The Mets came up short against the Phillies. The Jean Segura two-run homer in the 10th inning off Miguel Castro was the difference Monday. They earned a four-game split and missed an opportunity to move up in the standings. 

This time, Castro was the culprit. He was supposed to fortify a bullpen for games like this. Instead, Castro has allowed go-ahead runs in two of his four games out of the pen.

Edwin Diaz? He threw a scoreless inning and that move to bring in Castro has been questioned. The home run took away the momentum and putting the Mets in great position going into a two game-series with a rebuilding and good hitting Orioles’ team at Citi Field. 

Instead, the Brewers, Rockies, and Marlins are in reach of that final NL postseason spot. The Mets, despite erasing a six-run deficit are four games under .500.

And here we go again. Momentum, putting a string of important wins together begins Tuesday night with 18-games remaining. 

Okay. You, me, every Mets fan will have to get over this gut wrenching loss. From the beginning of this truncated 60-game season it was winning these September stretches of games. It has been the teams that are within reach and compiling a streak of wins.

But, as we see, the Mets can’t sustain any type of momentum. And, this is different from that second half run of last September when the Mets came up short. Again, in a normal 162-game season the April losses come back to haunt you in September.

That loss Monday, well that was equivalent to a September loss or a Mets loss in late July or August, and a win that was within their grasp. Add that gut wrenching extra inning loss last week to the Yankees and Monday, two games that could come back to haunt the Mets if they come up short. 

So, let’s look at the positives that came out of this 9-8 loss. Positives that are important during these final three weeks that could determine any number of possibilities for the Mets to be that eighth and final team.

  • Edwin Diaz: Pitched a perfect ninth inning. He lowered the ERA to 2.04. The slider, fastball, like the Edwin Diaz the Mets expected. 18.0 innings, 38 strikeouts. A monster ratio. He needs to work often and build that confidence as the closer down this stretch.
  • Dominic Smith: Among the league leaders in average, RBI, doubles, including a good looking one against Zack Wheeler in a three-run fifth with consistent at bats. “Now you are seeing why teams have looked at Smith in trade talks,” said a NL insider who has watched Smith during this progression as a bonafide all-around player. 
  • Pete Alonso: The home run swing is resembling the NL rookie record of 2019.  Strikeout ratio is less. Against Davd Phelps he drew a walk and a Jeff McNeil home run followed.  
  • Jeff McNeil: 13-for-32 with eight extra base hits since end of August, .381 in past 11 games Three-run homer in the seventh. Another example of a 60-game season that is contrasted to 162. McNeil, is a catalyst. No more to say.
  • Michael Conforto:  The cog. Consistency. Conforto had his second three-hit game and also among the league leaders in hits and average.

Some additional thoughts…

David Peterson:  Was not sharp, walked four in two innings. “He would normally would be one or two years away with a 92 fastball, 81 slider, 83 changeup, nor overpowering,” said another scout that watched Peterson throw during his development. Peterson, though, is getting his chance and comes under that category of consistency down this stretch.

Andres Gimenez: Fourth straight start at shortstop. 7-for-15 in series with Phillies. He’s not coming out of the lineup and defensive plays have put Amed Rosario on the bench.  A jump and catch off a Phil Gosselin line drive, a Hoskins’ grounder that could have gone for a hit up the middle. Nailed Hoskins at the plate in the 10th trying to score from third on a ground ball. 

“Showing, he belongs on a MLB roster,” said the same scout who observed Peterson in the Mets’ system. “Can be disruptive if given the chance to use his speed.” Not to jump ahead, the play of Gimenez can fuel more speculation of Rosario trade talk.

Erasmo Ramirez: Five innings of one-hit ball in his first appearance. A veteran, and will see more innings down the stretch that could provide some needed depth out of the pen.  

Again, there are those positives that came for the Mets despite gaining the split.  In the end, the positives need to result in a string of wins and it begins Tuesday night against the Orioles. 

Two wins at Citi Field. Then, take it from there with the surging Blue Jays up in Buffalo.