Position: SP, B/T: R/R

Player Data: Age: 34 (02/13/1990)

2024 Traditional Stats: 29 GS, 170.2 IP, 3,80 ERA, 1.107 WHIP, 12-8, 166 SO, 42 BB

2024 Advanced Stats: 23.9% K%, 6.0% BB%, 3.86 xERA, 3.83 FIP, 3.47 xFIP, 2.7 fWAR

Rundown

The Mets’ starting pitching was a strength in 2024, yet they have at least three spots to fill in free agency if they wish to build upon their deep postseason run going into 2025. Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Jose Quintana have all hit free agency. Replacing their production won’t be an easy task as they were all main cogs that kept the rotation chugging along deep into the summer and through October. Starting pitching is surely a market in which you can expect David Stearns to be active in December.

Nathan Eovaldi, entering his 14th major league season, has become a pro’s pro throughout his career. He’s relied heavily on his fastball throughout the years, and in 2024 threw it 37.4% of his pitches. He has an excellent splitter that he has leaned on more and more as the years go by, throwing it a career-high 30.8% of the time in 2024. Those two pitches are at the forefront of his repertoire while mixing in a cutter and slider at much lower rates. His fastball has come down a couple of ticks since his earlier days, but still consistently throws the pitch in the 94-96mph range.

Eovaldi has been as reliable as they come when he’s healthy ever since missing the 2017 season due to his second Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow. He’s finished with a sub-four ERA in six of his last seven campaigns, with the lone bad year coming in 2019 with the Boston Red Sox which saw him move to the bullpen for the second half of the season. He has started 20+ games in each of the past four seasons, including 2024 where he logged 29 starts – the most since his first of two all-star appearances in 2021 where he started 32 games.

Contract

MLB Trade Rumors projects the veteran right-hander to land a two-year, $44 million contract this offseason with a pair of familiar teams being linked to him in the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees. The Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants were two other teams they figured could be interested in his services. After the Dodgers’ recent signing of Blake Snell, the Giants are going to need to find ways to replace his production in their rotation.

Expect a deal for Eovaldi to fall between one and two years with whichever team he winds up landing with. He’ll be 35 years old by the time Opening Day rolls around, and it would be hard to imagine a team locking him in for anything longer than that.

Recommendation

Recent reports and ties between Stearns and Corbin Burnes from their Milwaukee Brewers days together suggest the Mets will at least be in on him as one of their primary focus. If the Mets fail to land Burnes, and miss out on one of, or both of Manaea and Severino, Eovaldi would be a nice addition as a proven veteran to their rotation. I don’t think Eovaldi should be or will be any kind of priority to the Mets.

He recently won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and the club could look to bring him back on a team-friendly deal over the winter after a down year for the club in 2024. Eovaldi also has been in the American League for the majority of his career and hasn’t pitched for a National League club since being a member of the Miami Marlins in 2014.

The post Free Agent Profile: Nathan Eovaldi, SP appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Photo by Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Offensive Player of the Week: Pete Alonso

Mets fans across the globe were tuned into the ninth inning at the edge of their seats in Milwaukee on Thursday, many of whom thought they were watching the last at-bat Alonso will ever take wearing the Mets orange and blue across his chest. Brewers’ two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams would deliver his best pitch, his changeup, making matters even more difficult. And then the unthinkable happened. Alonso took that changeup deep to right field to give the Mets the lead before securing the win in the bottom half of the inning.

Perhaps it was fate or destiny, or the powers of OMG and Grimace combined. Williams had only allowed one home run across 21 2/3 innings during his regular season. Alonso is the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run while trailing in the 9th inning or later of a winner-take-all postseason game. It was also the first opposite-field home run Williams ever allowed. He debuted in 2019, just like Alonso.

His big three-run homer wasn’t the only important at-bat attributed to Alonso this week. He followed up that moment with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. His sac fly improved the Mets’ lead to 3-1 and played a factor in their 5-run inning. In Game 2 on Sunday, he hit a solo shot again to right field to put the Mets on top 4-0, which, at the time, looked like a big enough lead to hold onto the win.

David Peterson. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Pitcher of the Week: David Peterson

Peterson has been used in a different role thus far in the postseason. After making 21 appearances in the regular season, all as a starter, he was thrust into the bullpen during the short series in Milwaukee. He earned the save in the Mets’ Game 3 come-from-behind victory after Edwin Díaz had pitched earlier to record the five outs leading up to the big moment.

I think most expected Peterson to get the ball to start Game 1 in Philadelphia before the shocking announcement that Kodai Senga was returning from the Injured List to make the start. Carlos Mendoza used Senga for two innings before turning to Peterson in long relief. He turned in a gritty performance for his squad, throwing three scoreless innings despite allowing three walks and just one hit. It wasn’t the best stuff he has displayed, but he sure did his part to help the Mets get the win.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Honorable Mention: Mark Vientos

Words can’t possibly describe what Vientos has done for this team throughout the regular season and in the playoffs. For a guy who didn’t crack the Opening Day roster, he’s easily become a top-three hitter for the Mets, possibly even the top spot on any given day.

In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, he gave the Mets the lead in the fifth inning, lining a single with two outs and the bases loaded. His two-RBI single put the Mets on top 6-4, and they never looked back. When the Mets offense struggled to get on the board on Saturday in Philadelphia, it was Vientos again who stepped up with an RBI single to tie the game in the eighth inning, the first of five Mets runs in the inning. If that wasn’t enough, Vientos hit a pair of two-run home runs, including the game-tying shot in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Phillies.

He seemingly steps up in every big situation dealt to him. Back in April, he smacked a walk-off homer against the St. Louis Cardinals, then, in early September, hit a walk-off homer against Cincinnati to keep the Mets in the thick of the Wild Card race. He’s quickly becoming one of the best young bats in Major League Baseball.

Up Next

The Mets will host Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday evening with an earlier than usual start time at 5:08pm (Thanks MLB). Make sure to zoom out of the office and get to your favorite spot to catch the first pitch, and if you’ll be at Citi Field, do your part to make that place rowdy!

The post POTW: Alonso Makes History, Peterson Shows Grit appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This week, the Mets’ offense set a franchise record, scoring double-digit runs in three straight games for the first time in club history, and received contributions from top to bottom. This week’s players went above and beyond to earn their honors.

Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Offensive Player of the Week: Luisangel Acuña

It didn’t take long for Acuña to make a strong impression to start his Major League career, and his call up may not have happened if Lindor hadn’t suffered a back injury. I don’t think anybody could have expected Acuña to replace Lindor’s level of production at the plate in his first week, but he did just that. It was a huge blow when the news came out that Lindor would miss at least a handful of games in the home stretch of a playoff run. Acuña’s combination of speed, contact, power and strong defensive play has given the bottom of the lineup a shot of adrenaline.

Acuña quickly silenced the conversation about whether his power will translate to the next level by hitting three home runs this week, especially considering he only homered seven times across 547 at-bats with Syracuse this season. He might not have the same pure power as his older brother Ronald Acuña Jr., but he’s proving early on that his bat can play. He’s potentially playing his way into regular at-bats even when Lindor returns from injury.

Acuña finished his week 8-for-19 with three homers, two doubles, a triple, six RBIs and six runs.

Sean Manaea. Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

Pitcher of the Week: Sean Manaea

Manaea is having a career year in his first season in Flushing, and he has only gotten better as each game becomes increasingly more important. He’s been able to pitch deep into games at a consistent clip since the beginning of July. It took Manaea until July 2 to get through seven full innings in a game. He’s now done it nine times this season, including three times each in the past three months showing how consistent he has been. This week he tallied on two of those games in back-to-back starts.

He was magnificent in Monday’s walk-off win against the Nationals despite not being credited with the win. In seven innings, he picked up six strikeouts while allowing one earned run and four hits. His start on Saturday wasn’t as clean, allowing two solo home runs including a first-inning leadoff homer to Kyle Schwarber. Manaea kept his squad in the ballgame with a low pitch count that allowed him to go deep into the game. He allowed three earned runs on three hits and struck out six.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Honorable Mention: Francisco Alvarez

Fans have been waiting for an Alvarez power surge all season and he has tapped into that portion of his game recently. He clobbered three home runs across 18 at-bats and picked up seven RBIs this week. Alvarez has hit five home runs in his last eight games when in the starting lineup. Having him and Acuña simultaneously produce at a high clip at the bottom of the lineup is a big reason the offense has picked it up so quickly, and Alvarez has shown to step up his game when the lights shine the brightest.

Up Next

The Mets on Tuesday start the most important series of their season in Atlanta. With the Braves looking through the window two games behind the Mets in the Wild Card standings, this series will be vital for either team’s odds to play deep into October.

The post POTW: Acuña Impresses, Manaea Cements Ace Status appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Offensive Player of the Week: Francisco Alvarez

While Alvarez has been fantastic on the defensive side of the ball and working well with the pitching staff, he has fallen short of his offensive expectations for much of the year. Before his three-run homer on Tuesday, a big part of the Mets’ six-run ninth inning, Alvarez had gone 49 at-bats without one. We’ve seen flashes of his raw power; we just haven’t seen him string it together for a consistent stretch.

Alvarez opened up the scoring in Friday night’s offensive surge for the Mets with another three-run homer off Aaron Nola. It was a high fly ball that clashed off the left field foul pole, traveling an estimated 378 feet with an exit velocity of 99.4 mph. He has the type of power to find extra-base hits in bunches when he’s at the top of the game, and if he can add a few more during the final 13 games, it will be a huge boost.

His stats for the week included going 5-for-18 at the plate with two home runs, six RBIs and a walk while scoring three runs.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher of the Week: Jose Quintana

Quintana is pitching at his best over his last four starts, allowing only one earned run across 25 innings, good for a 0.36 ERA. His resurgence couldn’t have happened at a better time for the Mets, as they make a run for a Wild Card ticket. Not only is he pitching effectively, but he’s pitching deeper into games by getting into the seventh or better in three of the past four starts.

Friday night’s performance was nothing short of spectacular for the veteran southpaw in a lopsided 11-3 victory. Quintana tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing only three baserunners. He held the high-powered offense to a pair of singles and a double off the bat of former MVP Bryce Harper. It was Quintana’s first start without allowing a free pass since May 28.

Every game has more value this time of year, especially in the thick of a playoff race. The Mets will lean on Quintana at least two more times down the stretch, and it would be a massive boost if he can keep up this level of play.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Jose Iglesias

Iglesias has been the unsung hero of the Mets 2024 Mets. It’s that simple. He doesn’t put off the power numbers that will light up the scorecard, yet he is as consistent of a player both offensively and defensively as there is across the game right now. For a guy who was signed to a Minor League contract in the offseason before beginning his season in Triple-A Syracuse, he has provided a huge spark wherever you plug him into the lineup.

Jeff McNeil‘s season-ending injury earlier this month paved the way for Iglesias’ name to be penciled in at second base every day for the stretch run. On Saturday, he led off in the batting order with Francisco Lindor dealing with back soreness. He started the game with a base hit and tallied two hits in Lindor’s absence, showing he can handle the bat no matter where you put him.

This week, he finished 8-for-22 at the plate, including one extra-base hit in Tuesday’s loss in Toronto. He’s an old-fashioned table-setter who scored five runs in six games, creating scoring with his constant knack of getting on base. Showing off his high IQ at the dish, he did not strike out in any at-bats this week.

Up Next

The Mets return to Citi Field to host the surging Washington Nationals Monday night for a three-game series. Tied for the final Wild Card spot with a Braves team picking up steam, they cannot afford to look past a developing team and must take care of business to maintain a promising position. With a four-game series against the Phillies coming up and a series with the Braves and Brewers to close out the season, the time is now to take control of their destiny.

The post POTW: Quintana, Alvarez Deliver in the Clutch appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Offensive Player of the Week: Mark Vientos

Vientos has been nothing short of spectacular for the Mets this season. His power and ability to come up in the clutch have been impressive after a rough beginning to his Major League career over his first 81 games spanning two seasons. He currently leads the team with a .893 OPS and will likely finish the season with the team lead. Despite only playing in 93 games, he ranks fourth in extra-base hits (44) and fifth in RBIs (62). While many knew of his potential upside coming up in the ranks, I don’t think anyone could have quite expected this quick turnaround, and his play this season will earn him the starting third base job heading into 2025 and beyond.

The highlight of Vientos’ week came Friday when he swatted two two-run homers in a 6-4 win against the Reds, including a walk-off blast in the tenth inning. He put on a show for the fans in attendance. Vientos finished the week at the plate going 6-for-19 with three home runs, five RBIs and two walks.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Pitcher of the Week: Luis Severino

The veteran right-hander was signed to a low-risk, high-reward one-year contract in the offseason, and it has paid off tremendously for both sides. Severino has been a consistent cog at the front of the Mets’ rotation all season long, seemingly getting better down the stretch run when the team needs him the most. He’s on pace to start 30+ games for the first time since 2018 when he was a member of the Yankees.

He tossed seven innings of one-run ball on Monday against the Boston Red Sox, allowing six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It was the sixth start that Sevy completed seven or more innings this season. He followed up Monday’s win with another solid outing on Sunday against the Reds, where he pitched six and two-thirds innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with eight punch outs.

Photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Honorable Mention: Francisco Lindor

Mets fans are showing their love for Lindor, showering him with M-V-P chants at Citi Field. The MVP candidate went 7-for-24 at the plate, collecting three multi-hit games this week. He tacked on four more RBIs to his team-leading 84 and scored his 100th run in Saturday’s game. With less than 20 games remaining, he has a real chance to receive top-place MVP votes.

Up Next

The Mets head north of the border to take on the Toronto Blue Jays in inter-league play starting Monday for a three-game series before a weekend series against divisional rival Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Paul Blackburn is expected to make his first start since August 23, when a comeback line drive struck him on his throwing hand before landing on the Injured List with a hand contusion. The deadline pickup will look to get the Mets right back in the win column, going full force into the final stretch of the regular season.

The post POTW: Vientos Plays Hero, Severino Holds It Down appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Offense Player of the Week: Francisco Lindor

Lindor has officially caught fire at the plate, and the Mets couldn’t have asked for it at a better time. The shortstop is on a 23-game on-base streak dating back to July 31. Lindor added four multi-hit games this week while facing some tough opposing pitchers. With his second-half surge, even since the beginning of May, Lindor is playing his way into the National League MVP conversation with a league-leading 6.5 fWAR. Shohei Ohtani and Ketel Marte are names to watch, and while Lindor likely has not surpassed both of them, he’s sure making a case for it if his play leads the Mets into the playoffs.

He powered the team to a win in Saturday’s matchup in San Diego with a multi-home run game that included a grand slam to put the Mets up 5-0. It was his fourth multi-home run game this season and his third since July 22. With 5 RBIs in the game, he tied his season high and increased his team-leading total to 78.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher of the Week: David Peterson

Peterson looked sharp in two outings this week, with both performances leading to wins. He combined for 14 1/3 innings, ten strikeouts, 11 hits and only three earned runs in his two starts. The 6’6″ left-hander had not completed seven innings until his start on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles before he quickly followed that up on Saturday with 7 1/3 innings.

Peterson isn’t getting the recognition he deserves, and his season numbers are more than impressive for a guy with his fair share of highs and lows across his career. Across 15 starts, he boasts an 8-1 record with a 2.85 ERA, more than two runs lower than his 2023 earned run average (5.03). If the Mets capitalize, he should be the team’s number three postseason starter alongside Luis Severino and Sean Manaea. With recently acquired Paul Blackburn heading to the Injured List, the team will continue to rely on strong performances from Peterson down the stretch.

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Honorable Mention: Mark Vientos

Vientos went 8-for-29 at the plate with a pair of home runs and six RBIs this week. With his home run on Sunday, he has the most home runs by a third baseman in the National League this season. The 24-year-old slugger has finally put it together offensively and leads the team with a .885 OPS in 303 at-bats.

Up Next

The Mets will be off Monday before taking on the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks, who have caught fire at just the right time, similar to what they did in 2023. This is a crucial three-game series for both teams: if the Mets want to open up their chances for a Wild Card spot even more so, what better way to do it than against two teams directly above them in the standings?

The post POTW: Lindor, Peterson Come Up in The Clutch appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Aug 17, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Player of the Week: Francisco Lindor

Lindor has thrown his hat into the conversation for the National League Most Valuable Player award, although he is still behind the likes of Shohei Ohtani and Ketel Marte. Considering a dormant start to his 2024 campaign and the fact he did not make the All-Star team, it speaks volumes that he is floating around the MVP conversation due to his strong performance ever since the beginning of May. It doesn’t hurt the fact that entering Monday, Lindor leads NL players in WAR at 5.9. Ohtani is second at 5.8 and Ketel Marte in third at 5.4.

He finished the week 9-for-26 at the plate with two home runs, five RBIs and seven runs scored while adding a double and triple each. Lindor was consistent all week, producing three multi-hit games, raising his season batting average to .264. He now has 42 multi-hit games this season.

Lindor led off Saturday afternoon’s game with a solo shot to put the Mets on top 1-0 in a game that saw the team score in each of the first four innings and never looked back. He stepped up to the plate with runners on 1st and 2nd in the bottom of the ninth inning, trailing by a run on Sunday with a chance to play the hero, but just missed a walk-off three-run homer by no less than five feet. Mark Vientos would go on to strikeout swinging to end the game for a Mets loss.

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Pitcher of the Week: Luis Severino

Severino was lights out on Saturday against a depleted Marlins lineup, where he pitched a complete game shutout in a 4-0 win. It was the first shutout for Severino since 2018, which was the last time he had made it onto an All-Star roster. The most recent complete game shutout by a Mets pitcher came on April 23, 2021, by no other than Jacob deGrom.

What made Sevy’s dominant performance all the more impressive was pitching through some tough weather that included heavy rain at one point and wet fields throughout much of it. He kept his pitch count down in the early innings, allowing Carlos Mendoza to lean on the hot hand going down the stretch. Mendoza took a mound visit in the ninth inning after Jake Burger was hit by a pitch. Whatever he and Severino talked about, the Mets manager felt comfortable enough to stick with his starter the rest of the way, and it paid off.

Severino finished his outing with eight strikeouts, allowing only four hits and one walk. It was a great sign to see the veteran right-hander bounce back after a handful of not-so-great outings in his previous three starts.

Pete Alonso, photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Pete Alonso

The Polar Bear put together a solid week, blasting two home runs with six RBIs. In the Mets’ 9-1 victory over Oakland on Wednesday, Alonso went 4-for-4 at the dish, which included a home run and 3 RBIs. He’s been moved around in the batting order recently, but it hasn’t seemed to change his approach at the plate. This team could hugely benefit from a hot streak of his down the stretch run with the wildcard race being so close.

Up Next

The Mets host the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field for a three-game series starting Monday night. They’re one of the top teams in the American League and are currently fighting for the top position in the AL East with the New York Yankees. The Mets will then travel back to the West Coast to take on the scorching-hot San Diego Padres, who currently hold the first NL Wild Card spot, for a four-game weekend series.

The post POTW: Severino Tosses a Gem, Lindor Stays Hot appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

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Pitcher of the Week: Paul Blackburn

Blackburn has shown the ability to pitch to contact and limit the damage once runners get on base, and his performance on Wednesday in Colorado was a reflection of that. There isn’t a whole lot of Blackburn’s game that jumps across the scorecard, but he is every bit of a gamer. In a hitter-friendly ballpark at Coors Field, he turned in a solid stat line of six innings, five hits, two walks, six strikeouts while allowing two runs (one earned).

In two starts with the Mets he’s been a very effective option in the starting rotation. While some fans wanted to see David Stearns swing a deal for a higher profile player, reports suggest the asking price for frontline starters were too high for Stearns’ liking. So far, Blackburn has been a welcomed addition to the backend of the rotation.

Honorable Mention: Sean Manaea

Manaea gets the nod for his outstanding performance on Monday against the Cardinals, despite getting roughed up in Seattle over the weekend where he lasted three innings with three runs charged to his name. Manaea pitched seven shutout innings, which included 10 strikeouts, Monday.

Hitter of the Week: Francisco Lindor

The offense over the weekend was about as bad as it’s been this season. They scored one run in 27 innings. But despite that, Francisco Lindor still produced, as he did in the four games previous to the weekend.

Across the week, Lindor had 10 hits (two doubles), scored three runs, knocked in three more, and stole a base. His slash line was .323/.344/.387/.721. It won’t go down as his best week as a Met, but he was one of the few consistencies in a week of no-shows.

Up Next

The Mets will have a much needed off day on Monday coming back home from the west coast. They have an opportunity in front of them to potentially make up some ground in the Wild Card race, hosting two teams that find themselves in last place of their respective divisions in the Oakland A’s and Miami Marlins. Blackburn will take the mound to make his third start in a Mets uniform on Tuesday night against his former team.

The post Players of the Week: Blackburn, Lindor Turn in Strong Showings During Rough Week appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

J.D. Martinez, Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Player of the Week: J.D. Martinez

The veteran slugger produced with runners on base throughout the week, leading the offense with eight RBIs across six games. Four of those eight came from one swing of the bat when he belted a go-ahead grand slam to center field off Angels’ pitcher Hunter Strickland on Saturday. Despite the big blast, the Mets fell short 5-4 after a three-run long ball from Angels’ shortstop Zach Neto.

Martinez started the week hot, collecting two RBIs and one run scored in Monday night’s 15-2 victory. His RBIs came via a sac fly that capped a six-run 4th inning and a fielder’s choice later in the 6th. Following his solid performance, he got the offense on the board with an RBI single in Tuesday’s victory, a game where the Mets pitched a shutout.

J.D.’s final stats of the week saw him go 6-for-16 at the plate while drawing five walks and scoring twice. He added a double for his second extra-base hit of the week to pair with his grand slam in Anaheim. Through 298 at-bats this season, Martinez is hitting .265/.348/.450 with a .798 OPS. While he isn’t hitting for the type of power he has in the past, he’s been an important cog in the middle of the lineup who has lined up well slated in front of Alonso in the order.

Pitcher of the Week: Sean Manaea

Manaea struggled in his first two starts after the All-Star break against the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees, but boy did he bounce back this week with a masterful performance at Citi Field Tuesday. It was the day after the Mets’ offense exploded for 15 runs in a 15-2 routing over the Twins. Naturally, the following day was a pitchers’ duel where Manaea led the way to a 2-0 victory.

He tossed seven scoreless innings while only allowing three total baserunners, including two hits and one walk. He dialed up the strike zone with 70 of 96 pitches thrown for strikes (73%). Manaea set his season high in strikeouts with 11 on the day, and it was the second time he recorded double-digit strikeouts in a game this season.

Manaea is tied for wins with Luis Severino on the team after picking up his seventh win Wednesday. In an era where pitchers’ wins aren’t valued as highly, it’s no surprise two players who have been the most consistent in the rotation co-lead that category.

Pete Alonso, Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Pete Alonso

Alonso gets the honorable mention this week after swatting two home runs in part of two wins. In their blowout victory on Monday, he started the hitting party with a solo shot, which tied the game at one, while picking up a double later that night. His go-ahead two-run home run on Friday gave the Mets a 3-1 lead, a lead they never gave back before closing it out 5-1. With his power performance, Alonso regained the team lead for home runs this season (23), with Francisco Lindor trailing behind with 22.

Up Next

The Mets make a quick pit stop in St. Louis on Monday to play a make-up game against the Cardinals starting at 5:15 PM EST. This game had originally been scheduled for May 8 before it was rained out. The team will then once again travel out west to take on the Rockies and Mariners before returning home to Flushing next week.

The post Players of the Week: Martinez, Manaea Highlight Split Week appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jul 24, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) watches his two run home run against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Player of the Week: Francisco Lindor

Lindor is powering his way through the beginning of the second half of the 2024 season. He is on quite a power surge lately, smacking five home runs across 29 at-bats this week, including a pair of two home run games. He hit a pair of solo shots in Monday’s 6-4 victory in Miami. Two days later, Lindor hit another duo of long balls in a 12-3 routing of the Yankees, hitting one from both sides of the plate at Yankee Stadium. Lindor leads the team with 22 homers this season, with Pete Alonso trailing by only one after homering in Sunday’s loss to the Braves.

Lindor combined to go 8-for-29 at the dish with five home runs and ten RBIs in seven games. He also added one double and one walk to help inflate his OPS to .807 on the year. His recent hot stretch has even garnered some MVP chants at Citi Field. It’s safe to say the fans are all aboard the Lindor train. He joins only Shohei Ohtani with 20+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases across Major League Baseball this season.

Jul 25, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Luis Severino (40) delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher of the Week: Luis Severino

Severino looks sharp out of the break, picking up right where he left off. He continued to do so in the series opener of the four-game set against the Braves. It was a big series for both teams as they battled out positioning for the NL Wild Card, and his performance Thursday night proved to have a little extra importance, with the Mets dropping the weekend portion of the series.

The veteran right-hander looked solid through his first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth before being pulled without recording an out in the inning. His final line included two earned runs, seven hits, six strikeouts and two walks. While he didn’t pick up the win, he kept the team in a tight game before the Mets offense put the game away with a walk-off hit in the 10th inning. With Senga returning to the injured list with a calf strain, Severino once again will be relied upon to go deeper into games and lead this starting rotation with the way he’s been performing.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Jeff McNeil

If it hadn’t been for Lindor’s five long balls this week, McNeil would have earned the Player of the Week honors. After seeing his playing time take a hit due to lack of production before the break, McNeil made it into the starting lineup in all seven games this week for the Mets. He went 9-for-26 with two home runs, four doubles, six RBIs and five runs scored over the week.

McNeil has found himself in a groove since the All-Star break. He’s blasted four homers in ten games since the break, almost doubling his season total in the short amount of time. With nine home runs on the year, he had only five total going into the break. Before his recent run, he had been having by far the worst season in his Major League career, and it seemed like a possibility that he wouldn’t finish this season in a Mets uniform. He’s worked his way to nix that conversation with his much-improved play, and if he keeps it up, it makes the Mets lineup that much deeper.

Up Next

The Mets will host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series starting Monday night at Citi Field. It will be the first time this season that these two teams square off against each other. Like the Mets, the Twins find themselves with one of the three Wild Card spots in their respective leagues. It should make for a fun and competitive inter-league series.

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