The first half of the 2025 MLB season is officially in the books. And, at the break, the Mets are well-positioned. They sit half a game out of first in the NL East with a 55-42 record.

It was undoubtedly a wild first half for New York. A scorching start was followed by an all-time slump in June. That included 14 losses over a 17-game stretch. With injuries piling up on the pitching side, the Mets’ train was threatening to fall off the tracks completely.

However, taking two out of three from the Yankees over the July Fourth weekend sparked a resurgence of sorts. The Mets went 7-5 in the first half of July, while offering plenty of hope for the second half of the season.

For now, though, let’s look back on the good, the bad and all the in-between from the first half of 2025…

Juan Soto (22) Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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HISTORY MAKER

We are on the cusp of witnessing something truly historic. Pete Alonso (247) is just six home runs away from surpassing Darryl Strawberry (252) for the most homers in franchise history. When Alonso achieves that significant milestone, it will mark a very special day for all connected with the Mets. Alonso inching closer to becoming the Mets’ new home run king will be the biggest storyline heading into the second half. Breaking the record will also be the highlight of what has been a productive year for the slugger so far.

Despite a difficult free agency, Alonso has been at his slugging best, heading into the break with 21 home runs, 26 doubles and 77 RBIs. Granted, there have been some slumps – the first baseman went 16 games without a home run in May. But, overall, Alonso has been great for the Mets so far in 2025. He’s now set for a truly special second half of the year.

EXACTLY AS ADVERTISED

The pressure was always going to be on Juan Soto after he signed a record-breaking $765 million contract during the season. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise that the noise was so loud when the superstar hitter got off to a slow start in Queens. Even so, Soto wasn’t as bad as many people were making out. But, when you get paid the big money, even bigger things are expected and Soto just wasn’t playing to the back of his baseball card.

Then, just like that, it all changed. The generational hitter carved out an all-time June, hitting .322/.474/.722/.1.196 with 25 runs scored, 11 home runs, 20 RBIs, and 25 walks. He has stayed hot since, and has looked like the true superstar we all know he is. Furthermore, the fact that Soto isn’t an All-Star should mean he’s well rested for the second half. He will need to be at the very peak of his powers if the Mets want to accomplish something special in October.

PITCHING CARRIED AT TIMES

The perceived strength of this team entering the season was its offense. Given all the question marks hovering over the rotation, it was believed that the lineup would carry the Mets. However, for most of the first half, the opposite proved true. The Mets owned the best team ERA in all of baseball for a substantial amount of time. That’s despite being without a slew of key starters. The highlights? Kodai Senga pitched at a Cy Young level. Clay Holmes handled his transition from reliever to starter with ease, pitching to a 3.31 ERA. And David Peterson has been the story of the year so far, owning a 6-4 record with a 3.06 ERA. Furthermore, Peterson has been the steady and reliable arm this team has needed amongst the chaos of all the injuries.

On the bullpen side, Edwin Díaz has been dominant. The closer has converted 19 of his 20 saves, pitching to a stellar 1.66 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP and 55 strikeouts across 38 innings. He has also allowed just one earned run in 27 appearances since April 21. Max Kranick emerged as quite the story early on following a strong spring, but has since flamed out. And the likes of Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek, and Huascar Brazobán have all had as many downs as ups. With that said, the pen has done well to stay afloat given the sheer amount of workload it has had to take on during the first half.

Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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ADVERSITY OVERLOAD

The Mets were simply decimated by injuries throughout the first half of the season. Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas went down during spring training. A.J. Minter and Danny Young were lost early. Griffin Canning was lost for the year after a strong start. Tylor Megill is currently on the 60-Day IL. Dedniel Núñez is now set for his second Tommy John surgery. Max Kranick and José Buttó are on the IL. On the offensive side, Jesse Winker has struggled to stay healthy and is now back on the IL. And a raft of injuries have also impacted the performances of a slew of other players on the roster. Consequently, the bullpen has been taxed due to the number of starters who have been injured. Plus, Winker’s absence has hurt the bottom of the lineup. The Mets will be hoping for a healthier second half.

TAKING A STEP BACK

Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez were both significant X-Factors entering 2025. They were supposed to help carry this offense behind the Big Three at the top of the lineup. Instead, both players have regressed significantly. Vientos has not looked like the player who mashed at a high level in 2024. Instead, he’s looked lost at the plate, hitting just .223/.280/.361 with a .640 OPS and just six home runs. Additionally, his defense, which was already below average, has also taken a considerable step back. Vientos did show signs of life in Kansas City right before the break, coming up with a clutch hit in the opener. The Mets need more from the middle and bottom of the lineup in the second half, and Vientos will be key to that.

As for Alvarez, the catcher saw his play fall off a cliff. Getting hurt in spring training didn’t help. But the combination of missing time and a new swing approach combined to sink the catcher. He wasn’t hitting for any power, producing just three homers while hitting .236/.319/.333. There was a concerning trend with the framing numbers behind the plate, too. As a result, Alvarez was sent down to Triple-A in order to hit the reset button. Since then, the slugger has hit eight home runs and 18 RBIs for Triple-A Syracuse, while he owns a 1.196 OPS in July. A return to the big leagues could be on the horizon. But, overall, New York needs a lot more from both Vientos and Alvarez in the second half, especially offensively.

FALLING SHORT

For all of the offseason hype, the offense hasn’t been all that great so far in 2025. Heading into the All-Star break, the Mets were averaging 4.39 runs per game, which ranks 14th in all of baseball. The lineup has just been maddeningly inconsistent, with the team’s best hitters all going through lengthy slumps. Meanwhile, the bottom of the lineup has almost been a net negative.

However, the biggest concern on the offensive side has been the struggles with runners in scoring position. The Mets have stunk with RISP all year long. They just have. At the break, New York is hitting .230 with RISP. Even Juan Soto is hitting just .183 with runners in scoring position. The lack of clutch hitting has cost games. Be it an approach or mentality issue, something has to change. Because, in close games in the postseason, an inability to cash in with runners on could hurt this team in the biggest way.

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Despite failing to clinch the sweep, New York took two out of three from the Royals in Kansas City. As a result, the Mets head into the All-Star break with a 55-42 record. Furthermore, they’ve won seven of their past 11 games and three of the past four series.

We will be taking stock of the first half in a special 3 Up, 3 Down on Tuesday, but for now, let’s recap everything from the series in Kansas City…

Jul 13, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

3 UP

RETURN OF THE KINGS

There wasn’t a lot to get excited about in the series finale on Sunday. However, seeing Sean Manaea make his long-awaited return was a welcome boost for everyone connected with the Mets. The lefty replaced Clay Holmes and proceeded to allow one earned run on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over 3.1 innings. Yes, Manaea did allow the winning run that prevented New York from sweeping the series. Other than that, however, Manaea showed a lot of promise in his 2025 debut. The Mets will now hope that the veteran can build on that and carve out a successful second half.

Manaea wasn’t the only key piece of the rotation to have made his return this past weekend. Kodai Senga also made his comeback on Friday, giving the Mets their top two pitching weapons back. Senga’s return was a successful one as he delivered four shutout innings on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Now, granted, the right-hander did face a boatload of traffic in his first start back, but he was able to navigate through that adversity and come through unscathed. Being able to tough out an outing even when you don’t have your best stuff is the hallmark of a great pitcher. Now back, Senga is a real X-Factor for the Mets as we get ready for the second half. If he can stay healthy and continue to pitch at a Cy Young level, then this rotation will be in good shape.

UPWARDS TRAJECTORY

The weekend series in Kansas City provided the Mets with a slew of positives on the starting rotation front. Not only did Senga and Manaea make successful returns, but Frankie Montas continued to look really good. The right-hander was lights out in his start on Saturday. He allowed just one run on four hits with five strikeouts across five innings. It was easily his best start of the year. Montas’ stuff looked incredibly sharp, all of his pitches were working, and he gave his offense a solid platform to build on. All in all, Montas has looked better and better with each start he’s made. As a result, he’s now on a positive upward trajectory heading into the All-Star break. If he can continue improving with every start, then this rotation could look formidable once again.

STAYING HOT, HOPE & MILESTONES

We’re going to finish off this section with three positives in one. Because, well, why not? Let’s start with Mark Vientos. The third baseman has been mired in an all-time slump for all of 2025. Those struggles continued when he struck out with the bases loaded in the third inning of Friday’s opener. However, when offered a shot at redemption in the eighth, Vientos took it. The slumping slugger hit a three-run, bases-clearing double to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. It was without doubt the biggest hit of the entire year for Vientos. He followed that up by going a combined 3-for-7 in the final two games of the series, including hitting a triple on Sunday. Hopefully, the heroics on Friday unlocked something for Vientos, who will need to hit like he did in 2024 in the second half of 2025.

Elsewhere, Juan Soto stayed hot with two home runs, three runs scored, three RBIs, and two walks in this series. Soto now has 23 home runs at the All-Star break, matching the previous career-high he set at the halfway mark last year with the Yankees. Finally, Francisco Lindor made some history by recording the 200th stolen base of his career on Saturday. Consequently, he joined an exclusive club, becoming just the third shortstop in MLB history to tally 200 stolen bases and 200 home runs. Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins are the other members of that prestigious club.

Clay Holmes (35) Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

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RIGHT BACK ON THE IL

This has been a frustrating period for Jesse Winker. As soon as he returned from the IL, he was back on it again. It was announced prior to the series opener against the Royals that Winker was put back on the IL with lower back inflammation. The veteran will be treated with medication over the next several days before being reevaluated. Having already missed two months with a strained oblique, Winker will no doubt be unhappy that he’s back on the shelf again. It also isn’t great news for the Mets. Winker’s bat is needed in the middle of that lineup, especially considering how inconsistent the offense has been so far. Hopefully, the All-Star break will be the tonic Winker needs to get himself right and healthy in time for the second half.

LOAD MANAGEMENT

One of the biggest Mets storylines heading into the second half will be Clay Holmes. More specifically, how the Mets will manage the reliever-turned-starter in the second half and down the stretch. In his latest start on Sunday, Holmes pitched well, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk over five innings. Heading into the break, the righty has now pitched 103 1/3 innings. His previous career-high for innings pitched in a season was 70 in 2021. Therefore, the Mets are going to have to walk an incredibly fine line with Holmes and the innings he pitches the rest of the way.

FINISHING SLOW

Once again, the Mets failed to sweep a series, and once again, the offense was to blame. The lineup went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners stranded on base. It was the fourth time in five games that the Mets had failed to score at least four runs. Furthermore, New York is now averaging 4.39 runs per game, which ranks 14th in Major League Baseball. We are now at the All-Star break, and we’re still waiting for this offense to really come alive on a consistent basis. The continued struggles with RISP should be raising major alarms inside the front office. This offense needs to figure it out, and fast.

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Pitching dominated from both sides, as Mets and Royals’ arms kept scoring at a premium. Royals left-handed starter, Noah Cameron, delivered a stellar outing, holding the Mets scoreless over 6 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts, seven hits, and two walks. For the Mets, Clay Holmes got the start and stayed steady, tossing five innings and surrendering just two runs on five hits, both runs coming off a John Rave single in the second.

Sean Manaea returned to the mound in dominant form, striking out five consecutive batters and seven total over 3 1/3 innings of relief. He scattered five hits on 65 pitches, with his lone misstep coming in extras when Tyler Tolbert singled, stole second, and scored on Nick Loftin’s walk-off hit.

Offensively, the Mets were mostly held in check, with Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso combining to go 0-for-10 with three walks. Mark Vientos, Ronny Mauricio, and Tyrone Taylor each collected multiple hits, with Vientos showing signs of life at the plate after a sluggish start to the series.

The Mets came alive late, as Mauricio led off the ninth with a single off Royals closer Carlos Estevez. Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI triple that clipped the glove of outfielder Kyle Isbel, and recently recalled Jared Young tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center, pinch-hitting for Luisangel Acuña.

Player of the Game: Sean Manaea

After having his first half of the season taken away due to injury, Sean Manaea made an impressive return to the mound, fanning five straight hitters and finishing with seven strikeouts across 3 1/3 innings of relief. He allowed five hits while throwing 65 pitches in the outing. Manaea looked like 2024 Manaea and gives the Mets a much-needed arm to help stabilize a pitching staff that’s gone through a lot this season.

On Deck

The Mets have reached the All-Star break and will get some much-needed rest, though Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, David Peterson, and Francisco Lindor are headed to Atlanta to represent the team in the Midsummer Classic.

They’ll resume play on Friday at Citi Field to open the second half of the season and kick off David Wright celebration weekend. While the Mets have yet to announce a starting pitcher, manager Carlos Mendoza said a decision will be made in the coming days. Whoever gets the ball will face Reds left-handed starter  Nick Lodolo (6-6, 3.38 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm ET, with coverage on SNY and Mets Radio 880.

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The Mets’ first pick will be at No. 38 on Sunday night. They then have selections at No. 102 Sunday as well, followed by No. 133 and No. 163 in rounds two and three respectively, followed by the No. 28 pick each of the rounds from the fourth through the remainder of the draft. Alexis Farinacci previewed the Mets’ draft and who analysts believe the Mets will pick ahead of Sunday night.

By Roberto Carlo

The Mets on Saturday defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-1. Frankie Montas (2-1, 5.03 ERA) was credited with his second win; Jonathan Bowlan (1-2, 3.79 ERA) was credited with the loss, and Edwin Díaz (1.66 ERA) earned his 19th save on the season.

The Mets and Royals conclude their three-game season and the first half of the 2025 MLB season on Sunday. It will be right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.29 ERA, 81 SO) on the mound for the Mets against left-handed pitcher Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.57 ERA, 50 SO) on the mound for the home Royals.

The conclusion of this game will then lead into the All-Star break.

Latest Mets News

The New York Mets announced that prior to David Wright’s number retirement ceremony and Hall of Fame induction, they will be hosting a Mets block party on July 18 at 1:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field.

Per Laura Albanese of Newsday, Dedniel Núñez is headed for his second Tommy John surgery.

Francisco Alvarez hit twto home runs and recorded five RBIs on Saturday for the Syracuse Mets. Alvarez now has seven home runs in his last 12 games.

Per Michael Mayer of Metsmerized Online, Brooks Raley threw a scoreless inning on Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse. So far in his rehab assignment: 9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 13 K

As noted by the Mets, Francisco Lindor crossed another milestone on Saturday with his 200th career stolen base. Per MLB, Lindor is just one of nine active players to reach 200 career steals.

Latest MLB News

The Atlanta Braves reported left-handed pitcher Joey Wentz to Atlanta. They also recalled infielder Nacho Alvarez Jr. to Atlanta, placed infielder Austin Riley on the 10-day injured list with a strained right abdomen and optioned right-handed pitcher Nathan Wiles to Triple-A Gwinnett following Friday’s game.

Major League Baseball on Saturday announced that Paul Skenes will start the 2025 All-Star Game for the National League; MLB announced that it will be Tarik Skubal on the hill for the American League.

Per Major League Baseball, Yankees right fielder and captain Aaron Judge has hit his 350th career home run. He also becomes the youngest player in MLB history to reach No. 350.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi recapped the Mets’ minor league affiliate games from Friday.

Mojo Hill recapped Mark Vientos’ performance on Friday, which included a much-needed big hit for Vientos amidst his recent struggles.

Chris Bello breaks down the MLB power rankings for week 15.

Kai Chang discusses Nuñez’s need for second Tommy John surgery.

Evan Mazza recaps the Mets’ 3-1 win over Royals on Saturday, which included a strong performance from Mets pitching and a Juan Soto home run.

Alexis Farinacci recapped Jonah Tong and Carson Benge’s performances, along with a breakdown of the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

On This Date in Mets History

2001: Mike Piazza hit his 300th career home run.

Born on This Date: Mike Fitzgerald (1960), Jack Aker (1940).

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

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

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

3 UP

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

GIVE HIM HIS FLOWERS

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

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

GREAT RELIEF 

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

STARTING EXCELLENCE

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

3 DOWN 

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

MAN DOWN

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

RARE MISTAKE

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

LETTING OFF THE GAS

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

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Jeff McNeil’s golf swing seems to be finally paying off. As shown in the graph below, McNeil has been able to drive balls down-and-in, most of which have traveled over 200 feet or more. McNeil consistently likes pitches down-and-in, but was really struggling to connect with these pitches in the first half of the season. Much of this had to do with his footwork in the box.  He was shuffling his feet often, making his swing unbalanced, particularly with down and in pitches. Now, it seems that McNeil is much more stable with his footwork, allowing him to drive these types of pitches.

One area of struggle for McNeil is pitches away from him in the zone. While he is connecting on these pitches, he is not able to drive them, many of which have resulted in ground balls.

It seems that McNeil is finding his swing and his confidence. The former batting champion did not show as such for the first half of the season, however, he is showing promise for the second half. The new found power is a nice added bonus to McNeil’s repertoire.  Look for McNeil to continue making contact in his sweet spot of down-and-in, while making adjustments at the plate to cover the entire strike zone. The outside part of the zone is currently hurting him, but look for him to make the necessary improvements to cover this area.

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After taking two of three from the Rockies, the Mets are over .500 at 49-46. They are also in sole possession of the third Wild Card berth in the National League.

Granted, New York missed the opportunity to sit pretty at the halfway point with 50 wins after dropping the series finale to Colorado on Sunday. However, it was still an impressive homestand, with the Mets going 5-1. They outscored the Nats and the Rockies by a combined 39-24.

All eyes will now be on the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game – as well as the remainder of the Draft. But before we switch our attention fully, let’s recap the Colorado series in another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

Jul 12, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

MR. CLUTCH

You can always count on Francisco Lindor. The leader of this team can come through in the clutch when his team needs him the most. He did it again on Saturday. With the offense struggling, Lindor stepped up to the plate in the eighth inning and blasted a three-run bomb. It was a dagger to the hearts of the Rockies, effectively icing the game there and then. Star players carry that label because of their ability to deliver in the biggest moments. Lindor did that Saturday, signing the Mets a series win. He’s also done it time and time throughout his time in Queens.

DYNAMIC DUO

Christian Scott was on a short leash on Saturday, pulled after just four innings after giving up a pair of homers. Enter José Buttó, who stepped up out of the bullpen. The starter-turned-reliever delivered 2.2 innings of near-perfect relief work, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Then, in the second installment of a daring double act, Dedniel Núñez came in to finish the job. The righty threw two hitless innings with no walks and three strikeouts to seal the win. It was a much-needed boost for a bullpen that struggled in this series.

UNSUNG HERO

To be successful in the MLB, you need your role players to step up here and there. The Mets have that in Harrison Baderand then some. The Gold Glove defender has been an unexpected but welcome plus on the offensive side of the ball. That was evident in the series opener on Friday when Bader went off offensively. The eight-year veteran – who has never hit more than 16 homers in a single season – blasted two home runs in a single game for the second time in his career.

Both of Bader’s blasts were important. One gave the Mets a 3-2 lead, while the other blew the game wide open. All in all, Bader has been providing consistent contributions from the nine-hole in the lineup all year, and that’s been a vital ingredient in why this offense has been red-hot.

3 DOWN

Jul 14, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana (62) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

BEATEN UP

José Quintana entered Sunday’s game with a 2.82 ERA over his previous ten starts. Then the wheels fell off. The veteran was shelled for five earned runs on six hits, including giving up four homers. It was the first time in his career that Quintana had allowed four home runs in a single game. As a result, the Mets had no chance of winning the game and missed the opportunity to enter the All-Star break at 50 wins. For Quintana, he will hope Sunday was just a blip as he looks to either raise his value as a trade chip or continue to help this team down the stretch.

SAME OLD STORY

At this point, we may as well reserve a spot in this section for the bullpen. Because, as of right now, we’re guaranteed at least two implosions a series from the pen. Other than Saturday, the bullpen continued its struggles in this series. Jake Diekman and newly-acquired Phil Maton combined to allow three earned runs on three hits on Friday. Thankfully, Edwin Díaz got the job done in the ninth. Then, on Sunday, Adrian Houser‘s recent struggles continued as he allowed two home runs out of the bullpen. He has given up three earned runs in each of his last two outings. The trade deadline can’t come soon enough for this beaten-up bullpen.

SLUMP CITY

J.D. Martinez has cooled off considerably. The DH was in a groove in June but has become entrenched in a slump over the past few weeks. The veteran didn’t record a single hit against the Rockies, going a combined 0-for-9 with six strikeouts in the series. Furthermore, over the last 14 days, Martinez is hitting just .189/.318/.324/.643. As a result, the All-Star break has probably come at the perfect time for the 14-year vet. Sometimes, rest is the best medicine.

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The New York Mets look to complete the sweep of the Colorado Rockies and end the first half of the season on a high note Sunday afternoon. The Mets ranked 13th in the National League back on May 29. Since then,New York have gone 27-12 and now hold onto a wild card spot. It has been a wild ride for the Mets. A win today would put the Mets five games above .500, which would be their best mark this entire season.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Brandon Nimmo, LF
3. Francisco Alvarez, C
4. Pete Alonso, DH
5. Mark Vientos, 1B
6. Jose Iglesias, 3B
7. Tyrone Taylor, RF
8. Jeff McNeil, 2B
9. Harrison Bader, CF

Jose Quintana has tossed 96 2/3 innings for the Mets this season over 18 starts with a 3.91 ERA, 4.72 FIP, 1.262 WHIP, and a 99 ERA+. Over his last five starts he has allowed only four runs (three earned) across 30 1/3 innings (0.89 ERA, 3.53 FIP). In the month of July, has allowed no runs over 14 innings, scattering five hits and four walks. He is on a tremendous run right now.

The Rockies have the following career numbers against him:

• Charlie Blackmon 10-19, 2B, HR, 3 K
• Elias Díaz 4-13, 2B, 3 BB, 2 K
• Peter Lambert 1-4, K
• Ryan McMahon 1-7, 3 K
• Brendan Rodgers 4-12, 2B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Jacob Stallings 2-9, 2 K

Jose Quintana. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

Rockies Lineup

1. Charlie Blackmon, DH
2. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
3. Ryan McMahon, 3B
4. Brenton Doyle, CF
5. Brendan Rodgers, 2B
6. Jacob Stallings, C
7. Michael Toglia, 1B
8. Sean Bouchard, LF
9. Hunter Goodman, RF

Germán Márquez makes his first major league start this afternoon since undergoing Tommy John surgery early last season. Márquez, a mainstay in the Rockies’ rotation, has a career 4.41 ERA, 4.61 FIP, 1.100 WHIP, and 101 ERA+. He has had an ERA+ above 100 in six of his eight major-league seasons.

Across seven rehab outings in 2024, Márquez allowed 17 runs (15 earned) over 19 innings from 26 hits and five walks. It’s difficult to read too much into his rehab work since there are specific throwing plans early on and minor league stadiums out west have interesting aerodynamics for baseballs.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Márquez:

• Pete Alonso 0-8, BB, 4 K
• Harrison Bader 3-9, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Ben Gamel 1-11, 2B, 5 K
• José Iglesias 1-7, BB, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-14, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
• J.D. Martinez 3-7, 2B, HR, K
• Jeff McNeil 4-9, 3 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 4-14, 2 BB, 5 K
• Luis Torrens 0-3, K

Game Notes

Tonight is the MLB draft. The Mets will select twice during the first day of the draft. You can read our preview about the event here.

Sunday is the Mets ‘ last game before the All-Star break. As it stands, Pete Alonso is the Mets’ lone All-Star representative. He will also participate in the home run derby.

Prior to the game, manager Carlos Mendoza offered an update on outfielder Starling Marte. He said that his recovery has been, “slow.” And added, “We’re not sure when he’ll be back.”

Prior to the game, Jose Iglesias told reporters he will be headed to Arlington, Texas where he was perform his song OMG during All-Star weekend.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Harrison Bader. The Mets were talking earlier in the week about giving Bader the day off on Saturday, but it still came as a surprise after his massive Friday night game where he went 2-for-4 with two homers. Bader’s career slash line is .247/.311/.400. This season Bader is hitting .277/.317/.427 with a 113 OPS+. The last time he had an OPS+ north of 100 was in 2021 (114 OPS+ in 2020, 2021).
2. Pitch counts. Germán Márquez will be on some sort of pitch count this afternoon. Probably somewhere between 75-90 pitches. There’s a lot that factors into that too. Longer innings are more taxing. The weather today is pretty harsh. If the Mets can give him tough at-bats early, hopefully they can get into the Rockies’ bullpen earlier. The Rockies bullpen has been one of the worst in the leagues this season but hasn’t quite looked that way (outside of a massive Lindor home run yesterday) this series.
3. Deplete the ‘pen! With the All-Star break looming the pen use could be a bit more liberal today. Everyone has pitched in the last three days with the exception of Houser who hasn’t been in a game since July 8. Danny Young and Adam Ottavino, who pitched a lot on Thursday, haven’t pitched in a few days.

The post Game Chat: Rockies vs. Mets, 1:40 P.M. appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Carlos Carrasco. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It has been a difficult season for many within the New York Mets’ organization, but no player has struggled more than starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco. Saturday’s start against the Washington Nationals was just a continuation of a disappointing stretch for the veteran right-hander, allowing eight runs (six of which were earned) on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings to earn his fifth loss of the season.

The Nationals jumped on Carrasco in the top of the first inning, scoring three quick runs on hits from Joey Meneses and Dominic Smith. Stone Garrett added a fourth on a sacrifice fly to center field, putting the Mets in a 4-0 deficit before even getting their chance to hit. Carrasco’s troubles would carry over to the second, as Jeimer Candelario‘s double would give the Nationals a 5-0 lead.

For the second consecutive start, Carrasco’s was unable to make it through three innings. Run-scoring hits from Riley Adams and Lane Thomas in the top of the third put the Nationals ahead 8-1, quickly ending the pitcher’s outing. The Mets would eventually fall by a score of 11-6, ending their brief two-game winning streak.

Carrasco is now 3-5 with a 6.40 ERA through 70 1/3 innings this season. The Mets have traded closer David Robertson and starting pitcher Max Scherzer in recent days, making it clear that the front office will be making more deals ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Carrasco’s contract expires at the end of this season, so if any teams express interest in him as a backend of the rotation piece, owner Steven Cohen will certainly look into it.

The 36-year-old is enjoying an awful run since the team returned from the All-Star break. Carrasco has thrown a total of 9 1/3 innings across three starts, owning an 0-2 record with a 14.46 ERA during that stretch. While he is not the only player who has underperformed in 2023, a majority of his outings have not been up to par.

With no signs of these struggles stopping, it’ll be interesting to see if the Mets make a decision to remove Carrasco from the rotation.

The post Carlos Carrasco’s Struggles Continue Post All-Star Break appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the Home Run Derby, defeating Randy Arozarena with 25 home runs in the final round. Guerrero Jr. easily beat Mookie Betts in the first round before stunning the home crowd by defeating Julio Rodríguez in the semifinals. Guerrero Jr. and his father, Vlad Sr., are the first father-son duo to both win a Home Run Derby title.

Latest Mets News

Pete Alonso hit a respectable 21 home runs, but he was no match for Julio Rodríguez in their first-round matchup, as the 22-year-old hit a Home Run Derby record 41 home runs to send Alonso packing.

Alonso and Kodai Senga will represent the Mets at the All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park tonight. It’s unknown whether either player will participate in the game. Senga was seen conversing with Shohei Ohtani on the field Monday, and said later, “I’m going to put this hat on him right now.” First pitch for the game is scheduled for 8 p.m.

"I'm going to put this hat on him right now"

– Kodai Senga on recruiting Shohei Ohtani to the Mets pic.twitter.com/NfWHrdzwH1

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 10, 2023

With the 91st pick in the MLB Draft, the Mets selected right-handed pitcher and outfielder Nolan McLean from Oklahoma State University. McLean possesses a fastball in the high 90s and 60-grade raw power, though he strikes out at a high rate.

With pick number 101, the Mets drafted right-hander Kade Morris out of the University of Nevada. Morris has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and while he had an ERA of 5.42 this year, he struck out 85 batters against 27 walks and allowed just six homers in 81 1/3 innings.

With the 123rd pick in the draft, the Mets selected another right-handed pitcher, Wyatt Hudepohl out of UNC Charlotte. Hudepohl had a solid junior year, recording a 4.27 ERA with 129 strikeouts against 27 walks in 105 1/3 innings.

With the 134th pick of the draft, the Mets picked shortstop A.J. Ewing out of Springboro High School in Ohio. Ewing was ranked the 101st-best prospect according to Prospects Live.

The Mets had the 135th pick as well, and they used it to select another righty in Missouri’s Austin Troesser. Working largely as a reliever, Troesser registered a 4.73 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. He has a fastball that can touch the mid-90s.

The Mets went with another arm with pick number 159, this time selecting Grand Canyon southpaw Zach Thornton. The left-hander had a solid 3.87 ERA with 91 strikeouts against 18 walks in 88 1/3 innings this year.

With pick number 186, the Mets took Illinois righty Jack Wenninger. The six-foot-four right-hander had a 4.59 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings this past year.

The Mets finished off day 2 of the draft by selecting South Carolina righty Noah Hall and California high school shortstop Boston Baro. Hall had one of the best change-ups in the class but had his promising season cut short by a back problem. Baro meanwhile has been praised for his easy left-handed swing and solid defense.

The Mets got encouraging news back on Tommy Pham, as imaging on his groin came back negative. Pham exited Sunday’s game in San Diego in the bottom of the first inning due to tightness. The 35-year-old has been the Mets’ best hitter over the last six weeks, hitting .331/.397/.587 since May 28.

Latest MLB News

Starting lineups for tonight’s All-Star Game were revealed yesterday. Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen (11-3, 3.04 ERA) will start the game for the NL, while Yankees fireballer Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.85 ERA) will get the start for the AL.

Forbes revealed yesterday that Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani are the most popular-selling jerseys in baseball this year. Francisco Lindor is the only Met to crack the top 20, checking in at 15.

The Yankees have hired three-time All-Star Sean Casey to be their new hitting coach, replacing the recently-fired Dillon Lawson. Casey was teammates with Yankees manager Aaron Boone for the Reds in their playing days.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Photo Credits: USA Today.

Latest on MMO

Alexis Farinacci breaks down the Mets’ selection of Nolan McLean with the 91st pick.

Mike Mayer looks at the Mets’ selection of Kade Morris with pick number 101.

Matt Mancuso writes about the Mets picking Wyatt Hudepohl with the 123rd pick.

Alexis Farinacci looks at the Mets’ selection of A.J. Ewing with pick number 134. She also examines their selection of Austin Troesser with the 135th pick.

Alexis Farinacci dissects the Mets’ selection of Zach Thornton with pick 159. She also looks at their selection of Jack Wenninger with pick number 186.

Matt Mancuso breaks down the Mets’ selections of Noah Hall and Boston Baro.

Johnluke Chaparro breaks down Pete Alonso’s struggles heading into the All-Star break.

On This Date in Mets History

2006: David Wright takes Kenny Rogers deep in his first-ever All-Star Game at-bat to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. The AL comes out on top, however, as Michael Young delivers a two-out, two-run triple off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning.

2008: Oliver Pérez dances around six walks to hold the Rockies to just one run in six innings, and Damion Easley‘s eighth-inning home run gives the Mets a 2-1 win and their seventh victory in a row. The Mets are now a season-high five games over .500.

2015: Matt Harvey hits his first career home run, a two-run shot off Patrick Corbin to cap off a three-run fifth inning. The Diamondbacks challenge the call, contesting that there was fan interference on the play, but the call is confirmed. Harvey also strikes out nine batters and allows two runs in seven innings, and is supported by homers from Lucas Duda and Ruben Tejada as the Mets down the Diamondbacks, 4-2.

2022: Max Scherzer allows just one run and three hits with nine strikeouts as the Mets down the Braves at Truist Park, 4-1. Edwin Díaz secures the win by striking out the side in the ninth inning.

Birthdays: Jack Heidemann (74), Mark Little (51), Blaine Boyer (42)

The post Morning Briefing: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Wins Home Run Derby appeared first on Metsmerized Online.