On Wednesday the Mets bats finally woke up from their slumber in the ninth inning and exploded for six runs. That continued Friday night in Philadelphia. After being shut down for the first few innings of the game the Mets bats roared to life hitting three, three-run homers on their way to beating the Phillies 11-3. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks lost, so the Mets are now only 1.5 games behind the Padres for the first wild card spot, one game behind the Diamondbacks for the second spot, and have a one-game lead over the Braves for the last spot (entering play today).

On the negative side, Francisco Lindor was removed with lower back soreness and is out of the lineup for the first time since May 1. Luisangel Acuña, who was promoted today and making his major league debut, takes his place at shortstop.

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Mets Lineup

1. Jose Iglesias – 2B
2. Mark Vientos – 3B
3. Brandon Nimmo – LF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. J.D. Martinez – DH
6. Starling Marte – RF
7. Francisco Alvarez – C
8. Harrison Bader – CF
9. Luisangel Acuña – SS

Luis Severino has a 3.74 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 1.247 WHIP, and 104 ERA+ over 166 innings this season. In his last five starts, he has a 1.95 ERA (2.83 FIP) over 32 1/3 innings where has struck out 35 batters. He’s only allowed two home runs in that stretch, both in his worst start where he allowed four runs over 4 2/3 innings in Arizona. This will be a tougher challenge today with the Phillies’ strength and the CBP field dimensions. The Phillies have the following career numbers against him:

• Nick Castellanos 6-15, BB, 3 K
• Kody Clemens 0-2
• Kyle Schwarber 2-4, 2 2B, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Kyle Schwarber – DH
2. Trea Turner – SS
3. Bryce Harper – 1B
4. Nick Castellanos – RF
5. Bryson Stott – 2B
6. J.T. Realmuto – C
7. Brandon Marsh – LF
8. Kody Clemens – 3B
9. Cal Stevenson – CF

The Mets will face Kolby Allard who is trying to save the back of the Phillies rotation. Old friend Taijuan Walker has struggled for the Phillies when healthy this season, his original replacement Spencer Turnbull got hurt and Seth Johnson had a poor outing with the team last week. So Allard gets the call for the second time this season.

Allard pitched in four games between the end of July and the start of August totaling 18 innings with a 3.50 ERA, 5.67 FIP, 1.333 WHIP, and 118 ERA+. Across the minors this season he has a 5.66 ERA over 90 2/3 innings. A few Mets have seen Allard throughout his career:

• Harrison Bader 0-1
• Jose Iglesias 1-4
• Starling Marte 1-3
• J.D. Martinez 1-5, K
• DJ Stewart 0-1
• Luis Torrens 2-8, 2B, 2 K

Game Notes

• Luisangel Acuña is set to become the fifth Mets player this year to make their major league debut this year joining Tyler Jay, Dedniel, Núñez, Eric Orze, and Christian Scott.
• Paul Blackburn has a spinal fluid lead, Mendoza told media pregame. The righty’s injury isn’t “as serious as it sounds” and has no timetable for a return.
• Francisco Lindor is out of the lineup for the Mets. The last time he was left out of the lineup was May 1 against the Cubs, but still recorded an at-bat.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Francisco Lindor. Lindor left Friday’s game in the in the seventh inning with lower back soreness. After the game, Carlos Mendoza said that if the game was closer, Lindor would still be playing. He’s considered day-to-day right now. Lindor has been the Mets hitter all season and is in the running for the National League MVP. If he plays, how much plays, how he plays, how he sits on the bench – all of that will be overly scrutinized today.
2. Luisangel Acuña. One of the Mets top prospects is expected to join the active roster today! Acuña came to the Mets as part of the Max Scherzer trade during the 2023 MLB trade deadline. While his offense has left a bit to be desired this season (69 wRC+), he provides the Mets middle infield depth. It was wildly wondered after the Jeff McNeil injury if Acuña would get the call. Acuña is also a machine at stealing bases. Across two teams in 2023 he stole 57 bases. In Syracuse he stole 40. If he can get three stolen bases this year in the majors, he’ll have 100 total stolen bases across MiLB-MLB play!
3. Hit Parade. After struggling for a week the Mets offense recorded 14 hits on Friday night. Lindor, Alonso, Iglesias, Francisco Alvarez and Bader each had two-hits in the game. Nimmo only had one hit, but it was a massive three-run bomb. Hopefully this is what the offense needs as a spark to keep the momentum going through this final stretch of the season!

Let’s go Mets!

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Starling Marte, who hit the IL in late June with a right knee bone bruise, will likely return some time during the Mets’ homestand, which begins Tuesday against Oakland and runs through the following Wednesday. However, the outfield looks slightly different from when Marte was last in Queens. Jesse Winker and Ben Gamel have joined the squad, while DJ Stewart was optioned to Syracuse. Marte will find plenty of fresh faces post-trade deadline as the Mets look to claim a Wild Card spot.

Photo by: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Before hitting the IL, Marte looked like the player the Mets and baseball community knew. He was hitting .278/.328/.416/.745 with a 112 OPS+. According to Baseball Savant, Marte ranks in the 95th percentile in xBA (.300) and 92nd percentile in launch angle sweet-spot (39.3%). As a result, his hard-hit rate in 2024 is exponentially better than in 2023; Marte was in just the 15th percentile in the LA sweet-spot with 30.6% and 41st percentile in hard-hit rate (in 2024, he’s in the 77th percentile). 

The Mets come off a road trip from hell where they scored only one run in their entire series in Seattle, where the Mariners swept them in ugly fashion. In desperate need of an offensive spark, Marte has knocked a homer and stolen a base, showing he is symptom-free and ready to return to work. The question remains: what will the outfield look like when he returns? Who plays? And is everyone sticking around?

The Suspects

Brandon Nimmo has had a funky season. He was cold, then scorching, and now, once again, he’s trying to figure it out. However, his defense hasn’t suffered and remains an everyday player, which he will continue to be in Marte’s return. He’s made the most of everywhere he’s asked to play on the field and puts on a show.

Bader has had a stellar season but has been more effective against righties, which is against type for him. However, like Nimmo, he’s made a home in center. Hitting a career-best .294/.332/.441 against righties with a wRC of 120+, Bader should see most of the time against right-handed pitching for the rest of the season. Marte, meanwhile, is mashing .333/.395/.522 with a wRC+ of 161 against lefties.

Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Now comes the trickier part. Tyrone Taylor has been a revelation in late July and August in the field and at the plate. He’s robbed homers and mashed them at the plate, and he’s been a reliable presence in the lineup. However, his role was always as the fourth man, and he may return to that role with Marte’s return.

Unfortunately, Gamel feels like the odd duck out. Since joining the team on June 25, the outfielder has only started in ten contests and played 16 games. The Mets used Gamel primarily for his speed and defense late in games, but he never translated his monster Triple-A to Queens in 2024.

With J.D. Martinez as the DH, Winker’s playing might decrease with Marte’s return. A righty-masher and on-base machine, he’s hitting .266/.380/.434 against them. Winker compliments Marte nicely as they enter the final stretch. They very well could platoon.

All to say, this is a good problem for the Mets to have. The organization specifically constructed this Mets roster with long-term and short-term goals for 2024 and beyond. One of their priorities was to be flexible on the field and stay versatile and creative within the lineup, and with Marte’s return, they get the chance more than ever.

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David Stearns approached the deadline as expected trying to add pieces to help make a playoff push without giving up the future of the organization. Let’s take a look at how his acquisitions have performed thus far.

Phil Maton

Maton was acquired on July 9 from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations and has been one of the more reliable arms in the bullpen lately. He has only given up two earned runs in nine innings, with 11 strikeouts in that span. Maton has only walked one and allowed just four hits.

Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Ryne Stanek

He was acquired on July 26 from the Seattle Mariners for outfield prospect Rhylan Thomas and rejoined his former Houston Astros teammate Phil Maton to help strengthen the bullpen. Stanek only has three appearances to show for it, but he had a rough go-around against the Atlanta Braves, where he surrendered two home runs. He had a quick bounce back in his next two appearances, giving up no runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched.

Jesse Winker

With Starling Marte‘s return uncertain and DJ Stewart‘s unproductive at-bats, the Mets acquired Winker from the Washington Nationals on July 28 for right-handed pitching prospect Tyler Stuart. Winker has had a tough stretch to the start of his Mets tenure, failing to record an RBI in his first six games with the team. He has only three hits in 15 at-bats (.450 OPS) to show for, but he will continue to be in the lineup against right-handed pitching.

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Blackburn 

Blackburn was acquired from the Oakland A’s on July 30 for right-handed pitching prospect Kade Morris and recorded a win for the Mets against the Los Angeles Angels in his first start. He recorded six strikeouts in six innings pitched while only giving up one earned run.

Tyler Zuber

Zuber was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays on July 30 for right-handed pitching prospect Paul Gervase and was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse the next day. He only has two appearances with the Syracuse Mets and has given up two earned runs in two innings.

Huascar Brazobán

Brazobán was acquired from the Miami Marlins on July 30 for utility prospect Wilfredo Lara and has appeared out of the ‘pen three times for the Mets. He had one of his worst outings of the season against the Angels that featured a go-ahead three-run home run that led to a Mets loss, but he was able to bounce back against the Rockies, throwing a scoreless two innings.

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Luke Ritter. Photo by Herm Card

Triple-A

Game 1: Columbus Clippers (52-52) 7, Syracuse Mets (62-43) 1 In 6 Innings

BOX SCORE

• 2B Luke Ritter: 3-for-3, 2B, RBI (.904 OPS)
• SS Pablo Reyes: 1-for-2, R, K (.916 OPS)

Despite taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Syracuse was downed by Columbus 7-1. Ritter drove in the solo run in the top of the doubleheader, his ninth RBI of the week. Ritter has been on a tear since his slump in June. He has a six-game hit streak and has increased his average by 0.19 points over that span, not to mention his 1.012 OPS in July.

• RHP Blade Tidwell (5.63 ERA) 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 3 K (65 pitches/37 strikes)
• RHP Wilkin Ramos 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• RHP Shintaro Fujinami 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tidwell had some bad luck on Saturday; only two of his six runs allowed in the third inning were earned. After returning to the organization after being DFA’d to clear room on the 40-man roster for the big league club’s trade deadline acquisitions, Shintaro Fujinami gave Syracuse two quality innings in relief. He notably did not allow a hit or walk in this appearance.

JT Schwartz. Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Game 2: Columbus Clippers (53-52) 3, Syracuse Mets (62-44) 0 In 7 Innings

BOX SCORE

• 1B JT Schwartz: 2-for-3, 2 2B (.575 OPS)
• RF DJ Stewart: 1-for-2, 2B, BB, K (1.000 OPS)

Syracuse was shut out in the night cap of their doubleheader on Saturday, losing 3-0 to the Clippers. Schwartz picked up two doubles, only his third and fourth extra-base hits since his promotion to Syracuse on July 11. DJ Stewart appeared in his first games for Syracuse since his demotion from the major league. He picked up a double and a walk.

• RHP Jordan Geber (4.26 ERA) 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K (63 pitches/41 strikes)
• RHP Eric Orze 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
• LHP Matt Gage 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

For the second-straight game, Columbus scored all of its runs in one inning. This time, Jordan Geber was responsible, though his offense did not do him any favors. Orze and Gage combined for two innings, two baserunners, and four strikeouts. Gage has not allowed a run since coming to the Mets organization (six appearances).

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (52-45) New Hampshire FisherCats (39-58)

Due to inclement weather, Saturday’s game between Binghamton and New Hampshire game was been postponed. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday with Game 1 starting at 2:15 pm.

D’Andre Smith. Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

High-A 

Brooklyn Cyclones (47-53) 3, Aberdeen IronBirds (52-48) 4 In 8 Innings

BOX SCORE

• 2B D’Andre Smith: 2-for-3, R, BB, K (.367 OPS)
• CF Omar De Los Santos: 1-for-3, R, HR (7), 3 RBI (.589 OPS)
• DH Nick Morabito: 1-for-3, 3B, BB, K (.727 OPS)

Due to rain, the Friday night game between Brooklyn and Aberdeen has to be suspended and finished on Saturday, followed by the scheduled initially Saturday game. Neither happened. The resumed Friday night match was called in the eighth inning on Saturday due to inclement weather, and game two has been pushed back to Sunday.

The Cyclones’ only run scored came on Saturday, a three-run homer from Omar De Los Santos; his seventh of the season in Brooklyn.

• LHP Felipe De La Cruz (4.42 ERA) 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K (55 pitches/ 32 strikes)
• RHP Zach Thornton 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• RHP Henry Henry 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K

The stopping and starting did not help the Brooklyn staff, who used two frontline pitchers. De La Cruz and Thornton gave the Cyclones little length, throwing three innings and allowing earned runs.

Low-A 

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (51-46) 2, St. Lucie Mets (34-66) 3

Due to persistent rain, Saturday’s game between the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and St. Lucie Mets was been postponed. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday with Game 1 starting at 12:05 pm ET. Both games will be seven innings.

Both DSL teams won their matchups against their DSL Yankee counterparts. Mets Orange were led by C Yovanny Rodriguez who went 2-for-4, with a run, a double, and five RBIs. Mets Blue only collected four hits but scored the winning run via centerfielder Reneil Diaz’s RBI-single. 

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Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Puma reports that New York is interested in adding a left-handed bat at the trade deadline. Coupled with a clear need for an upgrade in the outfield, Conforto feels like an ideal fit for the club on several fronts. He was a Met from 2015 to 2021, hitting 132 home runs while slashing .255/.356/.468 over 752 games. He also hit three postseason homers for the Mets in 2015, two of which came in Game Four of the World Series.

Conforto could slot into right field and play on a regular basis as Starling Marte remains out with a bone bruise in his right knee. The Mets have gone with a combination of Jeff McNeil, Tyrone Taylor and DJ Stewart in his absence, though Conforto could quickly rise to the top of the pecking order should New York bring him in.

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After sweeping the Nationals and improving to 8-2 against Washington this season, the Mets took sole possession of the third Wild Card spot in the National League.

Of course, there is still a lot of baseball to be played. However, the significance of this remarkable turnaround shouldn’t be downplayed or overstated. Since May 30, New York is 25-12, which is tied with the Astros for the best record in baseball during that span.

The last month or so has truly been something pretty special.

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

3 UP

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

UNSUNG HERO

Much has been written about Brandon Nimmo this week, and it has all been true. One of the most underrated players in the game, Nimmo continues to come up in the clutch for the Mets. He came through in a big spot with a two-out, bases-loaded double on Thursday, setting the stage for a five-run fifth inning. In all, Nimmo drove in seven runs this series. He now has 30 RBIs in his last 23 games. Furthermore, the veteran is now just six RBIs shy of his career-high (68), and we’re still in July.

Among qualified hitters, Nimmo currently ranks third in the NL in OPS (.988) and fourth in slugging (.600) since the beginning of June. He’s one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, and he’s also been at the heartbeat of this stunning turnaround for the Mets.

LIVING THE DREAM

The 2024 New York Mets season deserves a movie made about it. After all, this team seemed dead and buried following the dark, dark days of May. Remember, New York was staring at a lowly 22-33 record on May 29. Fast forward to now, and the Mets are an impressive 25-12 since May 30, which is tied for the best record in MLB with the Astros over that span. Granted, there is still a lot of baseball to be played and the bullpen remains a potential season-killer. However, as of right now, the Mets occupy a Wild Card spot and that is pretty damn impressive given how bleak things looked not too long ago.

HELP DELIVERED

I’ve officially lost count of the amount of times I’ve written the words ‘bullpen help’ in this space and others. Well, those words have been heeded somewhat by the front office. The Mets went out and acquired RHP Phil Maton from the Rays earlier in the week, adding a proven body to the ‘pen. He made an immediate impact, striking out two in a scoreless seventh inning in his Mets debut on Thursday. The bullpen as a whole didn’t allow a run, backing up an impressive start from David Peterson. Maton was a huge add for the bullpen, and hopefully more help is on the way.

3 DOWN 

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

MAN DOWN

Breakout reliever Reed Garrett was placed on the 15-day IL on Wednesday with right elbow inflammation, marking yet another body blow for an already battered and bruised bullpen. The good news, however, is that Garrett should only miss two-to-four weeks with nerve inflammation. That still isn’t great given how undermanned the ‘pen is, but at least the worst-case scenario was avoided. Garrett has struggled the more his workload has piled up, but he’s still been one of the stars of this bullpen. Losing him for a significant amount of time could have been the back-breaker for that group of relievers.

POWER SHORTAGE

Pete Alonso isn’t having the kind of dominant season he would have liked in his final year before hitting free agency. The slugger is hitting .243/.322/.455 with a .776 OPS, and the eye test will also tell you that this hasn’t been a typical vintage year for him thus far. He’s suffering somewhat of a power shortage, having now gone nine games without hitting a home run. Furthermore, the first baseman was quiet during the Nationals series and will need to mash at a higher level if the Mets are to maintain their postseason push. Hopefully the Home Run Derby will help Alonso get some of his mojo back.

NO MARTE PARTY

Starling Marte is still no closer to a return. The veteran outfielder has been on the shelf for three weeks with a right knee bone bruise, and despite latest MRI exam results showing signs of improvement, Marte himself is still feeling pain. That doesn’t sound promising, and more worrying is the fact that Marte just can’t seem to put together a healthy stretch of baseball. With DJ Stewart limited offensively, the Mets may need to acquire some outfield help at the deadline as an insurance policy should Marte be unable to return fully healthy.

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After splitting their series against the Nationals, the Mets also had to settle for a series split with the Pirates to finish 4-4 on the road trip.

There were yet more implosions from a bullpen teetering on the edge, while an up-and-down offense also contributed to a disappointing finish to a long week.

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

3 UP

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

UNLIKELY HERO 

Luis Torrens continues to make big-time contributions for the Mets. Getting the start in Saturday’s game, the veteran went 3-for-4 at the plate in an offensive outburst. More importantly, he delivered a clutch two-out, three-run double that helped New York secure a 5-2 win. Torrens has been arguably the pickup of the year for the Mets, and his offensive upside makes him a valuable weapon to have in reserve.

COMEBACK KING

Edwin Díaz‘s absence was certainly felt. Serving a 10-game suspension for sticky stuff, the closer made his return on Saturday and made an immediate impact. Díaz fired a scoreless ninth to record his eighth save of the year. He also pitched the following day, blowing the save in the eighth before going back out and working a perfect ninth to secure the win. All in all, having Díaz back will help a bullpen that is clinging for life. Especially if he can pitch consistently at a peak level the rest of the way.

STARTING EXCELLENCE

In a series where the pitching was unreliable, Sean Manaea proved dependable in his start on Sunday. The lefty was excellent on the mound, putting together six scoreless innings while giving up just two hits with three walks and six strikeouts. As a result, he now owns a 3.43 ERA on the year. And, with the Mets needing attractive assets in order to acquire bullpen help, Manaea did his trade value no harm at all with a third consecutive impressive outing.

3 DOWN

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

LEARNING ON THE JOB

Manager Carlos Mendoza had a tough day on Monday. He pulled Christian Scott from the game, who was in his groove and had thrown only 77 pitches. However, despite giving up just two earned runs over 5.2 innings, Scott was on a pitch count and that game plan had to be stuck too. But, best laid plans and all that. Eric Orze, making his MLB debut, came in and instantly gave up three runs on two hits. Adrian Houser didn’t do any better, allowing three earned runs of his own.

It was a nightmare sixth inning for the Mets, and Mendoza was criticized for going to a taxed bullpen too early. Now, you can argue that Scott was pitching on four days’ rest for the first time in his career. He had also thrown 99 pitches in his last start. In my opinion, pulling Scott wasn’t the issue. Putting Orze into the game to face the most lethal part of Pittsburgh’s lineup in his first MLB outing was the mistake by Mendoza. Jake Diekman was available against a string of lefties (he’s actually good against them), and Adam Ottavino pitched just once in the six days leading up to Sunday. And that’s the error he should be held accountable for.

But, hey, Mendoza is just 89 games into his first job as a big league manager. Mistakes will happen. Unfortunately, it cost the Mets a game they really had to have.

FAMILIAR STORY

Let’s stick with the bullpen. Because we kind of have to at this point. Besides the sixth inning meltdown on Monday, the pen also collapsed in the series opener, with Jake Diekman and Ty Adcock combining to allow seven earned runs in just an ugly implosion after Luis Severino had already laid an egg in his start. After splitting in Washington, the Mets really needed to record a series win in Pittsburgh. Instead, they had to settle for another split thanks to more bullpen dramatics. With the price for bullpen help likely to be high given the market, it is hard to see things getting any better any time soon for a group of relievers that are about to fall off the cliff completely.

STREAKY  

A red-hot offense in June has started to come back down to earth in July. The Mets lineup put up just two runs in both of their losses in Pittsburgh. Additionally, they could only squeeze out three runs in a win on Saturday. In reality, a regression from an exhilarating June was always to be expected. But, with the bullpen in the current state it is, the offense needs to put up a bunch of runs just to stand a chance in any given game. Plus, too many key hitters are going cold at the same time. Pete Alonso hasn’t been great. J.D. Martinez has cooled off. There’s still little to no production from Jeff McNeil. The DJ Stewart experiment is also probably over. All in all, the bats cooling off didn’t help matters in Pittsburgh.

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Friday and Saturday’s games have been inverses of each. other for the New York Mets. On Friday afternoon, the Mets’ bats could not be stopped and the pitching sliced through the Chicago Cubs’ lineup. Saturday afternoon, the Cubs returned the favor cruising to a victory against the Mets. The series comes down to tonight’s rubber game on national television.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Brandon Nimmo, LF
3. J.D. Martinez, DH
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Francisco Alvarez, C
6. DJ Stewart, RF
7. Mark Vientos, 3B
8. Jeff McNeil, 2B
9. Harrison Bader, CF

Luis Severino has pitched 84 1/3 innings for the Mets this season over 14 starts posting a 3.52 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 1.198 WHIP, and a 109 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough start against the Rangers where he allowed six runs over 6 1/3 innings from eight hits, a game the Mets eventually won 7-6. In his two starts before that one he allowed only two runs from 14 hits over 14 innings.

One of his best starts this season came against the Cubs where he pitched eight innings of one-hit baseball. The Cubs have the following career numbers against Severino:

• Michael Busch 0-2, BB, K
• Pete Crow-Armstrong 0-3
• Ian Happ 1-5, BB, 2 K
• Nico Hoerner 0-6, K
• Christopher Morel 1-6, K
• Dansby Swanson 1-3, K
• Patrick Wisdom 0-2, BB, 2 K

Luis Severino. Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Cubs Lineup

1. Nico Hoerner, 2B
2. Michael Busch, 1B
3. Cody Bellinger, RF
4. Seiya Suzuki, DH
5. Ian Happ, LF
6. Christopher Morel, 3B
7. Dansby Swanson, SS
8. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
9. Miguel Amaya, C

Javier Assad is having a great season for the Cubs. Over 78 2/3 innings (15 starts), the 26-year old has a 2.75 ER, 3.79 FIP, 1.246 WHIP, and a 151 ERA+. Similar to Saturday’s starter, Jameson Taillon, he had a rough stretch in mid-May to early June. During that stretch he had a 5.66 ERA, 5.81 FIP over 20 2/3 innings. Since then, he has allowed three runs over 9 2/3 innings.

He had a solid, if not a bit short start against the Mets in April where he allowed one run from five hits over five innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 0-4
• Harrison Bader 0-1
• Francisco Lindor 2-5, BB
• J.D. Martinez 1-4, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-4, BB
• Brandon Nimmo 1-6, 2 K
• DJ Stewart 0-2, K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-3

Game Notes

After missing the last game with injury, and leaving the previous game, Starling Marte is still not in the lineup as he deals with a knee issue.

Luisangel Acuña had a huge day for Syracuse (Triple-A). He went 3-for-4 with two RBIs raising his season OPS over the .700 mark.

Three Things To Watch For

1. How do the Mets batters handle Javier’s arsenal? According to Baseball Savant, Javier Assad has been mixing in six different pitches to hitters this year. He uses a low-90 mph sinker 36% of the time. His next two most frequent pitches are a high-80 mph cutter (20% of the time) and a low-90 mph four-seam fastball(19% of the time). Finally, he mixes in a curveball, slider, and changeup. It’s worth noting that since June 5, hitters xwOBA against Assad has been ticking quite a bit above league average.
2. Strikeouts. The Mets’ batters had 14 strikeouts on Saturday with Francisco Lindor and DJ Stewart striking out three times each. Here’s hoping that the Mets change their approach at the plate today, work counts and wait for their pitches. Assad does not induce a lot of chases (13th percentile) or swing-and-misses (ninth percentile) which is potentially good news for New York.
3. J.D. Martinez goes for three games in a row. Saturday, J.D. went 2-for-4 at the plate, the second-straight game where he collected two hits. On Friday, he went 2-for-4 with a massive home run. Can that rend of multiple hits continue in Sunday night’s game?

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The bats exploded for 14 runs on 22 hits, resulting in a rout of the reigning World Series Champion Rangers. The Mets also did most of their damage against probable All-Star Jon Gray, who entered Monday’s matchup with a 2.17 ERA.

Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets tagged Gray for 11 of their 22 hits—nine singles and two homers. By the end of the second inning, the Mets had scored seven runs and had nine hits against Gray.

The biggest blows to Gray were home runs by DJ Stewart and Brandon Nimmo.

Stewart’s three-run homer came first, opening up a daunting 7-0 lead that was insurmountable for the Rangers’ potent lineup. It was Stewart’s first homer since April 30 and ended a 55-at-bat homer-less streak.

“It’s huge,” Nimmo said of Stewart’s homer.  “Three-run homers, they change games. … I just think it was huge for him, huge for the team.”

Nimmo’s two-run homer followed in the bottom of the fourth and opened the Mets’ lead back to seven (9-2). It was also the last straw before manager Bruce Bochy. The homer knocked Gray out of the game and started an early night for the Rangers’ bullpen.

The two home runs were emphatic. And widened the margin by enough to put the game out of reach for the Rangers. But power wasn’t the theme of the night for the Mets’ offense.

Besides the two homers against the Gray, it was a single-infested night. 17 of the Mets’ 22 hits were one-base knocks, and they came from nine of the eleven Mets’ batters.

Everyone grinded. The lineup had long at-bats, hit hard-line drives, and got the next batter into the box. It was a true team effort.

“It seems like no matter what the pitcher is throwing, we have that confidence,” Francisco Lindor told the media. “You feel good, you are ready to hit, you are ready to execute a plan. … It seems like everybody is in everyone’s at-bat every single pitch.”

Six of the nine Mets’ starters had multi-hit nights, three of which recorded three-hit games. Lindor led the charge again for the Mets at the top of the order, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Even Harrison Bader got in the hit column coming off the bench. The Bronx native got an at-bat against position player Andrew Knizner in the ninth, and doubled into the gap for the 22nd hit of the night.

The only two Mets who failed to record a hit were Jose Iglesias, who pinch-hit for Lindor, and starter Tyrone Taylor, who was o-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Francisco Lindor RBI single
Brandon Nimmo RBI single
Pete Alonso RBI single
DJ Stewart 3-RUN HOME RUN!

It’s 7-0 Mets in the 2nd as the Mets tee off and pile it on the Rangers early! pic.twitter.com/CVvq3frEP8

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) June 18, 2024

Overall, the offensive performance was spectacular. So much in fact that it distracted many from a strong start from David Peterson. But the offense’s night deserves the spotlight for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, Monday night’s performance cemented itself in the history books. It was only the 10th time a Mets’ lineup recorded at least 22 hits. The last came back on Aug. 15, 2019, in a 10-8 win against the Braves.

Secondly, the Mets offense has been carrying the load for the entire month of June. They’re averaging 5.07 runs per game and have scored double-digit runs in three games, including back-to-back games scoring 11 runs.

The offense is firing on all cylinders. And the club is finally getting big-time performances from their stars. Lindor entered Monday slashing .303/.376/.573/.949 with five homers since May 22. Last week’s National League Player of the Week J.D. Martinez was slashing .320/.433/.620/1.053 with three homers and 13 RBIs in June before Monday.

This production has been elite. And in turn, has led the Mets to a 10-4 record in June, six-game winning streak dating back to the almighty Grimace’s first pitch, and now 34-37 record that somehow has the Mets one game behind the Nationals for the third wild card spot. There’s a snowball effect, and it’s finally positive.

“We got good hitters,” Mendoza said on the Mets offensive 180. “I feel like that the way the guys are preparing, the way they are talking, our game plan, our approach, our hitting coaches are doing a good job. We knew at the end of the day, we’ve got good players, we’ve got good hitters. Just trusting our process, preparation, we’re seeing the results now.”

The post Mets’ Bats Firing on All Cylinders in June appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets suffered a crushing loss on Wednesday night as a bang-bang play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth was the final blow for the Amazins. Pete Alonso‘s hand bounced up before the plate, allowing the tag to be placed before he scored and subsequently ending the game. However, an even bigger story is how the Mets’ offense has continued to struggle over the past week. 

During the Mets’ winning stretch in the middle of April, it seemed as though everything was clicking; Brett Baty was hitting his stride, Francisco Alvarez was getting timely hits, and the Mets’ offense minus J.D. Martinez was grooving. Now, losing four of their last six games, the Mets’ offense has hit a blockade. Being blanked last night, and not having many opportunities until the ninth inning, the Mets need a breakout game desperately.

This homestand hasn’t been kind to the Mets, and this series with the Cubs especially has been frustrating from a hitting standpoint, only mustering up five runs in three games. However, the Mets’ offense will look to get back on track as they face Cubs’ Ben Brown with Adrian Houser on the bump for New York for a 1:10 p.m. start at Citi Field.

Starling Marte. Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

Francisco Lindor left last night’s game in the third inning due to flu-like symptoms. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said there is a virus going around the clubhouse and caught up to Lindor.

The Mets want the fans input on what the club’s new service dog should be named! The options are Doc (for Doc Gooden), Buddy (for Bud Harrelson), and Mookie (for Mookie Wilson).

Ji-Man Choi declined his opt-out with the Mets and will stay with the organization, per Will Sammon of The Athletic.

The Mets traded Zack Short, who was recently DFA’d, to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations.

Pete Alonso wins Mets hitter of the month. Click here for the other April awards.

Latest MLB News

The MLBPA announced the launch of a new mental health and wellness program for major and minor league players and their families.

After a masterful bee-keeping performance at Chase Field, Matt Hilton signed a deal with Topps. Both base cards and signed editions will be available for the public to purchase.

After being released from his minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, Dominic Smith signed a deal with the Boston Red Sox and was added to the major league roster prior to Wednesday night’s game.

The MLB issued suspensions for the Brewers-Rays brawl this past weekend. For the Brewers, Abner Uribe, Freddy Peralta, and Pat Murphy are suspended for six, five and two games respectively. For the Rays, José Siri is suspended for three games. 

Orioles RHP Grayson Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to April 30th, with right shoulder inflammation. 

Latest on MMO

DJ Stewart continues to rake when it matters most.

Read up on Mets pitching prospect Blade Tidwell.

Check out who MMO handed out the Mets’ monthly superlatives to!

On This Date in Mets History

2022: The Mets DFA Robinson Canó after playing in 168 games spanning three seasons; he also missed 162 games in 2021 due to a PED suspension. 

2021: After trailing 4-2 to the Phillies in the eighth inning, the Mets put together a six-run inning to take the lead. The Mets would hold on to win after a Rhys Hoskins home run was called back due to replay.

1995: Edgardo Alfonzo records the first hit of his major league career.

Birthdays: Jonathan Villar (33), Erasmo Ramírez (34), Joe Crawford (54)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets’ Offensive Woes Continue appeared first on Metsmerized.