It is June 12, and the Mets will finally play the Braves for the first time this season. The Mets had a heavy West Coast-favored schedule for the first portion of the season and welcomed a lot of AL and NL Central teams to Queens in April. As a weird scheduling quirk, it’s mid-June and the Mets still haven’t faced the Braves as well as the Phillies. All of that changes over the next week-and-a-half, though.

The Braves have been surging this year. The Mets have been struggling this year, but avoided the sweep at the hands of the Cardinals yesterday. They enter play today eight games below .500 and desperately need to close that gap.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Bo Bichette – SS
3. Juan Soto – LF
4. Jared Young – 1B
5. A.J Ewing – CF
6. Marcus Semien – 2B
7. Brett Baty – 3B
8. MJ Melendez – DH
9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean

McLean has made 13 starts this season totaling 72 1/3 innings with a 3.98 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 1.106 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. In late May, he had two rough starts, allowing 16 runs over that span. Since then, he has allowed two runs over 11 innings in two outings. McLean had a terrific start against the Braves last season, holding them to two runs over seven innings, scattering four hits while striking out seven.

The Braves have the following stats against McLean:

• Ozzie Albies 0-3
• Michael Harris II 0-3, K
• Matt Olson 0-3, 3 K
• Rowdy Tellez 2-3, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Mauricio Dubón – LF
2. Michael Harris II – CF
3. Matt Olson – 1B
4. Ozzie Albies – 2B
5. Dominic Smith – DH
6. Austin Riley – 3B
7. Mike Yastrzemski – RF
8. Ha-Seong Kim – SS
9. Austin Wynns – C

Strider has made seven starts this season totaling 36 innings with a 4.00 ERA, 4.46 FIP, 1.278 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. He is still trying to find a groove since returning to the mound this season. From May 9 to May 15, against the Dodgers and Red Sox, Strider allowed only one run over 11 1/3 innings. Since then, he has made four starts with a 5.06 ERA and 5.07 FIP. He’s allowed exactly three earned runs in each of those four starts.

The Mets have the following career stats against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 2-9, 2 HR, BB, 5 K
• Brett Baty 3-8, K
• Bo Bichette 1-6, 2B, 3 K
• MJ Melendez 0-2, K
• Marcus Semien 0-5
• Juan Soto 3-13, 6 BB, K
• Luis Torrens 0-1, BB, K
• Mark Vientos 0-5, 2 K
• Eric Wagaman 0-3, K

Game Notes

• President of baseball operations David Stearns told reporters that the club expects Francisco Lindor to appear in games for them in June, and he’ll continue to participate in simulated contests before likely heading out on a short rehab assignment as he recovers from a left calf strain that landed him on the injured list on April 23.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza noted that Kodai Senga will make another rehab start before the Mets consider activating him from the injured list. Senga, who was originally placed on the IL on April 28 with lumbar spine inflammation before dealing with ulnar nerve irritation, allowed one run over six innings for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Potentially a Battle of Aces. If we were talking about pitching matchups to watch before the season started, Strider vs. McLean would be near the top of the list. McLean has ace potential for the Mets, and was insanely good at the end of last season and the start of this season. Strider had 281 strikeouts in 2023 and has struggled with injuries since. He should be the Braves’ ace, but has to figure out how to get and stay healthy. Tonight could be a pitchers duel! Or not! Baseball!
2. Francisco Alvarez. Though he’s not starting tonight, Alvarez really is something else. He tore his meniscus on May 12 and had a recovery timeline of 6-8 weeks. He made it back to the lineup slightly less than a month later. In his first two games back, he went 2-for-7 with a two-run home run. Overall this season, he is slashing .246/.316/.410 with a 103 OPS+. Despite only playing in 40 games, his five home runs on the season is sixth on a Mets team that is struggling for power.
3. Jared Young. Young went three games without an extra-base hit. He’s back on it now, hitting a double on Wednesday and a home run on Thursday. Young went 2-for-4 yesterday with RBIs in two different plate appearances. He now has nine RBIs over 25 games, good for No. 11 on the Mets, just slightly behind batters who have played in almost 20 more games. Young is hitting .288/.360/.530 on the year with a 147 OPS+.

Let’s go Mets!

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They will try to start that against the Atlanta Braves (45-23), who have the best record in baseball. Not ideal. The Braves’ lineup is one of the best in baseball, scoring 5.15 runs per game. Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups this weekend.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Spencer Strider (4-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. Nolan McLean (3-4, 3.98 ERA): Strider began the year on the injured list with a left oblique strain, delaying his season debut until the first week of May. His numbers have been OK since returning. Strider has allowed three earned runs or less in all of his seven outings. But, he only has two quality starts over that stretch. His fastball velocity has remained in line with what he has produced in recent years. In 2022, his four-seamer averaged 98.2 MPH. This season, it’s at 95.3 MPH. McLean had a two-start stretch in which he gave up 13 earned runs over nine innings a few weeks ago. Since then, he is 1-0 with 1.64 ERA. One concern within that is the eight walks he has given up over his last two starts. McLean threw seven innings and earned the win in his only start against the Braves last season.
• Saturday: Martín Pérez (4-3, 3.02 ERA) vs. TBD: Pérez has boucned around quite a bit since making the All-Star team with the Texas Rangers in 2022. He has pitched for four teams in the last three years, working in a multitude of roles. That has certainly remained the same with the Braves. Four of his nine appearances have come as a reliever, but recently, he has been a part of the rotation. Pérez is 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA over his last 20 2/3 innings. His only quality start this season came on April 17 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets have yet to announce a starter for Saturday’s game, which likely means they will use an opener. Huascar Brazobán is their best option for that, as he has yet to give up a run in the first inning this season. The bulk guy is expected to be Sean Manaea, who has pitched must better of late. He owns a 3.20 ERA over his last five relief appearances, throwing at least three innings in each outing. Manaea has yet to make a traditional start this season.
• Sunday: Bryce Elder (5-3, 2.66 ERA) vs. Freddy Peralta (4-5, 4.04 ERA): Elder is one of many Braves that has had a bounce-back season. His start to the year was fantastic. At the end of April, Elder was 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA across seven starts. But his numbers have taken a slight dip since, pitching to a 3.46 ERA since the start of May. The long ball has hurt him during that stretch, allowing one in five of his last seven starts. Peralta is coming off his worst start as a Met; six runs allowed on six hits in six innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday. He has given up four runs or more in three of his last four starts. Not what you want to see from an experienced ace of Peralta’s caliber. He is 5-2 with 4.26 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Braves.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

The Mets have not won the season series against the Braves since 2017. Yes, that is not a typo. If that doesn’t showcase domination, I don’t know what will. The Mets are eight games under .500 and have yet to face Atlanta. Winning the season series over the Braves would go a long way towards helping them climb up the standings. At this point, that may be required if they are to get back into the playoff race. It’s a critical weekend for the Mets.

PREDICTION

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After finishing the road trip strong, the Mets dropped the first two games to St. Louis at Citi Field. Granted, the bats did wake up to avoid a series sweep.

However, all in all, the three-game series against the Cardinals was another reminder that the Mets have a lot of work to do just to get to .500.

On that gloomy note, let’s recap everything from the last three games in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

When his team needed him, Juan Soto really stepped up on Thursday. Facing a series sweep, Soto had a big day at the plate to ensure that particular scenario was avoided. The superstar hitter went 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in the finale. Soto’s solo shot came in the seventh inning and proved to be the deciding run. Granted, Soto went 1-for-6 in the previous two games, but his ability to come through in big moments meant that the Mets at least salvaged something from the series.

CLOSING IT OUT

One positive to emerge from this series was the performance of the bullpen. Granted, the bullpen game on Wednesday didn’t go to plan. But, outside of that, there were some money outings. Cionel Pérez tossed scoreless outings in back-to-back days. Then, on Thursday, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams combined to throw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Thursday’s win. Minter, Weaver, Raley and Williams have all been stellar as of late and are doing what has been asked of them.

IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYER

Jared Young has emerged as quite the contributor for this team. The veteran has stepped up and made the first base job his own. Furthermore, Young has gotten off to a hot start in June. He homered in the series finale against the Cardinals – his third homer this month. He also made it a tied game in the fifth with an RBI single. All in all, since returning from the IL, Young has provided a much-needed and unexpected offensive spark.

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

TIME TO PANIC?

This is not the Freddy Peralta the Mets thought they were getting. The veteran has been solid so far in Queens, but nothing more than that. However, he has struggled as of late, culminating in another rough outing on Tuesday. Peralta allowed six runs on six hits over six innings of work. He has now allowed at least four runs in three of his last four starts. Yikes, that isn’t good. What the Mets decide to do with Peralta remains to be seen. But, if he continues pitching like this, then his trade value will be at an all-time low by the time the trade deadline arrives.

DOWNWARDS TRAJECTORY

The David Peterson problem continues to worsen for the Mets. Serving as the bulk reliever for Wednesday’s game, Peterson got beat up. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, over 3 2/3 innings. As a result, Peterson has now allowed 12 runs in his last 12 2/3 innings. He owns a 5.75 ERA and appears to be trending in the wrong direction yet again. Peterson has now allowed at least six runs in four of his last 14 appearances, something he had never done more than three times previously in his career. And, with his command continuing to be an issue, it remains to be seen where the Mets go with Peterson from here.

SAME OLD STORY

At this point, we are where we are with the Mets offense. It was non-competitive for the first two games of the series, recording just two runs and eight hits. You can’t win games with an offense that ice cold. Sure, the bats did wake up somewhat in the series finale, but the damage was already done by that point. Over the first two games, we saw more of the same: no pulse, no adjustments, and a real lack of clutch hitting. Unless this offense can find some consistency, and that is hard to believe right now, then this team will continue to go nowhere.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Evade Sweep Against Cardinals appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Thursday’s performance stood out because it came after a stretch in which Soto had not looked like himself at the plate.

The Mets have bigger problems than one player’s slump, but Soto’s production carries unusual weight in their lineup. When he is driving the ball and controlling at-bats, the offense looks different. When he is not, there is significantly less margin for error around him.

John Jones-Imagn Images

Carlos Mendoza acknowledged as much after the win.

“A special player,” Mendoza said. “He is who he is but obviously we need some of the other guys to step up as well. He went cold…we kind of felt it.”

Thursday showed why.

The Mets entered the day having lost the first two games of the series and searching for signs of life. They jumped out to an early 3-1 lead behind a two-run homer from Bo Bichette and a solo shot from Jared Young, but Christian Scott could not hold it. St. Louis answered with three early home runs of their own, including a solo shot from Lars Nootbaar and a two-run homer from Jimmy Crooks, and they moved ahead 4-3 in the second inning. Scott ultimately allowed four runs and three homers in 4 2/3 innings, forcing the Mets to play from behind again.

Soto helped erase the deficit in the fifth, doubling to right field before scoring on Young’s game-tying single. It was his first extra-base hit since the start of his recent slump and another example of the quality contact he produced throughout the afternoon.

His biggest swing came two innings later, when he turned on a JoJo Romero fastball and drove it out to right-center field. The seventh-inning homer gave the Mets a 5-4 lead they would hold in a sweep-avoiding win.

The rest of the offense did not suddenly solve its larger issues. Outside of the three-run first inning, the Mets generated only two more runs, both tied directly to Soto. But after such a rough stretch, the quality of his contact stood out. The Mets have struggled to produce consistently, and when Soto is not impacting games, those problems become much more noticeable.

Mendoza still saw encouraging signs in the overall lineup.

“When we’re going well, you see the conviction when we’re making swing decisions, the way the barrel’s coming through the hitting zone and right away, you saw it,” Mendoza said.

Soto’s day fit that description. He lined a double to right field in the fifth and later got the fastball he was looking for from Romero in the seventh. After the game, Soto said he was “definitely hunting the fastball” and trying to react to anything off-speed. The result was the go-ahead home run that led to the win.

The timing mattered, too. The Mets entered the day having lost the first two games of the series and are still sitting eight games under .500. One win does little to change the bigger picture, and Mendoza acknowledged that afterward.

“I mean our record, I don’t feel good about our record obviously,” Mendoza said. “But we have an opportunity here to do something, right?”

That opportunity depends on more than Soto. Thursday was a good example. Young accounted for two of the Mets’ five runs with a first-inning homer and the game-tying RBI single in the fifth. Bichette’s two-run homer gave them an early lead. After Scott allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings, the bullpen took over and was terrific. A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings, preventing the game from getting away before Soto’s go-ahead homer and preserving the lead afterward.

Still, Soto remains central to any turnaround the Mets hope to make. It was enough that, after a brutal stretch, Soto affected the game in the exact ways the Mets had been missing.

The post Juan Soto’s Clutch Performance Helps Mets Avoid Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kevin Parada. Photo Credit: Herm Card

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (34-32) 1, Buffalo Bisons (30-36) 3

BOX SCORE

• CF Nick Morabito – 1-for-4, SB (18) (.729 OPS)
• 1B Ryan Clifford – 0-for-4, 2 K (.743 OPS)
• C Kevin Parada – 2-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K (.950 OPS)

Parada has been on a tear in Triple-A, performing like the player the Mets thought they were getting when they drafted him in the first round in 2022. While he has struck out in nearly 25% of his plate appearances, 33% of his hits have gone for extra bases and he has more RBIs (10 versus 7) than he did in Double-A with less than half the at-bats. Syracuse was going up against a rehabbing Shane Bieber, who allowed no runs on five hits in five innings.

• RHP Tobias Myers (0.00 ERA) 2 2/3 IP, 1 BB, 2 K (26 of 36 pitches for strikes)
• RHP Jack Wenninger (2.93 ERA) 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR allowed (54 of 87 pitches for strikes)

Wenninger pitched with a pair of openers and was hit hard in the fifth inning, allowing one of his two walks and four of his six hits in that inning. Myers, who looks like he may be stretching out for a rotation spot in Flushing, went 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, throwing 26 of 36 pitches for strikes.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (23-37) 1, Somerset Patriots (33-27) 3

BOX SCORE

• C Chris Suero – 1-for-3, 1 R, HR (9), 1 RBI (25), 1 BB, 1 K (.751 OPS)
• 3B Jacob Reimer – 1-for-4, 2B, SB (13) (.739 OPS)
• RF Eli Serrano III – 1-for-4, 1 K, CS (2) (.621 OPS)

I will keep writing a blurb for every Thursday game about how Suero’s slash lines make no sense, and as soon as the BABIP gods shine some light on him, his line will look much more respectable. Carrying a .750 OPS with a sub-.200 average while stealing 18 bases at the catcher position is just so rare to see. Only five Ponies had hits, with the six-through-nine hitters going 1-for-11 with one walk and four strikeouts. The Rumble Ponies played five players with batting averages under .200.

• *REHAB* RHP Kodai Senga (1.50 ERA) 6 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR allowed (51 of 75 pitches for strikes)

Senga looked very good on the mound, allowing one hit over six innings. With David Peterson‘s struggles continuing, it would seem like Senga will be called up for his next start unless New York decides to keep sending out openers and letting Peterson enter to face the end of the opposing lineup.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (23-36) 2, Frederick  Keys(37-20) 3

BOX SCORE

• C Ronald Hernandez – 2-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, SB (12) (.777 OPS)
• DH Daiverson Gutierrez – 0-for-4 (.530 OPS)
• 1B Corey Collins – 1-for-3, 1 RBI (22), 1 BB, 1 K (.757 OPS)

Hernandez’ 2026 season is now making him look like the better player the Mets received in the David Robertson trade, with a more aggressive approach and drawing walks at a rate well over his career average.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Kevin Parada Stays Hot For Syracuse appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Kodai Senga turned in his strongest rehab outing yet on Friday night. Senga allowed one run on one hit while striking out five over six innings for Double-A Binghamton. The right-hander threw 75 pitches, including 51 strikes, in what could be a significant step toward his return to the Mets rotation.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Kodai Senga by Berto Carlo

Latest Mets News

After dismal showings in the first two games of the series, the Mets jumped on the Cardinals’ pitching by hitting three home runs. Bo Bichette, Jared Young and Juan Soto all went deep, with Soto hitting the game-winning, go-ahead home run. For more on this game, check out our recap.

Luis Robert Jr. shared a positive update regarding his recovery. In an interview, aided by a translator and captured by SNY, he mentioned that he is not experiencing significant pain in his back and is consistently following the recovery plan provided by the team’s training staff. Robert also expressed his expectation to return to the field this season.

The Mets begin a crucial three-game weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. After salvaging the final game of the series versus St. Louis, the 39-38 Mets look to rebound and win a series against their division rivals, in hopes of inching closer to the .500 mark. The series opener, which is an Apple TV exclusive, will feature a marquee matchup between Spencer Stirider (4-1, 4.00 ERA) and Nolan McLean (3-4, 3.98 ERA).

Latest MLB News

Major League Baseball investigators plan to interview Dodgers head physician Neal ElAttrache following recent revelations about his support for Conor McGregor’s use of performance-enhancing drugs during injury recovery, as reported by Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times.

Dr. ElAttrache reportedly did not respond to a text message seeking comment on Thursday. This upcoming interview places the commissioner’s office in a unique position, as they will be questioning a doctor who not only serves one of baseball’s leading teams but is also a prominent figure in the sport. The Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series titles, are favorites to win again this year, and are regarded as one of the best-run franchises in sports.

The Phillies acquired center fielder Derek Hill and international bonus pool money from the White Sox in exchange for outfield prospect Dylan Campbell and infielder Jose Colmenares, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

White Sox manager Will Venable indicated that top pitching prospect Hagen Smith is among the candidates to start Saturday’s game, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score.

Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham plans to opt out of his minor league contract with the Orioles, according to Josh Tolentino of The Baltimore Sun. Pham has posted a 1.056 OPS with four home runs since May 31.

The White Sox acquired outfielder Nolan Jones and cash considerations from Cleveland in exchange for $250,000 in international bonus pool money. Jones will report to Triple-A Charlotte, according to the Chicago White Sox X account.

The Dodgers announced that pitcher Justin Wrobleski exited Friday’s game with a right hamstring contusion, while Shohei Ohtani left with left knee inflammation, according to the Los Angeles Dodgers X account.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi writes about David Peterson‘s continued struggles this season.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki writes about the New York Knicks being one win away from a title, a run that’s captivated all of New York.

On This Date in Mets History

1986: The Mets did not play a game on this date in 1986.

1964: The Mets signed Tug McGraw, a 1969 World Series champion and a 1993 inductee into the Mets Hall of Fame. McGraw famously coined the phrase “Ya Gotta Believe” during the team’s journey to winning the National League pennant in 1973. Over nine seasons with the Mets, he recorded a 3.17 ERA and saved 86 games.

Born on This Date: Thomas Szapucki (1996), Damon Buford (1970), Keith Miller (1963), Gerry Arrigo (1941).

The post Morning Briefing: Kodai Senga Records Solid Rehab Start appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

6:35 PM · Sahlen Field · Syracuse (34-31) at Buffalo (29-36)

Syracuse Lineup

1. Jihwan Bae, RF
2. Yonny Hernández, 2B
3. Nick Morabito, CF
4. Ryan Clifford, 1B
5. Andy Ibáñez, 3B
6. Jackson Cluff, SS
7. Grae Kessinger, DH
8. Matt Rudick, LF
9. Kevin Parada, C

Wenninger got saddled with the loss in his last outing, giving up three runs (one earned) and four hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Syracuse’s offense will face off against former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, who is on a rehab assignment for the Blue Jays.

6:35 PM · TD Bank Ballpark · Binghamton (23-36) at Somerset (32-27)

Binghamton Lineup

1. Chris Suero, C
2. Jacob Reimer, 3B
3. Eli Serrano III, RF
4. Jose Ramos, CF
5. JT Schwartz, 1B
6. Jaylen Palmer, LF
7. Wyatt Young, 2B
8. TT Bowens, DH
9. Kevin Villavicencio, SS

Senga was scratched from his last rehab outing due to ulnar nerve irritation. Over his three rehab starts, he has allowed seven earned runs in 12 innings, walking five and striking out 12.

6:40 PM · Maimonides Park · Frederick (36-20) at Brooklyn (23-35)

Brooklyn Lineup

1. Yonatan Henriquez, SS
2. Ronald Hernandez, C
3. Corey Collins, 1B
4. Daiverson Gutiérrez, DH
5. JT Benson, RF
6. Trace Willhoite, LF
7. Sam Biller, CF
8. Nick Roselli, 3B
9. Diego Mosquera, 2B

Carreno has been magnificent for St. Lucie, posting a 1.94 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. So far, six of his 11 appearances have been starts. Tonight’s game will be televised on SNY.

6:30 PM · Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium · St. Lucie (26-33) at Palm Beach (31-28)

St. Lucie Lineup

1. Elian Peña, SS
2. Antonio Jimenez, 3B
3. Yohairo Cuevas, DH
4. Julio Zayas, C
5. Jack Scanlon, 1B
6. Branny De Oleo, CF
7. Simon Juan, RF
8. Jackson Hauge, LF
9. Jeremy Rodriguez, 2B

Emilio Obispo will make the start on the mound for St. Lucie. Obispo took a tough loss in his last outing due to three unearned runs – he allowed just two hits and struck out five over four innings. He sports a strong 1.93 ERA with 27 strikeouts against six walks over 23 1/3 innings this season.

The post Mets Minors Game Chat: Senga Resumes Rehab Assignment appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

One day after the Knicks’ epic comeback win in the NBA Finals, the Mets showed some resilience themselves, coming back twice to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 and avoid a sweep.

Juan Soto homered in the seventh inning with the game tied 4-4 to put the Mets ahead for good. New York bounced back from a first-inning 1-0 deficit, thanks to a two-run homer by Bo Bichette and a solo shot by Jared Young.

They fell behind again on a rough second inning by starter Christian Scott. The righty allowed a solo homer, a double and a two-run homer to the first three batters of the inning to give the Cards a 4-3 lead. Scott labored through 4 2/3 innings with seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts.

Young delivered again in the fifth, tying up the game on a single to score Soto. The Mets’ bullpen was spectacular, holding the Cards hitless and scoreless in 4 1/3 innings of work. Brooks Raley got the win and Devin Williams secured the save, with A.J. Minter and Luke Weaver also keeping the Cardinals at bay.

“When we’re going well, you see the conviction when we’re making swing decisions,” Carlos Mendoza said after the game. “The way the barrel’s coming through the hitting zone and right away, you saw it.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Young hit his fourth homer of the year and erased the Mets’ deficit with his RBI single. He continues to be an offensive force when called upon and is hitting .288 with four homers, nine RBIs and an .890 OPS.

UP NEXT

It doesn’t get any easier for the Mets as they host the first-place Atlanta Braves for three games starting Friday. Nolan McLean (3–4, 3.98 ERA), who has allowed just two runs combined in his last two starts over 11 innings, takes the mound. Atlanta, with a 15-game lead over New York, has yet to name a starter. Game time is scheduled for 7:15 PM ET on Apple TV.

The post Homers, Bullpen Help Mets Salvage Finale Against Cardinals appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The Mets look to salvage one game of the series this afternoon against the Cardinals. Last night was just an abysmal night for the Mets, who were down 7-0 by the time the Knicks game started. Unlike the Knicks, the Mets were not able to dig deep and stage a comeback for the ages. Maybe last night’s Knicks win will inspire the Mets this afternoon.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Carson Benge – RF
2. Bo Bichette – SS
3. Juan Soto – DH
4. Jared Young – 1B
5. A.J. Ewing – CF
6. Marcus Semien – 2B
7. Brett Baty – 3B
8. Francisco Alvarez – C
9. MJ Melendez – LF

Starting Pitcher: Christian Scott

Christian Scott has pitched 36 innings over eight starts this season with a 2.50 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 1.306 WHIP and a 165 ERA+. In his last three starts, he has allowed only one run on 12 hits and six walks over 16 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 16 batters over this stretch. This will be Scott’s first time facing the Cardinals, and no one on the Cardinals roster has faced Scott in a major league game.

Opposing Lineup

1. JJ Wetherholt – 2B
2. Ivan Herrera – DH
3. Alec Burleson – 1B
4. Jordan Walker – RF
5. Lars Nootbaar – LF
6. Masyn Winn – SS
7. Jimmy Crooks – C
8. Nolan Gorman – 3B
9. Nathan Church – CF

Hunter Dobbins is getting the start today for the Cardinals. He’s pitched 13 innings over three games this season with a 2.77 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 1.308 WHIP and a 148 ERA+. His season debut was a traditional start against the Pirates on April 30th, and he allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings. His last two outings have been in bulk relief, allowing only one run over 8 2/3 innings. His last time out, he pitched five innings with 78 pitches. The Mets have the following career stats against Dobbins:

• Francisco Alvarez 2-2, 2B
• Brett Baty 0-2
• Juan Soto 0-2
• Mark Vientos 0-2

Game Notes

• Francisco Alvarez is 2-for-7 with a home run in two games since returning from the injured list.
• Thursday marks the fourth straight game without Mark Vientos in the lineup. Vientos finds himself in a 4-for-38 slump.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Get On Base! The Mets are doing that thing again where the offense just disappears. On Tuesday night, the Mets had five hits and no runs. Last night, the Mets had only three hits and scored two runs, thanks to Francisco Alvarez. In addition to the Mets getting only three hits, they worked only two walks. The offense over the last couple of days has been so bad that Bo Bichette and Luis Torrens slipped back to a sub-.600 OPS.
2. Bullpen is still rested! On Tuesday night, Joey Gerber and Cionel Pérez pitched for three innings of relief. Last night, Pérez and Jonathan Pintaro combined for 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball after David Peterson struggled in bulk relief. The Mets’ big relievers (Raley, Weaver, Brazobán, Minter and Williams) haven’t pitched since last Sunday. Hopefully, the Mets put the bats in a position to use the big guns.
3. Juan Soto. The Mets need their superstar today. Soto lit the world on fire at the end of May, going 13-for-35 with seven home runs over 10 games. In June, Soto has gone 3-for-30, all singles with four walks (.100/.206/.100).

Let’s go Mets!

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The Knicks now stand just one win away from their first title since the 1972-73 season. That season’s Knicks team was led by point guard (and now beloved analyst) Walt “Clyde” Frazier and veteran forwards Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley. Franchise stalwart Willis Reed gritted through injuries, rounding out the starting five with shooting guard Earl Monroe. The Knicks breezed through the Baltimore Bullets in five games before battling with League MVP Dave Cowens and the Boston Celtics in a hard-fought seven-game series. The Celtics rallied back from a 3-1 series deficit to extend the series, but back in Boston for Game 7, Frazier dominated with 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while New York’s defense held Boston to a weak 37% shooting night.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Knicks matched up against Wilt Chamberlain’s Lakers, and much like this year’s series, every game went down to the wire. The Knicks nearly pulled off a huge comeback in the fourth quarter of the series opener, ultimately falling, 115-112. In Game 2, the Knicks survived an onslaught from Jerry West and Jim McMillan, evening up the series with a 99-95 victory behind Bradley’s 26 points and backup big man Phil Jackson’s 17 points off the bench. Game 3 was a defensive battle, with Reed finding his vintage form to rack up 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Knicks to an 87-83 win.

In Game 4, the Knicks built a 13-point lead in the first quarter and withstood a late rally by the Lakers, thanks in large part to DeBuscherre’s 33 points and another strong showing from Reed, who scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Back at The Forum in Game 5, the Knicks faced a halftime deficit, but a dominant 32-18 run put the Knicks ahead for good, securing the team’s second NBA championship with a 102-93 victory. Reed, who posted 18 points and 12 rebounds in the finale, won Finals MVP, while Monroe and Bradley each scored over 20 points, and Frazier chipped in 18.

Since then, the Knicks have gotten close to glory a couple of times. In the 1994 Finals, the Knicks took a 3-2 series over the Houston Rockets, but Hakeem Olajuwon dominated the final two games in Houston to hand New York a series defeat. In the strike-shortened 1999 season, the Knicks stunned the league by becoming the first eight-seed to make the Finals. However, the Spurs’ duo of 22-year-old Tim Duncan and grizzly veteran David Robinson was far too much to handle, as the Knicks fell in five games.

The Knicks are on the verge of avenging that 1999 Finals and putting 27 years of frustration in the rearview mirror. At every turn, the whole city has been behind them. Wednesday’s comeback was another example of this team’s resilience, and now they just have to finish the job.

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