The slugger was the spark the offense needed against the Marlins. He came up with big hit after big hit to help his team secure a first series win of 2025.

There were some other positives to emerge from the second series of the year. However, we also saw some worrying trends continue.

To that end, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

3 UP

POLAR BEAR HEROICS

If it weren’t for Pete Alonso, the Mets would be waking up today having dropped the first two series of the year. It is that simple. Alonso was the driving force behind the team winning two out of three in Miami. The slugger crushed a grand slam in the opening game on Monday. Then, in the rubber game on Wednesday, Alonso really elevated his game. He hit an RBI double in the first inning to get the Mets on the board. With two runners on and two outs in the eighth, with the Marlins holding a 4-1 lead, Alonso stepped to the plate and, after a nine-pitch at-bat, blasted a three-run bomb to dead center. It was vintage Alonso.

Furthermore, the four-time All-Star posted exit velocities of 114.5, 113.4, 113.1 and 107.1 on Wednesday. He finished the game with a homer, two doubles, a walk, four RBIs and two runs scored. Alonso looks locked in already, and that can only be a good thing for the Mets.

STELLAR DEFENSE

President of baseball operations David Stearns hasn’t been at the helm for long, but Luis Torrens might be his best pickup to date. The catcher is carrying the load with Francisco Alvarez out, and he played a crucial role in securing the win in Game 3. Entering the game as a pinch-hitter, Torrens stayed in and proceeded to make two huge plays behind the plate late in the game. He managed to catch an off-line throw from Brett Baty and still tag out the runner at home in an incredibly impressive show of flexibility. Later in the same eighth inning, Torrens threw a dart from his knees to second to help escape the inning with the game still tied.

Torrens also homered and finished with two RBIs in the first game of the series. He’s hitting .313/.353/.625/.978. Base stealers are 1-for-4 against him. It is early but, so far, Torrens is proving that he can do it all on both sides of the ball with Alvarez out.

CARRYING THE LOAD

How good has the pitching been for the Mets so far in 2025? Thank god because the offense has struggled, putting more pressure on the pitching to deliver. Through the first six games, the starting rotation has an ERA of 2.90, while the bullpen owns a 1.64 ERA. And both the starting and relief pitching was money for the most part in Miami. David Peterson was solid. Kodai Senga showed flashes with eight strikeouts. Max Kranick delivered three shutdown innings out of the pen in the second game of the series. José Buttó tossed two innings of scoreless relief on Wednesday, including stranding the ghost runner in the 10th inning. Huascar Brazobán then came in and tided up some mess to secure the win and his first career save.

It remains to be seen how sustainable this current pitching success is. But, with the offense largely coming up short, both the starting and relief pitching has helped to keep the Mets at .500 through the first six games of the season.

Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

COSTLY ERRORS

The Mets’ defense looks a little Little League right now. Errors by Tyrone Taylor and Mark Vientos on routine plays led to their team being down 2-1 on Wednesday. A.J. Minter would later move a runner over to third on a balk. And another Vientos mistake eventually led to more runs being scored. That came after Francisco Lindor committed two errors on Tuesday, including one that ultimately cost his team the game. Perhaps more concerning is the fact that this team are making even the simple plays look complicated. Granted, the season is still incredibly young and it is foolish to overreact to anything at this stage. With that said, the Mets have a lot of cleaning up to do when it comes to their defensive play.

SLUGGISH START

The Mets broke out offensively in the opening game of the series, but that proved to be more the exception than the rule. This offense is still really struggling to get going. Entering Wednesday, the lineup was hitting a collective .179 through five games. It was also hitting just .125 (4-for-32) with runners in scoring position. And, despite putting up six runs on the board in the rubber game, the Mets still went 3-for-16 with RISP, leaving seven runners stranded on base. If it weren’t for Alonso, those missed opportunities would have proved costly. Again, it is still early, but this offense needs to wake up and start coming through in the clutch.

TIME TO PANIC?

Speaking of waking up, now would be a good time for Mark Vientos to come out of his early-season slump. The third baseman has not been good in really any aspect to begin 2025. And all of his ugly warts were on display in Miami. He cost his team a baserunner by showing a lack of hustle on Tuesday. In a one-run game, that lack of effort is inexcusable. Vientos followed that up with an 0-for-5 night on Wednesday, striking out twice. He also committed an error on a throw that led to a run being scored. Vientos has begun the year hitting just .083/.154/.167 with no home runs and just one RBI. That’s troubling to say the least. Luckily, it is still early and Vientos certainly has the talent and the ability to get the train back on the tracks pretty quickly.

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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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After taking the first two games in Texas, the Mets dropped the series finale to the Rangers on Wednesday, snapping a seven-game winning streak.

Despite the loss, and more bullpen struggles, it was still a fun few days in the Lone Star State as this team continued to roll and make up ground in the Wild Card race.

With that, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

SAVE MACHINE

It is no secret that if the Mets are to make the postseason, then they need Edwin Díaz at the very peak of his powers. The good news is that Díaz has returned to form since returning off the injured list. The star closer recorded another save in Tuesday’s win – his seventh of the year – which also extended the team’s winning streak to seven games. More importantly, the confidence and the swagger appears to be back. Díaz has yet to allow a run in three appearances since coming back from a right shoulder impingement. This is the version of Díaz the Mets will need the rest of the way if they want to make it an interesting summer in Queens.

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU

If you want to know just how important Francisco Alvarez is to the Mets, then I have a whopper of a stat for you. With Alvarez in the lineup, New York is 18-2, dating back to April 4. That’s pretty damn remarkable. We received further proof of Alvarez’s importance to this team in Texas, as the catcher collected three hits in each of the first two games of the series, recording four RBIs and coming up with some clutch at-bats throughout that span. His two-run double in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game off former battery mate David Robertson made it a tied game and was a defining moment in the club’s comeback victory. If that isn’t being instrumental to your team’s success, then I don’t know what is.

CLICKING INTO PLACE

For the first time this year, all of the Mets’ big hitters are playing to the back of their baseball cards. That was the case throughout the entirety of the seven-game winning streak, including in Texas. Francisco Lindor continues to prove why worrying about his slow starts is pointless as he had a big series with five hits and three RBIs. Pete Alonso tallied five RBIs and a couple of clutch hits, including the game-winner on Tuesday. J.D. Martinez has been rolling, Starling Marte has been resurgent and Brandon Nimmo blasted a pair of homers with five RBIs during the three-game set. If the top of the lineup can continue to produce at the current clip, then the prospects of securing a Wild Card spot seems a lot more realistic.

3 DOWN 

Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

LAYING AN EGG

After coming through in the first two games of the series, the bullpen gave the finale away on Wednesday. More specifically, Drew Smith was responsible for the loss. The righty entered with the game tied in the seventh inning before proceeding to give up a go-ahead two run blast to Leody Taveras. Relievers are going to blow games, but this one was a tough one to take with the winning streak being snapped.

ALL THINGS MUST END

All good things must come to an end. That’s just life. Therefore, the Mets having their seven-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday is just one of those things. However, the focus now switches to what comes next. The Mets are now set to open up a three-game set in Chicago against the Cubs on Friday. Given the ground they’ve made up in the Wild Card race over the past week, it is imperative they don’t allow one loss to spiral into a down stretch. Furthermore, we need evidence that this recent run wasn’t just a fluke and that the Mets actually are a good team. If they go and drop a load of games now, then all the fun we witnessed over the past couple of weeks will look like nothing more than a mirage.

R.I.P. TO AN ICON

The baseball world lost a true giant this week. During the game on Tuesday, the SNY broadcast broke the news to Mets fans that Hall of Famer Willie Mays had sadly passed away at the age of 93. Keith Hernandez got emotional while talking about the heartbreaking news, calling Mays “the best player” he had ever seen. It is hard to argue with Keith on that. Mays’ list of accomplishments on the diamond is staggering. The one-time Met will be remembered forever for “The Catch,” which lives on in baseball lore. Mays was the 1951 Rookie of the Year and also won two NL MVP awards, 12 Gold Gloves, two All-Star Game MVPs and a batting title all while being named a 24-time All-Star. Furthermore, he won the World Series with the Giants in 1954 and finished his storied career with 660 home runs, 3,293 hits and a .301 average.

Mays, who had his storied No. 24 jersey retired by the Mets in 2022, was one of the most exciting and electrifying players to have ever played the game. R.I.P. to a true icon.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Stay Hot In Texas appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

No, me neither. But, if things continue the way they are, maybe we’ll see a Grimace statue erected outside of Citi Field in the not-too-distant future.

Ever since the milkshake-loving, fast-food mascot threw out the first pitch last Wednesday, the Mets are 5-0. That includes a sweep of the Padres at Citi Field this past weekend.

Not only is New York winning, but everything seems to be clicking for this team. The offense is hitting at an impressive clip. The pitching has stopped the bleeding. And there is hope swirling around Queens once again.

Of course, it says a lot about the state of the Mets’ season that we’re now pinning our hopes on a big, purple blob. And Luis Torrens. Let’s see where this team is in July before we give Grimace the keys to New York City.

But, for now, there’s very little to moan about, and we shall continue to bask in the glory of Grimace and this current winning streak. It is time for a very positive-laden 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

J.D. Martinez. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

SUMMER FUN

With the start of summer officially arriving, the Mets are holding up their end of the bargain by being good again. For weeks, there was a real tangible fear that the season would end by July. While that could still happen, we at least have some hope to cling to. As winners of five straight – and nine of their last 11 – the Mets have breathed new life into their season. After impressively sweeping the previously red-hot Padres, this team has guaranteed the next few weeks will be interesting at the very least. It is up to them if the hope and excitement can stretch past the trade deadline.

ON A HEATER

There was a reason the collective Mets fanbase fell all over themselves for the team to sign J.D. Martinez. We’re seeing why now. The veteran slugger has been a godsend for this lineup, and that was on full display throughout the series against the Padres. Martinez was unstoppable against San Diego, powering an irresistibly fun-to-watch offense all weekend. The six-time All-Star reached base ten straight times, hitting two home runs and one double with six RBIs and three runs scored while drawing five walks. Furthermore, Martinez came up with some big-time hits, including the game-winning two-run double on Friday night. He has been the main driver behind this recent turnaround.

Martinez is hitting .450/.593/.1.050/.1.643 over the last seven days while putting on an absolute clinic at the plate. It is special to watch the veteran do what he does best. Of course, Martinez is also driving up his value ahead of the trade deadline. But, whether he stays or goes, he’s certainly made it fun to be a Mets fan again as of late.

PITCHING PROWESS

Pitching was a collective strength for the Mets in this series. Outside of a mini collapse on Sunday, in which Jake Diekman allowed three runs in a third of an inning, the rotation and the bullpen delivered. Edwin Díaz got the save on Friday, recording his second consecutive electric ninth inning. Dedniel Núñez was impressive on Saturday, pitching two perfect innings with two strikeouts. And Sean Reid-Foley was able to come in and get the job done in the ninth inning on Sunday, erasing the damage done by Diekman. As for the starting pitching, Sean Manaea, José Quintana and Tylor Megill all enjoyed solid starts and pitched at least five innings. Quintana pitched six and enjoyed a bounce-back start with six strikeouts and one run on two hits. Overall, the rotation and the bullpen came through for the Mets all weekend.

3 DOWN

Jake Diekman (30) delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

LATE SCARE

The Mets were coasting on Sunday until they weren’t. Jake Diekman entered the game in the eighth and proceeded to make things very, very interesting almost immediately. A routine throw that went wrong started the panic, and three runs given up in less than an inning set the stage for an embarrassing collapse. In truth, the Mets recovered after Diekman left the game, thanks mainly to a Luis Torrens homer. Some blame can be attributed to manager Carlos Mendoza, who arguably took out Adrian Houser too early. That was a case of over-managing. But Diekman’s error and the implosion that followed made Sunday’s game more interesting than what was necessary.

TOUGH STRETCH

You can tell I’m starting to clutch at straws given how good this weekend was. The Mets will have a tough task ahead if they want to keep this current resurgence going. They hit the road to take on the Rangers and the Cubs before returning home for a two-game set against the Yankees. Now, Texas got swept by the Mariners over the weekend but could benefit from the pitching matchups on Monday. Wrigley Field is always tough, and the Yankees are the best team in baseball. You just hope this next stretch doesn’t bring a return back to reality.

MIXED WEEKEND

Jeff McNeil made a game-saving defensive play on Friday night for the big second out. It was crucial in the overall context of the game. It was also a reminder of the second baseman’s elite glove. He made a nice play with the glove on Sunday, too. However, McNeil continues to struggle offensively. He went a combined 2-for-10 against the Padres, with just one walk and one extra-base hit. Sure, McNeil did score three runs, but his at-bats are tough to watch for the most part. Now hitting .222/.289/.311/.600 on the year, the narrative around McNeil and his future with the team will only get more interesting the longer his offensive struggles continue.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Grimace-Inspired Mets Sweep Padres appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After winning four of five games on the road in two capital cities – including a trip across the Atlantic to London – the Mets needed to take care of business against Miami.

And they did.

Sure, it took walk-off heroics on Thursday to clinch the series win.

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

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3 UP

WORTH THE WAIT

J.D. Martinez clubbed the 321st home run of his storied career on Thursday. It was also the first time he hit a walk-off home run in his 14 years in the big leagues. It proved to be well worth the wait. Martinez’s ability to come up clutch ensured the Mets won the series, which was a three-game set they had to have. Until the late heroics, the lineup had struggled and entered the ninth with just two hits. Martinez’s milestone two-run blast was much-needed, and it proved to be significant in more ways than one.

WELCOME RETURN

The Mets had double reason to be happy on Thursday. Not only did they secure a series win, Edwin Díaz made his return and looked more like his old self. Coming off the IL, Díaz pitched a clean inning in the ninth with one strikeout. More importantly, he hit 100 mph on the radar gun. Díaz spoke after the game about regaining some confidence, and that will be crucial moving forward. If New York is to stay alive past July, then they will need a fully-confident, peak at his powers Díaz the rest of the way.

SMART MANAGEMENT

Carlos Mendoza made some tweaks to the lineup on Wednesday. Harrison Bader was hitting in the second hole for the first time all year. Brandon Nimmo was given an off day with Tyrone Taylor getting the start. Well, those changes paid off handsomely. Taylor, entering the game mired in a 3-for-27 slump, went 4-for-5 with a double and one run scored. Bader clubbed a home run and finished with two RBIs and two runs scored. In all, the lineup put up 10 runs and 14 hits. Those changes sparked an offense that struggled in the other two games of the series. Kudos to Mendoza for not being afraid to make some bold alterations to the lineup card.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

PERSPECTIVE 

Allow me to take on the role of a Debbie Downer for a minute. Yes, the Mets took two out of three from Miami. Yes, they are only three games back from a Wild Card spot. However, I feel some much-needed perspective is needed here. In two of the three games, the lineup struggled to get a hit, let alone generate runs. The bullpen remains gassed. The defense continues to be an absolute abomination. For the bigger picture regarding the Wild Card, The Mets are not better than the Braves, Padres and Giants currently occupying Wild Card spots. Secondly, there are NINE teams ahead of them.

ERRORS GALORE

We’re in June, yet still waiting to see a new and improved defense. Back in the offseason, the front office promised an athletic and dynamic defense. It has been anything but those two things. And we got another ugly reminder of how bad this defense is on Tuesday. Mark Vientos handed the Marlins the lead in the fifth thanks to a costly error. Then, in the ninth, Francisco Álvarez threw the ball away on a stolen base attempt to give up another unearned run. This defense would be ripped to pieces even if this team did somehow sneak into the postseason. It is beyond brutal at this point.

OFFENSIVE WOES

The Marlins are one of the worst teams in baseball. They also give up a ton of runs. They are one of the worst pitching teams in MLB, based on team ERA (4.67). So, it should raise some red flags that, outside of Wednesday’s game, the Mets struggled to score against Miami. They were held to two runs and four hits in a 4-2 loss on Tuesday. And, despite winning on Thursday, New York managed just three hits and three runs all night. In fact, the lineup didn’t record a hit until the sixth inning. Yes, winning is the great deodorant. But, on the flipside, the offensive struggles against a woefully bad Miami team can’t be overlooked either.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Walk-Off Marlins in Series Win appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After sweeping the Washington Nationals, the Mets swept a series for the first time since April. They have now won three consecutive games and five of their last seven.

It was a series that saw big-time contributions from some unexpected names, a couple of impressive pitching performances and a number of encouraging trends develop.

Now, does three wins serve as a perfect cure-all? Far from it. But it is a start.

With New York having landed in London today ahead of a two-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Photo by: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

THINGS LOOKING UP

Allow me to start off with a generic observation. As I said up top, three wins doesn’t wipe away all the bad baseball the Mets have played this year. However, the series in Washington was a positive step in the right direction. Okay, so the Nationals aren’t exactly a great baseball team and the first two games were heart attacks waiting to happen. But, more importantly, New York took care of business and Wednesday was a real impressive showing in all aspects. We’ll see if this series win leads to anything, but you have to take the good where you can get it.

GOING LONG

Luis Severino bounced back from a rough last outing to handle business in the series finale on Wednesday. The righty was really impressive, allowing just one run on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts. As a result, Severino lowered his ERA to 3.25 on the year. And, as a positive byproduct of being so locked in, the veteran was able to provide the Mets a lot of length and give a gassed bullpen a much-needed break.

NEXT MAN UP

The offense was really clicking for the Mets in Washington. And, while the likes of Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso stayed hot, it was the bottom of the lineup that was the straw that stirred the delicious milkshake. Backup catcher Luis Torrens, recently acquired from the New York Yankees, hit two homers on Wednesday and drove in four runs during the series. Harrison Bader was a major factor as well, finishing the series with seven RBIs. And then there was José Iglesias, who went a combined 5-for-12 with a double and two RBIs against the Nats. I didn’t have Torrens or Iglesias being productive on my Mets bingo card at the start of the year, but if they can help this team turn things around then I’ll take it, especially if the offense continues to average 4.9 runs over an 18-game stretch as they have done since May 18.

3 DOWN

Jeff McNeil. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

WRITING ON THE WALL

Now, the following could be good or bad depending on what camp you belong in, but appears as though Jeff McNeil’s days with the team could be numbered. That will make some people happy, and others not so happy. But, all in all, it does feel like the writing could be on the wall for McNeil. Benched for three consecutive games, the veteran has had to watch Iglesias be very productive against lefties. If he continues to struggle against southpaws while Iglesias continues to impress and the Mets can’t fully turn things around, then McNeil could become very expendable at the trade deadline.

HURT AGAIN

Starling Marte was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday with right knee discomfort. Now, the Mets were quick to stress that they didn’t view the injury as serious, but I’d argue there is still reason to be concerned. After all, Marte has had his fair share of injuries in a short span of time. At 35-years-old, it is fair to wonder if his body can handle the grueling nature of a full 162-game schedule. The news also came at the worst possible time given that Marte was 10-for-22 with two doubles, three walks and six RBIs over his last six games prior to being scratched.

HEART ATTACK WAITING TO HAPPEN

The Mets seem determined to make life interesting for their fans this year. I’ve lost count of the amount of games this year that have had heart attack potential. By that, I mean this team has a special ability to absolutely self-implode in the late innings as it nearly happened in the first two games of this series. Adam Ottavino’s struggles continued after he allowed two runs on two hits before leaving Monday’s game with the bases loaded in the ninth. Thankfully, his bacon was saved by Jake Diekman. Then, on Tuesday, Reed Garrett made things too close for comfort by giving up a run and two walks in the final frame of the contest as well. The Mets were able to escape from the jaws of death this time, but considering how overworked that bullpen is, we could be in for some more nerve-shredding moments late in games from here on out.

I’ll see you next week with a nice cup of tea to break down the London series.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Finally Sweep A Series appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After what we just witnessed in a three-game set against the powerhouse Dodgers, it doesn’t seem possible for the Mets to plunge any deeper into the depths of despair.

Although, probably wise not to rule anything out with this team.

It was a house of horrors series that featured every low imaginable possible. From losing Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso to injury, to inventing yet more ways to lose, to Jorge López‘s costly actions, the Mets put their fans through two hellish days in Queens.

And we’re still in May.

Where the team goes from here remains to be seen. It is possible that the team meeting, the one called in the immediate wake of Wednesday’s clown show, could serve as a catalyst for brighter times ahead.

However, given everything we’ve seen from the Mets through the first 55 games of the season, it is hard to have any confidence in them the rest of the way. They just keep on melting down, wiping away any hope and excitement in the process.

On that very depressing tone, let’s dive right into a very somber edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 UP

LEADERSHIP

Okay, so this season hasn’t exactly gone to plan for Francisco Lindor so far. The shortstop is hitting just .211/.279/.372/.652 with eight homers and 43 strikeouts entering Thursday’s game. However, we saw on Wednesday just why Lindor should be considered an important core piece of this team moving forward. With everything and everyone imploding around him, Lindor had the peace of mind to call a team meeting. As a result, it allowed everyone inside the clubhouse to air their frustrations and let off some steam. Whether or not the team meeting will have a positive impact remains to be seen. That story still needs to be told. But, it did underline Lindor’s status as a true leader on this team. It also highlighted just how much he cares about the Mets. And that’s important.

POSITIVE COMEBACK

David Peterson waited a long time for Wednesday. Making his 2024 season debut following offseason hip surgery, Peterson was solid on the mound. He gave up three runs, two earned, on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts. It was a pretty good first outing back for Peterson, who at least kept the Mets in the game. If Peterson can stay healthy, he could be a nice fifth starter in the rotation going forward.

LOOK TO THE FUTURE

There are 107 games remaining for the Mets. However, no amount of Kool-Aid can convince me that this team will stage much of a turnaround. Instead, it is probably time to start paying special attention to what’s going down on the farm. Luisangel Acuña, the No. 5 prospect in the Mets system, went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. He’s currently hitting .260/.311/.370/.681 with three homers, eight doubles and 16 RBIs. However, he has a slash line of .385/.444/.538 with five stolen bases, three doubles, one homer and four RBIs over his last 10 games. If Acuña can maintain that pace, then we could be seeing him in the big leagues sooner rather than later.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN 

DAY FROM HELL

The Mets are a tortured franchise used to hellish days. Heck, the entire organization is built on pain and misery. Therefore, those who worship at the church of Citi Field are used to days of implosion and unstoppable downward spirals. It is woven in the DNA of Mets fans at this point. However, not even the most battle-hardened of Amazins’ supporters could have been prepared for the fireball of ineptitude that was fired our way on Wednesday. It began with injuries to Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso (more on that below). It continued with another embarrassing collapse in a third straight loss to the Dodgers. And it culminated in a meltdown by Jorge López. If any MLB team has had a worse day than that recently, then I don’t want to know about it.

Man, oh man, this team. The Mets have already been the perfect picture of ineptitude, without needing a reliever to throw a tantrum to end all other tantrums. Not content with launching his glove into the crowd, López swore several times on camera, lied about meeting with management and offered no remorse for his actions. Now, I will defend him on the fact that he said teammate and not team. Some members of the press have not helped him in that department. However, there is still no defending López’s actions and he deserved to lose his place on the team. With everything else burning down, you can’t have somebody like that in the building adding more gasoline to the flames. You just can’t. By acting in the way that he did, López brought more negative attention to a team that is already crumbling under all the pressure.

It is important to note that López has dealt with mental health issues in the past and he currently has a son dealing with familial Mediterranean fever awaiting a transplant.

DOUBLE BLOW

The Mets have very clearly pissed off the Baseball Gods in a big way. I mean, how else can you explain away all the bad things being rained down on this team currently? Edwin Díaz, who has endured a nightmare start to the year, was placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder impingement. He has a 5.40 ERA with four blown saves on the year. If that wasn’t bad enough, then Pete Alonso was removed from Wednesday’s game with a hand injury. With both the X-rays and CT scans coming back negative, it appears as though Alonso and the Mets have dodged a major bullet. The first baseman is currently considered day-to-day. Talk about a lucky break.

INEPTITUDE PERSONIFIED 

Talk about finding new ways to lose. The Mets have done that all year, but they took it to new levels in the series against the Dodgers. They blew a late lead in Game 1 of the doubleheader on Tuesday, before proceeding to be shut out in Game 2 for the sixth time this season. Then, on Wednesday, the Mets entered the eighth inning tied, before imploding in explosive fashion.

Adam Ottavino – who was money in April – was shelled for four runs a day after blowing a save. He has now allowed seven earned runs in his last four outings. Ottavino isn’t the only problem, however. Far from it. The bullpen has now allowed 68 runs in the 7th inning or late over their last 35 games. The offense still can’t score in the 10th inning or come up with the clutch hit on a consistent enough basis.

As a result, the Mets are now 10-25 with a -58 run differential since April 21 — the worst record in Major League Baseball over that span. Very few players are performing to the back of their baseball cards. If this isn’t rock bottom, then I have no interest in finding out what actual rock bottom is. Things are falling apart for the 2024 New York Mets, and the series against the Dodgers proved to be the lowest ebb yet.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Suffer House Of Horrors Series vs. Dodgers appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Sure, they snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Giants in walk-off fashion on Sunday – their fifth walk-off win this year. It was nice to see some fight from a team in a freefall.

However, one win can’t be a magic cure-all. The Mets have lost five straight series and 22 of their last 32 games. And, with the Dodgers in town looking to snap their five-game losing streak, things won’t get any easier for this ballclub anytime soon.

We’re still in May, and everything feels pretty grim in Queens.

And, with that, let’s dive into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

SHOW SOME FIGHT 

The weekend wasn’t a complete bust for the Mets in part to some late-inning heroics on Sunday. Trailing 3-1 in the ninth, Harrison Bader came up with another clutch hit to make it a tied game with a two-run double. Then, with runners still on, Omar Narváez came off the bench to deliver the walk-off winner with a broken bat line-drive single. It’s encouraging to see the Mets coming up with clutch hits in the ninth following such a dispiriting stretch. The Mets need to use Sunday as a positive springboard moving forward.

WALK-OFF HERO

When Omar Narváez stepped to the plate on Sunday with runners on and one out, I was preparing myself for a double-play situation. Then, given what we’ve witnessed over the last little stretch, I was fully expecting the Giants to go on and win the game in extra-innings. Instead, Narváez and his broken bat came up with a monster clutch hit to seal a dramatic walk-off win for the Mets. It was a hell of a moment for the veteran catcher, who entered the game 0-for-27 at Citi Field in 2024. Talk about collecting your first hit at home in style. Maybe, just maybe, this could spark a surge in production for Narváez.

SAVING FACE

Adrian Houser deserves some credit. I have gone in on the veteran in previous editions of this feature, so it is only fair I offer up some praise when deserved. And, deserved it is today. Houser came out of the bullpen to pitch the final four innings of Sunday’s game, allowing just one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Not only did Houser keep the Mets in the game, but he also saved the bullpen ahead of what will be a tough series against the Dodgers. It hasn’t been a great start to life in Queens for Houser, but he delivered and then some when his team needed him on Sunday. He may have even saved his Mets career in the process.

3 DOWN

Edwin Díaz. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

MELTING DOWN

I am not getting too carried away in the wake of Sunday’s heroics. After all, it is just one win. The sample size for ineptitude is much bigger with this team. They were 9-22 over 31 games entering Sunday. That was the worst record in baseball over that span. The Mets suffered two ugly losses this weekend and have been the perfect picture of ineptitude for a while now. As great as Sunday was, the overall picture for the 2024 New York Mets looks bleak. We’re still in May, yet we’re running out of reasons to keep watching this team.

IMPLOSIONS GALORE

Man, talk about a mixed weekend for Edwin Díaz. After pitching a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts on Friday, the closer returned to his closer role on Saturday. The Mets set up the perfect situation for Díaz to redeem himself as he jogged out of the bullpen with a 2-1 lead in the ninth.

Instead, the absolute nightmare scenario unfolded. Díaz gave up the tying run, setting the stage for what came next. Sean Reid-Foley then allowed five runs on two hits to seal what was a stunning collapse. To make matters worse, the normally reliable Reed Garrett gave up five earned runs on four hits the night before. The bullpen was mostly responsible for the two losses to the Giants. Given how gassed the pen is, it might be a depressing sign of things to come in Queens.

ALARM BELLS

Okay, now is the time to start worrying about Kodai Senga‘s status for the rest of the year. The ace has suffered another setback, requiring a cortisone shot for tricep discomfort. As a result, the team shut Senga down for three to five days. This is just the latest in a long line of complications for the righty in his journey back from a right shoulder capsule strain. It seems that whenever Senga is close to throwing a bullpen session, another problem occurs. At this point, it sure does feel feasible to start asking if Senga will return at all this year. Even if he does, will he be as effective as the Mets will need him to be? I don’t think you will be able to bank on that.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Giants Hand Slumping Mets Another Series Loss appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

You are probably trying to convince yourselves that it can’t, but based on what we’ve seen over the first two months of the season, this is perhaps just the beginning of the bad times.

After all, it will only get worse before it gets better, as the old saying goes.

The Mets are the perfect picture of ineptitude right now, and an embarrassing stretch of losses and performances only continued in a three-game sweep to the Guardians.

The bats never really showed up, and when they did, the pitching was a horror show. This team also seems incapable of playing fundamentally sound baseball over sustained stretches.

As a result of the three losses in Cleveland, New York is now a season-worst seven games under .500.

All in all, things seem pretty bleak for the Mets right now. With no game until Friday, let’s linger in the losing for a while longer in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Francisco Alvarez. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

3 UP

REINFORCEMENTS 

Not a whole lot of good came out of Cleveland for the Mets, that’s for sure. However, there was some good news with Francisco Álvarez set to take batting practice soon. That’s a positive development for the catcher, who has been out for over a month following thumb surgery. New York has struggled to get any substantial offense from either Tomás Nido or Omar Narváez in Álvarez’s absence. As a result, the fact that Álvarez is closing in on a return sometime in June should be seen as a major boost for a beyond-struggling lineup.

MAKING HIS MARK

Mark Vientos has held up his end of the bargain since being recalled to the majors. The power hitter went a combined 3-for-7 in two games in Cleveland, hitting two doubles, one homer and scoring two runs. Since rejoining the Mets, Vientos is 7-for-21 with four doubles, one homer and three walks. He also owns a 1.067 OPS in six games since returning from Triple-A Syracuse. Vientos was given another chance and has run with it so far.

SIGNS OF LIFE

I’m still not convinced that this lineup will be consistently dangerous over the long haul, but it did show some signs of life in Cleveland. Aside from being limited to just one run on six hits in the opening game, the offense did some damage in this series. The Mets hit three home runs in the second game, scoring six runs in total. That arguably would have been enough to clinch the win were it not for another mammoth Adrian Houser stinker on the mound. Then, on Wednesday, the lineup hit three home runs for the second consecutive game. Again, pitching proved to be the downfall. However, arguably the biggest positive was the struggling Jeff McNeil hitting homers in back-to-back games—something to build on for both McNeil and the lineup in general.

Photo by David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

FINDING NEW WAYS TO LOSE

Okay, it’s time for the painful part of this feature—the bad stuff. And, spoiler alert, there was plenty of bad and a lot of ugly from the three-game set in Cleveland. Let’s start with a more general point: this team keeps finding new ways to lose. If it wasn’t putting up just one run and being embarrassingly awful on the basepaths, it was being outscored thanks to another collapse on the mound. Then, and perhaps worst of all, the Mets clubbed three homers in the finale and seemed in control, only to implode and end up losing anyway. The fact that former Met Andrés Giménez clubbed the game-tying three-run homer just adds insult to injury. As a result of the sweep, the Mets have lost 20 of their last 29 games and 10 of the last 13. They are seven games under .500.

With a tough stretch coming back at Citi Field, things could get even bleaker for New York.

CRUSHING BLOW

It is official. Brooks Raley is officially done for the year. The lefty reliever will undergo season-ending elbow surgery next week, it has been confirmed. What that means for the long-term future of the 35-year-old pending free agent remains to be seen. What we do know, however, is that losing Raley for the year is a crushing blow for the bullpen. The lefty hadn’t given up an earned run in eight outings this year. While other left-handed options are available in the bullpen, Raley’s loss can’t be overstated for what is already a taxed pen.

THE END IS NIGH

Adrian Houser may as well be a cat. With the amount of chances he keeps getting in the rotation, he sure is leading nine charmed lives. However, after another stinker on Tuesday, it has to be a matter of time before Houser’s future with the Mets comes into real doubt. The righty was shelled for six earned runs on six hits, elevating his ERA to an ugly 7.88. Furthermore, Houser’s latest implosion doomed the Mets despite the best efforts of the lineup. With a bad outing out of the bullpen to boot, has Houser now used all nine of his lives?

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Reach New Lows In Cleveland Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

If dropping two out of three to a bad Marlins team wasn’t bad enough, Edwin Díaz‘s struggles continued to escalate, Christian Scott endured his first tough outing, and more red flags emerged.

Sure, the Mets did show some life by winning the series finale, but one victory isn’t enough to convince anyone that this is a team good enough to make the postseason.

It just isn’t.

What the long-term future might look like for the current core of this team remains to be seen, that’s for sure. But, for now, let’s dive into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Photo by Roberto Carlo

STEPPING UP

With Edwin Díaz in an all-time slump, the Mets need someone else to step up in the closer role. That someone could come from an unlikely source in Reed Garrett. Emerging out of nowhere to pitch as if his life depended on it, Garrett has quickly morphed into the ace of the bullpen this year. And that only continued this weekend. The righty recorded two scoreless innings with four strikeouts on Sunday, picking up his second save of the year. As a result, the Mets can afford to take their time with Díaz, given Garrett’s ability to perform in all situations.

COMING OUT QUICK

Hitting early and often was the key to the Mets’ success on Sunday. Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader scored two runs in the first inning, with a new-look lineup paying dividends. As a result, the Mets were able to ride that fast start to a confidence-boosting win. Granted, the series will still go down as a loss, but avoiding the sweep was crucial. Furthermore, several players stepped up offensively and were able to get the job done in a big way.

REVERTING TO TYPE

This is the J.D. Martinez we’ve all been waiting for. The slugger is starting to look like himself, especially in the wake of a big performance on Saturday. Martinez went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs in the 10-9 implosion, showing the kind of power he’s famous for. He is an absolute wizard at the plate and is one of the smartest hitters in the game. That’s starting to show in a Mets uniform. Having missed Sunday’s game through illness, the Mets hope to have Martinez’s big and crucial bat back in the lineup as soon as possible.

3 DOWN

Edwin Díaz. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

NIGHTMARE SCENARIO 

Hands up if you thought the dark days of Edwin Díaz blowing saves were long gone. Yes, me too. Sadly, one of the best closers in the game is engulfed in an all-time slump. In short, he is looking like the 2019 version of Edwin Díaz. And nobody wants that. The two-time All-Star has struggled for a while, but his implosion was complete on Saturday. Entering a game in which the Mets were leading 9-5, Díaz blew a four-run lead by giving up a three-run homer to Josh Bell and recorded just one out. It was just brutal to watch. As a result, Díaz now has three blown saves on the year. If Díaz can’t get back to the peak of his powers quickly, then the Mets can wave goodbye to any hopes of the postseason. Period.

PITCHING WOES

Outside of Sunday, this was not a good weekend for Mets starters. Phenom Christian Scott endured his first tough outing in the majors on Friday. The rookie was shelled for four earned runs on seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts over four innings. He also gave up a home run. However, Scott showed some resolve throughout those struggles, which is an encouraging sign moving forward. Then, on Saturday, Luis Severino endured an up-and-down outing, allowing five runs on six hits with just three strikeouts over 6.2 innings. Those struggles set the stage for the collapse that would come later in the game. Overall, the starting pitching made life incredibly difficult for the Mets in Miami.

TIME FOR CHANGE?

It sure feels like dramatic change could be on the horizon for the New York Mets. Dropping two of three to a bad Marlins team only highlighted how flawed this team is. The core is not playing to the back of their baseball cards. Both Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte look cooked. The defense is way below average. The starting pitching has regressed dramatically. There are a ton of question marks all over the roster. And one of the best closers in baseball suddenly looks very, very, very hittable. In short, the 2024 Mets are the perfect picture of ineptitude right now, and tearing it all down to the studs may be the only logical solution come the trade deadline.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Continue To Implode In Miami appeared first on Metsmerized Online.