs scored and the game was all but over early. Furthermore, Lindor and Taylor were lucky they didn’t collide and get seriously hurt. If one play could sum up the Mets’ season, it would be that one.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Salvage Braves Split With Late Heroics appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets dropped two out of three to the Blue Jays, losing a fifth straight series as a result. They’ve also lost 10 of their last 12 games.

Without doubt, the driving force behind the woes in Toronto was a real lack of offense. The lineup was lifeless for most of the series. Yet another clunker from Freddy Peralta on the mound also didn’t help.

On that note, it is time to dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

CANADIAN GEM

Nolan McLean put on an absolute show in Toronto on Tuesday night. Having allowed six earned runs in his last outing, the righty needed a bounce-back. And he sure delivered against the Blue Jays. McLean looked like the ace we all know he could one day be. He tossed six innings of scoreless ball, walking two batters while striking out seven. He was pitching at the peak of his powers. More importantly, the start against the Cubs aside, McLean seems to be settling into a real groove now. If he can pitch as he did on Tuesday night the rest of the way, then that will certainly help to settle things down somewhat for the Mets.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

You wouldn’t automatically call Bo Bichette a defensive wizard. He has had to suffer through some teething problems while learning to play third base this season. Even playing as a natural shortstop, Bichette has always been below-average defensively. However, the two-time All-Star showed plenty of defensive chops in the 3-0 shutout win over Toronto on Tuesday night. Playing against the team that drafted him, Bichette made a number of key plays and big throws. His stellar night on the defensive side of the ball set the tone in what proved to be the only win of the series.

GETTING BACK IN A GROOVE

Francisco Lindor appears to be getting back to his old self. The shortstop has been eased back in ever since coming off the IL. Well, in Toronto, we saw some encouraging signs. Lindor hit a pair of homers in the series. He now has two homers, five RBIs, two walks, and four runs scored over his last seven games. While the offense struggled against the Blue Jays, Lindor settling back into a groove can certainly be taken as a big positive.

Jun 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) reacts after striking out against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

BAD OPTICS

Juan Soto just doesn’t help himself sometimes. As otherworldly talented as the superstar hitter is, he can frustrate with what looks to be a lack of hustle. We saw it the other week when Soto cost his team a run by failing to hustle out of the box to first base. And we saw another example of it on Monday, albeit with bigger consequences. In the bottom of the first, George Springer led off for Toronto and lined a ball into left field. Soto misplayed the ball, allowing it to bounce over his glove and towards the wall. More egregious, however, was Soto’s reaction to the whiff. He casually strolled after the ball, allowing A.J. Ewing to clean up the mess, with the rookie then fumbling the ball. The end result? Springer scored a little league home run to set the tone for the rest of the game. It was not a good look all-around for Soto, who just looks way too laidback sometimes.

MASSIVE LETDOWN

If there was an award for biggest disappointment of the season, Freddy Peralta would arguably have a pretty good claim as of right now. The veteran starter has underwhelmed overall in Queens, while also serving up some real clunkers recently. That was the case on Wednesday. In the series finale, Peralta was lit up, giving up five earned runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. With the offense doing nothing yet again, Peralta’s stinker on the mound ultimately doomed the Mets. Looking at the bigger picture, Peralta has now allowed a total of 23 earned runs over his last six starts. It is hard to see the starter getting much back in a trade at this point. And, if he does stay in Queens, then it remains to be seen if Peralta can get the train back on the tracks and be the kind of ace this team needs. That seems very doubtful right now.

LIFELESS TO THE END

This hapless offense is never going to figure things out, is it? The lineup was pretty much a non-factor throughout the series against Toronto. In total, the Mets managed just seven runs and 17 hits. They also went a combined 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position. All three of New York’s runs in the series finale came when the game was already effectively over. It is hard to win games when you can’t score runs. All in all, this offense remains lifeless. The entire lineup struggles to make adjustments on the fly. We’re now in July and, barring some unforeseen miracle, it is hard to have faith in this offense showing much improvement the rest of the way.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Lifeless Offense Dooms Mets In Toronto appeared first on Metsmerized.

Even after firing manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, the Mets couldn’t rally under a new voice. Interim manager Andy Green lost two of his first three games in charge in a series loss to the Phillies.

While there were some positives on display, we also saw more of the same old problems that have helped to create the current mess the Mets find themselves in.

New York is now 3-10 over its last 13 games. As a result, the team continues to dig itself an even bigger hole to try and climb out of. If the season isn’t over already, then it is on life support.

On that cheery note, let’s recap everything from the weekend in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

SOLID RELIEF 

Kodai Senga flashed a little something in his first outing out of the bullpen on Sunday. He also showed why he’s struggled in the rotation so much. Let’s get the bad out of the way. With the Mets leading by one run in the seventh, Senga threw a very hittable fastball to Kyle Schwarber. The result? Schwarber mashed it over the fence to give the Phillies a lead they never gave up. It was a fatal mistake. However, before that, Senga proved effective over five innings of bulk relief. He struck out four while allowing just two earned runs on four hits with one walk. He was effective with his forkball and largely did a good job of shutting down the Phillies’ offense outside of that lone mistake. There could be something there to work with.

GREAT SECOND IMPRESSION

Making just his second career start in the big leagues, Zach Thornton certainly impressed on Friday night. He allowed just one earned run over six innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. He gave the Mets much-needed length and also provided his team every opportunity to win the game. That’s all you can ask out of a starting pitcher. Granted, it is only one outing, but Thornton certainly showed that he has the skill set needed to force his way into this rotation at some point.

UN-HITTABLE 

Of all the failed moves by David Stearns this past offseason, Luke Weaver is the one working out. The reliever has been stellar for the Mets so far, pitching to a 2.06 ERA on the year. Furthermore, Weaver has been unhittable as of late. Literally. He hasn’t allowed a run to score in 23 consecutive innings. You’d have to go all the way back to the end of April for the last time Weaver gave up a run. That’s pretty incredible.

Jun 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets interim manager Andy Green (center) stands in the dugout with bench coach Kai Correa (left) and third base coach Tim Leiper during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NO MAGIC WAND

People hoping for a spark with a new voice in the dugout will probably be disappointed. The Mets dropped two of interim manager Andy Green’s first three games in charge. And, in doing so, we saw exactly why this team is where it is. I’m not convinced we’ll see much of an improvement in results, even with a change of manager. For instance, the Mets have now lost eight of nine and 10 of their last 13. That’s bleak. Plus, the offense is still a hot mess, and the starting rotation is still in absolute shambles. While it was the right decision to move on from Carlos Mendoza, I’m not sure we’re going to see the same dramatic uptick in fortunes as the Phillies did when they made a change in the dugout.

EASING IN DOWNFALL

Look, on the face of it, easing Francisco Lindor back in makes sense. He missed a lot of time, and it would be foolish to overload him straightaway. That said, the decision to give Lindor a complete day off on Sunday proved costly. Arguably so at least, anyway. A man short on the bench, and in a close game, not having Lindor available really hindered the offense. Ronny Mauricio popped out with the bases loaded in the eighth, which would have been an ideal spot for Lindor to come in to try and change the game. It would have been smart to at least have him on the bench as an option for later in the game.

NOT TAKING CHANCES

The offense continues to frustrate at a high level. During the series finale on Sunday, the lineup went just 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving a whopping 14 runners stranded on base. Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez, Bo Bichette, and Eric Wagaman all whiffed in a big spot with runners on. It was a similar story on Friday in the series opener. The Mets managed just one run in that game, with the entire lineup struggling to get anything going. The inability for this offense to come up with the big hit is really quite alarming.

The post 3 Up: 3 Down: Mets Blow Their Chance Against Phillies appeared first on Metsmerized.

Therefore, while it was probably the right decision to fire manager Carlos Mendoza, it is also right that Mendoza wasn’t the main culprit for the current mess.

Furthermore, you can make a case that Mendoza should have lost his job a lot earlier. But you can also argue that more accountability is needed from this franchise.

Mendoza clearly deserves some of the blame for the Mets being where they are. He oversaw last season’s monumental collapse. Then, this season, he’s presided over a team that has failed to adapt and adjust on the fly. We’ve seen the same lackadaisical errors night after night after night. At some point, the blame for that has to fall on the coaching staff.

It became clear after an embarrassing four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs that change was needed more than ever. While he’s clearly respected in the clubhouse and within the organization, his presence and leadership weren’t leading to any tangible signs of improvement. In fact, things were getting worse.

Mendoza just had to go. And you could make a compelling argument that this change should have come much sooner.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

All Eyes On Stearns

However, with all of that said, firing Mendoza alone may not be enough.

After all, president of baseball operations David Stearns is the one directly responsible for constructing a roster that is seemingly fatally flawed.

Granted, let’s not skip over the impact injuries have had this year. And let’s also not give the players a free pass. They are the ones who have failed to execute on the field. They are the ones who have not performed to the back of their baseball cards.

Still, the buck ultimately stops with Stearns. He failed to learn from his mistakes in 2025, not doing nearly enough to strengthen a clear weakness in the starting pitching. Acquiring Freddy Peralta alone apparently wasn’t nearly enough given the slew of question marks in the rotation. Stearns also spent a large part of the offseason preaching about improving run prevention, which according to defensive runs saved, he has done. However, by jettisoning Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo to do so, the offense has bottomed out.

Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. have combined to play just 38 games all year. Marcus Semien, who was already a fading force offensively, has seen his defensive skills diminish too. To cap it off, Bo Bichette has underperformed greatly.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

What Now?

To hammer the point home, the Mets are 72-102 since June 12, 2025. While Mendoza and the players take some of the blame for that, it is Stearns who is ultimately the architect of that run.

What happens now remains to be seen.

If the players continue to fail at even the most fundamental basics, then the pressure on Stearns will only increase. His seat will only get warmer if he fails to execute the right strategy at the trade deadline. And the calls for Stearns’ head will only increase in volume if we see no improvement from this team the rest of the way.

With Mendoza gone, there is nobody else left to blame. And, if Stearns can’t fix the mess he created, then he may be next out of the door. And, if things don’t change, and soon, then that would probably be the fair and right decision.

The post Opinion: All Eyes Now On Stearns Following Mendoza Firing appeared first on Metsmerized.