Their first round was a mixed bag, however, taking Kevin Parada and Jett Williams at No. 11 and No. 14 overall, respectively. Parada has struggled so much in the minors he was left unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft last year and went unclaimed. He bounced up and down between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse and was inconsistent at the plate but he did end strong offensively, ultimately finishing with a .702 OPS on the season. He has struggled defensively and still has clear holes in his swing, though. Without further adjustments, it is hard to see a future in the major leagues for him, and he will likely remain unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft.

Jett Williams was a quick riser in the minors, and in 2025 he seemed poised to make noise in the majors in 2026, but his stock has fallen considerably this season with both Baseball America and Pipeline dropping him altogether from their most recent top 100 updates. The Mets traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers in a package for Freddy Peralta last offseason, and it would seem they sold high on him at the right time. Brandon Sproat was the other name dealt in the package. Sproat was drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft but did not sign, so he will be talked about more when reviewing 2023 when they drafted him again.

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Jonah Tong was taken in the seventh round. He made his major league debut in 2025 with mixed results but looked better in 2026, pitching to a 3.82 ERA across seven appearances. He had mixed results in Triple-A this year, but everything seemed to come together towards the end of the season.

Blade Tidwell was taken in the second round and was up and down the minors. He flashed good stuff at times but was never able to command his pitches. He threw 15 innings in the majors with the Mets in 2025 to a 9.00 ERA before he was traded as part of the package for Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants at the 2025 deadline. He was not great in the majors in 2026, pitching to a 4.45 ERA across 56 2/3 innings and is scheduled to undergo Tommy John Surgery.

Before the 2026 season, Jacob Reimer was ranked the No. 70 prospect in baseball by Baseball Prospectus. He struggled heavily in the first month of the season but looked much better in the weeks leading up to his injury in June. When he returned from the injury, he looked better under the hood and slashed .280/.375/.434/.809.

Nick Morabito, taken in the second round, has made his major league debut, though it did not go well. Overall, he slashed .195/.283/.244 across 46 plate appearances.

12th-rounder Paul Gervase was traded for Tyler Zuber in 2024, who the Mets later DFA’d and has since bounced around. After a brief appearance with the Rays, Gervase was traded to the Dodgers and pitched a handful of innings in the majors for them. 14th-rounder Cameron Foster was also traded, this time for Gregory Soto in the 2025 season. Foster struggled heavily in 2026 at Triple-A and logged a 9.00 ERA in six appearances at the big league level for the Baltimore Orioles.

Tyler Stuart was taken in the sixth round and was traded for Jesse Winker in 2024. Winker played a large part in the Mets’ 2024 NLCS run, while Stuart missed the entirety of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Before that, he was struggling in Triple-A with the Washington Nationals.

You can see the full draft below:

• Round 1 – Kevin Parada – C
• Round 1 – Jett Williams – SS
• Round 2 – Blade Tidwell – RHP
• Round 2 – Nick Morabito – OF
• Round 3 – Brandon Sproat – P
• Round 4 – Jacob Reimer – 3B
• Round 5 – D’Andre Smith – 2B
• Round 6 – Tyler Stuart – P
• Round 7 – Jonah Tong – P
• Round 8 – Dylan Tebrake – P
• Round 9 – Chase Estep – 2B
• Round 10 – Zebulon Vermillion – RHP
• Round 11 – Rhylan Thomas – OF
• Round 12 – Paul Gervase – P
• Round 13 – Dylan Ross – P
• Round 14 – Cameron Foster – P
• Round 15 – Jackson Jaha – 3B
• Round 16 – Jimmy Loper – P
• Round 17 – Connor Brandon – P
• Round 18 – Chris Santiago – P
• Round 19 – Jackson Lovich – SS
• Round 20 – Eli Ankeney – P

The post Reviewing the Mets’ 2022 Draft appeared first on Metsmerized.

McLean, who went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and struck out 57 in 48 innings pitched with the Mets, came in as the No. 3 prospect overall. His fastball, sweeper and slider all earned perfect grades.

“McLean’s deep bag of pitches, headlined by a pair of unique fastballs and a rare ability to spin it, give him frontline upside while his elite ability to roll ground balls helps solidify the floor,” according to the site.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

First and second in the rankings were OF Konnor Griffin of the Pirates and SS Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers.

The other Mets on the list:

• OF Carson Benge (No. 15) – “Benge is a unique athlete who may just be scraping the surface of the player he can ultimately be.” (.281/.385/.472, 15 homers, 22 steals across three levels as high as Triple-A Syracuse.)
• RHP Jonah Tong (No. 37) – “He has middle-rotation upside, but there’s still some reliever risk with the right-hander.” (2-3, 7.71 ERA with the Mets; 10-5, 1.43 ERA at two levels as high as Syracuse.)
• OF-2B A.J. Ewing (No. 65) – “Between the advanced offensive skill set, speed and defensive versatility, Ewing has a high floor as a player who should at least land in a utility role if the bat stalls.” (.315/.401/.429, three homers, 70 stolen bases, three levels as high as Double-A Binghamton.)
• SS-2B-OF Jett Williams (No. 69) – “Unlikely to provide a ton of value at a single position, Williams projects best as a primary second baseman or super-utility type who could take over the Jeff McNeil role as soon as 2026.” (.261/.363/.465, 17 homers, 34 steals, two levels as high as Syracuse.)
• RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 87) – “Sproat’s ability to get ground balls and mix six offerings gives him a back-end starter’s floor, but the below-average fastball shape and overall execution probably limit his ceiling, with the most likely outcome being a No. 4 starter.” (0-2, 4.79 ERA in four starts with the Mets; 8-6, 4.24 ERA, 113 strikeouts in 121 IP at Syracuse.)
• 3B-1B Jacob Reimer (No. 93) – “Even if there is limited value beyond the bat, Reimer has the offensive ingredients to get on base at an above-average clip and hit 20-25 homers.” (.282/.379/.481, 17 homers, 15 steals, two levels as high as Binghamton.)
• 1B-OF Ryan Clifford (No. 99) – “Ultimately, Clifford projects best as a bulk-platoon, three true outcome power bat, capable of launching 30+ homers.” (.237/.356/.470, 29 homers, seven steals, two levels as high as Syracuse.)

The post McLean Leads Eight Met Prospects Ranked in Top 100 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Age: 25 (9/17/2000)  B/T: R/R

Primary Stats: 0-2, 4.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 20 2/3 IP, 17 SO, 7 BB, 4 GS

Advanced Stats: 85 ERA+, 20.2 K%, 8.3 BB%, 3.90 xERA, 2.80 FIP, 3.84 xFIP, 0.6 fWAR, 0.2 bWAR

2025 salary: $760,000

Grade: B

2025 Review

Brandon Sproat entered 2025 as the top pitching prospect in the organization, but was hit hard at Triple-A Syracuse to start the season, giving up six earned runs three times in his first nine starts. His ERA on May 20 was 6.69. Then, he turned things around.

Sproat posted a 3.19 ERA over his next 17 outings, including a five-start stretch in July where he gave up two runs in 27 innings while striking out 33. The 2023 second-round pick out of the University of Florida was the International League’s Pitcher of the Month.

But over the course of the season, fellow pitching prospects Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong jumped him. When the Mets’ rotation was hit with injuries and poor performance, McLean was called on to debut on Aug. 16. Tong was next up on Aug. 29.

Sproat joined the big club on Sept. 7 in Cincinnati and held the Reds hitless through 5 1/3 innings before allowing three straight hits. He was done after six, as he gave up three runs, struck out seven and took the loss.

Sproat’s next start was his home debut and he rose to the occasion, firing six scoreless frames before 41,752 fans at Citi Field against the Texas Rangers.

“It was awesome,” he said two weeks after making his final minor-league start in front of 4,546 in Moosic, Penn. “The fans are outstanding. The field’s outstanding. Just everything’s top notch.”

A rare Edwin Díaz blown save (he had three all season) denied Sproat his first career win.

Sproat gave up four runs in the third inning in his next start against the Washington Nationals, but kept his composure enough to throw a 1-2-3 fourth inning and strike out two before being pulled.

“If I dwell on it, it’s not going to do anything for me,” he said of his third inning troubles. “I went to the bathroom, just kind of talked to myself a little bit. I told myself, hey it’s the past, put it in the past, it is what it is. I got to move forward for this team. And that’s what I was able to do.” The Mets rallied for a 12-6 victory.

His last outing was on the final Friday of the season, in Miami with a playoff spot hanging in the balance. He pitched four scoreless innings, but the Marlins got him for four runs in the fifth and the Mets lost 6-2.

“They put a couple of hits together and it didn’t go my way,” he said. “But I mean that’s baseball. That’s the game.”

2026 Preview

At a news conference the day after the season, David Stearns was asked about the roles of Sproat, McLean and Tong moving forward.

“All three of those guys I think demonstrated that they can pitch at the major-league level,” he said. “At various points all three of them pitched very well at the major-league level. We’ll see what our roster looks like when we get to Port St. Lucie. But I would certainly expect all three to have a role in the major leagues at some point next year. Don’t know exactly when. But I think those guys should be really proud of what they accomplished this year.”

The Mets have that trio, plus David Peterson, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes, and everyone can’t fit in the rotation. New York also may look to add an ace in the offseason, so Sproat could be in the rotation, bullpen, back at Triple-A or maybe even traded. Detroit?

The post 2025 Report Card: Brandon Sproat, RHP appeared first on Metsmerized.

The biggest story of the summer was the late-season arrival of four top prospects: Jett Williams, Jonah Tong, Carson Benge, and Ryan Clifford. They joined Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean to form one of the most prospect-heavy Triple-A rosters in recent Mets history. For a level often dominated by veterans, it was a rare sight.

On the mound, Nolan McLean was the clear standout. In a notoriously hitter-friendly league, he dominated with a 2.78 ERA over 87 1/3 innings after his May promotion. That success carried over to the majors, where he has quickly cemented his place in David Stearns’ long-term plans.

Nolan McLean. Photo by Rick Nelson

Brandon Sproat showed flashes of front-line ability but battled inconsistency. Across 121 innings, he recorded a 4.24 ERA with 113 strikeouts, highlighted by a brilliant July where he posted a 0.67 ERA over five starts to earn his call-up. Jonah Tong made only two starts but didn’t allow a run in 11 2/3 innings.

Beyond that trio, Syracuse’s pitching was hit or miss. Blade Tidwell held his own before being traded to the Giants in the Tyler Rogers deal, logging a 4.10 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings. The older shuttle squad arms weren’t as sharp (even though they were fine in the majors): Brandon Waddell (5.02 ERA), Justin Hagenman (5.58), and Dom Hamel all had rough years in the minors but were given cups of coffee at the big league level.

The bullpen lacked immediate big-league options outside of Dylan Ross, a fireballing righty who dominated with a 1.69 ERA and 13.5 K/9 over 32 innings before a September call-up (though he didn’t appear in a game). Felipe De La Cruz and Douglas Orellana remain intriguing with their innate arm talent. Still, both struggled in limited Triple-A work — De La Cruz with walks and Orellana with both command and contact management (2.04 WHIP in 18 2/3 IP).

At the plate, Syracuse’s offense lacked consistency. The top prospects struggled after arriving — Ryan Clifford (.754 OPS) led the group, followed by Jett Williams (.719) and Carson Benge (.583). All hovered near the Mendoza Line and will likely begin 2026 back in Triple-A for further development.

Jett Williams. Photo by Kylie Richelle

Leading the way offensively was corner infielder and outfielder Jared Young. In 321 plate appearances with Syracuse, Young hit .300/.396/.560. Perhaps he would have outperformed the young Ronny Mauricio down the stretch, but there’sno use looking back anymore. Young will be a minor league free agent at year’s end.

Minor league veterans Luke Ritter, Luis De Los Santos, and Gilberto Celestino all possess significant pro ball experience but limited upside. Ritter, once the Mets’ minor league home run leader, hit .225/.331/.366 with 11 homers in 438 plate appearances. Celestino was serviceable at .272/.362/.382, but had a major hole on the outer half of the plate. De Los Santos, 27, was an early-season bench candidate but ended with a .627 OPS in Triple-A.

Coaching Staff

• Manager – Dick Scott
• Pitching Coach – AJ Sager
• Hitting Coach – Rick Guarno
• Bench Coach / Assistant Hitting Coach – J.P. Arenciba
• Outfield Coach / Baserunning Coordinator – Corey Wimberly
• Strength & Conditioning Coach – Drew Skrocki
• Athletic Trainer – Austin Dayton
• Assistant Athletic Trainer – Joseph Parrillo

MMO Top Prospects (Min. 30 GP/30 IP)

• 1 – SS/2B/CF Jett Williams
• 2 – OF Carson Benge
• 4 – RHP Nolan McLean
• 5 – RHP Brandon Sproat
• 8 – 1B/COF Ryan Clifford
• 20 – RHP Jonathan Pintaro
• 23 – RHP Dylan Ross

Team Batting Leaders

• Games: Luke Ritter – 115
• AB: Joey Meneses – 385
• Runs: Gilberto Celestino – 66
• Hits: Joey Meneses – 102
• 2B: Joey Meneses – 35
• 3B: Yonny Hernández / Jared Young – 3
• HR: Jared Young – 17
• RBI: Joey Meneses – 55
• BB: Luke Ritter / Gilberto Celestino – 51
• SO: Luke Ritter – 138
• SB: José Azocar – 17
• CS: José Azocar – 6
• BA (Qualified): Gilberto Celestino – .272
• OBP (Qualified): Gilberto Celestino – .362
• SLG (Qualified): Gilberto Celestino – .383
• OPS (Qualified): Gilberto Celestino – .744

Note: Syracuse had three qualified hitters: Gilberto Celestino, Luke Ritter, and Joey Meneses.

Team Pitching Leaders:

• W: Brandon Sproat – 8
• L: Brandon Waddell – 9
• ERA (min. 60 IP): Nolan McLean – 2.78
• G: Chris Devenski – 35
• GS: Brandon Sproat – 25
• SV: Chris Devenski – 4
• IP: Brandon Sproat – 121
• HR: Justin Hagenman – 13
• BB: Brandon Sproat – 53
• SO: Brandon Sproat – 113
• WHIP (min. 60 IP): Nolan McLean – 1.10
• AVG (min. 30 IP): Dylan Ross – .107

Overall, Syracuse ranked 12th in the league in runs scored (735) and ninth in ERA (4.61).

Looking ahead, the closest to Queens remain the top guys, in Williams, Benge, and Clifford. All are likely to return to Syracuse in 2026 for refinement. Each has its flaws, but there is potential to impact the Mets down the road and later in the new season.

The post Syracuse Mets Season Recap: Top Arms Arrive appeared first on Metsmerized.

Six players from the Mets organization were featured on the updated list, headlined by rookie sensation Nolan McLean. The righty finished as high as 12th on the list, helped by his dominant eight starts last season, where he pitched to a 2.06 ERA.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

McLean was also the second-highest starting pitcher on the list, finishing behind Bubba Chandler (5) of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished among other top prospects in the 55 future value (FV) tier of Fangraphs prospects, which ranks players on a scale of 20-80, the third-highest tier of the list.

“Nolan McLean’s 2025 per pitch performance data is somewhat pedestrian in terms of chase and miss,” author Eric Longenhagen wrote. “Aside from what Synergy Sports has classified as his curveball, none of his pitches has generated plus miss on the season. But let’s not kid ourselves here: McLean’s breaking stuff is obviously plus or better, and he commands a distinct pair of fastballs to the locations in which they’re each most effective, with the sinker variant looking especially nasty.”

“This is a pitcher who can play “X Games” with his fastballs and many nuanced breaking balls, with pitches finishing in every quadrant of the zone. McLean’s changeup has funky sinking action and is an effective surprise right now, and it has exciting long-term projection because of his athleticism, mechanical consistency, and relatively fresh focus on pitching. He ends the year as the second-best pitching prospect in baseball.”

The other five to make the list were Jonah Tong (33), Brandon Sproat (51), Carson Benge (59), Jacob Reimer (63), and Jett Williams (69).

Despite Tong struggling in his major league debut this season, Fangraphs valued him higher on their list than Sproat, whose 4.79 ERA in four starts was a full two runs higher than his 2.80 FIP. Tong was ranked in the “Virtual Lock Mid-Rotation Types” tier along with names like Kade Anderson (Mariners) and Trey Yesavage (Blue Jays). Meanwhile, Sproat was grouped into the “Low-Variance No. 4 Starters.” Both finished with a 50 FV ranking.

The Mets’ hitting prospects also got their dues from Fangraphs on their updated list. Both Benge and Reimer finished in the “Bat-First Regulars” tier, along with other prolific hitting prospects in Walker Jenkins (Twins) and Josue Briceño (Tigers).

This comes as no surprise, due to the fact Benge and Reimer both exploded in the minors this season. Benge rode all the way to Triple-A Syracuse in his first full minor league season, finishing the year with 15 homers and a combined .857 OPS across three levels. Reimer also reached Double-A, where he clubbed nine homers in 61 games en route to a Double-A championship with Binghamton.

Williams also was highlighted, but put in the “Magmatic Hitters” tier. Longenhagen stated that the tier had “lots of variance,” which should be the opinion of Williams. Once seen as the Mets’ top hitting prospect, Williams got the call to Syracuse this season and struggled. He hit only .209 and got on base at a .285 clip, but has dealt with various injuries over the last couple of seasons. Regardless, Williams and Benge remain the two offensive prospects that are on the doorstep for a potential 2026 debut.

The post Six Mets Featured in Fangraphs End of Season Top-100 Prospects List appeared first on Metsmerized.

Heading into Miami with their destiny in their own hands, the Mets fumbled the bag in the biggest way possible. They lost two out of three to the Marlins to miss out on the playoffs.

While this team has been imploding for the last three-plus months, the way events unfolded this weekend will likely leave a lasting stain on this franchise for years to come.

After all, the Mets arrived in Miami on Friday, a game ahead of the Reds with three to play. The third Wild Card spot was there for the taking. Instead, New York laid an absolute egg in the opener to put Cincinnati back in the driver’s seat for the rest of the weekend. With both teams winning on Saturday, and with the Reds holding the tiebreaker, it all came down to the final day of the regular season on Sunday.

And, again, it was there for the taking. With the Reds losing to the Brewers, all the Mets had to do was win to sneak back into the playoffs. However, they were shut out 4-0 by the Marlins to seal the most embarrassing and frustrating collapse in franchise history.

We will have a special season review edition of 3 Up, 3 Down later. But, for now, let’s proceed with our regular scheduled programming…

David Banks-Imagn Images

3 UP

DOING HIS PART

It feels stupid to write about positives the day after the Mets completed their epic collapse by missing out on the playoffs. Alas, it is part of the gig, so the show must go on. Arguably one of the biggest plus points to emerge from the weekend was the clutchness of Pete Alonso. The slugger did everything in his power to try to keep the Mets alive against the Marlins. He drove in a run with an RBI double in the series opener. He led the way in an important win on Saturday with a home run and an RBI double.

Then, on Sunday, Alonso blasted a 115.9 mph rocket with the bases loaded. Sadly, luck wasn’t on his side, with the hardest-hit ball by any Met this season flying straight into the glove of Marlins outfielder Javier Sanoja. It was just one of those days and one of those seasons. However, Alonso can’t be blamed for the collapse, nor can he be blamed for the shortcomings in Miami. He did all he could.

HEROIC START

The Mets needed a hero on Saturday. And they got one in Clay Holmes. Channeling the herculean efforts of John Maineand Johan Santana, Holmes delivered a masterpiece when the Mets needed it the most. The reliever turned starter tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Despite having pitched nearly 100 more innings than his normal workload, Holmes put forward his best start of the entire year. He was masterful on the mound, shutting down the Marlins and doing whatever it took to get the job done. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, but Holmes at least gave his team a fighting chance going into the final day. And that will be remembered.

MASTER OF HIS CRAFT

While the team failed as a collective unit, Edwin Díaz put together a majestic individual season in 2025. The closer was money all year for the Mets, and that continued across the final weekend in Miami. He entered the ninth inning of Saturday’s game and sealed the win with a scoreless inning. The three-time All-Star was even better on Sunday. Thanks to manager Carlos Mendoza mismanaging the pitching in the finale, Díaz was asked to come into the game in the fifth inning. He responded by delivering two scoreless innings to keep the game alive and give his offense a chance. And, according to reports, Díaz even expressed a willingness to stay in the game beyond the sixth. Like Holmes and Alonso, Díaz more than did his job this weekend.

Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) looks on against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

FUMBLING THE BAG

As we mentioned up top, the Mets arrived in Miami with everything in their favor. All they had to do was take care of business against an already eliminated Marlins team, and the final Wild Card spot would be theirs. However, as we’ve seen over the last three-plus months, the Mets are not a good baseball team, and we got a stark reminder of that over the weekend. An ugly, humiliating, season-changing meltdown on Friday was the start of an all-time epic collapse reaching its conclusion.

Then, needing just a win on Sunday to get in with the Reds having lost to the Brewers, the Mets couldn’t even score a single run on the way to missing the postseason most embarrassingly. Forget talent; this team just did not play with a pulse or a heart when it mattered most. They choked and put up little fight on the way to sealing an absolute bust of a season.

SELF-ENFORCED WOUNDS

The Mets only hurt themselves on the way to collapsing out of the playoffs. They did not play good baseball for two out of the three games in Miami, and they were suitably punished. Mental mistakes and self-enforced errors were the theme of the night in an ugly 6-2 loss on Friday. The offense also didn’t show, going 1-for-10 with RISP, leaving seven runners stranded on base. It was a similar story in Sunday’s finale, with the lineup finishing 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while managing just five hits all game. Again, all the Mets had to do this weekend was win two games, and they would have now been preparing to take on the Dodgers in the Wild Card round. Instead, the same old mistakes that have plagued this team all year doomed them on the final weekend.

MANAGING TO LOSE

Carlos Mendoza was seen as a rising star after his highly successful first year in the dugout in 2024. However, a lot of that shine has now faded following a disastrous 2025 season. Mendoza made a ton of mistakes and a slew of questionable decisions this year. That was again the case in Miami. He took Brandon Sproat out of the game on Friday and opted to put in Gregory Soto, who hasn’t been great in Queens. The result? Soto allowed two more runs to score, essentially throwing away a game the Mets couldn’t afford to lose.

In a must-win game to end all other must-win games on Sunday, Mendoza’s ability to manage the game left a lot to be desired. He decided to start the struggling Sean Manaea in a big spot and then pulled him after just 1.2 innings. Mendoza then went with Brooks Raley and Ryne Stanek, who combined to allow a back-breaking three earned runs.

Edwin Díaz was warmed up in the bullpen, but Mendoza decided to put Tyler Rogers in the game first, who gave up another run to make it a 4-0 game. Díaz then entered in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings, but by that point, it was too late. If that wasn’t bad enough, Mendoza decided not to put Starling Marte in the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. That’s even though Ronny Mauricio and Cedric Mullins were the first two hitters up. In a game the Mets had to win to make the playoffs, Mendoza wasn’t nearly aggressive enough. And he also needs to take blame for just how lifeless his team looked in huge spots on Friday and again on Sunday.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Wrap Up Season Implosion In Miami appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Miami Marlins scored six runs in the fifth inning Friday, knocking out Brandon Sproat and teeing off on Gregory Soto, for a 6-2 win in the opener of a series that will decide if New York makes the postseason.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Sproat was sharp through four innings, allowing no runs on one hit, but gave up a pair of singles and a Heriberto Hernández game-tying, two-run triple to start the fifth. Jakob Marsee broke the tie with a groundout, and after Agustín Ramírez singled, Carlos Mendoza had seen enough.

Sproat, the third rookie to start for the Mets in three days, gave up four runs on five hits, walked one, struck out two and hit two batters over 4 1/3 innings in his fourth major-league start.

Soto came on to turn around switch-hitting Xavier Edwards, who entered Friday with a .562 OPS vs. lefties (.748 vs. righties). But before he dealt with Edwards, Ramírez took off. He stole second when he got a huge jump as Soto paid him little mind. He stole third when Soto did notice him before he went home and stepped off, but Ronny Mauricio failed to cover the base in time so Soto didn’t make a throw.

Edwards then spoiled Mendoza’s move, singling in a run to make it 4-2 Marlins. Pinch-hitter Connor Norby followed with a 422-foot homer that made it 6-2. Norby entered Friday hitting .155/.268/.214 with one homer in 84 at-bats vs. lefties. The crowd, overrun by New York fans, booed when Soto retired the side.

The Mets had a chance to get back in the game in the eighth, but Pete Alonso struck out with two on and one out and pinch-hitter Mark Vientos popped out with the bases loaded and two outs. The Mets went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Francisco Lindor hit the second pitch of the game for his 11th leadoff homer of the year and 31st overall. Juan Soto followed with a single, stole second and scored when Alonso drove in his 124th run with his 40th double. (The franchise record for doubles is 44 by Bernard Gilkey in 1996.)

The Mets entered the season’s final weekend facing the nothing-to-play-for Marlins, a scenario that ended poorly in 2007 and 2008. While the season-ending defeats are burned in many Mets fans’ minds from those years, there were also Friday night losses that set the stage for Sunday’s eliminations.

The Cincinnati Reds, whose game is in progress, now trail the Mets by a half-game for the final playoff spot. The Arizona Diamondbacks are behind by 1 1/2 games. Both the Reds and D-backs own the tiebreakers over the Mets.

Brett Baty left the game with right side soreness in the second inning. He grimaced after swinging in the first inning and then again after making a throw in the bottom of the first. Mauricio replaced him at third.

Mendoza told reporters after the game that it is an oblique injury for Baty, and it’s possible he’ll miss the rest of the season. He’s set to undergo further evaluation.

Stats of the Game

The Mets have made 38 quality starts (at least six innings, three earned runs or fewer) this season, which is 28th in MLB. Only the Marlins and Rockies have made fewer. The Phillies lead the majors with 83.

Player of the Game

It’s typically a good sign when Lindor homers. He entered Friday hitting .334/.402/.602 with 22 homers in wins and .193/.278/.311 with eight homers in losses. He has homered in four of his last five games.

On Deck

Clay Holmes (11-8, 3.66 ERA) faces right-hander Eury Pérez (7-5, 4.20 ERA) at 4:10 p.m. ET. Soto and Brandon Nimmo homered off Pérez when the Mets knocked him out in the first inning last month when he pitched against Jonah Tong in his debut. The game will air on SNY and MLB Network.

Elsewhere, Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (9-7, 2.80 ERA) will pitch against the Brewers (starter TBD) at 7:15 p.m on FOX. In San Diego, Arizona lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (9-8, 4.91 ERA) faces RHP Michael King (5-3, 3.57 ERA) at 8:40 p.m. ET.

The post Marlins’ Big Inning Hurts Mets’ Playoff Hopes In 6-2 Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

The pressure was on the Mets Thursday night. They already knew before first pitch that the Reds had barely beaten the Pirates 2-1. The Mets would need to win Thursday in order to keep control of their destiny.

And win they did! The Mets would eventually get a 6-0 lead thanks to big home runs from Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty. Nolan McLean was cruising until he hit some bumps in the sixth inning, and the Cubs were able to get the score a bit closer (8-5). After that, the Mets’ bullpen was able to shut things down and hold on. The Mets’ magic number is three, meaning they just need to win out. Standing in their way is a Miami Marlins team that has won seven of their last ten games and would love to just ruin the Mets’ parade.

Brandon Sproat (40)

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – RF
3. Brandon Nimmo – LF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Jeff McNeil – 2B
6. Brett Baty – 3B
7. Francisco Alvarez – DH
8. Cedric Mullins – CF
9. Luis Torrens – C

Brandon Sproat has made three starts this season, allowing seven runs on 13 hits over 16 innings, which is good for a 3.94 ERA, 2.39 FIP, 1.188 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. The Nationals were able to tag Sproat for four runs in his last start, and tonight will be his first outing against the Marlins. His fastball averages nearly 96 mph and is already in the 75th percentile for velocity. According to Statcast, his fastball has also been a bit unlucky so far with a .316 BA compared to a .270 xBA, .474 SLG compared to a .322 xSLG and a .410 wOBA compared to a .348 xwOBA.

Opposing Lineup

1. Jakob Marsee – CF
2. Agustín Ramírez – C
3. Xavier Edwards – 2B
4. Liam Hicks – DH
5. Otto Lopez – SS
6. Griffin Conine – RF
7. Troy Johnston – 1B
8. Heriberto Hernández – LF
9. Graham Pauley – 3B

The Mets’ bats will try to get the weekend started against Sandy Alcantara. Over 30 starts this season, Alcantara has thrown 167 2/3 innings with a 5.48 ERA, 4.26 FIP, 1.276 WHIP and an 81 ERA+. Alcantara went on a run over the last four starts in August with a 1.67 ERA and 2.62 FIP over 27 innings while striking out 29 batters. This includes a start against the Mets where he allowed only one run over seven innings. He’s come back down to Earth in September with a 4.12 ERA and 4.51 FIP over three starts and 19 2/3 innings.

The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Luisangel Acuña 1-2, 2B
• Pete Alonso 5-37, 3 2B, HR, 2 BB, 9 K
• Brett Baty 0-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 9-30, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 4 K
• Starling Marte 5-16, 2 3B, HR, BB, 4 K
• Jeff McNeil 12-37, 2 2B, HR, 3 BB, 3 K
• Cedric Mullins 4-9, 2 HR, K
• Brandon Nimmo 5-34, 2 2B, HR, 5 BB, 8 K
• Juan Soto 12-43, 2B,2 HR, 6 BB, 6 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-6, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 0-2, K
• Mark Vientos 0-4, K

Game Notes

• Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Kodai Senga completed another live batting practice session today in Port St. Lucie. The club is still figuring out what his next steps will be.
• Mendoza also stated that Clay Holmes will start for New York on Saturday after throwing an inning in relief on Wednesday.
• MLB Communications revealed that there’s been just three regular season games this year that have lasted 3 1/2 hours or longer. That number is down from seven in 2024, nine in 2023, 232 in 2022 (last year without the pitch clock) and 391 in 2021.

Three Things To Watch For

1. The big hitters in the lineup. The Mets beat the Cubs 8-5 on Thursday with the top four hitters in the lineup (Lindor, Soto, Alonso and Vientos) going a combined 2-for-17 with a home run. Lindor reached base twice, but it was pretty quiet behind him. Nimmo in the five spot had three hits, and the Mets were buoyed by big nights from Baty and Taylor. If the Mets are going to have a successful night, they are going to need their best hitters to show up.
2. Tyrone Taylor. What a couple of games for the Mets’ x-factor. When he returned to the field on Wednesday, he immediately made an amazing play by throwing out a runner at home in the first inning. The next night, he went 2-for-4 with a massive two-run double that gave New York an 8-2 lead, which ended up being critical with the mini-Mets meltdown that followed in the next inning.
3. Wild Card race. The Reds will face the Brewers this weekend. The Brewers have the first-round bye already clinched and are trying to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs before they take a few days off. Quinn Priester (3.25 ERA) will take on Zach Littell (3.86 ERA) of the Reds. The Diamondbacks’ path to the Wild Card got more complicated on Thursday with their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tonight, Zac Gallen (4.70 ERA) pitches to keep that window slightly open against Yu Darvish (5.51 ERA) and the Padres.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Mets vs Marlins, 7:10 PM appeared first on Metsmerized.

New York committed four errors in the defeats, went 4-for-21 with runners in scoring position and manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t show the urgency you’d expect in a tight playoff race. The decision to pull Edwin Díaz on Saturday after he threw seven pitches was head-scratching. These games should be managed like the season is on the line. Because it is.

Let’s have a look at the pitching matchups in the most critical series of the year for the three teams within a game of each other with six to play. (We had to make some assumptions for some teams based on rotation order as team probables aren’t updated as of publishing.)

Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Mets (80-76) at Cubs (88-68)

The Mets are 31-44 on the road and the Cubs are 46-29 at home. New York beat Chicago in two out of three games in May.

LHP David Peterson (9-6, 3.98 ERA) vs. RHP Cade Horton (11-4, 2.66 ERA)

Horton is hot and Peterson is not. Both pitchers have thrown 58 1/3 innings since the All-Star Game, which Peterson pitched in. The Cubs rookie has given up six earned runs (0.93 ERA) and the Met lefty has surrendered 37 (5.71 ERA).

RHP Jonah Tong (2-2, 5.94 ERA) vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (13-8, 3.20 ERA)

In Tong’s last time out, he struck out eight and allowed one unearned run over five innings. The start before that he didn’t make it through the first inning. Growing pains should be expected with rookies. The trouble is this is not the best week to be learning on the job.

RHP Brandon Sproat (0-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. LHP Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.37 ERA)

Sproat has struck out 15 and walked six in his 16 innings pitched. Imanaga faced the Mets twice in his rookie year last season. He threw seven shutout innings the first time and coughed up 10 earned runs in three innings the second.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mets at Marlins (76-80)

I know, it’s the final weekend of the season and the Mets will likely need to beat the Marlins to go to the playoffs. Miami will probably have Dan Uggla throw out the first pitch. The Mets and Marlins have split 10 games. It could be reasonable to expect Kodai Senga back with the team at some point during this series, too.

RHP Nolan McLean (4-1, 1.27 ERA) vs. RHP Sandy Alcantara (10-12, 5.48 ERA)

McLean has gone at least six innings in four of his seven starts and hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any of them. Alcantara has beat the Mets twice this year, giving up three runs over 12 innings. (McLean is 7 1/3 innings away from

LHP Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.59 ERA) vs. RHP Eury Pérez (7-5, 4.20 ERA)

Manaea may be the starter, but this could be another piggyback game with Clay Holmes (11-8, 3.69 ERA). The Mets knocked Pérez out in the first inning when they faced him in Tong’s MLB debut last month.

LHP Peterson vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.57 ERA)

These two faced each other last month and neither pitched well. Peterson gave up eight runs in two innings and Cabrera gave up five in four. The Marlins won 11-8.

David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Pirates (67-89) at Reds (80-76)

The Reds have won five in a row to put themselves in the driver’s seat since they hold the tiebreaker over the Mets. Cincinnati’s last playoff appearance was in 2020 and they haven’t won a playoff game since 2012. The Pirates swept the Dodgers to open September, then dropped 12 of 13 before shutting out the Athletics in their last two games. The Reds have won six of 10 vs. the Pirates this year.

• Tuesday: RHP Johan Oviedo (2-0, 3.52 ERA) vs. RHP Brady Singer (14-10, 3.86 ERA)
• Wednesday: RHP Paul Skenes (10-10, 2.03 ERA) vs. RHP Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.74 ERA)—how about this matchup??
• Thursday: RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-3, 2.62 ERA) vs. LHP Nick Lodolo (8-8, 3.44 ERA)

Reds at Brewers (95-62)

The Brewers lead the Phillies by 2 1/2 games for the No. 1 seed and home field throughout the playoffs. Milwaukee may have that clinched by Friday so it’s TBD on whether they will have something to play for. Would the Brewers prefer seeing the Reds make the field over the Mets? Vice versa? The Brewers have won seven of 10 vs. Cincinnati.

• Friday: RHP Zack Littell (10-8, 3.86 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski (5-3, 4.38 ERA)
• Saturday: LHP Andrew Abbott (9-7, 2.80 ERA) vs. RHP Chad Patrick (3-8, 3.66 ERA)
• Sunday: RHP Singer vs. TBD—expect Hunter Greene to be available, too, if the Reds’ season is on the line

Dodgers (88-68) at Diamondbacks (79-77)

The Dodgers have clinched a playoff spot, but not the division so they have something to play for. Los Angeles could also still earn a bye though they are four games back of the Phillies so it’s a long shot. Arizona finished with the same 89-73 record as the Mets and Braves last season, but missed the playoffs because of tiebreakers. Here they are again. The Dbacks don’t hold tiebreakers with either the Mets or Reds. They’re a game behind both to start the week, so two losses could tank their chances.

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have split 10 games this year.

• Tuesday: RHP Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 3.29 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Pfaadt (13-8, 5.02 ERA)\
• Wednesday: LHP Blake Snell (5-4, 2.44 ERA) vs. RHP Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.34 ERA)
• Thursday: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8, 2.58 ERA) vs. RHP Nabil Crismatt (3-0, 2.61 ERA)

Diamondbacks at Padres (86-71)

The Padres could change their rotation to prepare for a likely playoff matchup with the Cubs, but these are the probables right now. The teams have split 10 games.

• Friday: RHP Zac Gallen (13-14, 4.70 ERA) vs.RHP Yu Darvish (4-5, 5.51 ERA)
• Saturday: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-8, 4.91 ERA) vs.RHP Michael King (5-3, 3.57 ERA)
• Sunday: RHP Pfaadt vs.RHP Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA)

The post A Pitching Preview of the Critical Week Ahead appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets still control their own destiny!

The Mets’ bats are slugging the ball again as they come off a series win against the San Diego Padres thanks to a home run barrage. At the start of 2025, the Mets feasted on poorly-performing teams, and we are going to need that version of the team again as they take on a Washington Nationals team that is hungry to play spoiler. Tonight will be a battle of the rookies as Brandon Sproat takes on Andrew Alvarez.

Brandon Sproat (40)

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Juan Soto – RF
3. Pete Alonso – 1B
4. Mark Vientos – 3B
5. Brandon Nimmo – LF
6. Starling Marte – DH
7. Francisco Alvarez – C
8. Brett Baty – 2B
9. Jose Siri – CF

Brandon Sproat has allowed three runs on nine hits over his first 12 big-league innings (two starts) while striking out 10 batters. He’s coming off of a tremendous start against the Texas Rangers where he shut them out over six innings, allowing six hits and walking no one. Free passes caused him headaches in his first major league start (four over six innings), so it was nice to see him move beyond that. He’s going to face the Nationals a lot throughout his career, so tonight is a great time to make a first impression.

Opposing Lineup

1. James Wood – LF
2. CJ Abrams – SS
3. Josh Bell – 1B
4. Daylen Lile – DH
5. Luis García Jr. – 2B
6. Dylan Crews – RF
7. Paul DeJong – 3B
8. Jorge Alfaro – C
9. Jacob Young – CF

Andrew Alvarez has a 1.15 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 0.830 WHIP and a 368 ERA+ over three starts and 15 2/3 innings. He’s coming off of the best start in his major league career, during which he shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates over six innings while scattering three hits. In the start before that, the Cubs scored two runs over 4 2/3 innings on three hits and three walks. Over Alvarez’s first three outings, he has used a low-90’s fastball about a third of the time in addition to mixing in a low-80’s curve and low-80’s slider. He has also sprinkled in a mid-80’s changeup and low-90’s sinker.

Game Notes

• Jack Wenninger turned in a fantastic start for Double-A Binghamton as they advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series on Thursday night. For more, check out our minor league recap!
• Tyrone Taylor, who has been on the injured list with a hamstring strain since September 2, is beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse tonight. Check out our story for more information!
• Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Kodai Senga will face hitters in live batting practice or a simulated game next week. He allowed four earned runs over 3 2/3 innings for Syracuse on Thursday night.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Pete Alonso. Alonso has been on fire this week. Thursday was his fourth consecutive game with a home run. In his last five games, he has gone 8-for-19 with four homers and seven RBIs (.421/.455/1.053). In his last 15 contests, he has slashed .305/.338/.661. Alonso carried the team at the start of 2025 and is looking to push the Mets over the finish line at the end.
2. Is Juan Soto walking here? Soto is prolific at working walks. He’s led the league in walks in four of the last five season and is currently pacing it once again with 119, only six away from John Olerud’s 1999 Mets single-season record of 125. In his last nine games, though, he has drawn a free pass just once. He has a season-long on-base percentage of around .394, and his OBP over the last nine games is .300. Obviously this is just one part of his game, as he has five extra-base hits over the last nine games with a .579 slugging percentage, or 51 points higher than his season average.
3. Wild Card race. The Mets enter play today with a two-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds for the last Wild Card Spot, and a three-game lead over the San Francisco Giants. Nick Lodolo and the Reds are hosting Shota Imanaga and the Cubs tonight, the Diamondbacks are hosting Taijuan Walker and the Phillies, and the Giants and Robbie Ray face Clayton Kershaw in the last regular season home start of his career at Dodger Stadium.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Nationals vs Mets, 7:10 PM appeared first on Metsmerized.