Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning, Mets fans!
The New York Mets swept a doubleheader against the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Game one featured a solid pitching performance by Marcus Stroman and a three-run homer and a four-RBI game from Brandon Nimmo in a 4-1 Mets win.
Game two was looking to be a similar affair as the Mets led 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning. However, Trevor May and Jeurys Familia struggled, giving up the lead as the Nationals tied the game in the seventh. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Pete Alonso stepped up to the plate and hit a walk-off homer to give the Mets a 5-4 victory against the Nats at Citi Field.
The two wins on Thursday meant the Mets swept the three-game set against the Nationals, putting their record at 59-55. It also brings the club to within 0.5 games of the lead in the National League East behind the Philadelphia Phillies. The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers come into Citi Field starting on Friday for a three-game set.
Left-hander Julio Urias (13-3 3.41) will be on the bump for the Dodgers on Friday night. Urias leads the National League in victories and hasn’t lost a game since May 7. Rookie Tylor Megill (1-2 3.20) will throw for the Mets. He will make his tenth big league start and while he hasn’t pitched poorly, he has lost his last two decisions. The Mets will wear their black jerseys for the second time this season.
Latest Mets News
The New York Mets have signed veteran outfielder Josh Reddick to a minor league deal. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com broke the news. Reddick, a 13-year major league veteran, was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 7 and will add more depth to the Mets outfield.
The 34-year-old hit .258 this year with just two home runs and 21 RBIs in 54 games for the D-backs. His on-base percentage was .285. In his career, Reddick has played a significant role on some successful teams, including winning a World Series with the Houston Astros in 2017. He’s been to the postseason eight times in his career and has 146 career home runs. It is expected that Reddick will join the Mets Triple-A squad in Syracuse, New York.
Mets outfielder Jose Martinez went 1 for 2 in a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Thursday. The 33-year-old played five innings in right field in his third game back after suffering a torn meniscus in Spring Training on March 7. The Mets haven’t given a timetable for Martinez’s return but say he could be back soon depending on how the rest of his rehab assignment goes.
Latest MLB News
Tim Anderson capped off what was a wonderful night for baseball on Thursday night as the Chicago White Sox shortstop smashed a walk-off two-run home run off of Zack Britton to give his team a 9-8 victory against the New York Yankees.
The game took place in a cornfield in Dyersville, Iowa and was an homage to the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams.” The game featured eight homers, including Anderson’s game ender. The Yankees led by a score of 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth after a four-run inning in their half of the frame. Giancarlo Stanton launched a two-run homer off of Liam Hendricks to give the Yankees the lead in the 9th. However, Britton wasn’t able to shut the game down and the Yankees fell in the historic matchup.
Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Chris Davis announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Thursday. The left-handed hitter made the announcement via the Baltimore Orioles Twitter page. Davis, whose contract ran through the 2022 season, had not played in the 2021 season due to a lower back strain. He also recently had hip surgery and that combined with the previous injury forced Davis’ decision.
Davis had a rocky tenure in Baltimore. Prior to the 2016 he signed a seven-year $161 million contract with the Orioles. This was coming off four straight seasons of 26 or more home runs. He followed that season up with two more seasons of 26 or more homers, but his production dropped substantially following the 2017 season.
His contract had recently become sort of a financially hamstring for a money strapped organization like the Baltimore Orioles. In all, Davis played 13 big league seasons, including 10 with the Orioles. He hit 295 career home runs and drove in 780 career runs. The Orioles will still pay Davis the remaining $17 million of his contract, according to Dan Connolly of The Athletic. However, the team will spread that money over the course of multiple years so the Orioles do not have to pay a lump sum in 2022.
The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner is now available to be had. The Chicago Cubs have placed starting pitcher Jake Arrieta on unconditional release waivers on Thursday. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic had the story. Arrieta, a 35-year-old right hander, was 5-11 with a 6.88 ERA for the Cubs in 2021. He was due to make $4 million in 2021 and had a $10 team million option with a $2 million buyout for the 2022 season.
Arrieta is now available to be claimed by any one of the remaining 29 major league teams. If a team shall claim him off waivers, that team is obligated to pay the remaining portion of his contact. Arrieta has the right to reject that claim and explore free agency. If Arrieta clears waivers the Cubs will be no longer responsible for the remaining money on his contract and he will be a free agent.
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-handed pitcher John Curtiss in a deadline deal with the Miami Marlins to help their bullpen but unfortunately for the Brew Crew, it looks like lTommy John surgery is on the table for Curtiss. This is according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The club has elected to get a second opinion to explore all their options. Curtis left his August 10 appearance against the Chicago Cubs with elbow soreness.
Latest NL East News
The Philadelphia Phillies topped the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, salvaging the final game of the three-game set between the two first-place teams. Ranger Suarez went 4.2 innings for Phils and gave up just one run. Enyel De Los Santos, Hector Neris, Archie Bradley and Ian Kennedy threw 5.1 innings scoreless innings in relief to help preserve the victory.
The win means Philadelphia maintains their lead in the National League East. They lead the New York Mets by 0.5 games and the Atlanta Braves by one game. The Phillies host the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game set this weekend.
The Atlanta Braves hosted the Reds this week and failed to get the sweep on Thursday after a 12-3 defeat at Truist Park. Reds outfielder Jesse Winker hit a grand slam off Braves left-hander Kyle Muller in the second inning, which broke the game open. Vladimir Gutierrez got the win for the Reds, going six innings giving up an earned run and five hits.
The loss put the Braves one game back in the National League East. They head to Washington D.C. this weekend to take on the Nationals at Nationals Park. Charlie Morton gets the start on Friday for the Braves.
Latest on MMO
21 years ago on Thursday, Benny Agbayani made one of the most legendary blunders in New York Mets history. Brian Wright brings us back to that day and the circumstances around that play.
A couple of Mets prospects are smashing the ball down in the minor leagues. Connor Grey catches you up on some of the biggest names in the Mets farm system.
On This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1967 the Mets won both games of a double-header against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Shea Stadium. The Mets won game one by a score of 3-0 thanks in large part to a four hit shutout pitched by the great Tom Seaver. It was his first of 61 career shutout victories. The soon-to-be rookie of the year won his 12th game of the season and lowered his ERA to 2.95. In game two, the Mets won 11-9. A Ron Swoboda three-run homer was the big blow for the Mets and Ed Kranepool drove in three runs as well. Don Shaw got the win in relief for the Mets, despite giving up two earned runs in two innings pitched.
On this date in 2000 the New York Mets won their fifth game in a row, a 2-0 shutout against the San Francisco Giants. Al Leiter threw eight innings of shutout ball, striking out 12 in a brilliant performance. John Franco closed the game out for the Mets, striking out former teammate Jeff Kent looking to end the game. The win pulled the Mets within 1.5 games of the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East and gave them a 5.5. game lead in the National League Wild Card race.
Birthdays: Taijuan Walker (29), Hansel Robles (31), Jon Switzer (42)
Let’s go Mets!
