We begin our 2024 Mets Report Card feature by taking a deep dive into Jeff McNeil’s season…

Jeff McNeil, 2B

Player Data: 32 (04/08/1992), B/T: L/R

Primary Stats: 129 G, 472 PA, 424 AB, .238/.308/.384/.692, 101 H, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 26 2B
Advanced Stats: 97 wRC+, 14.4% K%, 7.4% BB%, .256 BABIP, .289 xwOBA, 1.3 fWAR

2024 Salary: $10.25 million

GRADE: C-

2024 Review

The 2024 season was a mixed bag, to say the least for McNeil. As the Mets struggled to begin the year, so did he, and in a big way. He hit .247/.330/.340/.671 with one home run, six doubles and seven RBIs in the opening month of the season. His batting average went on to regress in May, and he slashed just .194/.215/.258/.474 in the month of June as his play completely fell off a cliff. The veteran’s considerable struggles at the plate, coupled with the emergence of Jose Iglesias at second base, had many questioning McNeil’s future with the team. Granted, there were still some Gold Glove-caliber plays in the field, but on the flip side, the ugly far outweighed the good in the first half of the season.

However, McNeil began to get the train back on the tracks after the All-Star break. He enjoyed his most productive month of the entire season in July, hitting .289/.322/.566/.889 with five homers, eight doubles, four walks and 17 RBIs while the Mets went 17-10 over that stretch. McNeil continued to rake in August as the Mets continued to perform like the best team in baseball over a prolonged period of time. He wasn’t July levels of great, but he was still productive with seven doubles, three home runs, nine walks and seven RBIs. Overall, McNeil hit .289/.376/.547/.923 with 37 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, 13 walks, and 20 RBIs during the season half of the year.

Unfortunately, just as McNeil was beginning to really hit his stride and become a meaningful contributor to this team, an injury struck. The second baseman fractured his wrist on a hit-by-pitch on Sept. 6, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season as a result. McNeil was also out for the National League Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers and the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He did return for the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and drove in two runs thanks to two sacrifice flys in a crucial Game 5 win. In all, McNeil went 2-for-11 with three RBIs in five postseason games.

Overall, 2024 will not go down as a vintage year for McNeil. He endured the worst stretch of his career before injury really slowed down his resurgence. While there were flashes of the 2022 McNeil down the stretch, he will be 33-years-old for the majority of the 2025 season. As such, there are serious question marks over the level of production New York could get from him next year.

2025 Overview

McNeil is under contract with the Mets through the 2027 season having previously signed a four-year extension. He will earn $15,750,000 in 2025.

With the Mets expected to be major players this coming offseason, it is fair to argue that McNeil’s role on this roster moving forward isn’t exactly set in stone. The front office will have the financial flexibility to address several needs, as well as be able to make a potential run at Juan Soto. Plus, Luisangel Acuña could be shifted over to second base so that he receives the playing time he needs to develop. It could make sense to move forward with a platoon of Acuña and Jose Iglesias at second base. As such, McNeil would then become expendable. Of course, considering he’s owed a good chunk of money over the next three years, McNeil could be hard to move, especially when you consider his struggles over the past couple of years.

It is feasible to suggest that McNeil could be used as part of a trade to acquire more starting pitching. After all, president of baseball operations David Stearns has already made it clear that acquiring another starter will be a priority this winter. There is also a chance the Mets stick with McNeil and hope his play after the All-Star break carries over. But, if his struggles from the first half of 2024 return and persist, then a parting of the ways could become more of a reality.

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Against all odds, these remarkable Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games to advance to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2015.

And, at this point, can you really bet against this team taking down either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Diego Padres and going all the way to the World Series? They just doesn’t know when to quit, and they have all the juice right now.

And, on that note, let’s dive into a very special edition of Six Up. Yes, that’s right, we’re doing things a little bit differently today. Because, after all, how can there be any negatives after what the Mets have just done?

Let’s get on with the show…

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

SIX UP

AGAINST ALL ODDS

Not only is the above heading an all-time classic song from Phil Collins, but it should also be the official mantra of the 2024 Mets. Because, no matter the situation, no matter the opponent, no matter the amount of adversity thrown their way, this team finds a way to deliver time and time again. Many, myself included, felt their run would come to an abrupt end against the Phillies. And yet, the Mets made what was supposed to be a World Series contender look anything but. In fact, it is New York that more resembles a team that could go on and win it all. Granted, the Mets will have to overcome greater odds in order to be crowned kings of baseball. But, at this point, they will no doubt relish that challenge.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

Just where would the Mets be without Francisco Lindor? We’ve uttered that very same sentence a bunch this year, but it feels even more relevant after Wednesday. In a Game Four that was light on offense, Lindor came up with the monster hit to end all monster hits. His sixth-inning grand slam put the Mets on top for good, booking their ticket to the NLCS in the process. Lindor has consistently come through in the clutch for his team this year, but his Game Four heroics may well end up being the defining moment of a truly stellar year.

GETTING HOT

Pete Alonso has stepped up when it has really mattered the most. Following his heroics in the Wild Card series, Alonso enjoyed an incredibly productive series against Philadelphia. He went 4-for-13 with two homers, one double, four walks, three RBIs and three runs scored. Alonso is now hitting .273/.433/.727 in October. The Mets were always going to need Alonso to take over games if they were going to make a deep run, and that is exactly what is happening so far.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

RISING STAR

ESPN should commission a 30 For 30 on Mark Vientos‘ meteoric rise in 2024. It really is a stunning story, especially when you consider that his Mets future was in doubt back in March. Yet, fast forward to the present day, and the young slugger is playing a major role in an unlikely postseason charge. Vientos is currently riding a four-game multi-hit streak, including nine hits and five RBIs against the Phillies. Furthermore, Vientos’ RBI double in the eighth inning of Game One helped change the entire tenor of the series. All in all, Vientos has entered rarified air as it pertains to his October exploits for this team.

PITCHING MASTERCLASS

The Mets starting rotation deserves a collective Cy Young Award, especially for what they accomplished in this series. All four starters delivered and then some, helping to shutdown a dangerous Phillies lineup. Kodai Senga was impressive in his short outing in Game One despite allowing a leadoff home run. Luis Severino was excellent for the most part in Game Two, but did allow back-to-back homers. Sean Manaea, who is quickly proving he is an ace for this team, delivered an absolutely breathtaking start in Game Three with just one run allowed in seven-plus innings. Then, in the decisive Game Four, Jose Quintana produced his best and most important start of the year to help send the Mets to the NLCS. Overall, the starting pitching was beyond extraordinary in this series, and the Mets have a legit shot at doing something really special this October because of the rotation.

MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF 

Speaking of pitching, let’s give the bullpen their flowers. Yes, there were some scary moments in this series when it comes to the Mets’ relievers. But, overall, they delivered when they really had to. David Peterson hurled three scoreless innings in long relief in Game One. Reed Garrett followed by tossing two scoreless innings to help get the job done. Both Garrett and Peterson were perfect in Game Four, before Edwin Díaz atoned for some earlier sins by earning the save and sending Mets fans into a frenzy. Yes, this bullpen is gassed. Yes, this group of relievers are running on fumes. Yet, despite everything, they just keep finding a way to get the job done just like the entire team has themselves.

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In what will go down as another instant classic in franchise history, the Mets produced some late-inning heroics to beat the Milwaukee Brewers in Game Three of the Wild Card Series on Thursday. As a result, New York advanced to the NLDS for the first time since 2015.

It was yet another thrilling and unforgettable chapter in an exhilarating rollercoaster of a year for this team. Could the Mets be this postseason’s team of destiny?

Before we switch our focus to the Philadelphia Phillies series, let’s recap a magical Wild Card series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo by Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

3 UP

MEETING THE MOMENT

We spoke on this site on Thursday about the importance of Pete Alonso stepping up and becoming a hero for this team in Game Three. Going into that do-or-die contest, the slugger was lacking a real statement game or a legacy-sealing moment on his Mets resume. Well, that changed pretty emphatically. With his team losing 2-0 heading into the top of the ninth, and with two runners on, Alonso finally had a chance to deliver in the clutch, and boy did he. The pure power hitter mashed a monster three-run home run to effectively win the game and send the Mets straight to the NLDS. After starting the game 0-for-3, Alonso finally came through in the biggest moment possible. And, make no doubt about it, this will live on in Mets lore forever, regardless if he stays or goes during the offseason.

MAGICAL RIDE

What the Mets are doing right now is beyond special. It feels like a 30 For 30 documentary in the making. No matter how many times this team is seemingly dead in the water, they find a way to rise up and shock the baseball world all over again. There was nothing but adversity to overcome in this series, and at every single turn the Mets rose to the occasion. They battled back from an early deficit to win Game One. They blew a late lead in Game Two and found themselves in a win-or-go home Game Three. Then, if that wasn’t enough drama, this team trailed through eight innings and were two outs away from going back to New York when Alonso stepped up to save the day and the season. Granted, a tougher test now awaits in the formidable Phillies, who themselves expect to go to the World Series. However, can you really bet against these resilient, magical Mets anymore?

MONEY ON THE MOUND

It is hard not to focus on Game Three when it comes to positives. Jose Quintana deserves a boatload of credit and gratitude for his role in yet another unforgettable night for the 2024 Mets. Following tough but solid enough outings from both Luis Severino and Sean Manaea in Games One and Two, respectively, Quintana entered Game 3 knowing he had to be near-perfect, and he was. The veteran tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits with one walk while striking out five. It was exactly the kind of outing the Mets needed. Furthermore, Quintana’s excellence on the mound ensured his team still had a fighting chance going into the ninth. Like Alonso, Quintana delivered when he was needed the most.

Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

THE DOUBTERS

Mets doubters and haters probably aren’t too happy in the wake of what we witnessed on Thursday night. For those who keep writing off this team, and for those who simply just do not like the Mets, this must be agony right now. Just when you think the end is in sight, this team defies the odds and find ways to live to fight another day every single time. There appears to be an aura of invincibility engulfing this team right now. So, for those detractors, it might be best to accept the fact that these Mets might not be done making a lot of noise in October.

BULLPEN ADVENTURES

Now, I’ll preface this by saying the bullpen had some high moments in this series. Jose Buttó and Ryne Stanek were perfect in Game One, Stanek and Reed Garrett both tossed a scoreless inning in Game Two and Edwin Díaz and David Peterson combined to keep the Mets in Game Three, with the latter earning the save to send New York to the NLDS. However, on the flipside, the bullpen provided some heart attack-inducing moments, too. Phil Maton entered in relief on Wednesday and proceeded to give up two home runs to hand the game over to the Brewers. In Game Three, Buttó pitched in relief of Quintana, but immediately undid the starter’s sterling work by allowing back-to-back homers. Ultimately, it didn’t matter in the end. With that said, however, more implosions from the bullpen could prove costly against the Phillies in the NLDS.

WASTED OPPORTUNITIES 

As great as it is to celebrate the fact that the Mets are like Michael Myers in that they just refuse to die, dodging death at every turn just isn’t sustainable. At some point, you’re gonna get stabbed in the heart and succumb to those injuries. That’s just the harsh reality of life. On that note, the offense needs to step it up if this team is to avoid elimination in the NLDS. The lineup went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position in Game Two, leaving nine runners on base. The offense also didn’t plate a run after the second inning in that contest. It was the opposite story in Game Three, however. Francisco Lindor was the only Mets batter who was actually hitting until the ninth inning. The lineup as a whole went 2-for-7 with RISP and was a combined 0-for-21 outside of Lindor at one point. Again, it ultimately didn’t matter in the end. But, going up against an elite team in the Phillies, this Mets offense can’t afford to go quiet for prolonged stretches during games. If they do, this magical postseason run will eventually die.

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This is the game you’re gonna talk about.

There’s not a single person in this room who’s ever gonna be the same.

You be proud of yourselves. Because, gentlemen, you are champions.”

Those words were uttered by the iconic Coach Taylor in the beloved TV series Friday Night Lights. Granted, that speech was made to a fictional team in the wake of a heartbreaking loss in the State Championship game.

But, yet, those very words will no doubt resonate with every single person that resides in Mets land today. Because, and this isn’t being hyperbolic, Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Braves on Monday will live on in Mets lore forever. It is a heroic, almost mythical tale that will be passed on to generations and generations of Mets fans.

And that’s almost not doing it justice.

What we witnessed in the early portion of Monday is still hard to comprehend even after the dust has settled. For so much of Game 1, Mets fans were being forced to listen to the same old sad song they’ve had to listen to for years when it comes to the Braves. With everything on the line, their dreams were being crushed by the evil nemesis from Atlanta. Yet again.

For seven innings, New York was enduring a long, slow death by a thousand cuts thanks to a new Mets killer in Spencer Schwellenbach, who tossed seven innings of scoreless ball. As a result, the Braves headed into the final two innings armed with a 3-0 lead. With the bats going cold in a huge spot—again—it looked almost certain that the entire season was going to come down to a do-or-die Game 2.

Then the first of many, many, many brain-warping plot twists took place.

As if they suddenly flipped a switch, the offense found their groove and turned the game on its head with six monstrous runs in the eighth inning. Mets fans everywhere were experiencing a joyful wave of absolute euphoria—a sensation not felt by this fanbase in a long while.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

ROLLERCOASTER MOMENT IN A ROLLERCOASTER YEAR

However, in a cruel twist of fate that could only happen to this franchise in Atlanta, the Braves hit right back and flipped the script once more. After an improbable rally by the home team, coupled with a meltdown by Edwin Díaz, Mets fans were on the verge of getting their hearts shattered into a million pieces by the Braves. Again.

Diaz and Phil Maton gave up four runs in the bottom half of the eighth, sending the Braves to the ninth with a one-run lead.

This is the year 2024, however, and we should all know by now that this current vintage of the Mets don’t like to do things the easy way. It’s almost as if they have to endure the very lowest of lows in order to make the highest of highs that much more special.

And that’s exactly why Francisco Lindor‘s clutch, heroic and legacy-sealing home run in the ninth inning will go down as one of the biggest hits in franchise history. Period.

There was something beautifully poetic about Lindor, the very heart and soul of this team, stepping up in the biggest spot of the entire year and delivering in the biggest way. Just as he has done all year long. In a Game 1 that had enough plot twists to make HBO drool, in arguably the biggest regular season game this organization has ever played in, it is only fitting that it was Lindor who had the final say in a game for the ages.

It was only fitting that it was Lindor who finally slayed the dragon and banished the ghosts once and for all in Atlanta.

And it was only fitting that it was Lindor who sent the Mets to the postseason.

After all, without Lindor, that rollercoaster of a Game 1 would never have happened. Without Lindor, this mesmerizing, inconceivable rollercoaster of a year wouldn’t have been possible.

As much as Monday’s implausible events in Atlanta were the very epitome of the Mets’ entire season, Lindor coming to his team’s rescue with everything on the line will tell the true story of the 2024 season in Queens.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

SIGNATURE MOMENT

Lindor has been the one constant for this team all year long. He has carried this entire franchise on his back so much that his back actually gave out. He put aside his own early season struggles to hold a team meeting and act as the glue when everything around him was falling apart. And, more importantly, he elevated his own play and led a remarkable turnaround that will be talked about with reverence in Queens for years to come. The Mets were once 11 games under .500 and looked well and truly dead after the darkest of months in May. Yet, thanks to their heart and soul, their inspirational and unstoppable shortstop, this team became just the fourth team in major league history to start a season 0-5 and make the postseason.

No matter how many times we all thought the Mets might be dead, they always found a way to rise up and live to fight another day. And it was always Lindor leading the charge. Even after erasing lofty deficits in the Wild Card standings over the final month, this team looked to have run out of gas after imploding in the final week of the regular season. Three consecutive choke jobs looked to finally be the undoing of what was a miraculous run. But Lindor wasn’t having any of it. Despite playing through the pain with a broken down back, despite looking a shadow of his former self, the leader of this entire franchise led the way in a must-win game on Sunday. Then, in arguably the biggest at-bat of his entire career, Lindor produced the statement moment of the entire year on Monday.

In any other year, and were it not for the enduring brilliance of Shohei Ohtani, Lindor would have run away with the MVP.

Not that actual hardware really matters. Because, ultimately, thanks to his heroics on Monday, Lindor will always be this year’s MVP in the eyes and hearts of Mets fans everywhere. The role he played in the most incredible, thrilling of seasons will never, ever be forgotten in Queens.

He led this team back from the dead and guided them to the postseason, while playing a huge part in finally, finally slaying the dragon in the house of horrors that had inflicted so much pain and heartbreak on this fanbase.

In a wild season for the ages, Lindor was the one true stabilizing force right until the bitter end. And his signature moment to cap a signature year will stand the test of time.

Of course, this could be only the beginning for Lindor and this Mets team. They now have to shake off the emotion from Monday and get ready for a Wild Card game in Milwaukee on Tuesday. The Brewers are an imposing foe and these three games will be the toughest challenge of the entire year.

Although, given what we witnessed all year and then to the extreme on Monday, you’d be a fool to bet against these Mets at this point.

However, no matter what happens over the next few days, nobody can take Monday away from us. That day was one long in the making for Mets fans, especially those who have had to suffer under the yoke of the Braves for decades.

Even if New York’s postseason adventure ends at the first hurdle, we will always have that crazy, emotionally-charged, thrill-ride of a game in Atlanta. And the ultimate statement moment from the leader of this team that will live on in baseball lore forever.

A rollercoaster game fit for a rollercoaster season.

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Like his team, he struggled mightily at the beginning of the year. Lindor was slashing only .193/.268/.348 with seven homers on May 20, and the Mets were 21-26.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

It wasn’t pretty. And there were, retrospectively, silly conversations from the fan base, like should the Mets sell? And should Lindor abandon his left-handed swing?

But Lindor turned it around. The switch hitter and the Mets from June 3 on won 65 games and cemented themselves in the playoffs. And Monday was the signature moment in the MVP-caliber season from the shortstop.

The dramatics started in the eighth as the Mets mounted a rally when down 3-0 to the Braves. After Francisco Alvarez had gotten the Mets on the board with an RBI double and Starling Marte singled, Lindor drove in a second run with a screaming line drive up the middle.

Lindor’s single was the fourth consecutive hit for the Mets in the inning and led to the eventual Brandon Nimmo homer that sprung the Mets ahead of the Braves 6-3.

The second moment was icing on top of Lindor’s amazing season. After Edwin Diaz and the Mets relinquished the lead in the bottom of the eighth, Lindor came up with a man on in the ninth. He smacked a first-pitch Pierce Johnsoncurveball high in the air, and it kept carrying to go over the wall and give the Mets a 8-7 lead.

It was majestic. It was emphatic. And as Lindor rounded the bases, it entered a Rolodex of moments the shortstop has had all season long.

The home run against the Dodgers in May, the go-ahead single off Aroldis Chapman and home run against Chris Sale in July, the dramatic ninth-inning homer in Toronto, the list goes on and on.

The season was spectacular. And if not for a historic season from Shohei Ohtani, Lindor would have taken home the first MVP in team history after slashing .273/.344/.500 with 33 homers, 39 doubles, 29 stolen bases, and 91 RBIs.

At the very least, Lindor was the Mets’ MVP this season. The team essentially lived and died on his shoulders, picking up momentum in June when Lindor went to the leadoff position, where he slashed .303/374/.552 with 26 of his 33 homers.

Lindor’s inauguration as the Mets’ MVP can also be justified by his fWAR. He finished with a 7.6 fWAR, which was second in the NL to Ohtani’s 9.1 and more than double than the Mets second place finisher, Mark Vientos (3.1 fWAR).

Another overlooked aspect of Lindor is his off-the-field presence. It hasn’t been easy since coming over to the Mets, but as time has passed and Lindor has gotten comfortable, he has embraced a leadership role in New York.

It was on full display this season. Earlier in the year, at the Mets’ lowest point of the season, Lindor called a players-only meeting that resulted in players having heart-to-heart about accountability. That meeting specifically is constantly referenced by the media and players as a turning point, which is unquantifiable by statistics.

VALUABLE pic.twitter.com/OLePF3CkvX

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) September 30, 2024

“You have to look in the mirror and say ‘Are you doing everything it takes to be in the position of winning baseball?,'” Lindor said on a meeting he called in Philadelphia earlier this season.

“You have guys like Ottavino, J.D. Martinez, Nimmo and you rely on the veteran players that have been around for a long time and you just tell yourself ‘Are we really doing everything it takes to win?’ And if you are you stay the course, and if we’re not, then we have to make sure we get in the right direction.”

Moments like that off the field are just as valuable as the base knocks and diving plays made on the field. They lead to continuity and accountability, two required attributes that the Mets and other winning baseballs carried this season.

And over the course of 162, it led to 89 wins and the 11th postseason birth in franchise history. Of course, the success is spread evenly amongst the 40-man roster and Carlos Mendoza. But a large part is thanks to Lindor.

It all circles back to his go-ahead home run in the ninth. Without his process mentally and physically, those moments don’t happen. He was laser-focused then, and after the game, was able to soak in the celebrations and chance at a championship.

“I have always believed when I was in the moment, I was still in the moment,” Lindor told Steve Gelbs. “I was laser-focused, I was in my own world, and now I’m in the world where there’s champagne everywhere and it feels pretty cool.

You grind 162 plus the month in spring training and now here we are.”

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Two consecutive losses to the elite Phillies ensured the Mets failed to make up any ground on their NL Wild Card rivals. More importantly, though, a nagging injury to a crucial player ensured a rather dark cloud will hover over this team heading into the week.

However, all hope is not lost, and, on that note, let’s dive straight into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 UP

PLENTY TO PLAY FOR

This weekend wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Mets. Yes, they dropped a series at a time when they could ill afford to. And, yes, a certain star player is dealing with an injury that could prove problematic. More on that later. But, despite all of that adversity, the Mets are still right in the thick of things. With Atlanta losing to the Dodgers on Sunday night, New York is still tied with the Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. As a result, this team could send a real statement by taking care of business against the Nationals to start the week. It isn’t over yet. There’s still a hell of a lot of baseball yet to play.

CAREER DAY

David Peterson gave the Mets every chance to clinch the series against the Phillies on Sunday. The lefty tossed a career-high 7.2 innings. He allowed one run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. In other words, Peterson was absolutely money when he needed to be. He did his job, but unfortunately, the offense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Despite that, Peterson lowered his ERA to 2.85 on the year. He has easily been one of the Mets’ biggest surprises of the year.

GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

Mets fans finally got their wish during the series in Philadelphia. The team called up highly-rated prospect Luisangel Acuña to The Show, and his first showing did not disappoint. The shortstop collected a pair of hits in his Major League debut on Saturday, recording a pair of hard-hit singles. Acuña also made some nice plays in the field on Sunday, including some fancy glovework to get the final out of the fourth inning. All in all, Acuña flashed some tantalizing signs of what we could come to expect from the prospect down the road.

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3 DOWN

HOPE AND PRAY

Monday will be a nerve-wracking experience for everyone in Mets land. Francisco Lindor, the team’s MVP of this year, will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of his lower back tightness. Lindor was hindered by back pain all weekend, exiting early on Friday, and not playing in Saturday’s game. He was in the lineup for the finale on Sunday but lasted less than two full innings. The star shortstop was clearly in a lot of discomfort, and we now wait and hope for positive news. Lindor will likely play through as much pain as possible for the final 13 games of the regular season if can. He’s a gamer. However, if he’s forced to miss any time at all, that could act as a fatal blow to the Mets’ hopes of making the playoffs.

SAME OLD STORY

The bullpen has been a major concern for most of the year. It was considered a weakness coming into the season, and despite some high points here and there, the relief pitching could be what ultimately dooms the Mets. That was certainly the case over the weekend. Danny Young, Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek combined to allow three runs on five hits with a walk as the bullpen melted down on Saturday. Then, in the series finale, Edwin Díaz entered a tied game in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a walk-off single to J.T. Realmuto. The Mets need their relievers to be money and clutch down the stretch. If not, October baseball may remain a distant dream.

GOING COLD

Other than Friday’s offensive explosion, the lineup didn’t really produce the goods for the Mets against the Phillies. And, even in the series opener, it took until the fifth inning for the bats to wake up. The offense was shut out for the final six innings of Saturday’s game before being held to just one run on Sunday. All in all, the Mets went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position over the final two games of the series in Philadelphia. And, with the top of the lineup not delivering consistently enough, that should be a real concern heading into the final couple of weeks of the regular season. Especially if Lindor ends up missing any more time.

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After dropping an ugly one to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Mets were being no-hit on Wednesday through eight innings and were well on their way to suffering a body blow of a series loss.

Given New York’s status in the playoff race, dropping two out of three to the Blue Jays would have been devastating.

However, keeping in line with the fairytale nature of this year, Francisco Lindor delivered the biggest hit of the year with a game-tying solo home run in the ninth to help pave the way for the biggest win of the year.

That isn’t hyperbole, either. Lindor’s clutch heroics could really prove crucial once it’s all said and done.

And, without further ado, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo by Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

3 UP

THE REAL MVP

Shohei Ohtani deserves to be crowned the most special player in baseball without any shadow of a doubt. However, Lindor is the true MVP in the National League. Because, as should be obvious by now, the Mets would be planning their winter vacation if it were not for the superhero turn from their shortstop. Lindor is playing the best baseball of his life right now and he’s carrying this team, which was evident in Toronto on Wednesday. Being no-hit through eight innings and staring a series loss in the face, Lindor stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of the year so far. And, after running into a mini skid as of late, it was as consequential of a hit for Lindor as it was for the Mets.

Simply put; this team would have been dead a long time ago if not for Lindor. He’s played in every single game this year and has come up with monster hit after monster hit. And, more importantly, Lindor has saved the day for the Mets more times than you can care to remember. He’s invaluable to this ball club, and he’s the Mets’ MVP without a doubt.

TURNING THE CORNER

We’ve written about Francisco Alvarez’s long slump in this space before. We’ve also wondered if a big hit would prove to be the turning point, only for his struggles to continue thereafter. However, Alvarez’s three-run home run on Wednesday just felt different, and the Mets sensed it too. After all, manager Carlos Mendoza opted to play Alvarez the day after a night game because of how he had been hitting the ball following a recent adjustment. Well, that faith in his catcher paid off in a big way. It was Alvarez’s first extra-base hit since Aug. 19, which hopefully proves to be a portent of better things to come.

RISING STAR

Sean Manaea is proving he deserves a role in the starting rotation for the Mets long-term. The lefty has been money during the second half of the season, and that trend continued on Wednesday. Manaea allowed just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Yes, the veteran did walk four batters, and yes, he did load the bases with nobody out to begin the fourth. However, he was able to work out of that jam, only allowing one run to score to keep the game close. Manaea has arguably been the Mets’ best starter this year, and he showed why on Wednesday.

3 DOWN 

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TOUGH NIGHT AT THE OFFICE

David Peterson has, for the most part, been stellar this year. His impressive 2.98 ERA backs that statement up. However, Tuesday proved to be a bad day at the office for the left-hander. Peterson was roughed up for four earned runs on eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings. It was a rare misstep by Peterson, but one that could prove costly this time of year.

PEN ADVENTURE

The bullpen didn’t make life easy for the Mets in this series. Danny Young and Jose Buttó handed the game back to Toronto by giving up the tying and go-ahead runs in Monday’s series opener. Thankfully, Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz were able to clean that mess up and get the job done in the end. However, on Wednesday, Stanek gave up a run in the ninth that forced Díaz into the game to get the final out. Ultimately, it didn’t matter in the end, but the Mets still can’t afford any more heart attacks from their ‘pen the rest of the way.

GOING COLD

Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Mets were hitting just .208/.299/.330 with 37 runs scored in nine September games. They were also just 18-for-75 with RISP since Aug. 30 before the series finale. Well, a lot of those offensive struggles stretched into Wednesday’s game. The Mets were no-hit for eight innings before Lindor played the role of hero. Those struggles at the plate continued what has been a worrying trend so far this month. Too many of the Mets’ big bats are going cold at a critical juncture in the season. For instance, Pete Alonso entered Wednesday with 14 strikeouts and just one home run in his last 30 at-bats. Brandon Nimmo has been a non-factor with the bat since the All-Star break, Alvarez was ice cold before his three-run home run, and even Lindor had started to struggle a little bit. Again, with every game a must-win, the offense can’t afford to stumble the way it did at points in this series.

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Despite winning the first two games, the Mets dropped the series finale on Sunday. As a result, their nine-game winning streak came to
an unceremonious end. More importantly, however, they are once again tied with the Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

You have to be ruthless this time of year. The Mets will have to hope their inability to finish off the Reds and complete the sweep doesn’t come back to bite them in a few weeks.

Anyway, on that note, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

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GIVE HIM HIS FLOWERS

The Mets would be dead and buried now were it not for Francisco Lindor and his MVP heroics. But you can also make a compelling case that this team would not be where it is now were it not for the emergence of Mark Vientos. We all know the story by now. Ignored and effectively thrown into the garbage at the start of the year, Vientos has done nothing but rake since being recalled to the Majors. He’s established himself as the guy at third base, possibly the successor to David Wright we’ve been waiting for, while coming up with big hit after big hit. He was huge against the Reds, too.

Vientos’ weekend started with a pair of home runs on Friday, including a walk-off two-run blast in extras. He followed that up by getting on base on Saturday and Sunday with two walks. But, make no mistake: Vientos’ power surge on Friday set the tone for the weekend and provided yet more memorable scenes at Citi Field. More importantly, the 24-year-old has proven that he belongs in the Majors.

GREAT RELIEF 

Reed Garrett is coming up big for the Mets when it matters the most. The righty reliever was stellar all weekend, striking out three and not allowing a run or a hit in 1.1 innings on Friday. Then, on Sunday, Garrett recorded another three strikeouts on his way to retiring all four batters he faced. As a result, the reliever hasn’t given up a single run or hit in his last six outings, striking out nine hitters in that span. Now, that’s pretty good.

STARTING EXCELLENCE

The Mets got to enjoy two stellar starts in the Reds series. José Quintana was first up. The veteran delivered arguably his best start of the year on Saturday. He tossed 6.2 scoreless innings with five hits, two walks and six strikeouts. It also proved a significant and special day as Quintana recorded the 100th win of his MLB career – the first Colombian-born pitcher to accomplish the feat. Then, on Sunday, Luis Severino continued his resurgence with another dominant outing. The righty allowed just one run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings. If the Mets are to punch their postseason ticket, more starts like these from Severino and Quintana will be a must down the stretch.

3 DOWN 

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

MAN DOWN

It wasn’t all rainbows and marshmallows for the Mets this weekend. No, the team was dealt some crushing news on the injury front. Jeff McNeil, who suffered a right wrist contusion in Friday’s game, was placed on the IL with a wrist fracture. He will miss the rest of the regular season. Now, while McNeil could return later in the postseason, the fact he will miss the most crucial stretch of the season is a body blow. McNeil was hitting .289/.376/.547/923 since the All-Star break. He will be a big loss. And let’s hope McNeil has something to come back to.

RARE MISTAKE

Phil Maton has delivered for the Mets since being acquired from the Rays before the trade deadline. However, his first real bad game in a Mets uniform couldn’t have come at a worse time. The righty gave up a pair of runs in the ninth inning on Sunday, allowing a game-winning double from Santiago Espinal. As a result, the team dropped a crucial game, allowing the Braves to pull back even with the Mets for the final Wild Card spot in the NL.

LETTING OFF THE GAS

Maton wasn’t entirely responsible for the loss on Sunday. The offense also played a big role in a frustrating day. The top five hitters in the Mets lineup went a combined 0-for-16 with three walks and five strikeouts. The Mets managed just four hits all day and couldn’t get a rally going at any point. Plus, they went 1-for-6 with RISP and left seven runners stranded on base. Again, you have to develop a killer instinct this time of year. The sweep was right there for the taking, but the Mets couldn’t take advantage.

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Now in the home stretch, the Mets have kept their eyes on the prize and swept the Red Sox in another clear signal of intent. Talk about a perfect way to begin a crucial homestand.

As a result, the Mets have now won seven straight and are gathering all the momentum at exactly the perfect time. They remain hot on the heels of the Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. New York is also now a season-high 12 games over .500.

This team appears to be getting red-hot when it matters the most. We should be in for a very fun September.

And, with that, let’s dive deep into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

LEAVING HIS MARK

Jesse Winker could go down as the best pickup of the entire trade deadline. He’s certainly in the conversation. The one-time Mets nemesis has done nothing but mash since arriving in Queens. He’s come up with big hit after big hit, including in the Red Sox series. Although silent in the first two games, Winker saved his best for last by hitting a first inning grand slam to set the tone in the series finale. A monster hit set the Mets up perfectly to complete the sweep.

Since being acquired from the Nationals at the deadline, Winker is hitting .306/.341/.471/.811 with three homers, five doubles, 12 runs scored and 13 RBIs for the Mets. Now, that’s what you call making an impact.

SEASON FOR THE AGES

I’ve long been a proponent of there being an MVP Award and an award for Best Player. For instance, looking at this year, Shohei Ohtani would win the Best Player Award and Francisco Lindor would be crowned the NL MVP. Without Lindor, the Mets would have been dead and buried long ago. As special a player as Ohtani is, the Dodgers are arguably still a playoff team with or without him. But the Mets depend on Lindor. That was proved with the shortstop continuing his season for the ages against Boston, going 6-for-12 with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored and four RBIs.

He now has a 33-game on-base streak and a 15-game hitting streak. Furthermore, Lindor continues to lead the National League with a 7.3 fWAR. We’re witnessing something truly special with Lindor this year, and he deserves all the accolades coming his way, even if he does miss out on the NL MVP.

TIMELY BOOST

Everything seems to be going perfectly for the Mets right now. Case in point: Kodai Senga could return before the end of the regular season. Senga threw an impressive bullpen session on Wednesday, and he’s eligible to return off the IL on Sept. 25. If that were to happen, that would be a significant boon for the Mets rotation with the Wild Card race likely to go right down to the wire. Having Senga available for the postseason would also be huge. Furthermore, Paul Blackburn is set to return to the rotation early next week against the Blue Jays. As such, the Mets are getting key reinforcements back when they need them the most. Having a healthy rotation could prove to be the difference down the stretch.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

GOING SHORT

Tylor Megill didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in his start on Wednesday. The righty allowed three earned runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. More significantly, he only went four innings. Consequently, Megill has only pitched six innings once in his last five starts for the Mets. He opened the door for the Red Sox to get back into the game in the finale. Thankfully, some aggressive management from Carlos Mendoza, a stellar showing from the bullpen, and clutch hitting got Megill off the hook. But, with Blackburn coming back and Senga set to return at the end of the month, Megill’s short-term future could be pitching out of the bullpen.

TOUGH NIGHT

Pete Alonso did hit a home run in this series, but that two-run shot on Tuesday was a rare bright spot. Other than that, the slugger struggled against Boston. He went 0-for-3 in the opener with a strikeout, before striking out three times and going 0-for-4 in a tough game on Wednesday. Alonso continues to struggle in clutch situations and with runners on this year. He is now hitting just .211 with RISP after going 0-for-2 with runners on in the finale. If the Mets are to punch their postseason ticket, and then play deep into October, they need their power hitter to start coming through in the clutch consistently.

NO HELP

The Mets are doing all they can right now to keep their postseason hopes alive. They are giving it their all and can’t really do much else. At some point, they will need help from elsewhere. And that help needs to come in the form of the Braves finally succumbing to a boatload of adversity and falling out of it. Or the Padres and the Diamondbacks slowing down. And, with the Cubs going on a heater and not going away quietly, the Mets can’t afford to run into any kind of losing streak. All the Mets can do is keep on winning, but they will also need a helping hand from elsewhere sometime soon to extend their season.

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Taking on one of the worst teams in baseball history, the Mets needed to sweep the White Sox. No ands, ifs, or buts. And they did, taking all three games with relative ease.

As a result, coupled with the Braves dropping three of four to the Phillies, the Mets are now just one game back of Atlanta for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Talk about a successful weekend.

New York took care of business while things broke the right way elsewhere to set up a thrilling finish to the regular season.

And, on that note, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Sep 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

PITCHING PROWESS 

Sean Manaea has been money for the Mets when it has mattered most. With every game now crucial, Manaea has elevated his play. He delivered another stellar start on Sunday. In a game the Mets needed to win to clinch a crucialsweep, the lefty tossed seven scoreless frames while allowing just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It was Manaea’s third start of at least seven innings and no earned runs this season. Furthermore, he owns a 3.35 ERA this year, and opponents are hitting just .207 against him. If the Mets make the postseason, Manaea’s ability to come up clutch late in the season will be a big part of why. Oh, and New York is 10-2 in Manaea’s last 12 starts, too.

CRUCIAL ADDITION

President of baseball operations David Stearns looks like a very smart guy for adding Jesse Winker at the trade deadline. The former Mets nemesis has morphed into a key ally down the stretch run. Winker enjoyed a monster series in Chicago at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with one RBI, a double and two runs on Friday. He followed that up with a home run as part of a three-run first inning on Saturday, along with two RBIs and one run scored. The Mets needed outfield help and lineup depth at the trade deadline, and Winker is certainly providing both in abundance.

PLENTY OF RELIEF

You can’t fault the Mets bullpen this weekend. They didn’t put a foot wrong. Yes, they were going up against an awful White Sox team that will finish as one of the worst in baseball history. However, you can only beat what is in front of you, and the bullpen did its job all weekend long. Adam Ottavino, Reed Garrett and Phil Maton combined for 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings Friday. Maton, Huascar Brazoban, Ryne Stanek and José Buttó combined to allow just one run in four innings of relief on Saturday. If that wasn’t enough, Edwin Díaz was lights out in the ninth inning on Friday and Saturday to finish the deal with ease. The Mets needed these three games in Chicago, and a spotless bullpen certainly played its part in the sweep.

3 DOWN

Jul 1, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) looks out from the on deck circle against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

SLUMP CITY

Francisco Alvarez can’t seem to escape from the all-time slump he’s engulfed in. The catcher went a combined 1-for-8 against the White Sox, striking out twice. He is now without a home run since August, and his last multi-hit game came on August 7. As a result, Alvarez is now hitting a lowly .150/.195/.224 with an ugly .419 OPS since the All-Star break. The Mets require all the help they can get down the stretch. They need Alvarez to find a way to break out of this slump. And quick.

STRIKING OUT

One disturbing negative to emerge from the weekend – and there weren’t many – was the amount of times the Mets struckout on Sunday. Mets hitters struck out 16 times against the White Sox, surpassing the previous season-high of 14. Now, eight of those strikeouts came from a legit ace in Garrett Crochet. Still, striking out 16 times against the worst team in baseball is a little concerning. Plus, when you consider that the Mets have also been struck out 136 times over the last 13 games, that is a trend worth keeping an eye on.

HIGH USAGE

Edwin Díaz was brilliant against Chicago, earning the save on Sunday and coasting through the ninth inning in Friday’s series opener. As a result, the closer has pitched in four of the last five games for New York. Expect that usage to continue to trend upwards. Díaz will be used frequently by the Mets down the stretch as the team will treat every game like it’s their last. However, in a year full of dazzling highs and crushing lows, you just hope that Díaz will be able to handle the increased workload. After a couple of costly mistakes recently, the Mets need the 2022 version of Edwin Díaz here on out.

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