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Notable Players

Harrison Bader, Spencer Horwitz, Matt Mervis, Garrett Stubbs, and Dean Kremer are among the major leaguers on the squad. While it lacks high-end MLB performers, there are four players from the Mets organization to follow:

• Robert Stock, 36, who threw five innings for the Mets in 2021, was signed to a minor-league contract by the Mets in November and invited to spring training. He appeared in two games for the Red Sox last year.
• Josh Blum, 22, was a 16th-round draft pick out of the University of Southern California in 2024. He pitched to a 3.41 ERA in 58 innings combined at High-A Brooklyn and Low-A St. Lucie last season.
• Jordan Geber, 26, posted a 3.57 ERA in 35 1/3 innings pitched combined at Triple-A Syracuse and Double-A Binghamton in 2025.
• Ben Simon, 23, struck out 60 in 54 1/3 innings pitched for Binghamton and Brooklyn while pitching to a 2.98 ERA last year.

Notable Coaches

Brad Ausmus, an MLB catcher for 18 years and a former skipper of the Tigers and Angels, will manage. The bullpen coach is Jason Marquis, a 1996 first-round pick of the Braves out of Tottenville High School on Staten Island who had a 15-year MLB career. The bench coach is Kevin Youkilis.

WBC History

Israel qualified for the tournament for the first time when it made that run in 2017, defeating favored South Korea, Chinese Taipei, and the Netherlands in the first round of pool play. Israel stunned Cuba in the first game of second-round pool play before losing twice to be eliminated.

Zeid, who threw 48 1/3 career innings for the Astros, was joined on the 2017 All-Tournament Team by one ex-Met, Carlos Beltran (Puerto Rico), and three future ones: tournament MVP Marcus Stroman (United States), Kodai Senga (Japan), and Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico).

Aside from Davis, other former Mets to play for Team Israel include Josh Satin and Shawn Green.

In 2023, Israel lost three of four pool play games and was eliminated.

Pool

Israel is in Pool D with the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Netherlands, and Nicaragua. Its first game is against Venezuela on March 7 at loanDepot Park in Miami. It would be an upset if Israel makes it out of pool play, but that was also the case in 2017. The oddsmakers have Israel as the fourth-best team in Pool D, ahead of only Nicaragua.

For a ranking of all 20 teams by MMO’s Robert Colonna, click here.

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Position: OF B/T: R/R

Player Data: Age: 31 (6/3/1994)

2025 Traditional Stats: 501 PA, .277/.347/.449/.796, 124 H, 17 HR, 54 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 122 wRC+, 27.1% K%, 7.8% BB%, .359 BABiP, .295 xwOBA, 3.2 fWAR, 3.9 bWAR, 7 DRS (LF), 6 DRS (CF), 0 DRS (RF),  3 OAA (LF), 3 OAA (CF), 0 OAA (RF)

RUNDOWN

Harrison Bader is a familiar face to Mets fans after serving as the team’s center fielder for the 2024 season. Bader has been known more for his glove than his bat throughout his career, earning the center field Gold Glove Award in 2021. He is a career .247/.313/.401/.714 hitter, which is good for a 93 WRC+. He is coming off his best offensive season by far, according to WRC+, and is likely seeking a multi-year deal.

So, did Bader do anything differently this year to lead to his increased offense, or was this largely driven by batted ball luck? Part of this was likely aided by an increase in BABIP in 2024 from .276 to .359 in 2025, but he did make legitimate changes in 2025.

For starters, he increased his bat speed from 71.2 MPH in 2024 to 73.5 MPH in 2025. This helped him increase his hard-hit rate from 36.7% to 42.2%, his barrel rate from 6.4% to 8.3%, and his 90th percentile exit velocity from 103.5 MPH to 106.4 MPH. Put simply, he more consistently hit the ball hard.

He also did this in part by trading contact rates for more power. His zone contact dropped from 85.8% to 79% and his whiff rate went up from 24.5% to 29.0%. He was more aggressive in the zone overall, going from 59.8% to 65.1%, and he chased slightly less at 32.5% compared to 33.6% in 2024. So, while he did have less contact and more swing and miss, he was swinging at more hittable pitches in 2025 and driving them. He hit all pitch types better in 2025 than in 2024, but in particular, he crushed fastballs in 2025, hitting .319 with a .475 SLG compared to a .258 AVG and .432 SLG in 2024.

So, is this sticky? Bader likely will not repeat the slash line he had in 2025 without further changes. He was still in the 37th percentile in hard-hit rate, 49th percentile in barrel rate, and while his 90th percentile exit velocity was in the 70th percentile, his 87.2 MPH average exit velocity was in the 18th percentile, and his 112.3 MPH max exit velocity was in the 61st percentile. He improved over 2024 but was still not putting up top-end power numbers. With these changes, he likely continues to outperform his 2024 stats, but not his 2025.

His center field defensive numbers in 2025 were also a step back from previous years, with him going from the 91st percentile in fielding run value with a fielding run value of 9 in 2024 to the 81st percentile with a fielding run value of 5. His reaction value per Baseball Savant went from -0.5 to -0.8, though his routes value stayed the same at 0.4. His feet covered went from 35.7 to 34.6.

CONTRACT

MLB Trade Rumors predicts Bader will sign a two-year, $26 million contract. Bader will likely look to capitalize on his 2025 season with as much term as he can.

RECOMMENDATION: WORTH CHECKING IN

The Mets are likely in the market for another outfielder after trading away Brandon Nimmo. They could look to sign a big bat and play Carson Benge or Tyrone Taylor in center field, or they could acquire a center fielder and play Carson Benge or left field. They could also acquire both a left fielder and a center fielder.

Bader likely only makes sense if it is a one-year reunion, which Bader likely wants to do better than. He also only makes sense if the Mets believe he is still an everyday center fielder, and if they are bullish on his offensive changes. It is probably unlikely all of these stars align, but it is worth checking in, nonetheless.

The post Free Agent Profile: Harrison Bader, OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Bader, 31, slashed .258/.339/.439 with 12 homers, 38 RBIs and 10 steals in 307 plate appearances for the Twins. He hit .236/.284/.373 with 12 homers, 51 RBIs and 17 steals for the Mets last season.

The Mets have been reportedly interested in adding a center fielder. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com said Thursday on MLB Network that Luis Robert Jr. of the White Sox is “unlikely” to be traded. Chicago is likely to pick up his $20 million option for 2026.

Cedric Mullins of Baltimore is another center fielder rumored to be on the market. Orioles outfielder Ramón Laureano is also reportedly available.

Mendez, 21, of the Dominican Republic, hit .290/.374/.434 with eight homers, 46 RBIs, and six steals with Double-A Reading. He is ranked the 12th-best prospect in the Phillies organization by MLB Pipeline.

Villoria is a 16-year-old right-hander from Venezuela who has struck out 19 in 14 innings pitched in the Dominican Summer League with an ERA of 4.50.

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Player Data: Age: 30 (1/22/1994), B/T: R/R

Traditional Stats: 130 G, 345 PA, .248/.299/.401/.701, 79 H, 7 HR, 35 RBI
Advanced Stats: 98 wRC+, 23.2 K%, 5.5 BB%, .309 BABIP, .304 xwOBA, 1.2 fWAR

2024 Salary: $2,025,000

GRADE: B

2024 REVIEW

On December 20, the New York Mets traded right-handed pitching prospect Coleman Crow to the Milwaukee Brewers for starting pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor. What was once looked at as the “Adrian Houser trade” quickly turned as Houser was DFA’d in late July, and Tyrone was becoming a key cog in the Mets turn-around. Taylor, who was brought in as a fourth outfielder for this Mets club, established himself as one of the most reliable players on the squad.

From the beginning, Tyrone Taylor showed that he could and would be a spark plug for this 2024 Mets team, knocking in the game-winning RBI in the Mets first win of the season over the Tigers. His .288/.306/.441 slash line during the month of April immediately launched him into a semi-regular spot in the lineup, combined with the struggling bat of DJ Stewart. 

Despite seeing a severe downswing at the plate, having a .347 OPS during May, the new Met was so valuable and versatile in the outfield that he was still seeing regular playing time. This only continued to pick up during the summer months when both Harrison Bader and Starling Marte missed time due to injuries of their own. While the Mets were putting together a run with the best record in baseball, Taylor was in the middle of it, playing superb defense at all three outfield spots and playing above league average baseball at the plate.

To finish off his regular season, Tyrone had a scorching hot September where he finished with an impressive .283/.356/.434 line and helping the Mets clinch a playoff spot. While seeing a dip in the postseason, his presence was still felt in the field, making several run-saving grabs and throws throughout the Mets miracle run.

2025 Overview

While the 2024 counting numbers don’t scream that Tyrone is a “must keep” player; when you get a league average bat from a player who logged 5 OAA, a 90.8 percentile arm strength, and 90th percentile sprint speed, the impact truly can’t be measured by basic stats. Tyrone Taylor was as consistent as they come, coming to the ballpark everyday with the ability to play all three outfield spots at a high level and providing a timely bat.

Taylor is still under contract for the 2025 season, however, the extent of his role on the 2025 Mets is still in limbo as of now. The signing of Jose Siri, who is one of the best defensive outfielders in the league, takes Harrison Bader’s spot from last year. With a possible Juan Soto signing, Taylor could see himself entering the season as a fifth outfielder.

But with an aging Starling Marte, and injuries bound to happen to most during a 162-game marathon, Tyrone is the type of player that could come in and provide reliability at the snap of a finger. Tyrone Taylor is a winning player and will continue to have a large impact on the Mets success, no matter the role the club puts him in going forward. 

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Jose Siri spent the 2024 season with the Tampa Bay Rays, and his season played out like two entirely different seasons- the first and second half. Despite some of his struggles, he still accumulated 1.9 WAR, mostly thanks to his Gold Glove-caliber defense. To fully break down his value, we will split his contributions into offense and defense.

John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Offense

Siri had a statistically poor 2024 season, slashing .187/.255/.366 with 18 home runs, 47 RBI and 14 stolen bases for an OPS of .620. One of Siri’s biggest issues is he struck out in 38% of his at-bats, 170 times on the season, to be exact. He struggled against righties, slashing .181/.249/.352 but hit a much better .204/.270/.408 against lefties. Siri only walked 31 times during the season, with 10 of those coming against lefties, against whom he only registered 112 plate appearances.

During the first half of the season, Siri slashed .203/.278/.395 with 12 home runs and nine stolen bases for a 117 OPS+ and a .274 BABIP over 291 plate appearances. The second half saw Siri’s stats fall off a cliff, with a .158/.212/.315 slash with six home runs and five stolen bases for a 69 OPS+ and a .236 BABIP over 157 plate appearances. While he had no documented injuries, something must have changed to see his stats in every major category drop drastically.

Siri hit much better away from Tropicana Field, home of the Rays, in nearly the same amount of games. Some of Siri’s batting average struggles can be attributed to a well-below-average BABIP of .225 at home but a much better .292 away from home. Siri barreled the ball in the 94th percentile but had low exit velocities due to poor contact and an extremely high chase rate, which limited the damage he could unlock. His average exit velocity of 87.5 put him in the 20th percentile. If he can get some luck from the BABIP fairy and use his ability to barrel up the right pitches, he could be in line for a much better season. Like 2023 when he posted a .761 OPS.

In terms of baserunning, Siri uses his 99th percentile Sprint Speed on both sides of the ball, and it allowed him to be in the 89th percentile of baserunning run value. If there is something the 2024 Mets lacked it was overall team speed considering after Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Harrison Bader and Starling Marte, no everyday player posed a threat on the bases.

Despite such a poor 2024 season, Siri is only a season removed from a .222/.267/.494 slash in 2023, 25 home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a .761 OPS. If Siri can place his offense somewhere between the two seasons, it will allow his biggest contribution to shine, which is his…

Brad Rempel – USA TODAY SPORTS

Defense

Siri is a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder who passes both the eye test and advanced metrics. At 29 years old, he is still in his prime and could potentially be the best defensive center fielder the Mets have had since Juan Lagares won the award in 2014.  Siri had a 5.6 UZR/150 and 16 outs above average, which tied him for second most in all of the MLB. Over the last three years, Siri led all of the MLB with 40 OAA.

If the numbers don’t tell the whole tale, you can go down the wormhole and find many highlights on YouTube of Siri going out and getting the ball in center field, using his excellent range to get to balls most center fielders just can’t. Siri was in the 99th percentile of Outs Above Average, 97th percentile of arm strength and 99th percentile of sprint speed, which enables him to get great jumps on balls and even when he may not get the best read, use his speed to make up for any errors.

The majority of Siri’s value comes from his defense and he has played at least 100 games in every season since 2022. If only for his defense, Siri could still put up a close to 2 WAR season as he did in 2024. For what its worth, the Mets 2023 starting center fielder, Harrison Bader put up a 1.3 WAR with a slash of .236/.284/.373, hitting 12 home runs and stealing 17 bases. Siri had a much worse offensive season and was still worth .6 WAR more, thanks to his defense.

Conclusion

Jose Siri is the kind of risk/reward trade that David Stearns rode to success with the Brewers and is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle yet again. In addition to the low cost for obtaining Siri, by trading someone on the 40-man roster, Stearns has also left himself flexibility from a roster construction standpoint.

Lastly, Siri will make $2.3 million dollars for the 2025 season and is under team control until 2028. In a worst-case scenario, Siri becomes a late-inning defensive substitute, but in a best-case scenario can be the Mets everyday center fielder capable of winning a Gold Glove and potentially hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bases, all for the cost of a minor league reliever who may not have factored into the 2025 Mets bullpen.

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Player Data: Age: 30 (06/03/1995), B/T: R/R
Primary Stats: 437 PA, .236/.284/.373/.657, 95 H, 12 HR, 51 RBI
Advanced Stats: 85 wRC+, 21.7 K%, 4.8 BB%, .276 BABIP, .296 xwOBA, 1.3 fWAR
2024 Salary: $10.5 million

Grade: C+

2024 Review

The Mets signed glove-first outfielder Harrison Bader to a one-year, $10.5 million deal last offseason, aiming for a bounce-back season from the veteran. Bader’s offensive ability had been declining alarmingly, with his OPS dropping from a solid .745 in his 2018-2021 campaigns to a below-average .635 across 2022-2023. He was one of several short-term projects David Stearns introduced last offseason, hoping to revive veteran players like Bader.

Bader began the season at a decent pace, hitting .272 with a .682 OPS through the end of May. He was then especiallyproductive in June, driving in 15 runs and starting all but four games that month. His value to the first-half Mets was notable, as he gave New York a respectable .733 OPS before the All-Star break. On July 12, the Mets didn’t know how badly his production would tail off after smashing two moonshots at Coors Field.

Unfortunately, Bader couldn’t sustain much of his first-half success. His OPS in July plummeted to .665, a 151-point drop from his .816 mark in June. As his offensive production slowed, so did the playing time manager Carlos Mendoza gave him. Bader increasingly saw action for his defense rather than his bat. Tyrone Taylor, stronger offensively and comparable in the field, began to edge him out. The Taylor/Bader platoon worked well for New York, with Taylor posting OPS marks of .801, .793, and .790 in June, July, and September, respectively. In August and September, Mendoza started Bader off the bench in 19 of the 50 games he appeared in, over which he slashed a disappointing .165/.228/.296.

This decline carried over into the postseason. With his fall off, the Mets stuck with Taylor despite his rough .162/.296/.216 slash line in the playoffs, signaling their lack of trust in Bader. He continued to get reps late in games as a defensive replacement for an ailing Brandon Nimmo but logged just nine plate appearances, managing only one single.

Despite this, his contributions went beyond the offensive numbers. Anyone who watched Bader patrol center field would understand why New York kept a below-average hitter in the lineup nearly every day. His range in the outfield ranked in the 95th percentile, and he recorded 10 Outs Above Average (OAA) in center. This mark put him in elite company, tying him with Padres newcomer Jackson Merrill for ninth in baseball amongst centerfielders.

2025 Overview

Looking ahead, Bader will reach free agency after signing a short one-year pact with the Mets. With a weak free agent market for 2024-2025, Bader may be considered the best true center fielder available. He’s not exactly young, but he isn’told either. He could land a deal that guarantees him less money for slightly longer, or he might take a gamble on another one-year contract for a bit more. As a Gold-Glove caliber outfielder, he should match what he made last offseason, at the very least.

David Stearns could consider re-signing Bader, as the Mets would need to find a replacement if they don’t want Brandon Nimmo to play a position he’s weaker in. It remains unclear whether Stearns would be inclined to give another deal to a project that didn’t work out well for the Mets, especially compared to other signings like Luis Severino and Sean Manaea.

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Here is a look at which Mets are free agents and what I think the club should try and do.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Pete Alonso

Playoff pumpkin picker Pete Alonso slashed .240/.329/.459/.788, for the lowest OPS of his career. And then he saved the season with a homer in Milwaukee and posted a .999 postseason OPS. He’s 29. Sluggers historically do not age well, and his defense at first. The thing is he led the Mets—and all MLB first basemen—in home runs with 34. David Stearns’ philosophy hasn’t been to spend money on first baseman. But he’s also been the been the most productive player the Mets have had since he debuted in 2019.

Recommendation: Re-sign.

Sean Manaea

Sean Manaea, 32, isn’t a free agent, but we included him because he has a $13.5 million player option that he is likely to decline. He seemed like a new pitcher after deciding to imitate Chris Sale‘s delivery. He loses points for struggling in Game 6 against the Dodgers, but earns them back and then some for getting choked up talking about it after the game. We want players who care, especially if they pitched to a 3.47 ERA.

Recommendation: Re-sign.

Jose Quintana

Jose Quintana (10-10, 3.75 ERA) was brilliant in September with a 0.72 ERA in four starts. He threw 11 scoreless innings in two playoff starts before facing the Dodgers in Game 4, where he was hit hard. But age probably catches up with the 35-year-old and inconsistency lies ahead, as it did at points in his Mets career.

Recommendation: Let walk.

Luis Severino

Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) enjoyed a nice bounce back season after pitching to a 6.65 ERA a year ago with the Yankees. He also took on the important responsibility of monitoring the OMG sign on days he wasn’t pitching. He was OK in his three playoff starts, but his career 4.62 postseason ERA (60.1 innings) is worrisome for a team now looking to make permanent October plans. The Mets could offer him a qualifying offer, too, and get compensation if he signs a long-term deal with another team.

Recommendation: Let walk.

J.D. Martinez

J.D. Martinez hit 16 home runs in 434 at-bats one year after hitting 33 in 432 at-bats for the Dodgers. Red flag. His first career walk-off home run helped turn the tide for the Mets this year, but his performance fell off the map the last couple of months. He was great as a mentor for hitters, but it’s tough to roster a DH in decline.

Recommendation: Let go.

Jesse Winker

Jesse Winker is a player we want on our side. It’s a lot more fun rooting for Winker than against him. He loves this, um, stuff. He may not regain his 2021 All-Star form, but he can be a valuable left-handed bat that is passable in the field.

Recommendation: Re-sign.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Harrison Bader

Harrison Bader provided energy before it was cool in 2024. His .236/.284/.373 slash line is replaceable, but he plays a great center field. This one is tough, because he played a reserve outfield role well. But the Mets also have Tyrone Taylor, and Bader could still command a decent one-year salary.

Recommendation: See how the market plays out.

Phil Maton

Phil Maton (2-1, 2.51 ERA with New York) was a solid midseason acquisition from Tampa Bay, but gave up runs in four of his six playoff outings. He isn’t a free agent, but the Mets have a team option to keep him for $7.75 million. That price might be too steep for a middle reliever, especially as Stearns works to build a bullpen his way.

Recommendation: Let go.

Ryne Stanek

Ryne Stanek (1-0, 6.06 ERA with New York) was a midseason pickup from Seattle who performed well overall in the playoffs (3.38 ERA, eight innings, eight strikeouts, three walks) after a rocky regular season. He showed up in big moments, and when his stuff is on, he can mow down Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.

Recommendation: Re-sign.

Jose Iglesias

Jose Iglesias, aka Candelita, finished the season on a 22-game hitting streak with a .337 batting average. He showed a slick glove and quick hands in the field, too. But the emergence of Luisangel Acuña and existence of Ronny Mauricio makes it hard to find him a role. He seemed happy that was able to show he still has it. He’ll remain a Mets Legend for life. But he deserve a good MLB deal. That might not be with the Mets.

Recommendation: Let go.

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Here is what the potential roster will look like for the Mets when they head over to the West Coast:

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Starters & Bench (13)

1. Francisco Alvarez
2. Pete Alonso
3. Jose Iglesias
4. Francisco Lindor
5. Mark Vientos
6. Brandon Nimmo
7. Harrison Bader
8. Starling Marte
9. Luis Torrens
10. J.D. Martinez
11. Tyrone Taylor
12. Jeff McNeil
13. Jesse Winker

The biggest change that we could theoretically see among the position players is McNeil replacing Luisangel Acuña. While Acuña had some big moments for the Mets at the end of the regular season, McNeil was able to find his stride before injuring his wrist in early September, and given that he is a veteran, it’s more than likely that he will replace the rookie. McNeil is also able to provide another much-needed left-handed bat either off the bench or in the starting lineup given the potential match-ups the Mets may have to contend with.

Rotation (4)

1. Luis Severino
2. Sean Manaea
3. Jose Quintana
4. Kodai Senga

No surprises here. After the Mets made Senga the Game One starter in the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, he returns for the NLCS with another potential series-opening start looming. His pitch limit is unknown, but it’s reasonable to expect him to go for about two innings like he did in Philadelphia. Manaea, Severino and Quintana will all be well-rested for their turns in the rotation, and it remains to be seen how the team will line up their outings.

Bullpen (9)

1. Edwin Díaz
2. David Peterson
3. Tylor Megill
4. Phil Maton
5. Ryne Stanek
6. Reed Garrett
7. Jose Buttó
8. Adam Ottavino
9. Danny Young

There are no changes here, but McNeil could replace either Ottavino or Young if the Mets opt to keep Acuña around for his glove and base-running. Both pitchers have been a part of the roster for the entirety of the postseason up to this point, though neither has made an appearance.

Peterson has been incredible coming out of the bullpen, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings across three games after thriving in the rotation all season. Another major contributor for the Mets bullpen has been Stanek, who has only given up two hits in 4 1/3 innings. Manager Carlos Mendoza has received excellent starting pitching thus far, and he will have a fully-rested bullpen at his disposal for the first time in the playoffs once Game One rolls around.

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Jeff McNeil will play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions on Friday and Saturday the Mets say. Though, they’re still awaiting official approval from the commissioner’s office. The Friday game starts at 4:30 p.m. ET, and Saturday is at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Mets want to see how McNeil responds to playing in back-to-back games before potentially adding him to a National League Championship Series roster if they get that far. The NLCS begins on Sunday, with the series starting in California regardless of what team wins between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. McNeil has been out since early September with a wrist fracture.

The Scottsdale Scorpions had their season opener on Tuesday night, with four Mets prospects getting in the action.

• SS Jett Williams 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, R
• RF Drew Gilbert 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, R
• 3B Jacob Reimer 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
• RHP Saul García 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K

The Scorpions are back in action on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET. You can watch all the games for free on MLB dot com.

Updated Post, 10/8/24

Jeff McNeil is ramping up to potentially return to game action with the Mets this year after suffering a wrist fracture in September. He was seen taking batting practice at Citi Field on Monday, and now it’s announced the team will petition to have him take part in Arizona Fall League games to face live pitching before a potential return. He’d join Jett Williams, Drew Gilbert and other Mets prospects in games.

Original Post, 10/7/24

Jeff McNeil was spotted on Monday taking batting practice at the Mets’ optional workout at Citi Field ahead of the NLDS Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He has been out since September 7 due to a wrist fracture, and while McNeil won’t join the roster during this round if the Mets can move on to the National League Championship Series, they may see McNeil back on the field.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

As far as depth goes for the Mets, Jesse Winker is the only left-handed bat on the roster coming off the bench in the Philadelphia series. McNeil’s hypothetical return would provide the team with more versatility if they advance. Jose Iglesias continues to be a catalyst for the Mets not just on the field but in the clubhouse, and given Harrison Bader‘s recent struggles at the plate, McNeil may be a great option for the Mets’ outfield.

McNeil got off to a great start after the All-Star break, slashing .289/.376/.547/.923 in 41 games, completely redefining his season and possibly his future with the Mets. In a perfect world, the Mets defeat a tough Phillies team and get McNeil back in the lineup, but that vision will be put on hold as the Mets look to reclaim momentum on Tuesday night at Citi Field.

Spooky Season is Upon Us

While speaking to the press during Monday’s off day, manager Carlos Mendoza noted that RHP Kodai Senga has been progressing well after his start on Saturday. If all continues well, the ghost fork thrower would likely start a potential Game 5. Senga, who only appeared in one game for the Mets in 2024, exiting with a calf strain, pitched two innings in Game 1 in Philadelphia. A surprise start, he gave up a leadoff homer to Kyle Schwarber but breezed through the rest of his batters. He struck out three batters and tossed 31 pitches. If he were to start Game 5, the Mets would likely cap his innings again, possibly at three or four.

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Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Mets Offense Nonexistent Again

An offense with the talent on paper that the Mets have should not be getting shut out in a game like this. But they did, and they were punchless. Against a bullpen game from the Brewers, the Mets only mustered up two hits and only drew one walk. They were 0-for-5 with RISP. The Mets had two opportunities with a runner on second and nobody out but did not score. In the 2nd inning, Pete Alonso reached second on a throwing error by Brewers shortstop Willy Adames. However, Starling Marte lined out to third, Luis Torrens flew out to right field, and Harrison Bader struck out. Marte led off the top of the 5th with a ground-rule double; but Torrens, Bader, and Luisangel Acuña could not drive him in. 

Jose Quintana Falters In The 4th Inning

After Luis Severino and Sean Manaea struggled the last two games, Jose Quintana had to give the Mets some quality pitching to give them a chance. Things looked alright for Quintana through three innings, but it all unraveled in the 4th. After a 1-out single by Adames, Quintana walked Rhys Hoskins, struck out Gary Sánchez, and walked Isaac Collins. With the bases loaded for Joey Ortiz, Quintana gave up a base hit into centerfield on a 3-2 curveball to score two Brewers runs. Two walks hurt Quintana and the inning took a lot out of him.

In the 5th, after a double by Jackson Chourio and a sacrifice bunt by Garrett Mitchell, manager Carlos Mendoza took out Quintana for Phil Maton. Quintana went 4 1/3 with 5 hits, allowing 2 earned runs, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts. For the fourth consecutive game, the Mets starting pitching did not get past the 5th inning. 

Player Of The Game: Phil Maton

With the Mets down 2-0 and relieving for Quintana, Maton had 4 strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings of work to keep the Mets in the game.

On Deck

The Mets will send David Peterson to the mound on Sunday. The Brewers have yet to announce a starter. The game will be telecast locally on SNY at 3:10 p.m. EDT and broadcast on Audacy 880. 

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