After coming up clutch to take two out of three in Chicago, the Mets go into the final weekend of the regular season knowing what they need to do.

Just win and take care of business in Miami.

That’s easier said than done given this team’s history against the Marlins. But, with that said, the Mets did just grind out two huge wins against the Cubs. As a result, they very much control their own destiny.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Cubs series in 3 Up, 3 Down…

David Banks-Imagn Images

3 UP

STRIKING OUT

Yes, Nolan McLean did allow a career-high three home runs in his outing on Thursday night. However, despite that, the rookie still recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings to help his team claim a vital win. It will go down as a strange outing, sure, but McLean showed his high ceiling. And, despite the five earned runs, he’s probably still in line to start Game 1 of the Wild Card. The fact that McLean was able to grind out his start despite troubles with the long ball should also be viewed as a positive.

CLUTCH HITTING

Besides the second game of the series at Wrigley, the Mets got some gargantuan hits from their offense against the Cubs. Francisco Alvarez delivered arguably one of the biggest hits of his career with a two-run blast that sealed the win in Tuesday’s opener. Brandon Nimmo also came up with a clutch three-run homer that tied the game. Then, in Thursday’s finale, Brett Baty hit a crucial three-run homer in the fourth inning that gave his team a much-needed cushion.

Credit must also go to Francisco Lindor, who enjoyed a monster series. He hit a home run in the series finale, becoming part of the 30/30 club for the third time in his career as a result. Furthermore, Lindor also led off Tuesday’s big win with a leadoff homer while also driving in three runs. All in all, the Mets got clutch hits when they needed them the most against the Cubs.

COMING UP NAILS

Speaking of clutch, the bullpen was also pretty damn impressive in Chicago. Edwin Díaz struck out five of the six batters he faced on Tuesday to help lock down the win. In all, six relievers combined to allow just one earned run in the series opener, with the bullpen called upon to take on an added workload. Ryan Helsley continued his recent resurgence in Wednesday’s game by firing two scoreless innings of relief. He’s now recorded five straight scoreless outings, allowing just two hits and two walks over that six-inning span. Then, in the finale, Díaz, Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley and Tyler Rogers combined to toss 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two base runners in the process. With the stakes never higher, the bullpen really delivered in Chicago.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

END OF THE ROAD

The season could well be over for David Peterson. Barring a bullpen role, it seems unlikely that the veteran will now be trusted in any kind of starter role in the postseason. His concerning second-half struggles continued with just a nightmare outing in the series opener on Tuesday. Peterson was absolutely shelled, giving up five runs on five hits and lasting just 1 1/3 innings. In a critical moment, Peterson came up short and then some. Since the All-Star break, Peterson is pitching to a 6.34 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP. It sure appears as though Peterson is broken, and now is not the time to try and fix him.

TOUGH SPOT

If you want to know just how badly the Mets’ pitching philosophy has failed this year, look at Wednesday night as all the evidence you’ll ever need. Jonah Tong allowed five earned runs on seven hits across just two innings. The rookie has now given up five or more earned runs in two of his last three starts. But it isn’t Tong’s fault. He shouldn’t even be pitching in games that matter this much. He’s clearly not ready, but because of how big a hot mess the rotation is, the Mets have no choice but to throw a young starter right into the fire. It just isn’t fair. And relying on three rookie starters will more than likely burn this team come playoff time.

SLOPPY MESS

As big a series win as this was for the Mets, it is important not to get carried away. After all, they won a monster game on Tuesday only to lay a Godzilla-sized egg the very next night. And it wasn’t pretty. The team committed a bunch of self-enforced mental mistakes on the way to being beat up in a 10-3 loss. Clay Holmes committed a wild pitch and then compounded the matter with a boneheaded mental error. Sean Manaea did not look good out of the bullpen. Mark Vientos couldn’t make a routine play at the hot corner, directly leading to a five-run third inning. And the offense could only manage just four hits all night long. The Mets have proven over the last three-and-a-half months that they are a bad baseball team. They also seem incapable of building any kind of momentum. That page must now be turned in Miami if this team really wants to save its season.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Come Through In Chicago appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets’ offense was nonexistent for the majority of the game against Adrian Houser, who was, in nice terms, not great for the Mets last year with a 5.84 ERA and a midseason DFA. He was dominant in Monday’s game, though, as he retired 16 consecutive batters without allowing much, if any, hard contact after a first inning double to Brandon Nimmo. His next baserunner came with two outs in the sixth inning when Francisco Lindor singled through the right side of the infield. Lindor was erased after Nimmo proceeded to strike out to end the inning.

Clay Holmes, meanwhile, did his best to keep the Mets in the game. He allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings, the run occurring on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Holmes pitched into the sixth inning, though he exited the game with two outs and the bases loaded after a pair of infield singles and a walk, all occurring with two outs. José Buttó came into the game and got the crucial final out of the inning, a massive one considering Buttó’s struggles with inherited runners this year.

Clay Holmes, Nasty 94mph Sinker. 😨 pic.twitter.com/Go832QCkNL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2025

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the White Sox into the seventh inning, when Houser experienced his first moment of vulnerability by walking Juan Soto and allowing a Pete Alonso single with no outs. That knocked Houser out of the game, bringing in the rookie lefty Brandon Eisert. A pair of fielder’s choices and a walk brought Jeff McNeil to the plate in the Mets’ best scoring chance yet with the bases loaded and two outs, but McNeil struck out looking at a borderline strike to end the inning and ensure Houser an outing of six innings and no runs allowed.

After failing to score in the seventh, the Mets got another chance to threaten in the eighth after Francisco Alvarez led off the inning with a base hit. Luisangel Acuña pinch ran and advanced to third base on a one-out single from Brandon Nimmo. That brought up Juan Soto in a massive spot, and Soto delivered with a sacrifice fly to get the Mets on the board and tie the game. The Mets subsequently loaded the bases with Brett Baty up at the plate, but he flew out to keep the game tied.

Edwin Díaz worked around a two-out walk in the ninth inning to send the game to the bottom of the inning, giving the Mets a chance to walk off a game that seemed for the longest time like it would be a devastating loss. Tyrone Taylor led off the inning with a booming double in the left-center field gap before Jeff McNeil was intentionally walked. Luis Torrens tried to bunt at first but swung away at the second pitch and singled into left field to load the bases with no outs.

That brought Francisco Lindor to the plate, and he skied one into right field deep enough to bring home Tyrone Taylor and secure the victory. Lindor’s walk-off RBI was already his third of the season, giving the Mets an unlikely win for their third in a row.

Stat of the Game: A New Career High for Holmes

With his outing in Monday’s game, Clay Holmes threw 102 pitches, a new high mark for his career. Holmes has obviously been a reliever for most of it, but he began his career as a starter with the Pirates. He has now pitched at least 5 2/3 innings in each of his last five outings and at least five innings in each of his last nine.

Player of the Game: Francisco Lindor

Lindor didn’t have his best game, going 1-for-4, but his sacrifice fly was the at-bat to seal the deal. Lindor has proven more than once this year that he’s the man you want at the plate in a walk-off situation, and he proved that right again when he won Monday’s game for the Mets.

On Deck

The Mets’ series with the White Sox continues Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Tylor Megill (3-4, 3.56 ERA) will try to build off his previous solid start against the Red Sox, while Shane Smith (1-3, 2.36 ERA), who has been great this year, will go for Chicago. The game will air on SNY.

The post Mets Pull Out Gritty Walk-Off Win Over White Sox appeared first on Metsmerized.

Coming up with the big hit in key spots was the driving force behind an impressive series win at Citi Field. Some stellar pitching from both the rotation and bullpen also helped.

There were also some negatives too. For instance, the runners in scoring position issue reared its ugly head once again in the second game of the series. And there was a concerning pitching performance on Saturday, too.

To that end, let’s unpack everything from a big weekend for the Mets in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

By Roberto Carlo

3 UP

CAPTAIN CLUTCH

Francisco Lindor is the leader and the very heartbeat of this team. That’s undisputed. He can put the entire franchise on his back and carry them to new heights. He can also be counted on to deliver when it matters most. That was the case on Sunday. With the finale tied in the eighth inning, Lindor stepped to the plate and delivered a bomb of a two-run shot to give the Mets the lead. It proved to be the game-winning strike. Lindor’s heroics in a huge spot ensured that his team took the rubber game and the series from Chicago. It was also a big weekend overall for the shortstop, who hit a leadoff home run and came up with a stellar defensive play in the series opener. The Mets are one of the best teams in baseball right now, and Lindor is a massive part of that.

HEATING UP

Mark Vientos and Brett Baty showed promising signs of breaking out over the weekend. Vientos, who has struggled offensively through the first month, posted two multi-hit games against the Cubs. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored on Saturday, before really exploding offensively in the finale. He again finished 2-for-4 but, this time, had a home run and an RBI single to show for his efforts. Vientos, who has now hit four home runs on Mother’s Day in his career, homered in the sixth to give the Mets the lead again. It was a big-time strike at an important juncture of the game. Overall, he’s now hitting .313/.370/.500/.870 with three homers and seven RBIs over his last 13 games.

As for Baty, the infielder isn’t wasting any time trying to make the most of his latest opportunity in the big leagues. He hit three home runs against the Cubs, finishing the three-game series 4-for-8 with three runs scored and six RBIs. The highlight? Baty hit two home runs and finished with five RBIs on Saturday. As a result, there is now some hope once again that maybe, just maybe, Baty can stick in the majors and be a productive part of this roster.

PITCHING IN

For the most part, the Mets got a lot of good pitching in this series. Clay Holmes allowed his first home run of the year in the opener but was otherwise solid across six innings. His ability to go a full six innings also spared the bullpen somewhat. The relief pitching also did its job for the most part on Friday. Griffin Canning was terrific again in his start on Sunday, allowing just one run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts. He was supported by a stellar bullpen, with Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz all firing scoreless innings of relief. In the two wins, the pitching did a nice job of shutting down a dangerous and potent Chicago lineup.

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 DOWN 

TWO STEPS FOWARD, FIVE STEPS BACKWARDS

Juan Soto continued what looked to be a true breakout with a big night at the plate on Friday. He finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, two RBIs and a walk. He also blasted a mammoth 434ft home run to continue his hot streak in style. However, the rest of the series wasn’t nearly as good. Soto went a combined 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in the final two games, killing any momentum. Of course, it isn’t the end of the world, given that it is just two games. However, with that said, anytime Soto appears to be getting hot, he then gets mired in a mini skid. Hopefully, that’s not the case this time around, and it was just two bad days at the plate. Soto has hardly been known as a streaky hitter throughout his career, but that’s what he’s been with the Mets so far.

SAME OLD STORY

Tylor Megill enjoyed an encouraging start to 2025, posting a 1.74 ERA over his first six starts. However, his last two starts have been an ugly reminder of the inconsistency that has plagued Megill’s career to this point. The righty was shelled on Saturday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and a home run. He lasted just 4.2 innings, and he gave his team too big of a mountain to climb. Overall, Megill has now allowed eight earned runs in his last two outings and 11 in his last three. He has historically always struggled in May (he owns a career 5.97 ERA in May). Therefore, it is only right to be concerned that the same old Tylor Megill is here to stay.

BACK TO EARTH

Max Kranick was one of the success stories of spring training. He then translated that into a terrific start to the 2025 season. It appeared the Mets had unearthed a multi-innings weapon out of nowhere. That could still be the case, obviously. But, as of now, Kranick finds himself mired in somewhat of a slump. He gave up a pair of runs in a huge spot on Saturday, ultimately sealing the Mets’ fate in a close game. As a result, Kranick has now allowed five earned runs over his last four outings with two home runs. His ERA over that span stands at a bloated 7.50. Again, this is baseball andstruggles are just part of the game for every player. Hopefully, this is just a minor blip for Kranick, one he can bounce back from in the upcoming series against the Pirates.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Ride Clutch Wave To Win Cubs Series appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets (25-14) defeated the Cubs (22-17) 7-2 in Friday’s series-opening win. Clay Holmes threw six strong innings while four Mets, including Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, homered in the victory.

They’ll look to clinch the series Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET with Tylor Megill on the mound against Brad Keller.

By Roberto Carlo

Latest Mets News

Nolan McLean made his Triple-A debut on Friday and he looked excellent. McLean pitched seven shutout innings, allowing seven hits (all singles) and no walks with seven strikeouts. McLean’s stock has skyrocketed, and he proved again Friday night why many consider him the best pitching prospect in the Mets’ system. On the entire season, McLean has a 1.08 ERA.

Latest MLB News

The Blue Jays placed second baseman Andrés Giménez on the 10-day injured list with a right quad strain. Giménez has just a .577 OPS in 36 games to start the year.

The Braves announced that they designated Eddie Rosario for assignment and called up Luke Williams from Triple-A. Rosario, who played a major role in the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship, signed a contract for a third stint with the team this past offseason, and was one of a few other former Braves who were brought back to the team this year. Williams, meanwhile, had a .350 OPS in 20 games in the minors this year.

Latest on MMO

Christian De Block breaks down the latest odds surrounding Mets players in races such as National League MVP and National League Cy Young.

Michael Mayer analyzes the torrid start to the season in Triple-A for lefty Felipe De La Cruz.

On This Date in Mets History

2000: Rickey Henderson reached 10,000 career at-bats in a 13-9 loss to the Pirates, becoming the 21st player to achieve that milestone.

Born on This Date: Craig Brazell (1980), Pete Schourek (1969), Jim Hickman (1937).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Look to Clinch Series Over Cubs appeared first on Metsmerized.

2024 Traditional Stats: 0-10, 4.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 25 G, 79.2 IP, 84 SO, 44 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 87 ERA+, 24.2 K%, 12.7 BB%, 4.55 xERA, 4.95 FIP, 4.54 xFIP, 0.6 WAR

Rundown

Michael Soroka, also known as Mike, is quite an intriguing free agent. Just looking at his statistics listed above, you probably get immediately turned off. During the 2023 season, Soroka posted a 6.40 ERA in only seven appearances. Before that, the last pitch thrown by Mike Soroka was in 2020, where he had made only three starts with 13.2 IP. Things over the last few years have not looked promising.

And right off the rip, 2024 gives you the same standpoint. In games Soroka had started, he posted a 6.39 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP. Nine starts, only about 43 innings. This was not the same pitcher as 2019.

With all of this being said, the Chicago White Sox knew there needed to be a change. On May 14, manager Pedro Grifol decided that moving Soroka to the bullpen would help the team. Although the win column didn’t show that move, it proved to be just that. Soroka brought his competitiveness and willingness to be ready to go whenever needed right into the White Sox pen, posting a 2.75 ERA in 16 games. During this stint in the pen, he dramatically dropped his WHIP and AVG against and had 36 more strikeouts in seven fewer innings.

Mike Soroka could be an interesting arm if used as a reliever, possibly in a long relief type/spot starter type role. Throwing 36 innings in only 16 relief opportunities, he showed that he could easily go multiple innings when needed. His increased strikeout percentage was at an insane 39%, showing teams he can be a true long-relief, mid-leverage type arm.

Contract

MLB Trade Rumors has Soroka projected to receive a two-year, 14 million dollar contract. This feels like somebody David Stearns would love to take a shot on. Soroka has had to battle injuries for the majority of his career, and even in the 2024 campaign, he dealt with a shoulder strain that sidelined him for two months.

This is a player that could be similar to a Jose Butto role for the Mets. Having the option to be a spot starter, and a long relief option, this could be a good fit for the Mets. Especially if the Mets leadership decided to give Butto a chance to win a starting spot, that would leave the Mets needing somebody who can eat innings out of the pen.

We know the Mets have already shown interest in signing Soroka.

Recommendation

Soroka is a low-risk, high-reward type of player. This new Mets regime, headed by Steve Cohen and David Stearns, loves to take risks, especially with pitching. Last year, the two brought in Sean Manaea, ‘the worst pitcher in baseball’ Luis Severino, and leaned on Jose Quintana to get quality innings. They have trust in their pitching lab and believe with tweaks, they could get the most out of players.

Soroka has the potential to be a great bullpen arm, as proven to be this year. While he may never return to being his old self from 2019, he can still be a key contributor to a bullpen with big goals. I would say that acquiring Mike Soroka would be a plus move for the Mets.

The post Free Agent Profile: Mike Soroka, RHP appeared first on Metsmerized.

Taking on one of the worst teams in baseball history, the Mets needed to sweep the White Sox. No ands, ifs, or buts. And they did, taking all three games with relative ease.

As a result, coupled with the Braves dropping three of four to the Phillies, the Mets are now just one game back of Atlanta for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Talk about a successful weekend.

New York took care of business while things broke the right way elsewhere to set up a thrilling finish to the regular season.

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

3 UP

Sep 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea (59) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

PITCHING PROWESS 

Sean Manaea has been money for the Mets when it has mattered most. With every game now crucial, Manaea has elevated his play. He delivered another stellar start on Sunday. In a game the Mets needed to win to clinch a crucialsweep, the lefty tossed seven scoreless frames while allowing just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. It was Manaea’s third start of at least seven innings and no earned runs this season. Furthermore, he owns a 3.35 ERA this year, and opponents are hitting just .207 against him. If the Mets make the postseason, Manaea’s ability to come up clutch late in the season will be a big part of why. Oh, and New York is 10-2 in Manaea’s last 12 starts, too.

CRUCIAL ADDITION

President of baseball operations David Stearns looks like a very smart guy for adding Jesse Winker at the trade deadline. The former Mets nemesis has morphed into a key ally down the stretch run. Winker enjoyed a monster series in Chicago at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with one RBI, a double and two runs on Friday. He followed that up with a home run as part of a three-run first inning on Saturday, along with two RBIs and one run scored. The Mets needed outfield help and lineup depth at the trade deadline, and Winker is certainly providing both in abundance.

PLENTY OF RELIEF

You can’t fault the Mets bullpen this weekend. They didn’t put a foot wrong. Yes, they were going up against an awful White Sox team that will finish as one of the worst in baseball history. However, you can only beat what is in front of you, and the bullpen did its job all weekend long. Adam Ottavino, Reed Garrett and Phil Maton combined for 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings Friday. Maton, Huascar Brazoban, Ryne Stanek and José Buttó combined to allow just one run in four innings of relief on Saturday. If that wasn’t enough, Edwin Díaz was lights out in the ninth inning on Friday and Saturday to finish the deal with ease. The Mets needed these three games in Chicago, and a spotless bullpen certainly played its part in the sweep.

3 DOWN

Jul 1, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) looks out from the on deck circle against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

SLUMP CITY

Francisco Alvarez can’t seem to escape from the all-time slump he’s engulfed in. The catcher went a combined 1-for-8 against the White Sox, striking out twice. He is now without a home run since August, and his last multi-hit game came on August 7. As a result, Alvarez is now hitting a lowly .150/.195/.224 with an ugly .419 OPS since the All-Star break. The Mets require all the help they can get down the stretch. They need Alvarez to find a way to break out of this slump. And quick.

STRIKING OUT

One disturbing negative to emerge from the weekend – and there weren’t many – was the amount of times the Mets struckout on Sunday. Mets hitters struck out 16 times against the White Sox, surpassing the previous season-high of 14. Now, eight of those strikeouts came from a legit ace in Garrett Crochet. Still, striking out 16 times against the worst team in baseball is a little concerning. Plus, when you consider that the Mets have also been struck out 136 times over the last 13 games, that is a trend worth keeping an eye on.

HIGH USAGE

Edwin Díaz was brilliant against Chicago, earning the save on Sunday and coasting through the ninth inning in Friday’s series opener. As a result, the closer has pitched in four of the last five games for New York. Expect that usage to continue to trend upwards. Díaz will be used frequently by the Mets down the stretch as the team will treat every game like it’s their last. However, in a year full of dazzling highs and crushing lows, you just hope that Díaz will be able to handle the increased workload. After a couple of costly mistakes recently, the Mets need the 2022 version of Edwin Díaz here on out.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Handle Business In Chicago appeared first on Metsmerized.

Carlos Mendoza updated reporters prior to Friday’s game on the recovery status of three key pitchers. According to Mendoza, Dedniel Núñez might not get an MRI on his forearm after he landed back on the injured list. Additionally, Christian Scott has started throwing off a mound, while Kodai Senga has started to play catch from 90 feet away.

The Mets would benefit greatly from any kind of contribution from these three pitchers late in the season and into the postseason, but for now they’ll have to rely on their healthy pitchers to get them there.

Kodai Senga. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Wild Card Update

The Mets remain three games back in the Wild Card race as the Braves and Padres both won on Friday, though they did gain ground on the Diamondbacks who lost. The Mets are three games behind Atlanta, five games behind San Diego, and seven games behind Arizona, each of the three teams currently projected to make the Wild Card round.

Latest Mets News

The Mets (71-64) beat the White Sox (31-105) 5-1 on Friday. Jesse Winker recorded three hits and J.D. Martinez had a two-run homer in the victory.

The Mets’ series with the White Sox continues on Saturday in a matchup between former White Sox Jose Quintana (6-9, 4.36 ERA) and Davis Martin (0-2, 2.96 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Top 10 Mets prospect Jonah Tong was promoted to Double-A Binghamton. The 21-year-old started the year with Low-A St. Lucie and has earned his second promotion after recording a 3.71 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 85 innings with High-A Brooklyn.

Jett Williams rejoined the Binghamton Rumble Ponies after five rehab games with the St. Lucie Mets. Williams went 1-for-5 with four strikeouts in his first game for Binghamton in over four months.

In a recent episode of Foul Territory, former Met Trevor May called Francisco Lindor “one of the most impressive, professional baseball players I’ve ever seen.”

In an article from The Athletic’s Tim Britton, Craig Anderson and Jay Hook, surviving members of the 1962 Mets, said that they hope the White Sox don’t become the team with the most losses in a season, saying they hope they win more “for their sake.”

Per Anthony DiComo of SNY, Matt Allan, who is a former Mets top 100 prospect and still in the organization, will not appear in a minor league game this season. Allan has dealt with constant injury in his career and has not pitched professionally since 2019. Allan has been throwing off a mound but will not see game action until next year.

Latest MLB News

Clayton Kershaw exited Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks with left big toe pain. Kershaw’s exit came after he allowed a home run to Corbin Carroll in the second inning.

The Royals announced that Vinnie Pasquantino has a broken right thumb and will be out for six to eight weeks. Pasquantino has a .760 OPS in 131 games for the Wild Card-hopeful Royals. Pham owned a .653 OPS in 23 games with the Cardinals.

Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reported that the Cubs claimed reliever Shawn Armstrong off waivers from the Cardinals. In a corresponding move, they released former Met Tomás Nido.

The Cardinals announced that they recalled outfielder Jordan Walker and designated Tommy Pham for assignment.

A New York Post report on Friday listed the expected value of the qualifying offer this upcoming offseason to be $21.2 million.

Latest on MMO

In the latest Mets Minors Report, Sean Kelly highlights impressive performances from Drew Gilbert, Carson Benge, and Jonah Tong.

Michael Famulari breaks down a great outing from David Peterson in the series finale against the Diamondbacks.

On This Date in Mets History

2020: Mets legend Tom Seaver passed away at the age of 75 from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.

2022: Brandon Nimmo made a phenomenal catch to rob a home run on a ball hit off the bat of then-Dodger Justin Turner. It proved to be the winning catch as the Mets won 2-1 against the Dodgers, with both teams in the middle of a playoff push. Mets announcer Gary Cohen adequately dubbed it “the catch of the year from Brandon Nimmo!”

Birthdays: Ramón Ramírez (43), Hideo Nomo (56), Pat Howell (56)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Give Updates on Pitcher Injuries appeared first on Metsmerized.

The bats exploded as the Mets took two out of three from the Cubs in a series that could have huge implications for the Wild Card race.

Pitching also did its job – the rotation and bullpen – mostly, but the highlight of the weekend was the electrifying offense.

Now, just one game back of a Wild Card spot, the Mets have made up tremendous ground over the last little stretch. And the series win at Wrigley Field was another huge step in the right direction for this team.

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

3 Up

Photo by David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

UNSTOPPABLE FORCE

Francisco Alvarez has been like an unstoppable hurricane since returning off the IL. Entering Sunday, the catcher was 10-for-19 (.526) with two home runs and six RBIs since coming off the IL. He collected another hit on Sunday with a double, going 4-for-9 with four walks, two homers and two RBIs in Chicago overall. Since April 5, the Mets are now 18-3 in games that Alvarez plays in. That’s pretty damn impressive. Overall, Alvarez has been red hot since returning, and he’s helping to power this unstoppable offense.

OFFENSIVE AVALANCHE

The offense overall was impressive at Wrigley. The lineup exploded for 14 hits and 11 runs in the series opener on Friday, with the Mets blasting three homers before the second inning was over. Nearly everyone in the lineup contributed on Friday. Granted, the bats did go cold in an 8-1 loss on Saturday. However, they rebounded on national TV on Sunday with Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo all going yard. Harrison Bader was also electric with a couple of doubles and two runs scored. Furthermore, every Mets hitter – outside of Jeff McNeil – reached base in Sunday’s win. The offense continues to be electric, and that was on full display in Chicago.

EXHILARATING SEVY

Told he wasn’t pitching against his former team, the Yankees, in the Subway Series, you couldn’t blame Luis Severino if he felt aggrieved. However, if he did feel a certain way, that wasn’t on display on Sunday. Severino was electric in the series finale and was as key to the win as the offense was. The veteran was breathtaking on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out 10. That marked a season-high in strikeouts for Severino. He was everything the Mets needed him to be on Sunday and more.

3 DOWN

Jun 19, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Mets right fielder Starling Marte (6) reacts after hitting an rbi double during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

STICKY SITUATION

The fact the Mets won a huge series in Chicago wasn’t the main narrative to come out of the weekend. Why? Edwin Díaz‘s ejection for sticky stuff on Sunday was the bigger and juicer story. The shutdown closer was tossed out of the game without even throwing a pitch. He now faces an automatic 10-game suspension, with the odds of it being overturned via appeal incredibly slim.

Now, this isn’t the forum for a wider discussion on the protocols involving checks on sticky substances. I’m also not going to get into whether Díaz was guilty or not, or if crew chief Vic Carapazza needs to be held accountable. The reality is that the Mets will likely lose Díaz for ten games. They aren’t allowed to replace him on the roster, either. Given how crucial Díaz is to the bullpen – and the team overall – this could be a big blow.

NO LUCK

Starling Marte appears to be breaking down. The veteran outfielder exited Saturday’s game with a sore right knee, an ailment that has been persistent over the past few weeks. He sat out of Sunday’s game and will undergo an MRI on Monday. It is disappointing for Marte, who is hitting .278/.328/.416/.745 with seven homers, 12 stolen bases and 30 RBIs. However, Marte’s defense has fallen off a cliff this year, and a pile-up of injuries seems to be taking their toll on his body. Given that he’s clearly been restricted athletically for a while now, maybe an extended period out would do wonders for Marte and his beaten-up body.

SAME OLD TREND

Tylor Megill has a boatload of talent. There is no doubt about that. However, the 28-year-old has long struggled to parlay that talent into any kind of consistency over a full 162-game season. That worrying trend is seemingly rearing its ugly head once again. Megill crapped the bed in the worst way possible on Saturday, shelled for six runs in the first inning alone. He managed to last two more innings, leaving after giving up six earned runs on five hits. It was the second time in the last three starts that Megill had failed to complete five innings. With an ERA of 4.81 on the year, Megill needs to figure out how to be a consistently good pitcher over a full season. Otherwise, all that potential will be wasted.

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Luis Severino (2-2, 2.31 ERA) took the mound for the Mets, and for the second straight outing, he remained perfect his first time through the opposing team’s order. While he couldn’t match his 12-up, 12-down performance at the beginning of his last start against the Giants, Severino still managed to sit down 11 straight batters before allowing a two-out walk to Ian Happ in the fourth inning.

Unlike his last start, where things went south right after he allowed his first baserunner, Severino made just one pitch out of the stretch before recording the out and escaping the fourth. From there, he kept rolling, and it wasn’t until the seventh inning that the Cubs got their second man on base with Mike Tauchman getting hit by a pitch.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Tauchman advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice, but he curiously took off for third on a batted ball he must’ve thought would find the outfield grass. Jeff McNeil instead made the catch and doubled off Tauchman at second to get through the seventh inning.

Severino finally allowed his first hit of the game with no outs in the eighth inning, officially ending his lengthy no-hit bid. It came on a broken-bat blooper from Dansby Swanson, which followed a leadoff walk, putting two runners on with nobody out.

Up to this point, the Mets had only scored one run, which came on a home run from Brandon Nimmo off Jameson Taillon (2-0, 1.50 ERA) in the first inning. As great as Severino had been throughout this game, Taillon kept right with him and never let the Mets’ lead exceed one.

Now, with two on and nobody out, that meant trouble. The thrill of the no-hit bid was officially over, and the Cubs had a chance to tie or take the lead. Severino managed to get a ground ball fielder’s choice, which put runners on the corners with one out, but a curious decision on the next play by Joey Wendle surrendered the lead. Instead of throwing home for a sure out on a slow ground ball, he tried to turn two, but it wound up being too slow. Just like that, the Mets and Cubs tied at one.

The two teams entered the ninth inning still knotted, and Carlos Mendoza opted to go with Edwin Díaz in a tie game for the second straight game. This time, it didn’t go as well as it did yesterday. Díaz allowed an opposite-field double to Mike Tauchman between a pair of outs before Christopher Morel dropped the hammer with a moonshot of a home run to left field. All of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, the Mets trailed 3-1.

Héctor Neris took the mound in the bottom of the inning to try to close the Mets out. He allowed a leadoff walk to Pete Alonso before recording an out and then walking Jeff McNeil to bring the winning run to the plate. Neris fell behind a pinch-hitting DJ Stewart 2-0 but recovered to strike him out. Brett Baty was summoned to pinch hit for Wendle, but a swinging strikeout ended things for the Mets.

New York fought in the ninth but ultimately fell 3-1 in their most disappointing loss of the young season. What could’ve been a special outing from Luis Severino turned into a loss, with a major lack of offense playing a huge part yet again. The Mets are now 14-14 and have lost six of their last eight.

Statistic of the Game: Longest No-Hit Bid in Eight Years

Luis Severino’s seven-inning no-hit bid was the longest by a single Mets pitcher since Steven Matz went 7 1/3 innings without allowing a hit in August of 2016. This followed a game in which Severino started with four perfect innings. While neither outing ended the way he wanted, it’s clear that Severino is a new pitcher this year. When he’s on the mound, you can feel confident he’ll give you a stellar performance.

Player of the Game

This needs no explanation. For all the reasons listed already, Luis Severino is the player of the game, especially in a game where offense was mostly non-existent. Through six starts, Severino has a 2.31 ERA and continues to look like a steal of a free-agent signing for the Mets.

On Deck

The Mets and Cubs continue their series at Citi Field on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Sean Manaea (1-1, 3.33) will face Javier Assad (2-0, 2.00 ERA), who is off to a strong start. Manaea has a career 4.67 ERA against the Cubs in four appearances, while Assad has a 1.42 ERA against the Mets in two career appearances.

The game will air on SNY and MLB Network.

The post Mets Waste Severino’s Masterful Start, Fall to Cubs 3-1 appeared first on Metsmerized.

Position: 3B Bats/Throws: S/R
Age: 29 (11/24/1993)

2023 Traditional Stats: 140 G, 576 PA, .251/.336/.471/.807, 22 HR, 39 2B, 70 RBI, 127 H
2023 Advanced Stats: 119 OPS+, 117 wRC+, 3.1 bWAR, 3.3 fWAR, 22.1 SO%, 9.2 BB%, .292 BABIP, .319 xwOBA, -4 DRS, 0 OAA

Rundown

The 2023 season was arguably the best of Jeimer Candelario‘s career. A standout bat in a depleted Nationals’ lineup, Candelario set himself up as one of the hottest trade chips of this past season’s trade deadline, where he saw himself land with the Cubs. His play fell off a bit following the trade, but Candelario still enjoyed a season where he set career highs in home runs, RBIs, and OPS (excluding the shortened 2020 season).

Candelario has enjoyed a successful MLB career until now, even if it’s one that hasn’t been worthy of any accolades. After beginning his career with a brief stint with the Cubs, Candelario became a fixture in the Tigers’ lineup from 2017 to 2022, where he experienced highs and lows. Among the highs were a 19-home run season in his first full year with the Tigers in 2018, a .872 OPS season in 52 games in 2020, and a 42-double season in 2021 to lead the majors in that category. Among the lows were two seasons with an OPS below .650 and no All-Star, Silver Slugger, or Gold Glove awards.

A disappointing 2022 season in Detroit forced the Tigers to non-tender Candelario, and he became a free agent for the first time. He chose to sign with the Nationals and immediately became one of the best players on the team. Before the trade deadline, Candelario hit 16 home runs with 53 RBIs and a .823 OPS. He was then traded to the Cubs and hit six home runs with 17 RBIs and a .764 OPS with the team. He finished the year with 22 home runs, 70 RBIs, 39 doubles, and a .807 OPS.

Despite putting up quality numbers, Candelario finished the year well below average in expected batting average (21st percentile), hard-hit percentage (22nd percentile), and average exit velocity (29th percentile). He also finished around league average in barrel percentage (44th percentile), chase percentage (48th percentile), and whiff percentage (56th percentile). Candelario also struggled against non-fastballs, putting up a batting average of .170 against breaking balls and .238 against offspeed pitches.

Defensively, Candelario played exclusively third base with the Nationals last year but split time between third and first base with the Cubs. At third, Candelario finished the year with -5 DRS and 2 OAA, and at first, he finished with 1 DRS and -2 OAA. Being that he’s not exactly a wizard with the glove, he could potentially serve as a team’s designated hitter, although he can more than hold his own if he plays the field for his next team.

Contract

Spotrac.com projects Candelario to receive a three-year, $34.85 million contract, which is good for $11.6 million annually. That would put him right around league average in terms of salary for third basemen, which is probably what the 29-year-old is looking to get after his 2023 season.

Recommendation

If I’m David Stearns, I’m looking elsewhere for bats to supplement the lineup. Candelario is a good player, but he isn’t someone who fits this Mets team or someone who projects to improve upon last year’s performance. If anything, a regression is the likeliest outcome. That’s not to mention that Stearns recently stated that the Mets will be constructed so that “young, talented players do get a chance over the course of the year,” meaning either of Brett Baty or Ronny Mauricio will likely be the team’s third baseman.

Candelario has had an inconsistent career and would probably serve as the Mets’ designated hitter if signed. With better DH options on the market, such as Teoscar Hernández or Jorge Soler, the Mets should stay away from Candelario.

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