In Philadelphia for a three-game series, the Mets took two out of three from the Phillies. As has been the case throughout this season, it wasn’t always perfect or pretty.

However, while series wins don’t matter all that much now, it was nice to see some things click, especially in a dominant performance on Sunday to clinch the series.

With that, let’s recap everything from the Phillies series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down..

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts before an at bat during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

LINDOR’S BIG DAY

Boy, did Francisco Lindor need Sunday. The shortstop has struggled since returning from injury, and he suffered another defensive mishap on Saturday. Furthermore, Lindor has been the subject of intense trade speculation in recent days. However, ignoring the noise, he reminded everyone in the series finale just how valuable he can be to the Mets. Lindor was a triple shy of the cycle, reaching base a total of five times. He finished 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, one run, three RBIs, and two walks. Talk about a monster day at the plate. It was easily Lindor’s best game of the year, and hopefully a precursor of greater things to come.

DAZZLING MCLEAN

Nolan McLean, the ace, is well and truly back. The young starter has seemingly put his struggles behind him, and he was stellar in the finale on Sunday. He was virtually unhittable, allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings with two walks and 10 strikeouts. As a result, McLean has now given up just two earned runs over his last four outings, while striking out 29 batters against seven walks over that span. This is exactly the level of dominance we expected to see from McLean. Long may it continue.

RISING STAR

McLean wasn’t the only starter to impress over the course of this series. Christian Scott showed on Thursday why he could be a cornerstone of this rotation moving forward. The righty was outstanding in his latest start, allowing just three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings. Scott is trending in the right direction, and the talent and potential are clearly there. Now all he needs to do is start going deeper into games.

Jun 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) looks to the video board during an ABS system challenge during the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

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END IN SIGHT?

Is it nearly the end of the road for both Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga? One could make a compelling argument that it certainly should be. The duo was responsible for chucking Saturday’s game away, combining for six earned runs over just 5.3 innings. Manaea was the worst culprit, surrendering a pair of homers. With the offense doing nothing, Manaea and Senga only doomed their team thanks to their respective poor efforts. Consequently, it is hard to envision either pitcher having much left to offer the Mets going forward.

HURTING THEMSELVES

What has been most infuriating about this season has been how the Mets have found new ways to lose games on an almost daily basis. They’ve been unable to get out of their own way while committing the most basic of errors. Look at Saturday’s game as a case in point. The Mets made three errors and committed a slew of sloppy defensive miscues in just an ugly, dispiriting display of ineptitude. The fact that the team also finished with the same number of errors as hits truly says it all. With 69 errors on the season – the second-most in the majors – it is no wonder why the Mets have struggled as much as they have.

BRACE YOURSELVES

I hate to be a gloomy Gus, but the two wins we saw in Philly may be about as good as it will get the rest of the way. Not only do the Mets have one of the toughest remaining schedules, but they also seem truly open for business. With only five players considered untouchable, we could be about to see a lot of talent go out the door. That will likely include Luke Weaver, who has been the team’s best and most reliable reliever this season. As a result, maybe we should enjoy this series win before things potentially fall off even further once pieces begin to be traded away.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Come Out Of Break Strong appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets got swept by the Red Sox and invented new ways to lose in all three games. It was a miserable end to what has been a rotten 2026 season so far.

What happens now with the Trade Deadline rapidly approaching remains to be seen. But what is clear is that these Mets aren’t anywhere close to being good enough. That was on full display over the weekend against Boston.

With that, let’s recap everything from the final series of the first half in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down.

Nolan McLean by Berto Carlo

3 UP

THORNTON’S GEM

Zach Thornton gave the Mets a rare reason to be encouraged over the weekend. Making just his third career start, the lefty excelled on Sunday. He tossed seven scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out five. It was truly an incredible performance by Thornton, who needed just 86 pitches for his masterpiece. Furthermore, he has also allowed just one earned run over his last two starts. While a small sample size, Thornton has flashed a lot of potential. Therefore, he could have a big role to play for this team after the All-Star break.

STEADY PRESENCE 

It looks like Nolan McLean‘s struggles are behind him. The righty was excellent against the Red Sox on Friday night, allowing two unearned runs with two walks and seven strikeouts across six innings. Consequently, McLean has now given up just two earned runs over his last three starts. He’s back to being the reliable anchor of the rotation that the Mets need. More importantly, McLean is pitching like a true ace again.

UNTOUCHABLE

Luke Weaver‘s dominant season continues. The reliever tossed a scoreless inning during Sunday’s series finale, making it 25 consecutive outings without giving up an earned run. That’s incredibly impressive. Weaver has been a real strength all year so far, and he’s remained consistent even with the bullpen struggling as of late. As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising if Weaver gains a lot of interest the closer we move to the Trade Deadline.

Francisco Lindor by Berto Carlo

3 DOWN

FATAL ERROR

Francisco Lindor is not having a fun time of it right now. The shortstop has largely struggled since returning from the IL, and his struggles were compounded on Sunday. With the Mets holding a 2-0 lead in the ninth, and with one out, Lindor had the chance to end the game with a double play. Instead, he fumbled the play badly, leading to Boston tying the game and then winning it in extras. It was yet another sloppy, ugly play by Lindor, who actually had a nice day at the plate. But he continues to make basic mistakes in the field, and that should be a real concern for the Mets.

WHAT NOW?

What do the Mets do with Freddy Peralta? The starter has been a major disappointment in Queens so far, and things don’t look like they will get any better. He was underwhelming on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits but walking five batters. More importantly, Peralta lasted just 4 1/3 innings. It was the third consecutive start in which the righty failed to complete five innings. Now owning a 4.66 ERA on the year, it is hard to figure out what has exactly gone wrong with Peralta this year. And it is also hard to envision his trade value picking up now, leaving the Mets with a potential dilemma.

FALSE HOPE

It turns out the offense was just teasing us after all. After scoring 48 runs in the previous two series combined, the Mets lineup reverted back to type against the Red Sox. They managed just four runs all series, including being shut out for the ninth time this season on Saturday. The entire offense struggled all series, especially in clutch situations. For instance, the Mets went a combined 1-for-24, leaving 21 runners stranded on base. Given how bad the offense has been in 2026, it was fitting that the bats went ice cold in the final series before the All-Star break.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Swept By Red Sox To End Woeful First Half appeared first on Metsmerized.

Namely, we saw a lot of improvement from the offense. To be more precise, the Mets got consistent production from the lineup throughout the entire three-game series. And we haven’t been able to say that all too often this year.

Were it not for a bullpen implosion, then the Mets might have secured a first series sweep since the end of May. With that said, a first series win since June is just what this team needed.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Royals series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

A.J. Ewing by Berto Carlo

3 UP

EXPLODING INTO LIFE

Where has this level of production from the offense been all year? The bats truly came to life against Kansas City, outscoring the Royals 25-21. Furthermore, they have scored six-plus runs in five consecutive games. The offense was averaging 8.75 runs per game over a four-game stretch prior to Wednesday’s finale. This is without a doubt the best and most consistent stretch of the entire season for the lineup. Why it has taken this long for everything to click is a good question, but hopefully we see similar levels of production the rest of the way.

FUTURE LOOKING GOOD

The Mets may well have just found their outfield of the future. Juan Soto, Carson Benge, and A.J. Ewing are all showing that the future does indeed look bright. The trio were red-hot throughout this series, going a combined 15-for-33 with 14 runs, four homers, one double, nine walks, and 10 RBIs. That’s elite-level production, and it is the kind of talent that could provide the Mets with a foundation of success for years to come. Ewing was the standout of the three, going a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three RBIs in the opener. Furthermore, the rookie is continuing to prove that he’s the perfect fit as this team’s leadoff hitter. Benge came up with some clutch hits, including a big single that broke the game open in the finale, and Soto just continues to stay hot. All in all, the outfield looks set to be a considerable strength for the foreseeable future.

ROTATION HOPES

The overall pitching picture was an ugly mess in the first game of the series. However, things settled down after that largely thanks to the starting rotation. Christian Scott continues to ascend for the Mets. He tossed five scoreless innings on Wednesday night, giving up just three hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Scott once again showed that he has the talent and the potential to be a future cornerstone of this pitching staff, as long as he can clean up on a few things. For instance, wiping out mental lapses and being able to go deeper in games will be musts if Scott is to develop into a reliable No. 2 or No. 3 starter. Meanwhile, Sean Manaea continues to trend in the right direction. The veteran went a full seven innings on Thursday, giving up two earned runs while striking out six. Maybe Manaea’s best stuff is behind him, but this new version could offer the Mets the solid, dependable back-of-the-rotation starter they need.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

UNWELCOME HISTORY

The Mets made history for all the wrong reasons on Tuesday night. Following an all-time epic collapse, the Mets lost when scoring at least 11 runs at home for the first time in franchise history. They had been 129-0. Furthermore, they lost for just the second time in franchise history when scoring 12 or more runs. Not good. The cause of all that embarrassment was the pitching. In short, a bullpen game well and truly backfired. Kodai Senga started the damage by allowing four earned runs on five hits over three innings. It only got worse from there. Austin Warren, who has since landed on the IL, gave up five earned runs. The biggest culprit, however, was Matt Seelinger, who allowed seven earned runs across just two innings in a nightmare MLB debut to forget. The bullpen has largely been a strength this year, but Tuesday night was rough.

UNFORESEEN HINDERANCE  

The Mets may have to change some of their Trade Deadline plans. Mark Vientos has landed on the IL with a fracture in his right hand after getting hit by a pitch. With the infielder likely to miss weeks, it is unlikely that he will now be moved at the Deadline. It also continues a nightmare season for Vientos, who has struggled defensively and offensively while struggling to hold down a regular role. A parting of the ways may have been beneficial for both parties, but that’s now unlikely to happen anytime soon.

SLUMP CITY

Francisco Lindor is not having a good time of it right now. He is still being eased back in with days off here and there, but maybe that’s impacting his rhythm. The shortstop recorded just one hit in the Royals series, with no extra-base hits, no RBIs, one walk, and two strikeouts. Furthermore, Lindor is hitting just .192/.276/.192/.468 with no extra-base hits and five strikeouts over his last seven games. He looks lost at the plate, and the Mets will hope that is just rust rather than something more troubling.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Offense Powers Mets’ Series Win Against Royals appeared first on Metsmerized.

After dropping the first two games of the series, the Mets rallied to win the final two to split the series with the Braves. Yes, it wasn’t exactly pretty. And, yes, it could have easily been a series sweep.

However, you have to celebrate the small victories too. In winning the final two games of the series, the Mets showed a lot of heart, a lot of grit, and a lot of character. You have to applaud that in the moment.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Braves series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

HEART & SOUL

We touched on it above, but the Mets did show some fight in Atlanta. Whether it leads to anything, remains to be seen. But the final two games of the series deserve to be celebrated for now. Yes, the Mets hardly made it easy for themselves. And the bullpen did its utmost to give the final two games away. But the fact that the team was able to gut both games out and salvage the series says a lot. At least we know now that there is some fight in that clubhouse. Again, it will mean nothing if another losing streak follows. But, for now, we should be encouraged that this team simply didn’t fold on the road against a very good team.

CLUTCH HITTING

Superstar players get that billing because of their ability to step up in the biggest moments. That was certainly the case for Juan Soto on Monday night. In the series finale, trailing 3-2 in the ninth and with two outs, Soto showed why he is one of the best hitters on the planet. With ice in his veins, the outfielder crushed a dramatic three-run homer deep into the night to change the entire complexion of the game, and the series. Soto was red-hot throughout the entire series too, hitting two homers and finishing with three runs scored and seven RBIs.

In terms of clutch hitting, Soto wasn’t the only one to come through. After the bullpen blew the lead in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Torrens stepped up in the 10th and delivered a two-out, two-run double to give the Mets the lead for good. The catcher continues to show his value for this ballclub.

EXCELLENCE IN RELIEF

Luke Weaver continues to set the gold standard for relief pitching for the Mets. In a series where the bullpen wilted badly, Weaver remained a paragon of excellence. Sure, he allowed the ghost runner to score in extra innings on Monday. However, he did battle back to get the final outs and secure the save. Plus, Weaver still hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 30. That’s 24 appearances and 26 consecutive innings without giving up a single earned run. During that time, he’s struck out 34 while allowing just 11 hits and seven walks. That is pure dominance right there. And, if this run continues, Weaver could emerge as the team’s biggest trade chip.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

LOTS OF UGLY

In many ways, the Mets were lucky to escape Atlanta without getting swept. They were outplayed in most areas for the majority of the series. Defensive issues were again front and center. The offense was ineffective for the first two games of the series. The pitching was hit-and-miss and required herculean efforts on the mounds. And the bullpen showed the first real signs of buckling under a heavy workload. It wasn’t pretty, and the Mets’ slew of faults were on full display. Granted, they did rebound to split the series. Still, the overall play of this team remains incredibly sloppy. So much so, it is hard to envision the fightback in Atlanta meaning all that much in the grand scheme of things.

MELTING DOWN

It wasn’t an easy series for the bullpen. Although that would be putting it lightly. There were a couple of homers given up by that unit on Friday, and again on Saturday. However, the headlines belong to the final two games of the series. A rusty Huascar Brazobán entered Sunday’s game in the ninth armed with a 10-3 lead. Easy work, right? Nope. Brazobán imploded, allowing five earned runs and even committing an error. Devin Williams came in and, while he did eventually stop the meltdown, he also gave up a run. Then, on Monday night, it was Williams’ turn to really struggle. Trusted to protect a 3-2 lead, Williams instead gave up a double and then a two-run homer to Matt Olson to make it a tied game. Thankfully, the offense bailed him out in extra innings.

ANOTHER COMICAL BLUNDER

Not only do the Mets make defensive mistakes, but they also have an ability to comically screw up even the most routine of plays. Take Saturday’s lopsided loss, for example. In the bottom of the third with Atlanta already leading and the bases loaded, the Mets just needed one more out to escape the jam unscathed. Instead, a routine pop-up caused chaos between Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor. Lindor just dropped to the ground, missing the ball completely, while Taylor, who carried on charging in despite Lindor’s calls, also missed the ball. As a result, three more runs scored and the game was all but over early. Furthermore, Lindor and Taylor were lucky they didn’t collide and get seriously hurt. If one play could sum up the Mets’ season, it would be that one.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Salvage Braves Split With Late Heroics appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets dropped two out of three to the Blue Jays, losing a fifth straight series as a result. They’ve also lost 10 of their last 12 games.

Without doubt, the driving force behind the woes in Toronto was a real lack of offense. The lineup was lifeless for most of the series. Yet another clunker from Freddy Peralta on the mound also didn’t help.

On that note, it is time to dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

CANADIAN GEM

Nolan McLean put on an absolute show in Toronto on Tuesday night. Having allowed six earned runs in his last outing, the righty needed a bounce-back. And he sure delivered against the Blue Jays. McLean looked like the ace we all know he could one day be. He tossed six innings of scoreless ball, walking two batters while striking out seven. He was pitching at the peak of his powers. More importantly, the start against the Cubs aside, McLean seems to be settling into a real groove now. If he can pitch as he did on Tuesday night the rest of the way, then that will certainly help to settle things down somewhat for the Mets.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

You wouldn’t automatically call Bo Bichette a defensive wizard. He has had to suffer through some teething problems while learning to play third base this season. Even playing as a natural shortstop, Bichette has always been below-average defensively. However, the two-time All-Star showed plenty of defensive chops in the 3-0 shutout win over Toronto on Tuesday night. Playing against the team that drafted him, Bichette made a number of key plays and big throws. His stellar night on the defensive side of the ball set the tone in what proved to be the only win of the series.

GETTING BACK IN A GROOVE

Francisco Lindor appears to be getting back to his old self. The shortstop has been eased back in ever since coming off the IL. Well, in Toronto, we saw some encouraging signs. Lindor hit a pair of homers in the series. He now has two homers, five RBIs, two walks, and four runs scored over his last seven games. While the offense struggled against the Blue Jays, Lindor settling back into a groove can certainly be taken as a big positive.

Jun 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) reacts after striking out against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

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BAD OPTICS

Juan Soto just doesn’t help himself sometimes. As otherworldly talented as the superstar hitter is, he can frustrate with what looks to be a lack of hustle. We saw it the other week when Soto cost his team a run by failing to hustle out of the box to first base. And we saw another example of it on Monday, albeit with bigger consequences. In the bottom of the first, George Springer led off for Toronto and lined a ball into left field. Soto misplayed the ball, allowing it to bounce over his glove and towards the wall. More egregious, however, was Soto’s reaction to the whiff. He casually strolled after the ball, allowing A.J. Ewing to clean up the mess, with the rookie then fumbling the ball. The end result? Springer scored a little league home run to set the tone for the rest of the game. It was not a good look all-around for Soto, who just looks way too laidback sometimes.

MASSIVE LETDOWN

If there was an award for biggest disappointment of the season, Freddy Peralta would arguably have a pretty good claim as of right now. The veteran starter has underwhelmed overall in Queens, while also serving up some real clunkers recently. That was the case on Wednesday. In the series finale, Peralta was lit up, giving up five earned runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. With the offense doing nothing yet again, Peralta’s stinker on the mound ultimately doomed the Mets. Looking at the bigger picture, Peralta has now allowed a total of 23 earned runs over his last six starts. It is hard to see the starter getting much back in a trade at this point. And, if he does stay in Queens, then it remains to be seen if Peralta can get the train back on the tracks and be the kind of ace this team needs. That seems very doubtful right now.

LIFELESS TO THE END

This hapless offense is never going to figure things out, is it? The lineup was pretty much a non-factor throughout the series against Toronto. In total, the Mets managed just seven runs and 17 hits. They also went a combined 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position. All three of New York’s runs in the series finale came when the game was already effectively over. It is hard to win games when you can’t score runs. All in all, this offense remains lifeless. The entire lineup struggles to make adjustments on the fly. We’re now in July and, barring some unforeseen miracle, it is hard to have faith in this offense showing much improvement the rest of the way.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Lifeless Offense Dooms Mets In Toronto appeared first on Metsmerized.

Even after firing manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday, the Mets couldn’t rally under a new voice. Interim manager Andy Green lost two of his first three games in charge in a series loss to the Phillies.

While there were some positives on display, we also saw more of the same old problems that have helped to create the current mess the Mets find themselves in.

New York is now 3-10 over its last 13 games. As a result, the team continues to dig itself an even bigger hole to try and climb out of. If the season isn’t over already, then it is on life support.

On that cheery note, let’s recap everything from the weekend in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

SOLID RELIEF 

Kodai Senga flashed a little something in his first outing out of the bullpen on Sunday. He also showed why he’s struggled in the rotation so much. Let’s get the bad out of the way. With the Mets leading by one run in the seventh, Senga threw a very hittable fastball to Kyle Schwarber. The result? Schwarber mashed it over the fence to give the Phillies a lead they never gave up. It was a fatal mistake. However, before that, Senga proved effective over five innings of bulk relief. He struck out four while allowing just two earned runs on four hits with one walk. He was effective with his forkball and largely did a good job of shutting down the Phillies’ offense outside of that lone mistake. There could be something there to work with.

GREAT SECOND IMPRESSION

Making just his second career start in the big leagues, Zach Thornton certainly impressed on Friday night. He allowed just one earned run over six innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. He gave the Mets much-needed length and also provided his team every opportunity to win the game. That’s all you can ask out of a starting pitcher. Granted, it is only one outing, but Thornton certainly showed that he has the skill set needed to force his way into this rotation at some point.

UN-HITTABLE 

Of all the failed moves by David Stearns this past offseason, Luke Weaver is the one working out. The reliever has been stellar for the Mets so far, pitching to a 2.06 ERA on the year. Furthermore, Weaver has been unhittable as of late. Literally. He hasn’t allowed a run to score in 23 consecutive innings. You’d have to go all the way back to the end of April for the last time Weaver gave up a run. That’s pretty incredible.

Jun 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets interim manager Andy Green (center) stands in the dugout with bench coach Kai Correa (left) and third base coach Tim Leiper during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NO MAGIC WAND

People hoping for a spark with a new voice in the dugout will probably be disappointed. The Mets dropped two of interim manager Andy Green’s first three games in charge. And, in doing so, we saw exactly why this team is where it is. I’m not convinced we’ll see much of an improvement in results, even with a change of manager. For instance, the Mets have now lost eight of nine and 10 of their last 13. That’s bleak. Plus, the offense is still a hot mess, and the starting rotation is still in absolute shambles. While it was the right decision to move on from Carlos Mendoza, I’m not sure we’re going to see the same dramatic uptick in fortunes as the Phillies did when they made a change in the dugout.

EASING IN DOWNFALL

Look, on the face of it, easing Francisco Lindor back in makes sense. He missed a lot of time, and it would be foolish to overload him straightaway. That said, the decision to give Lindor a complete day off on Sunday proved costly. Arguably so at least, anyway. A man short on the bench, and in a close game, not having Lindor available really hindered the offense. Ronny Mauricio popped out with the bases loaded in the eighth, which would have been an ideal spot for Lindor to come in to try and change the game. It would have been smart to at least have him on the bench as an option for later in the game.

NOT TAKING CHANCES

The offense continues to frustrate at a high level. During the series finale on Sunday, the lineup went just 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving a whopping 14 runners stranded on base. Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez, Bo Bichette, and Eric Wagaman all whiffed in a big spot with runners on. It was a similar story on Friday in the series opener. The Mets managed just one run in that game, with the entire lineup struggling to get anything going. The inability for this offense to come up with the big hit is really quite alarming.

The post 3 Up: 3 Down: Mets Blow Their Chance Against Phillies appeared first on Metsmerized.

Therefore, while it was probably the right decision to fire manager Carlos Mendoza, it is also right that Mendoza wasn’t the main culprit for the current mess.

Furthermore, you can make a case that Mendoza should have lost his job a lot earlier. But you can also argue that more accountability is needed from this franchise.

Mendoza clearly deserves some of the blame for the Mets being where they are. He oversaw last season’s monumental collapse. Then, this season, he’s presided over a team that has failed to adapt and adjust on the fly. We’ve seen the same lackadaisical errors night after night after night. At some point, the blame for that has to fall on the coaching staff.

It became clear after an embarrassing four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs that change was needed more than ever. While he’s clearly respected in the clubhouse and within the organization, his presence and leadership weren’t leading to any tangible signs of improvement. In fact, things were getting worse.

Mendoza just had to go. And you could make a compelling argument that this change should have come much sooner.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

All Eyes On Stearns

However, with all of that said, firing Mendoza alone may not be enough.

After all, president of baseball operations David Stearns is the one directly responsible for constructing a roster that is seemingly fatally flawed.

Granted, let’s not skip over the impact injuries have had this year. And let’s also not give the players a free pass. They are the ones who have failed to execute on the field. They are the ones who have not performed to the back of their baseball cards.

Still, the buck ultimately stops with Stearns. He failed to learn from his mistakes in 2025, not doing nearly enough to strengthen a clear weakness in the starting pitching. Acquiring Freddy Peralta alone apparently wasn’t nearly enough given the slew of question marks in the rotation. Stearns also spent a large part of the offseason preaching about improving run prevention, which according to defensive runs saved, he has done. However, by jettisoning Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo to do so, the offense has bottomed out.

Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. have combined to play just 38 games all year. Marcus Semien, who was already a fading force offensively, has seen his defensive skills diminish too. To cap it off, Bo Bichette has underperformed greatly.

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

What Now?

To hammer the point home, the Mets are 72-102 since June 12, 2025. While Mendoza and the players take some of the blame for that, it is Stearns who is ultimately the architect of that run.

What happens now remains to be seen.

If the players continue to fail at even the most fundamental basics, then the pressure on Stearns will only increase. His seat will only get warmer if he fails to execute the right strategy at the trade deadline. And the calls for Stearns’ head will only increase in volume if we see no improvement from this team the rest of the way.

With Mendoza gone, there is nobody else left to blame. And, if Stearns can’t fix the mess he created, then he may be next out of the door. And, if things don’t change, and soon, then that would probably be the fair and right decision.

The post Opinion: All Eyes Now On Stearns Following Mendoza Firing appeared first on Metsmerized.

Unable to put any sort of winning streak together, the Mets once again showed how flawed they are during a series loss in Philadelphia over the weekend.

Despite taking the series opener, the Mets flamed out in the final two games, including suffering a humiliating 15-3 blowout loss on Saturday. As a result, New York was outscored 25-11 by the Phillies. The team is also 34-43 on the year and sitting in last place in the NL East.

The Mets are now 2-4 over the last week. Consequently, they look anything but a team that can drag itself back into the playoff race. Plus, with the starting pitching a complete mess, those odds are looking more and more insurmountable.

It is time for another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

3 UP

HELP ON THE WAY

Without doubt, the biggest positive for the Mets over the weekend was the continued progress made by Francisco Lindor. The shortstop came through two rehab games in the minor leagues unscathed over the weekend. He even ticked off a big box by recording a stolen base for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday. As a result, Lindor looks set to return to big league action later this week. That would serve as a big boost for the Mets, who need all the help they can get.

REWARDING THE FAITH

In a weekend full of lows, Sean Manaea at least provided a faint glimmer of hope. The lefty was solid in his latest outing, giving up two earned runs on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts. More importantly, Manaea pitched into the sixth inning, doing enough to keep his team in the game until the offense took over. Furthermore, Manaea’s gritty outing also eased the workload on the bullpen. Overall, the veteran is showing small signs of heading in the right direction.

GETTING HOT

Carson Benge was a consistent producer for the Mets in Philadelphia. He recorded five total hits, including a three-hit night in the opener. He also smacked homers on both Saturday and Sunday. Even though the offense did very little against the Phillies, Benge at least tried his best to provide a spark. Plus, Benge is now hitting .290/.333/.548/.882 over his last seven games.

Jun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

HITTING THE LOWPOINT

This weekend provided another reminder of just how badly things have gotten off track this season. Thursday’s opener aside, the Mets were not really competitive in Philadelphia. They were totally blown out on Saturday in just an embarrassing effort. And they also couldn’t dig themselves out of a hole on Sunday. As a result, we saw further proof that the Mets probably aren’t equipped to handle good teams or great pitching. This series was just another sobering reminder of how fatally flawed this team really is.

STINKING UP THE JOINT

Freddy Peralta was next-level awful on Saturday. The guy who was supposed to be an ace for this team laid a Godzilla-sized egg on the mound. In what was the worst start of his career, Peralta allowed a career-high 10 runs over just 2.2 innings. He was relentlessly smacked around in a hard-to-watch beatdown. Now owning a 4.83 ERA, Peralta must bury Saturday night as he bids to turn his season around. Buying your team before the third inning is unacceptable, especially for a player of Peralta’s ilk.

NOT HELPING MATTERS

With the Mets reeling from Saturday night, David Peterson needed to offer some stability. Instead, he did the complete opposite of that. Peterson was uncompetitive from the get-go, allowing two runs to score in the first. Then, in the second, he sealed his team’s fate by giving up a three-run bomb to Kyle Schwarber. And, just like that, the Mets were dead and buried by the third inning for the second time in as many nights. The fact that Peterson even started this game underlines what a mess the rotation is right now. The lefty has now allowed 19 earned runs over his last five outings, and is showing no signs of stopping the slide. For the second straight year, it sure looks like the starting pitching will play a big role in dooming the Mets.

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Yes, the Mets dropped two out of three to the Reds as maddening inconsistency continues to plague this team. Losing this series in Cincinnati made the previous series win against the Braves seem moot.

However, this team did show how things could be in the series finale, avoiding the sweep thanks to an ace-like performance and a relentless and efficient offense. Granted, what we saw on Wednesday just made the failings of this season so far even more frustrating.

Why can’t the Mets play like that on a much more consistent basis?

While we don’t have the answer to that question, we do have the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down hot off the press for you…

3 UP

ACE-LIKE

That’s more like it, Nolan McLean. The righty put together his best outing in weeks on Wednesday, absolutely dominating the series finale against the Reds. McLean looked at the very peak of his powers, tearing through the Cincinnati lineup with absolute ease. He allowed just one unearned run over seven dominant innings with one walk and nine strikeouts. McLean just overwhelmed the opposing lineup by having complete control of his stuff. It also helped that his four-seam fastball was back to being dangerous, generating five whiffs on 11 swings. All in all, McLean pitched like a true ace, and that’s exactly what the Mets will need moving forward.

ELITE HEATER

There’s hot, and there is whatever Bo Bichette is doing right now. The infielder has finally settled into a groove and he looks unstoppable at the plate. Bichette had three hits in the series opener, two hits in the middle game, and another three hits in the finale. He was at his best on Wednesday, finishing with three runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. Plus, after combining with Juan Soto for five runs and three RBIs in the final game, Bichette showed just how dangerous the top of that Mets lineup could be. This version of Bichette is certainly a lot of fun to watch, too.

NOT MISSING A BEAT

Since coming off the IL on June 9, Francisco Alvarez has made it his mission to lock right back in. The catcher has been swinging a hot bat since his return, and that continued in Cincinnati. After recording a hit in each of the first two games of the series, Alvarez really came alive in the series finale. He went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI, driving in a run with an RBI single in the fifth inning. If the Mets are to go on the kind of run needed to salvage this season, Alvarez staying hot at the plate – and also staying healthy – will be vital.

Jun 16, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) looks to the video board during an ABS system challenge during the game against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

SEEN ENOUGH

Is it fair to ask if the Kodai Senga experiment has already gone too far? Outside of a dream debut season in 2023, things have hardly gone well for Senga in Queens. And a lot of that has to do with his inability to stay healthy. Well, after returning from his latest stint on the IL on Tuesday, Senga delivered another clunker. He allowed four earned runs on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts over four innings, including giving up a pair of home runs. It is clear that Senga just does not have it anymore, and he’s now allowed 20 earned runs over his last four starts. The fact that he’s still in the rotation just highlights how big a letdown starting pitching has been for the Mets this year.

PLAN BACKFIRED

The front office hasn’t learned from its past mistakes when it came to pitching, and it is coming back to haunt the Mets right now. Starting pitching doomed this team in 2025, and history looks set to repeat itself in 2026. This team simply doesn’t have enough reliable starters. With that said, it also doesn’t help how the coaching staff and front office have handled certain pitchers. Take Tobias Myers, for instance. The righty was sent down to the minors in order to be stretched out as a starter. However, that never happened, and serving as the opener on Monday, Myers was shelled for seven earned runs on four hits over 1 1/3 horrific innings. The handling of Myers has proved to be an unmitigated disaster, as has the Mets’ approach to building a rotation for the second straight year.

MADDENINGLY INCONSISTENT 

Forget treading water, the Mets just continue to sink, and it is becoming increasingly frustrating to watch this team on a daily basis. There was some hope after the series win over the Braves, only for reality to hit after the Mets dropped the first two games to the Reds. They just can’t get out of their own way. Inconsistency is the biggest problem at play here. The offense was stagnant for the first two games, only to come alive in the series finale. Even in winning the series finale, the defense committed a number of blunders. The starting pitching, as detailed above, remains an absolute wild card from game to game. At this point, given their inability to put it all together, it would probably take a miracle for the Mets to salvage anything at all from this infuriating season.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Finish Strong To Avoid Cincy Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized.

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.

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