In return, the White Sox will receive Kyle Teel (MLB.com’s No. 25), Braden Montgomery (MLB.com’s No. 54), Chase Meidroth (Boston’s No. 11), and RHP Wikelman Gonzalez (Boston’s No. 14), according to Ken Rosenthal of the Atheltic. Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe first reported Teel’s involvement in the trade. The deal is in the medical phase and is not official.

Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Crochet was one of the game’s best pitchers last season when moved to the rotation. He pitched to a 3.58 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, 12.9 K/9, and recorded 209 strikeouts in 146 innings as a starter.

As a result, Crochet was one of the hottest names at the trade deadline. The White Sox, however, ultimately decided to hold Crochet due to multiple factors, which included Crochet stating he wouldn’t pitch in October unless extended.

The move is a massive get for the Red Sox. John Henry and Co. missed out on Juan Soto and Max Fried to both New York franchises, but punches back by acquiring a 25-year-old ace with two full seasons of control.

Meanwhile, the deal spells a pivot for the Mets. The organization was linked to Crochet over the coming days, but now have to look elsewhere for starting pitching.

The post BREAKING: Garrett Crochet Traded to Red Sox appeared first on Metsmerized.

After battling for the services of perennial All-Star Juan Soto, both New York baseball teams have set their sights on White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet, according to a report from Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Crochet, a 25-year-old southpaw, went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts over 146 innings in 2024. He earned his first All-Star team selection and has two more seasons of team control. The former reliever became a full-time starter in 2024 and has a lifetime 3.29 ERA across 219 innings pitched. He missed the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Mets starting rotation currently consists of Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Frankie Montas, Clay Holmes, and Paul Blackburn. All five have endured injuries during their careers, so the Mets, despite the addition of Soto, must improve their pitching to overtake the Dodgers in the National League in 2025.

Coming off a historically horrific 41-121 campaign in 2024, with only one more win than the 1962 Mets, the White Sox are eager to build their roster with young, cost-controlled, major league-ready talent. Rosenthal and Sammon list Luisangel Acuña, Brett Baty and Jett Williams as a few names that may spark intrigue for Chicago.

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The Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the race for Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. Baltimore, armed with a top-tier farm system, is seen as a strong contender, while Boston and the Dodgers also eye the All-Star lefty to bolster their rotations.

Crochet’s breakout 2024 season, featuring 209 strikeouts in 146 innings, has made him a top trade target. With Chicago seeking position-player talent to boost its offense, a major deal seems on the horizon.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Photo Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

MMO Editor-In-Chief Mike Mayer reports that Jared Faust has left the Mets organization to take a job in the NBA office as director of basketball strategy and analytics. Faust had been with the Mets since 2019, and his most recent role was manager of research and development in the analytics department.

The Blue Jays are eyeing Luis Severino and have also shown interest in Max Fried, Anthony Santander, Alex Bregman and Juan Soto, per Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith. CEO Mark Shapiro expects the 2025 payroll to match 2024 levels. For more, check out Mathias Altman-Kurosaki’s piece on the story.

Latest MLB News

Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media writes that infielder José Devers has agreed to a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. The cousin of Rafael Devers, José was a member of the Marlins organization for the past six seasons, appearing in 24 MLB games where he posted a .611 OPS.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang grades the 2024 season for Mets president of baseball operations and general manager David Stearns.

On This Date In Mets History

Born On This Date: Pedro Martínez (1968), Howard Johnson (1960), Rick Anderson (1953)

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So, with all that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest needs the Mets have this offseason, ranking them in order of most importance.

Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

1. Starting Pitching

As we enter the offseason, there are a bevy of question marks surrounding the starting rotation for the 2025 season. Both Sean Manaea and Luis Severino are free agents after rejecting their qualifying offers. Jose Quintana is also hitting the open market. Kodai Senga was unable to stay healthy in 2024, And, as good as he was last year, David Peterson isn’t a top-of-the-rotation arm.

Therefore, the Mets have some vacancies to fill in their rotation. And, as the old adage goes, you can’t win in baseball without good starting pitching. As such, the front office need to aggressively pursue at least two top of the market arms. Corbin Burnes would be the obvious candidate, but he will likely command a long-term contract. That could be risky for a pitcher who is 30-years-old. Another great top market option would be Blake Snell, who might be available on a shorter-term deal based off how he handled free agency previously.

Looking outside of free agency, the Mets could look to trade for a young stud like White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. The left-handed pitcher posted a 3.58 ERA with 200 strikeouts in 146 innings in 2024; his first full season as a starter in the bigs. Crochet is a stud on the mound, one who will make just $3 million in 2025 through arbitration. He’s under team control through the 2026 season. Plus, Crochet has indicated that he would be willing to sign a long-term contract with a new team. However, the White Sox are looking for position prospects in return and it remains to be seen if the Mets would be willing to give up high-ranking members of their farm system.

Either way, the fact remains that the Mets need to add two or three impact arms to their starting rotation this winter. Given how crucial pitching is, coupled with the holes in that rotation, going out and signing frontend starters should be the main priority for New York.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

2. Bring Back Sean Manaea

Okay, so this is still related to starting pitching. But, given how important he was last year for the Mets, he deserves his own section. The veteran authored a fine comeback year in Queens in 2024, emerging as the team’s best and most reliable starter. He went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA to go along with 184 strikeouts across 181 2/3 innings. As a result, Manaea finished 11th in Cy Young voting. Having predictably turned down his option, Manaea is now a free agent and will no doubt have offers.

However, given the current state of the rotation, the Mets need to do all they can to bring back Manaea on a multi-year deal. Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill, and even Kodai Senga are all question marks at this point. David Peterson was lights out in 2024, but he’s more of a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Manaea would automatically become the team’s second or third starter, depending on who else the Mets go after in free agency. A top two of either Corbin Burnes/Blake Snell and Manaea would be a clear upgrade on what the Mets had at the top of the rotation last year. Manaea proved in 2024 that he can be a reliable frontend arm, and he’s earned the right to pitch in Queens for the next few years.

Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

3. Juan Soto

This is an obvious one. You can read a deep dive on the prized free agent here. And it is true. If this team wants to take the next giant leap to true contender status in 2025, getting Soto on the roster would help make that goal a heck of a lot more attainable. The 26-year-old is a true generational hitter and he would give the Mets a legit  star to pair with Francisco Lindor.

Soto would become the Mets’ version of Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. He is the modern-day version of Ted Williams, and is in the prime of his career. By shelling out the mega-bucks on a marquee box office star like Soto, New York would be making it clear it intends to compete for multiple World Series titles over the next decade-plus.

The time is now for this franchise to sign their own superstar. Soto ticks all the boxes, and his arrival in Queens would be a true game-changer for this organization on and off the field.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

4. The Corner Infield Spots

Do the Mets keep Pete Alonso? Or does the slugger opt to go elsewhere? That’s one of the most pressing questions facing the Mets’ front office this winter. The answer to that question will also have a slew of ramifications on everything else the team decides to do this offseason.

For instance, if Alonso does return, then the Mets will stand pat at the corner infield spots heading into the 2025 season. However, if Alonso opts to sign elsewhere, Mark Vientos would seemingly shift over to first base. That would open up a spot at third base. Could the front office afford to sign Juan Soto, two-to-three starters and Alex Bregman to be their new third baseman? Or would a trade for Nolan Arenado be the better option? The Cardinals are thought to be willing to move Arenado, who is an absolutely defensive wizard at the hot corner.

There is no doubt that the Mets would be a better team defensively with Arenado at third. And, although he had a down year offensively last season, he still hit 26 home runs and 26 doubles as recently as the 2023 season. Granted, most Mets fans would love to see Alonso back in a Mets uniform next year and beyond. But, given that the four-time All-Star doesn’t really offer a whole lot outside of power and home runs, the front office may decide to move on in order to strengthen other areas of the team.

No matter how you slice it, though, the Mets have a major decision to make when it comes to Alonso. His return, or non-return, will impact how this roster looks in 2025 in a big way.

Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

5. Add Depth

One of the biggest differences between the Mets and the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series was lineup depth. L.A. boasted a longer and more dangerous lineup, advancing as a result. The Mets certainly need to lengthen their lineup this offseason. However, the overall lack of depth across the entire roster needs addressing. Urgently.

Firstly, the outfield needs bolstering. As it stands, Brandon Nimmo is the only everyday player. Starling Marte hasn’t been able to stay healthy the past couple of years, and he isn’t exactly getting any younger, either. Tyrone Taylor had a terrific year in a fourth outfielder role, but is not exactly an everyday player. However, the recent addition of Jose Siri from the Rays, does give the Mets an elite defensive tandem out in center field. Of course, landing Juan Soto would obviously solve the everyday problem in right field, giving New York elite quality and depth in the outfield.

Secondly, this team will need more impact bats. Even if Soto signs, the Mets could do with a big bat to pair for either the designated hitter spot, if Pete Alonso doesn’t return, or at the other corner infield spot. They will also need to figure out the bottom of the lineup given that both Jose Iglesias and Jesse Winker are free agents. Furthermore, the starting rotation needs filling out, as already mentioned, and the bullpen is in need of some high-leverage arms to slot in behind Edwin Díaz.

If the Mets want to compete in 2025, they will need to sign some high-value players in order to fill out the roster in addition to going big-fish hunting for the likes of Juan Soto.

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While the hot stove is currently buried in 10 feet of snow, MLB has announced some news regarding 2025 Opening Day. On March 27, which will be MLB Opening Day, ESPN will have extra coverage, as they’ll be showcasing a doubleheader to kick off the season. The two World Series representatives will be in action; the first game will be the Milwaukee Brewers taking on the New York Yankees in the Bronx at 3 p.m., while the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Detroit Tigers in Chavez Ravine at 7 p.m.

Oct 26, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the 2024 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets ranked 28th in farm system hitting rankings, based on data from all leagues and levels, per Dylan White of Baseball America.

Keith Hernandez‘s longtime beloved cat Hadji passed away last week at the age of 22, the ’86 World Series champion announced on twitter.

Latest MLB News

Now-former Blue Jays assistant major league hitting coach Matt Hague is accepting a job as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ hitting coach, per Scott Mitchell of TSN Sports. 

The All-MLB Team Awards Show will be happening on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET on MLB Network. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates are signing Brent Strom as an assistant pitching coach, per Noah Hiles of The Pittsburgh Gazette. 

Diamond Sports Group, owner of Bally Sports, have agreed to a multi-year deal with Amazon Prime Video, per Evan Drellich of The Athletic. However, this does not mean you can watch your local team, as you will have to buy an additional add-on to do so.

Latest on MMO

Take a look at a possible infield addition for the Mets, Willy Adames.

MMO gave Mets backup catcher Luis Torrens a grade for his 2024 season.

Could the Mets look to add another southpaw to their rotation? Get to know Garret Crochet!

On This Date in Mets History

2018: Jacob deGrom receives 29 of 30 first place votes en route to his first Cy Young Award. DeGrom finished the season with a 1.70 ERA and a 218 ERA+.

2012: R.A. Dickey becomes the third different Met to win the Cy Young Award. Dickey became the first knuckleballer to earn the award, while tallying 20 wins and a 2.73 ERA in his award-winning season.

1986: Nelson Doubleday and Fred Wilpon purchase the Mets from Doubleday & Co. for $80.75 million, splitting the franchise at 50% apiece.

Born On This Date: Francisco Lindor (1993), Akeel Morris (1992) Joely Rodríguez (1991), Xavier Nady (1978), Tim Hamulack (1976), Darrell Sutherland (1941), Jim Piersall (1929).

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2024 Traditional Stats: 32 G, 146.0 IP, 6-12, 3.58 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, 209 SO, 33 BB
2024 Advanced Stats: 115 ERA+, 35.1% SO%, 5.6% BB%, 2.83 xERA, 2.69 FIP, 2.38 xFIP, 4.7 fWAR, 4.1 bWAR

Photo Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

RUNDOWN

The New York Mets need an ace. And Garrett Crochet could be had for the right price.

A breakout star in 2024, Crochet was arguably the American League’s best pitcher not named Tarik Skubal.

The White Sox, fresh off a historically bad season, seem more interested in trading Crochet for position players than locking him up long-term. This presents a golden opportunity for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who’s facing the potential departures of key rotation cogs like Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana.

Crochet, a former first-round pick from Tennessee, could be the perfect solution.

Called up to the big leagues in the same year he was drafted (2020), Crochet joined the bullpen to support the White Sox’s playoff push during the shortened season. It didn’t take long for the former No. 11 overall pick to shine in relief, as he posted a 2.82 ERA with a dominant 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 2021.

Quickly establishing himself as one of the more dominant left-handed relievers in the game, Crochet’s early success hit a snag. He missed the entire 2022 season and most of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery. The White Sox then moved him to the rotation in 2024, where he’s thrived.

Crochet has emerged as a perennial Cy Young contender with a 3.58 ERA and a ridiculous 35.1% strikeout rate.

Despite his lack of experience as a starter, Crochet has lined himself up to be one of the more dominant pitchers in the game. Entering his second year of arbitration, Crochet is expected to only command a figure of $2.9 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. And with two years of team control remaining, he’s an incredibly attractive trade target for any team — especially the Mets — seeking a young, elite left-handed starter. Crochet is also reportedly open to an extension with the team that acquires him.

PACKAGE

Crochet’s potential trade value is sky-high.

With two years of control remaining, the White Sox can demand a significant return for Crochet. However, the Mets, backed by deep pockets and a farm system rich in promising position players, are in a prime position to put together a strong bid.

• Drew Gilbert
• Luisangel Acuña
• Nick Morabito
• Christian Scott

RECOMMENDATION

Acquiring a pitcher like Garrett Crochet does not come around these parts often. The last time the Mets acquired an ace in his prime was in 2008 when they sent a package of promising prospects for some left-handed pitcher named Johan Santana.

It goes without saying that Crochet won’t come cheap. A trade for him would likely cost the Mets some promising young talent like the names mentioned above. But this is Stearns’ chance to acquire an ace without breaking the bank on a free agent like Corbin Burnes, who’s shown signs of decline. He’s not hard-pressed for cash, but it’s against his DNA to give guys like Burnes a contract of that magnitude. And someone like Crochet won’t hit the open market. If the Mets don’t trade for him, someone else will.

Instead, Stearns can trade for a young, controllable pitcher. While he might be sacrificing the promising prospects he inherited in the farm system, we know he’s plenty capable of cultivating a strong farm system when given the chance.

That said, the Mets should absolutely do whatever it takes to land Crochet, especially given that they’re dealing with the White Sox front office.

The post MMO Trade Profile: Garrett Crochet, LHP appeared first on Metsmerized.

They had the lowest win percentage (41-121) in major league history, and were one loss away from tying the 1962 Mets for the lowest win total ever.

But, despite the historically bad season, the White Sox had one bright spot. Converted starter Garrett Crochet. The left-hander was fast-tracked to the majors in 2020 as a 21-year-old and put up dominant seasons out of the bullpen. In three seasons, he pitched to a 2.71 ERA in 73 innings with 85 strikeouts.

Jun 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet (45) delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The success continued in the rotation, where Crochet proved he could withstand a higher workload. The lefty made 32 starts, pitching to a 3.58 ERA while registering a 2.69 FIP, 1.068 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9.

It was electric. And while he was retained during the trade deadline due to his demands for an extension before throwing a pitch in the postseason, Crochet is back on the trade block. And the Mets are listed as a top team to make a push for him.

It’ll take a haul to acquire the 25-year-old from the White Sox. But White Sox General Manager Chris Getz is not opposed to moving his ace, and laid out what it’ll take for other teams.

“We are focusing on position player return,” Getz said, as reported by 670 The Score. “That is our primary focus in any trade talks. The right players have to be there. We can’t force anything. We certainly need to improve our offense. That is very clear. That is what we need to do in any trade or free-agent acquisition.”

The Mets are among the Red Sox and Padres as serious inquirers for the ace, and have an abundance of major league ready position player prospects to move.

Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna, and Brett Baty are all former top-100 prospects as of last season who didn’t have a home in the Mets infield. And with Francisco Lindor at shortstop for the longterm and the emergence of Mark Vientos, all three are moveable.

Whether or not the Crochet talks advance will be seen. David Stearns stated earlier this offseason that the club would be involved in the trade market, and all the Mets infield prospects on the top-15 list on MLB.com were drafted by previous front offices.

Stearns has also been aggressive on the trade market in the past. The GM traded multiple names for Christian Yelich prior to the 2018 season, which resulted in an NLCS appearance against the Dodgers and an MVP award for the left-fielder in a Brewers uniform.

The deciding factor, however, will be the White Sox, as well as the other teams involved in trade talks. The White Sox still hold two years of control over the lefty, and moving him has to come at the right price.

“You want to get the highest return for your club,” Getz said. “Some organizations’ top talent is much different than others. We have spent a lot of time and resources studying other teams’ farm systems. Garrett had an outstanding year, so as much as other teams are interested, I can also see him making an Opening Day start for us as well.”

The Red Sox have a bevy of top-position prospects coming up. Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel, Kristian Campbell, and Roman Anthony are the top four guys in the Red Sox system and are all in Triple-A. The only guy known to be unavailable in a trade, however, is Anthony.

If the Mets were to pull the trigger on Crochet, it would instantly boost a rotation with many question marks heading into 2025. It would provide the Mets an ace that eluded them in 2024 and for years to come.

“Teams that are trying to acquire Crochet know that he will sign an extension,” Jeff Passan reported on Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney.

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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.

Manaea was exceptional on the mound, throwing 96 pitches over his seven innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five. This outing marked the fifth time in his last seven starts that he has gone seven innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.35. Manaea also showcased his defensive skills by picking off Lenyn Sosa at first base in the bottom of the fourth inning, recording his third pickoff of the season.

Throughout the afternoon, Manaea recorded nine outs with three pitches or fewer and 16 of 24 pitches were first pitch strikes and also threw a career-high 64 sinkers. Supporting Manaea, Luis Torrens caught Luis Robert Jr. attempting to steal second in the bottom of the seventh, bringing his season total to 12 runners caught stealing out of 20 attempts.

Francisco Lindor. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Crochet started for the White Sox and was solid on the mound until the top of the fourth. Francisco Lindor continued his MVP-caliber season by blasting his 29th home run off Crochet, providing the Mets with their first run of the game. Lindor extended his on-base streak to 30 games and his hitting streak to 12 games. In the top of the ninth, Pablo Reyes made his debut for the Mets as a pinch-runner for J.D. Martinez and was driven in by a Starling Marte double, extending the lead to 2-0.

Reed Garrett would come in relief for Manaea and would pitch a scoreless frame with a strikeout in the eighth and that would allow Edwin Díaz to come in and seal the deal by striking out the side in the ninth for his 16th save of the season.

Statistc of the Game: Luis Torrens

Since coming to the Mets in a trade with the Yankees, Luis Torrens has been close to the perfect backup catcher. Torrens threw out Luis Robert Jr. and has gone 12-for-20 in runners caught stealing, which turns to a 60% success rate, far better than the major league average of 30%.

Player of The Game: Sean Manaea

Sean Manaea’s performance today added to his already exceptional summer, as he threw 96 pitches over his seven innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out five to help the Mets shut out and sweep the White Sox. This is the fifth time in his last seven starts that he has gone seven innings and is 4-1 in his prior seven starts with an ERA of 2.42.

On Deck

The Mets head back to Citi Field to take on the Boston Red Sox. Luis Severino (9-6, 3.96 ERA) toes the slab for the Mets while Brayan Bello (12-6, 4.66 ERA) starts for the Red Sox. First pitch is at 7:10 pm ET and will be broadcast on SNY and on Mets Radio 880 AM.

The post Behind Sean Manaea’s Gem, Mets Sweep White Sox appeared first on Metsmerized.

It’s September! The New York Mets are playing meaningful September baseball. On this September 1, the Mets will go for the sweep in Chicago and their fourth win a row.

Saturday was a great day for the Mets. They picked up the win and all three teams they are chasing lost. Entering play today, the Mets are only two games out of the last wild card spot and four games out of the first spot.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Jose Iglesias, 2B
3. Mark Vientos, 3B
4. Pete Alonso, 1B
5. Tyrone Taylor, LF
6. J.D. Martinez, DH
7. Starling Marte, RF
8. Luis Torrens, C
9. Harrison Bader, CF

Sean Manaea looks to drop the hammer for the sweep this afternoon. Over 143 2/3 innings, Manaea has a 3.51 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.142 WHIP, and a 113 ERA+. Manaea has allowed exactly three runs in each of his last four starts. In his last three starts, he has paired that with pitching at least 6 2/3 innings. Since July 30, Manaea has a 2.87 ERA, 2.64 FIP.

The White Sox have the following career numbers against Manaea:

• Andrew Benintendi 4-12, 2 BB, K
• Nicky Lopez 2-7, K
• Luis Robert Jr. 2-4, HR
• Miguel Vargas 0-7, 3 K
• Andrew Vaughn 1-4, 2B, K

Sean Manaea. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

White Sox Lineup

1. Corey Julks, LF
2. Luis Robert Jr., CF
3. Lenyn Sosa, 2B
4. Andrew Vaughn, DH
5. Gavin Sheets, 1B
6. Miguel Vargas, 2B
7. Dominic Fletcher, RF
8. Chuckie Robinson, C
9. Jacob Amaya, SS

The Mets bats will face off today against one of the surprising players to not be moved at the deadline; Garrett Crochet. Crochet wanted guarantees about his workload in a trade. He didn’t want to get bumped to the bullpen, and he wanted an extension before pitching in the postseason. The White Sox have started to ramp down his work load recently so he can finish the entire season as a starter.

Over 27 games, he has pitched 128 2/3 innings with a 3.64 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 1.073 WHIP, and a 116 ERA+. Since July 23, Crochet has pitched 21 1/3 innings spread over six starts with a 6.75 ERA and a 5.14 FIP.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Crochet:

• José Iglesias 1-2
• Francisco Lindor 0-1
• Starling Marte 0-2
• Luis Torrens 0-1, K
• Jesse Winker 1-1

Game Notes

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Mets announced their roster expansion call-ups. LHP Alex Young was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and they’ve selected the contract of INF Pablo Reyes also from Triple-A Syracuse.

The Mets’ right-handed pitching prospect Jonah Tong has been officially promoted to Double-A Binghamton. The 21-year-old has a 3.04 ERA and 145 strikeouts across 103 2/3 innings this season.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Crochet Today: Crochet is coming off of a bizarre start, in terms on how it looks on websites like Baseball Reference. On August 27 he is credited for the start, with no outs recorded and no batters faced, and no pitches recorded. In reality, he tossed four pitches before a rain delay knocked him out. So, essentially, he warmed up and then didn’t make the start. Does he go deeper today because of that? He had a month long decrease in pitches per start, getting down to the 50s before his last start.
2. Jesse Winker: Winker has been on an absolute tear this weekend. Saturday, he completed his second straight game of at least three hits. In his last three games, he has gone 8-for-11 with a double and a homer. The Mets have also faced right-handed pitching his last three games. So, the Mets have a red-hot platoon hitter going against a left-handed starter today on some sort of pitch count. How does manager Carlos Mendoza play this?
3. Pete Alonso: Hidden behind the Mets successful week has been Pete Alonso. He has homered three times in his last three games, posting a small-sample size .619 SLG compared to a not so great .217 OBP. The Mets have won all three games that Alonso has homered in. Two of those games the Mets won by two runs or less.

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