Zac Thornton, the 24-year-old rookie, continued his successful and quality start to his MLB career on Wednesday evening, tossing six innings against the division leaders. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking just one.

Thornton made it through the first frame unscathed, but surrendered a long ball to Lane Thomas in the second, giving the Braves the early lead. Another run scored in the third on a double-play fielder’s choice, and the Mets’ offense was stifled through the early stages of the game.

The fifth inning saw Thornton allow three straight hits, with another run coming across on a Ronald Acuña Jr. single. However, Thornton was able to bear down, retiring the next two batters to escape with just the one run of damage.

It wasn’t perfect, but it showed grit and determination from a young pitcher who obviously didn’t have his A-game.

“Just knowing that I have to consistently keep throwing strikes,” Thornton answered postgame when asked what his strategy is during outings where he may not have his best stuff. “Just knowing that I gotta get in there knowing that I gotta work behind on batters.”

He finished off the evening with a 1-2-3 sixth inning and came out of the game after just 80 pitches, quite the efficient six frames.

Through eight starts, Thornton has posted a 2.78 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 45 innings pitched. He’s allowed more than three earned runs just once in those starts and has delivered a quality start in every other outing.

Now, Baseball Savant does predict some regression. Thornton’s xERA, a stat used to estimate what his expected ERA should be compared to his actual mark, sits at 4.63, well above reality. Most of his advanced metrics, though based on a very small sample size, sit in the bottom half of league averages.

However, his pitching run value and fastball run value both sit above the 70th percentile, with his fastball run value showcasing elite potential at the 82nd percentile.

All that said, it’s far too early to compare these numbers to the reality we’ve seen on the mound. Thornton has shown grit, determination, and the stuff to take down MLB-level talent.

It’s been a confidence-boosting start to a career that the Mets will hope continues to shine through this season and, hopefully, more seasons to come.

The post Thornton Bears Down Against Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.

The expected selloff should start happening any day now, which means we may have seen this current incarnation of the 2026 Mets for the last time.

If that’s the case, then they went out on a high. Stellar pitching and some clutch hitting saw the Mets take two out of three from the first-place Braves.

With trade talk set to dominate the next few days, let’s recap everything from the Atlanta series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

Carson Benge by Berto Carlo

DO IT-ALL CARSON

Carson Benge had his fingerprints all over this series win. He stole the show in the doubleheader on Wednesday after being rested on Monday. The rookie hit the winning run with a go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh in the first game. Then, in the second game, Benge made a stupendous diving catch to keep a runner off base in the eighth inning. In back-to-back games, Benge showed off his ability to come through in the clutch as well as his elite defensive skillset.

TURNING HEADS

Christian Scott grabbed everybody’s attention for multiple reasons in the nightcap portion of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Not only did he toss a gem, but he did so while completing six full innings for the first time this season. That latter point is crucial when considering the bigger picture. Arguably the biggest hurdle facing Scott was his ability to go deep in games. Now he’s done it once; hopefully he can make that the standard going forward. In terms of the actual performance, Scott flashed his high upside once again. He allowed just one earned run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. In doing so, Scott is cementing his place in this rotation long term.

PROVING A POINT

I’ll preface what I’m about to say by acknowledging that I’m aware Francisco Lindor went a combined 0-for-6 in the final two games of this series. However, his offensive outburst in the first game provided a welcome reminder of just how elite Lindor is when he’s at the peak of his powers. The shortstop had his best night of the year, becoming just the second Met to crush a pair of home runs and hit a triple. He also finished with six RBIs. Look, it hasn’t been a great year for Lindor, but injuries have had a lot to do with that. Monday night was proof that he still has a lot to offer this franchise.

Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

OFFENSE OFFENSIVE 

If you want a neat encapsulation of what has gone wrong for the Mets this season, look no further than the Braves series. After exploding for 14 runs in the opener, the offense managed just three runs across the final two games. That included being shut out in the series finale. The Mets recorded just two hits all night in the final game against the Braves. And that has been the crux of their woes all year. The lineup, despite having talent, just hasn’t been nearly consistent enough, and it has more often than not doomed the entire team.

UNWELCOME REMINDER

The odds were always going to be stacked against Jorge Polanco given that he was replacing a franchise icon in Pete Alonso. Well, Polanco’s first year in Queens has been a bust thanks to an inability to stay healthy coupled with a lack of production when he has been on the field. He struggled in his one game in this series, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts. He also opted for a sacrifice bunt, which suggests the confidence has gone. Polanco is now hitting a lowly .144/.202/.216/.418 on the year, which is no doubt making Mets fans miss Alonso even more.

TIME TO SAY FAREWELL

With the Trade Deadline on Monday, it is entirely possible that we’ve seen certain Mets for the very last time. Luke Weaver will almost certainly be dealt. He will be missed after what has been a superb season so far. Tyrone Taylor, who has been on a heater lately, will also likely be on the way out. There could be some surprises too. All in all, while the selloff needs to happen, there will be certain players who will be missed. That most certainly includes Clay Holmes if he ends up being dealt too.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Down Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.

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

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

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

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

HEART & SOUL

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

CLUTCH HITTING

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

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

EXCELLENCE IN RELIEF

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

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

LOTS OF UGLY

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

MELTING DOWN

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

ANOTHER COMICAL BLUNDER

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

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America celebrates its 250th birthday today, which means it should be a day filled with lots of hot dogs, fireworks, and baseball. The Mets will be on national TV (FOX) for their game against the Braves. Sean Manaea (1-3, 4.71 ERA), who has been pitching better of late, will take the mound against Chris Sale (8-6, 2.10 ERA).

Latest Mets News

The Mets (36-52) fell to the Braves (51-35) 5-3 on Friday in their series opener in Atlanta. Juan Soto put the Mets on the board early with a two-run homer, but the offense became stagnant after that. Matt Olson hit two home runs for the Braves in their victory.

Latest MLB News

The Yankees returned both Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon from the injured list while placing Carlos Rodón on the injured list with left elbow inflammation.

The Braves signed outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a minor league deal. The Pirates legend was with the Rangers earlier this year and had just a .192 average in 83 plate appearances.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna revisits the Mets’ 2021 draft class to see how it turned out.

On This Date in Mets History

1976: The Mets beat the Cubs 9-4 at Shea Stadium to claim their 10th straight win.

1985: The Mets and Braves engaged in “The Rick Camp Game,” an insane 19-inning affair that included two rain delays, a Keith Hernandez cycle and several blown leads. The craziest part of the game came in the bottom of the 18th when Rick Camp, a pitcher with a 0.60 career batting average, came to bat because the Braves had no position players left. Camp wound up hitting a home run, the first of his career, to tie the game 11-11. The Mets wound up winning 16-13 in 19 innings.

1986: The 1986 Mets defeated the Astros 2-1 on this date 40 years ago. Dwight Gooden tossed a gem, allowing just one run in a complete game, while Nolan Ryan started for the Astros and gave up a run in five innings. Keith Hernandez and Lenny Dykstra had the two RBIs for New York.

Born On This Date: Jared Hughes (1985), José Oquendo (1963)

The post Morning Briefing: Happy 250th Birthday, America! appeared first on Metsmerized.

Christian Scott and the Mets (36-52) took on the Braves (51-35) in the first game of a four-game set. A.J. Ewing‘s first career game in the leadoff spot did not result in a winning effort, with the Braves winning 5-3.

Ewing led off for the first time as a major leaguer in the first inning, flying out to begin things. A Bo Bichette walk after a Juan Soto strikeout gave the Mets a base runner for Francisco Lindor. The Mets shortstop singled, giving Carson Benge a chance to put the team on the board early. The youngster ripped a ball into the right-center field gap that was snagged by Michael Harris II in the webbing of his glove to end the inning.

Scott took the mound, looking to continue his stellar second MLB season. The right-hander would get off to a good start, setting the Braves down in order, keeping the game 0-0 through the first inning.

After the Mets went down in order to begin the second inning, Harris hit a two-run home run that made it 2-0 through two innings.

After Luis Torrens grounded out to begin the third inning, Ewing reached on an error. Soto came to bat and hit a 359-foot home run to the opposite field that just snuck over the left field wall, tying the game at 2-2.

The tie did not last long, as Scott allowed a one-out solo home run to Ozzie Albies to give the Braves back the lead at 3-2 after three innings.

With two outs in the top of the fourth, Francisco Alvarez singled and Brett Baty doubled to put runners on second and third for Torrens. However, the catcher would strikeout, making the Mets 0 for their last 23 with runners in scoring position.

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

A.J. Minter replaced Scott in the bottom of the fifth inning, where the left-hander allowed a solo home run to Matt Olson that extended the Braves’ lead to 4-2. Scott’s final line: 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 7 K.

Kodai Senga entered the game for a long relief appearance, replacing Minter in the bottom of the sixth. Senga worked a scoreless first inning of work, keeping the Braves’ lead at two runs.

After two innings of scoreless relief from Senga, the righty allowed a solo home run to Olson that extended the Braves’ lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth. After allowing a two-out single, Joey Gerber relieved Senga. He would get out of the inning unscathed, giving the Mets’ offense one last chance.

Torrens singled with one out in the top of the ninth, advancing to second on defensive indifference. Back-to-back singles by Soto and Bichette brought the Mets back to within two, with the go-ahead run at the plate. Lindor grounded out, however, as the Mets fell to a season-worst 16 games below .500.

Player of the Night: Sydny Lopes Cabral

As the Mets lost their 52nd game of the season, a near miracle occurred in the World Cup in Miami. Cabo Verde, a country whose population is just over half a million people, took the reigning world champion Argentina squad to extra time. After Argentina took the lead, Sydny Lopes Cabral scored a magical goal from the left side of the pitch, just barely bending around the Argentinian keeper into the top right of the goal. Although Argentina would end up winning the match, every viewer witnessed a classic match, unlike what the Mets did in Atlanta.

Highlight of the goal is linked here.

On Deck

The Mets will resume action on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. EST in the next contest of the four-game set against the Braves. Sean Manaea will make the start, looking to give the Mets at least some form of length after Scott’s short outing. The game will stream live on FOX, with radio on WCBS 880 and the Audacy app.

The post Mets’ Ninth-Inning Comeback Falls Short in Loss to Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.

The 2026 season has felt like series of one step forward, two steps backward moments. The Mets beat the Blue Jays 3-0 on Tuesday thanks to a pair of solo home runs and solid pitching. The next day, the Mets completely imploded behind Freddy Peralta. Now, they head to Atlanta for a four-game set. Both the Mets and the Braves have lost eight of their last ten games. The Mets are 15 games below .500 while the Braves are 15 games above, and are feeling the pressure from the Phillies right behind them. The Braves will be highly motivated to get a four-game sweep of the Mets this weekend. The Mets are just trying to survive right now.

Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. A.J. Ewing – CF
2. Juan Soto – LF
3. Bo Bichette – 3B
4. Francisco Lindor – SS
5. Carson Benge – RF
6. Jared Young – 1B
7. Francisco Alvarez – DH
8. Brett Baty – 2B
9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Christian Scott

Scott has made 10 starts this season totaling 45 innings with a 3.20 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.333 WHIP and a 130 ERA+. His last start was his first since returning from the injured list, and he allowed two runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings while striking out six against the Phillies. It was his second consecutive start striking out at least six batters, but also his second consecutive start allowing at least one home run.

The Braves have the following career stats against Scott:

• Ozzie Albies 0-3
• Joey Bart 0-2, K
• Michael Harris II 3-3
• Matt Olson 0-3, 3 K
• Austin Riley 0-2, BB, K
• Mike Yastrzemski 0-2, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Drake Baldwin – C
2. Ozzie Albies – 2B
3. Matt Olson – 1B
4. Mauricio Dubón – LF
5. Michael Harris II – CF
6. Dominic Smith – DH
7. Austin Riley – 3B
8. Mike Yastrzemski – RF
9. Jorge Mateo – SS

Grant Holmes has pitched in 16 games this season totaling 77 1/3 innings with a 3.96 ERA, 5.19 FIP, 1.358 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. In his last two starts, he has allowed one run over 8 2/3 innings on four hits and five walks while striking out eight. In his two starts before that, he allowed six runs on eight hits and five walks over 5 2/3 innings while striking out four.

The Mets have the following career stats against Holmes:

• Brett Baty 1-1, BB
• Bo Bichette 0-3, 2 K
• Francisco Lindor 1-3, K
• Ronny Mauricio 1-2, K
• Juan Soto 0-3, BB
• Tyrone Taylor 0-3, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 0-3, 2 K
• Eric Wagaman 1-3, 2B

Game Notes

• Ewing is leading off for the first time in his major league career.
• Benge, meanwhile won’t bat in the top spot in the lineup for the first time since May 10.
• Scott is making the first start of his career at Truist Park, with his only prior outing against the Braves coming at Citi Field on May 11, 2024. He gave up three earned runs with eight strikeouts over six innings.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Carson Benge. Benge is coming off of a 2-for-4 afternoon on Wednesday with a solo home run, his 10th of the season. He now has a 1.5 bWAR with a 100 OPS+ for the season to go with 11 stolen bases. The power has really started to come out over the last month. Since June 2, he has slashed .281/.328/.491 with two doubles, two triples and six home runs. His xwOBA has been above the league average for his last 100 PA’s. Things are bleak for the Mets right now, but it’s not because of Benge.
2. Hitting with RISP. The Mets really struggled across the board on Wednesday. They only had one at-bat with RISP and went hitless. In their last four games, they’ve now gone 2-for-33 with RISP. The power is there for the Mets, who have launched four home runs in their last two games, but they’re just not doing it with a lot of runners on base.
3. Michael Harris II Fan Club. English football fans invaded Truist Park earlier this week and adopted Harris II as their favorite player. Maybe the Braves fans will have learned a few things from the English fans? Listen for chants like “There’s only one Michael Harris” which is quite funny considering he’s Michael Harris II and his son is Michael “Trip” Harris III.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Game Chat: Mets vs. Braves, 7:15 PM appeared first on Metsmerized.

Next up is the Atlanta Braves (50-35), who have lost eight of their last 10. That has allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to climb back into the division race. Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups this weekend.

David Frerker-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Christian Scott (2-0, 3.20 ERA) vs. Grant Holmes (4-4, 3.96 ERA): Scott returned from a brief stint on the injured list last weekend, earning a no-decision in a win against the Phillies. He gave up two runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings, throwing 82 pitches. Scott has been one of the few bright spots in the Mets’ rotation, allowing two earned runs or less in eight of his 10 starts this season. This will be his first career road start in Atlanta. Holmes has been a part of the Braves’ rotation throughout the year, though his last appearance came in long relief, throwing four innings last Saturday against the San Francisco Giants. Holmes only got up to 47 pitches in that outing. It’ll be interesting to see how much length he can provide in this start.
• Saturday: Sean Manaea (1-3, 4.71 ERA) vs. Chris Sale (8-6, 2.10 ERA): Manaea has made four starts since being inserted into the rotation. He is 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA over 20 innings. One positive within that is Manaea has pitched into the sixth inning in three of those four outings, something most of the starters have struggled to do this season. Manaea has yet to earn a win in four career appearances (three starts) against the Braves. With Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider missing extended time through injury, Sale has been heavily depended on. He has certainly delivered with his performances. Sale had a strong month of June, pitching to a 2.35 ERA over 23 innings. He is 4-2 with a 1.09 ERA in seven home starts this year.
• Sunday: Nolan McLean (5-5, 3.78 ERA) vs. Martín Pérez (6-5, 3.27 ERA): McLean has had an up-and-down year. His last start was a very good one, throwing six scoreless innings in a win against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. McLean had a strong month of June overall, going 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA over 29 innings. He has gotten into trouble when difficult outings have snowballed into really bad ones. Since May 19, he has three starts with at least six earned runs allowed. Pérez comes into this outing off the back of two consecutive losses. Over those nine innings, he gave up seven runs and allowed seven walks. Pérez is 5-0 with a 2.94 ERA in 11 career appearances (seven starts) against the Mets.
• Monday: Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.81 ERA) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (4-1, 3.31 ERA): Peralta is coming off yet another ineffective outing that hurt his stock at this year’s trade deadline, as he gave up five earned runs over four innings against the Blue Jays on Wednesday. He allowed just a single earned run across five frames on June 14 vs. Atlanta, however. Seven of Lopez’s 20 appearances this year have been starts, and he owns a 3.34 ERA in 29 2/3 innings in that role.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

They have yet to officially wave the white flag, but the Mets are going to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline. They have shown zero signs that digging themselves out of this massive hole is possible. So, with that in mind, the focus is on the guys who could be dealt in the coming weeks. Most of those names are in the bullpen, which has performed really well as a whole. Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter, potentially Luke Weaver, etc… Pitching well over the next month could benefit the Mets in 2027 and beyond.

PREDICTION

To the surprise of everyone, the Mets took two of three when they faced off against the Braves in mid-June. At the time, that felt like a potential turning point. Unfortunately, it never materialized into that. The Mets are trending in the wrong direction, which will continue against one of the best teams in the National League. Atlanta will take this series, winning two of three at home.

The post Series Preview: Mets Carry Struggles Into Atlanta appeared first on Metsmerized.

But with Judge hurt in the AL, a new name has emerged as a favorite for the 2026 adaptation.

Ben Rice has dominated the majors this season. And sure, we’ve highlighted the first baseman numerous times through the power rankings on Metsmerized.com. But it’s June. This is officially “for real” territory.

Rice enters Saturday with 21 homers and a 1.005 OPS. He’s slugging .613. The production has been necessary for a club that is missing their best bat and trying to stave off the Rays, who are three games behind them in the standings. And Friday’s homer off Rice’s bat in the second blew the game open for the Yankees in their 5-0 win against the Reds.

Right now Rice is only second to Yordan Alvarez in OPS, homers, RBIs, and walks. Yet, despite being marginally worse than his AL counterpart, it feels as if what Rice is doing has that MVP factor. Maybe it’s just because the Yankees are in a race for the AL East.

Carchietta-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

It seems like the Dodgers just spawn major league talent.

Ryan Ward is the most recent version of “who is that? And what is he doing?” prospect for Los Angeles. The 28-year-old has appeared in 16 games this season for the Dodgers, and is already slugging .513 with three homers.

Ward has impressed in a small sample size. And had a massive at-bat in the Dodgers’ comeback win Friday over the Orioles, where he drew a four-pitch walk against Ryan Helsley.

Production from Ward and the staples of this back-to-back championship roster resulted in a four-game winning streak entering Saturday. The Dodgers swept the Rays then defeated the O’s Friday night. The club is rolling and on the precipice of hitting the 50-win plateau before July.

2. Yankees

Who needs Judge?

Seriously, the Yankees are rolling. Like Sisyphus’s boulder down the hill.

The club is 8-2 in their last 10 games. They have an AL-best +123 run differential. An AL best 46-win mark.

Everything is clicking for the Bronx Bombers. As highlighted earlier, Rice is having an MVP season and carrying the offense with help from Cody Bellinger. But Cam Schlittler developing into an AL Cy Young candidate has evolved an already stacked rotation.

Schlittler enters Saturday with an AL-best 1.71 ERA, 2.12 FIP, 247 ERA+, 6.3 H/9, and 95 IP. He’s coming off six scoreless innings Friday against the Reds where he punched out 13. Yeesh.

3. Braves

Atlanta hit their first speed bump of the season last week.

They lost a series to the last-place Mets, then dropped two to the Giants. Overall, the club is just 2-6 in their last eight games.

A lot of the struggles have been players regressing to their mean. Bryce Elder had a sparkling low two ERA before allowing six earned runs to the Mets. The Ronald Acuña Jr.-less offense has averaged 3.12 runs over the eight-game stretch.

There’s still no concern for a team that looks poised to make a run at a 2026 NL Pennant. Atlanta still holds a healthy 7.5 game lead over the Phillies and the lineup has been rejuvenated with Drake Baldwin returning from the IL. Chalk it up to a bad week.

4. Brewers

Jacob Misiorowski could be in the midst of the greatest pitching season of all time. Seriously.

The Miz set another record in Friday’s start against the Braves, throwing 47 pitches of at least 101 miles per hour in a loss. The righty allowed two earned runs, struck out seven, and his ERA actually rose to 1.45. Still a major league best.

He’s been a buzz saw. And if you’re picking names out of a hat for who you want to start a postseason game, you’re praying his name is on the piece of paper.

Jackson Chourio has also been spectacular. Maybe because he plays in Milwaukee Chourio doesn’t get proper admiration, but the future top-prospect has a .918 OPS and 10 homers in just 39 games played.

5. Rays

Last week wasn’t pretty for Tampa Bay.

They dropped a series to the Angels in Anaheim, then were swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles. I think the Rays are sick of LA.

Still, the club was such a force in May that they’re holding on to a 42-30 record. If they played .500 ball the rest of the season they’d finish with 87 wins and most likely a playoff berth.

But can this team tread water? They have the talent to. But their outfield offense continues to hinder them. Jake Fraley leads their outfield with a .690 OPS and he’s on the 10-day IL right now. The next highest is Chandler Simpson with his .600 OPS. Trading for a couple of league-average bats would transform this team.

6. Mariners

The last couple rankings we’ve been making the patience case with the M’s. Well, it’s time to act for Seattle.

Julio Rodriguez returned to the lineup after missing the past couple games with hamstring spasms. Cal Raleigh returned a couple days ago after missing a full month with an oblique injury. Getting both those catalysts back in the lineup should result in the team exploding offensively.

Which, by the way, is exactly what Seattle needs. The club enters Saturday 20th in the league in OPS. 17th in runs scored. It’s a stark contrast from the team that finished 9th in runs and 10th in OPS in 2025

Barring future injury, June 20 could be the inflection point of the Mariners season. They’re 39-38, hold a half-game lead for first over the .500 Athletics, and are getting their guns back. Buckle up.

7. Cubs

Chicago is starting to stabilize.

A 6-2 stretch last week helped the Cubs to a 40-36 record. Two series against the Rockies will help with that.

Pete Crow-Armstrong slashing .538/.567/1.154 over his last seven games will also help win games. His homer Thursday was a driving force in the Cubs 8-6 win over the Rockies, and helped raise his NL-leading bWAR to 4.6.

Ben Brown has also been instrumental for this team. He’s got a sparkling 1.85 ERA and has made eight starts since being inserted into the rotation. We’ll see if he and the ragtag team of names making starts for this club can sustain a winning pace.

8. Cardinals

Have you heard of the 15-year-old phenom prospect Blaze Jordan? Well, he’s actually 23 now. And he’s producing for the Cardinals.

In eight games, Jordan has an .856 OPS. He drove in two runs for the Cardinals Friday in their 6-5 loss to the Royals. Just another young bat producing for the Cardinals.

Still, St. Louis stumbled last week. They dropped three games. Their record sits at 40-34, respectable, but now have the Cubs in their rear view mirror. The pitching continues to be a problem, which gave up 26 runs in the last three games.

At least the rotation is starting to produce. Dustin May, Andre Pallante, and Michael McGreevy have ERAs that start with three. Baby steps.

9. Phillies

Philadelphia’s turnaround is quite impressive. They’re 40-35 despite suffering a 10-game losing streak earlier in the season.

Don Mattingly is now 31-16 as interim manager. And despite the recent two-game skid they enter Saturday with, the Phillies hold the second wild card.

It’s too bad Ohtani is in the NL now. At least for Kyle Schwarber‘s sake. The DH could have won the MVP award last season, and is already on pace to finish in second place again.

Schwarber is slashing .245/.361/.558 with a major league-leading 25 homers. This team would have been lost if he left in free agency.

Also, this has nothing to do with the Phillies’ season, but Schwarber is such an interesting case for the Hall of Fame. The 33-year-old is sitting on 365 career homers. If his season ended today, Schwarber would only need to average 33 homers over the last four years of his contract to hit the 500 mark. He’s averaged 46.75 in a season in a Phillies uniform.

10. White Sox

The White Sox ran into a bit of a reality check last week against the Yankees.

They salvaged the series, but got bullied the first two games. Their ace Davis Martin got whalloped for nine earned runs across 3 1/3 innings.

Outside the Andrew Benintendi grand slam in the final game of the series, there weren’t a lot of positives for the team facing off against the AL’s best. But, the White Sox are still a top-10 team in baseball and are currently tied for first in the Central with the Guardians.

It’s also an incredibly exciting time to be a White Sox fan. Outside the complete 180 this season has been from 2025, all the young bats are producing. They’re 10th in the majors in OPS, 12th in runs, and will be getting Munetaka Murakami back in the near future.

Plus, the subpar rotation could get a jolt as soon as this season. Top prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith are both in Triple-A, and could contribute for a club trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Rest of the Field

11. Pirates
12. Guardians
13. Nationals
14. Diamondbacks
15. Marlins
16. Padres
17. Athletics
18. Blue Jays
19. Mets
20. Rangers
21. Orioles
22. Twins
23. Astros
24. Tigers
25. Red Sox
26. Reds
27. Giants
28. Royals
29. Angels
30. Rockies

Previous Rankings: W11 | W10 |  W8 | W7 | W6 | W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 12 Update appeared first on Metsmerized.

Facing the best team in baseball, the Mets took two out of three from the first-place Braves. It was a weekend full of mostly positives. It was just a shame the homestand started so poorly, given what this team went on to accomplish against Atlanta.

However, we saw plenty of signs of hope over the weekend as we enter the summer. Now all the Mets need to do is put everything together consistently.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, though, let’s recap the Braves series win in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

BO KNOWS

Can this version of Bo Bichette help save the Mets? That will certainly be the hope. Bichette enjoyed a monster series against the Braves, which started with a statement game on Friday night. Bichette hit a pair of homers in the series opener, including a grand slam that broke the game open in the second inning. The infielder finished the game with six RBIs, showcasing what he’s really capable of. He would go on to record two-hit days on Saturday and Sunday, too. Maybe a fully-locked-in Bichette can help the Mets finally catch fire.

DYNAMIC UP TOP

Speaking of catching fire, we saw some really promising signs from the top of the lineup over the weekend. For instance, 1-5 in the order went a combined 10-for-22 with seven runs scored and five RBIs on Sunday alone. That included a big day at the plate from A.J. Ewing, who hit an RBI double and a home run, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Carson Benge also provided a spark on Sunday, while Juan Soto stayed hot, finishing the series with six hits and three RBIs. Once Francisco Lindor is back, then that top of the lineup has the potential to be both formidable and explosive.

TOP OF THE CLASS

The Mets boast an elite bullpen right now. That was evident throughout the series against the Braves. Devin Williams secured a four-out save on Friday. Cionel Pérez allowed just one run across two outings over the weekend. Daniel Duarte made two appearances and didn’t allow a run, as did Huascar Brazobán. All in all, the bullpen has been humming and has helped to keep this team afloat. Plus, the unit currently ranks fourth in all of baseball with a 3.30 relief ERA.

Jun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

HOT AND COLD

This isn’t directly related to what happened over the weekend, but rather what we’ve been seeing all season. The Mets dismantled a really good Braves team, especially on Sunday. Despite that, they are still under .500 because of inconsistent play. They started the homestand by losing a series to the Reds. As a result, they are constantly treading water due to an inability to put it all together. If they struggle in Cincinnati and then in Philly, then the series win over the Braves will ultimately mean nothing. If this team wants to get back in the playoff race, then it has to stop being so hot and cold.

ROUGH PATCH

Austin Warren hasn’t been good lately. Thankfully, that hasn’t impacted the bullpen’s overall performance. Still, the Mets will need Warren to work out of this funk, and quickly. He made one outing over the weekend, giving up what proved to be an insurance home run. As a result, he’s now allowed five runs and two homers over his last three appearances. That isn’t trending in the right direction.

FLAMING OUT

Both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty remain big question marks for the Mets. Sure, Vientos drove in the team’s only run on Saturday with a single. But he’s still hitting just .189/.204/.321 with 23 strikeouts and zero walks over his last 30 games. As for Baty, he went 2-for-2 with two walks and one RBI on Sunday, but that did come after a 0-for-4 night on Friday. The fact remains that both players are just too inconsistent and aren’t producing positive results nearly enough. That just can’t continue.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Take Down First Place Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.

The fish ripped off a six-game win streak last week, securing a .500 record for the first time since April 24. The streak started with impressive wins over the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, then they beat up on equal opponents in the Diamondbacks and Pirates.

Miami is certainly an interesting team to watch as the league approaches the mid-summer classic. They have the talent in the rotation to make some noise, especially with Sandy Alcantara turning a corner. The righty has twirled three consecutive quality starts, all of which he’s gone at least seven innings.

Otto Lopez has been a game-changer too offensively. The 27-year-old’s .342 batting average leads the league entering Saturday, and more impressively, he’s paired it with a .482 slug. Lopez’s development has been crucial for this Marlin’s lineup, which has lacked consistency over the past decade. He joins Liam Hicks and Xavier Edwards as player development success stories under Peter Bendix.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

The injuries keep piling up in the 2026 season.

Shohei Ohtani was removed from Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh with left knee inflammation, adding another high-level name to the league’s laundry list of injured stars. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Ohtani hasn’t avoided the IL, but was left out of Friday’s lineup against the White Sox as a precaution.

Losing Ohtani would be disastrous for the Dodgers and the league. The two-way superstar currently leads the National League with a .964 OPS, 170 OPS+, and has clubbed 13 homers with a .304/.421/.543 slashline. The right-hander was also dominating on the mound, pitching to a 1.06 ERA with a 9.7 K/9 in 67 2/3 innings.

2. Braves

Friday saw another star for the Braves hit the shelf.

Spencer Strider was pulled from his start against the Mets after allowing seven earned runs in three innings, with news later breaking of an apparent right elbow injury.

It’s a major blow to a team that’s in first place and trying to get ready for a playoff push after missing out on the dance in 2025. Yet, despite the constant injuries, the team keeps stacking wins. They’re 45-24. Bench pieces in Dominic Smith, Mauricio Dubon, and Jorge Mateo have all been above league-average bats. And the pitching staff leads all of baseball with a 3.27 ERA.

3. Brewers

Jacob Misiorowski is pure filth.

The kid had one of the most dominant starts in major league history Friday, allowing just one hit while punching out 15 Phillies in a nine-inning performance. It lowered his ERA to a league-best 1.34, adding another star to his resume for the 2026 Cy Young.

His step forward has been critical in the Brewers’ success in 2026. He, alongside Kyle Harrison, has led the Brewers’ pitching to the fourth-best ERA in the majors, and given the lineup a chance to win every night.

And that’s not taking anything away from the lineup. It has serious thump this season. Jake Bauers has quietly had an All-Star season, clubbing 13 homers with a .278/.378/.527 slashline. Brice Turang has also unlocked power in his swing, clubbing 10 homers in 64 games.

4. Yankees

Bringing back Cody Bellinger will be remembered for all-time if the Yankees win the division this year.

With Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the IL right now, the lefty bat has been an integral piece in the lineup. Bellinger is slugging .519 over his last seven games, helping fellow lefty Ben Rice with the unfair role of keeping pace with the Rays for the division entering the end of June.

It wasn’t guaranteed that he’d be back. But without him, this Yankees lineup would look abysmal.

5. Mariners

A 37-34 record shouldn’t impress anyone. But the Mariners are finding ways to win with a whole lot going wrong right now.

Cal Raleigh is out. Andres Munoz has had a rollercoaster season and currently holds a 5.18 ERA. The rotation has underperformed to its standards as of June 13. Yet the club has been treading water at the top of a struggling division.

The 2026 season is rounding out like last season’s for the M’s. They’re doing enough to stay in the race, and if they get healthy in the second half, we could see another run at the pennant. Dominic Canzone has helped tremendously, clubbing 10 homers with a .909 OPS in 62 games.

6. Rays

Tampa is starting to free-fall.

The club has just six wins since May 24. But their May was so incredibly ridiculous that they’re 40-26 and tied for first with the Yankees entering June 13.

The Rays need offense. And fast. Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, and Yandy Díaz are the only players with positive OPS+s. And as a result, the club hasn’t been able to consistently win like they were earlier in the year.

But hey, at least Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy?

7. Cardinals

In a division with talented teams, the Cardinals continue to pace with the best.

The club is 37-30 and went into New York last week to take a series from the Mets. JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker continue to provide offense for the club that struggled last season.

Alec Burleson also dominated last week, clubbing three homers against the Mets in their series win. The first baseman also homered Friday against the Twins, racking four consecutive games with a homer.

8. Cubs

Chicago saved their week with a couple of wins against the Rockies and Giants. But the team continues to nose-dive.

The team was once upon a time up there with the Dodgers. But now they’re 36-34. They’re going to need their offense to carry them, as all the injuries to their pitching staff have led to Colin Rea and Javier Assad getting starts.

9. White Sox

The White Sox? Yeah, the South Siders have finally gotten the respect they deserve.

The club is in first place in the AL Central. Their lineup has been dangerous with Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas. Their staff has been led by Davis Martin, who is currently pitching to a 2.41 ERA. Yeah, go look up Davis Martin.

But seriously, with a weak division and a whole lot of youth, this club needs to be taken seriously. Especially with the recent call-up of Colson Montgomery, who clubbed a walk-off homer in his major league debut.

10. Phillies

Welcome back, Philadelphia.

The Phillies have clawed their way back into the top-10, but still have a lot of work to do.

They’re 28-13 under Don Mattingly. Bryce Harper is back to playing like an MVP. And Cristopher Sanchez has a 1.54 ERA after his dominant stretch without allowing a run.

The problem with this club remains the same. The supporting cast has been unbearable. If they can get anything out of Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott, this club can take off. We’ll see.

Rest of the Field

11. Pirates
12. Guardians
13. Rangers
14. Padres
15. Marlins
16. Diamondbacks
17. Nationals
18. Blue Jays
19. Mets
20. Athletics
21. Orioles
22. Red Sox
23. Reds
24. Astros
25. Angels
26. Tigers
27. Twins
28. Royals
29. Giants
30. Rockies

Previous Rankings: W8 | W7 | W6 | W5 | W4 | W3 | W2 | W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 11 Update appeared first on Metsmerized.