The 27-year old was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round back in 2017 has been with the club since. Over the course of his four big-league seasons Melendez has slashed .215/.297/.388 (.685 OPS).

Melendez missed time in 2024 with a left ankle sprain and in 2025 split the season between the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers and the Royals. He played in just 23 big league games, slashing .083/.154/.167 (.321 OPS). Though he did not have a great 2025 at the major-league level, he had 15-plus home runs in every season before 2025.

With Triple-A Omaha last season Melendez was quite strong. He posted a .261 average with a .813 OPS. He hit 33 doubles, 20 home runs, and drove in 64 runs through 107 games in the International league. He also stole 20 bases clinching a 20-20 season in Triple-A.

Melendez has been quite versatile in the field throughout his major league career. He has played 307 games in the outfield (left and right field), 88 at catcher, and two at first base. Melendez has a very strong arm (93rd percentile in arm strength in 2024 according to Baseball Savant), however, his range and play in the field otherwise has been quite troublesome. Melendez posted a negative-21 fielding run value at catcher back in 2022. In the outfield, he posted a negative-seven outs above average in 2023 and negative-six in 2024.

Melendez played with Criollos de Caguas this past winter and is participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he will play for Team Puerto Rico. He struggled in winter ball, posting a .477 OPS across 55 at-bats and 15 games.

The post Report: Mets Agree To Deal With MJ Melendez appeared first on Metsmerized.

Position: SP B/T: L/L

Age: 28 (08/19/1997)

2025 Traditional Stats: 20 G, 116.1 IP, 2.55 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, 116 SO, 39 BB

2025 Advanced Stats: 161 ERA+, 24.4 K%, 8.2 BB%, 3.15 xERA, 2.89 FIP, 3.63 xFIP, 3.3 fWAR, 3.1 bWAR

While the Kansas City Royals are coming off back-to-back winning seasons and have the best shortstop in baseball under contract for another five years, they still need offense. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that over the last two seasons the only Royal outside of Bobby Witt Jr. to post an OPS beginning with an eight was Maikel Garcia, who finished 2025 with exactly an .800 OPS.

With the Royals boasting four strong arms (Ragans, Lugo, Wacha, Cameron) all under contract for at least two more seasons, plus several young pitchers vying for the fifth spot, they have room to trade from their surplus of rotation options. Enter: Kris Bubic, who sits just one year away from free agency.

Early Career

Kris Bubic’s career thus far has been anything but linear. Originally a Royals 2018 first-round pick out of Stanford, Bubic broke out during his first full season as a professional in 2019. After dominating the South Atlantic League for a couple of months, he continued to excel following a promotion to High-A over the remainder of the season. Overall, he pitched to a 2.23 ERA with a 0.971 WHIP and 185 strikeouts over 149 and ⅓ innings pitched and began gaining momentum on top-prospect boards. 

Unfortunately for Bubic, that momentum was short-lived. Bubic earned a spot in the rotation during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and over the following three seasons compiled a 4.89 ERA and 1.541 WHIP over 309 innings. However, and stop me if you’ve heard this before, after getting off to a solid start in 2023, the lefty underwent Tommy John surgery ending his season. 

Current Run

Making his return in early July 2024, Bubic was pitching like a changed man in both performance and his usage. Coming out of the bullpen full-time for the first time in his career, the lefty excelled over the remaining three months of the season. Across 30 1/3 innings, Bubic had a 2.67 ERA, 1.022 WHIP, and a 11.6 K/9 rate. 

Leveraging his newfound success into the 2025 starting rotation, Bubic did not disappoint. In his first All-Star campaign, Bubic delivered a 2.48 ERA, 1.160 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 rate across 18 first-half outings. Unfortunately, after just his second start following the All-Star break, he suffered a rotator cuff strain and was forced to miss the remainder of the season. 

While his injury history will naturally concern potential trade partners, Bubic did demonstrated that his breakout was legitimate. In 2025, he ranked in the 70th percentile or better in several key metrics:

• xERA (84th)
• xBA (73rd)
• Avg Exit Velo (87th)
• Chase % (89th)
• Whiff % (76th)
• Barrel % (78th)
• GB % (71st)
• Extension (85th)

One aspect that may be particularly appealing to the Mets is Bubic’s ability to work deep into games. Of his 20 starts in 2025, he completed at least six innings 11 times, and notably completed the seventh inning in six of those outings. Given the Mets’ bullpen struggles late in 2025, much of which stemmed from starters consistently failing to pitch past the fifth inning, this skill set carries added value.

To put that into perspective, outside of workhorse David Peterson, the Mets received just 15 starts from their projected rotation members in 2025 (Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, and Frankie Montas), where they finished the sixth inning. Even more concerning, only two of those starts (both from Holmes) occurred after June 8. 

Trade Package

So what does Bubic’s trade value look like right now? His 2025 performance is undoubtedly the biggest selling point. However, his injury history and single remaining year of control significantly cap the type of return he’s likely to command. Additionally, as impressive as his 2025 campaign was, it still represents less than a full season of success.

Beyond that, the Royals are looking for offense, but from where? A look at the roster suggests the outfield as their most pressing need. That assessment is further supported by MLB Pipeline, which lists no outfield prospects above Low-A within the organization’s top 15.

Mets Receive 

• LHP Kris Bubic

Royals Receive

• OF Nick Morabito
• INF Ronny Mauricio
• RHP R.J. Gordon

This deal could work because Morabito realistically can begin the season in Triple-A, Mauricio can slot all over the infield due to injury or underperformance and Gordon would give Kansas City an intriguing pitching prospect who struck out 147 batters over 128 2/3 innings and 26 appearances (21 starts) between High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton in 2025. 

Recommendation

The Mets don’t seem like the best trade partner given the Royals’ most pressing roster needs. While this deal could work in theory, it’s not difficult to imagine this offer getting beat. However, depending on the Royals’ ask, Bubic does seem like a pitcher the Mets should kick the tires on.

The post Trade Profile: Kris Bubic, SP appeared first on Metsmerized.

After hammering out a three-team deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros that saw them send second baseman Brandon Lowe to the former, the Tampa Bay Rays are also trading right-handed starting pitcher Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal was the first to report the news.

Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Tampa Bay will receive prospects Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret and Austin Overn as well as a Competitive Balance Round A pick in return.

Baz has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career, but the 26-year-old completed a full season for the Rays in 2025. Over 31 starts and 166 1/3 innings, he recorded a 4.87 ERA with 176 strikeouts. The 26-year-old is under club control through the 2028 campaign.

Updated Post: Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m.

According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal, the Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates are working on finalizing a three-team trade.

If completed, the deal would send starting pitcher Mike Burrows from Pittsburgh to Houston, second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed pitcher Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh and outfielder Jacob Melton and right-handed pitching prospect Anderson Brito to Tampa Bay. The full details of the trade have yet to be announced, and it’s possible that more players are involved.

Lowe would be a major get for a Pirates club that’s struggled offensively in recent years and has openly searched for a middle-of-the-order bat. He slashed .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs for the Rays in 2025. Burrows, meanwhile, logged a 3.94 ERA in 23 appearances (19 starts) totaling 96 innings with Pittsburgh this past season.

Melton, who MLB Pipeline ranks as Houston’s No. 2 prospect, slashed .157/.234/.186 in 78 plate appearances during his first taste of big-league action in 2025. Mangum, meanwhile, put up a .698 OPS with 27 stolen bases for Tampa Bay this year.

Updated Post: Dec. 19 at 10:10 a.m.

The Kansas City Royals have made their second notable trade of the past week, this time acquiring left-handed reliever Matt Strahm from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bowlan, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray.

Strahm, who was drafted in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft by Kansas City, is set to make $7.5 million in the final year of his contract. He appeared in 66 games for the Phillies in 2025 and recorded a 2.74 ERA over 62 1/3 innings with 70 strikeouts.

Bowlan, a second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, made his big-league debut in 2023 and logged a 3.86 ERA in 34 appearances totaling 44 1/3 innings this past season.

The Royals previously acquired outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa.

Original Post: Dec. 19 at 9:43 a.m.

The Padres have signed infielder Sung-mun Song, according to Robert Murray of Fansided. The former KBO player will be making around $13 million over three seasons. Those terms were first mentioned by reporter Francys Romero.

Song Sung-mun

The report of Song’s signing comes less than 12 hours after multiple reports revealed that the Padres were re-signing right-handed starting pitcher Michael King.

Song, 29, has played parts of nine seasons for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO. A righty thrower and left-handed hitter at the plate, Song has moved around the infield, accumulating games at every position other than shortstop.

He spent the majority of his time at third base in 2025, playing 111 games there, but with the ever-available Manny Machado entrenched there for the long term, Song would likely serve as a backup utility infielder.

Song’s offensive output has surged over the past two seasons, making his move to MLB one to watch. After finishing six of his first seven years in the KBO with an OPS under .700, Song slashed .340/.409/.518 and .315/.387/.530 over his last two seasons, respectively, averaging over 20 home runs, 30 doubles and 20 stolen bases in the process.

The post Rumor Roundup: Orioles Acquire Shane Baz from Rays appeared first on Metsmerized.

10. Marathon in Oakland

Game 2 of the 1973 World Series against the A’s was (for 23 years) the longest played by time. It remains one of the craziest as well. This game lasted four hours and 13 minutes and featured a fair share of miscues on both sides. Even the umpires were prone to mistakes, none more famous than a missed call when Bud Harrelson tried to score on a fly ball to left field.

Fortunately for the Mets, they salvaged a split with a 10-7, 12-inning victory. The blinding sun did no favors to fielders trying to make otherwise routine plays. Not even Willie Mays, in his final appearance, was immune. The A’s Mike Andrews contributed two errors in the late stages, which led to him being forcibly dismissed by owner Charles O. Finley.

9. Subway Series Victory

After coming agonizingly close to beating the Yankees in the first two games in The Bronx, the Mets could claim a win once the series got back to Shea Stadium. The Yankees, as usual, didn’t make it easy.

The Mets rallied to tie it in the sixth on a Todd Zeile RBI double. Then, in the eighth, Zeile singled and Benny Agbayani drove him home with a go-ahead double. Bubba Trammell added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly. John Franco earned the win and Armando Benítez closed the door, snapping the Yankees’ incredible 14-game World Series winning streak.

8. Carter’s Two Homers

The Mets evened the ’86 World Series with the Red Sox behind two home runs from their future Hall of Fame catcher, Gary Carter, who was making his first World Series appearance after 13 big-league seasons. The first blast came in the top of the fourth against Sox starter Al Nipper, and the second was a mammoth shot over the Green Monster on a curveball from reliever Steve Crawford.

Carter’s three RBIs and multi-homer game were the driving force behind the Mets’ 6-2 victory at Fenway Park.

“All I got on my mind is getting that World Series ring,” he said in the postgame interview. Carter was ensured he’d get that ring a few days later.

7. Wright Has the Power

He had spent 12 seasons waiting to make the Fall Classic. He had spent many months just hoping to be healthy. In his first World Series at-bat in New York (and the first World Series game at Citi Field) with a runner on base, David Wright sent a towering drive over the left-center field fence and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wright’s classic swing put the Mets on top, 2-1. New York went on to capture their lone win of the series, 9-3, with Wright tacking on two more RBIs in the sixth with a single to center.

6. Dykstra Provides a Spark

Being down 2-0 in the series following a pair of losses at home, the Mets were in desperate need of a quick start in Boston. How’s a leadoff homer in the top of the first? Lenny Dykstra went deep against Red Sox starter Oil Can Boyd on the third pitch of the game.

Dykstra’s homer kicked off a four-run inning and helped swing the momentum in New York’s favor. Bob Ojeda took it from there, delivering a wonderful start against his former team as the Mets cruised to a 7-1 victory.

5. Seaver, Swoboda Save the Day

The Mets’ ace didn’t pitch like one in the 1969 World Series opener with the Orioles. He did on this afternoon, however, with New York holding a 2-1 series edge.

Tom Seaver went all 10 innings and allowed just a run on six hits. But he had some help. With the Mets up 1-0 in the ninth and runners on the corners, Brooks Robinson drove a sinking liner to right field. Ron Swoboda was not a great defender, but he was here. In fact, he made a catch that’s still unbelievable. His diving, backhanded grab before the ball touched the ground prevented the O’s from taking the lead.

The Mets won in the bottom of the 10th on a controversial error made on a J.C. Martin bunt, giving New York the chance to close it out at home.

4. Agee Takes Over

Is it possible for one player to win a game by himself? The Mets’ center fielder put that question to the test in the first World Series game at Shea Stadium.

Tommie Agee was known best for his glove, and he showcased that with two incredible catches. In the fourth inning with men on first and third, Agee made a backhanded running catch at the 396-foot mark on a ball off the bat of Elrod Hendricks. Then in the seventh, with the bases loaded and Nolan Ryan pitching, Agee dove by the warning track in right-center and hauled in a liner by Paul Blair.

Those two defensive gems overshadowed his leadoff home run against Jim Palmer. Agee saved five runs and created one for his own team in a 5-0 Mets victory.

3. “The Dream Has Come True”

The Mets were supposed to be World Series champions from the beginning of the 1986 season. They fulfilled that promise. The way in which they did it showed that for all their dominance, they had character and resolve when it mattered most.

For all the dramatics that played out in Game 6, the winner-take-all Game 7 was anything but a sure thing for New York. Boston jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held it into the sixth. That’s when the Mets’ offense finally got to Bruce Hurst. It loaded the bases for Keith Hernandez, who delivered the biggest hit of his career when he drove in two with a single to center. New York went on to score eight runs over the final three innings — including MVP Ray Knight‘s seventh-inning homer off Calvin Schiraldi and Darryl Strawberry‘s cherry-on-top blast in the eighth.

Jesse Orosco prevented the Red Sox from evening it in the top half of the inning, holding the tying run at second. He got the final three outs in order and initiated a celebration that was some six months in the waiting.

2. The Miracle is Complete

In April 1969, humans were hundreds of thousands of miles away from setting foot on the moon just as the Mets seemed far away from a World Series title. By October 15, both distances had been covered and both feats had been achieved.

With the Orioles up 3-0 and poised to take the series back to Baltimore, Cleon Jones was hit by a pitch (the famous “shoe polish” tactic from manager Gil Hodges). Donn Clendenon belted his third homer of the series to pull New York to within a run.

Al Weis, emblematic of the unlikely nature of the Mets’ unexpected success, delivered in the seventh with a game-tying home run — the only round-tripper he hit at Shea all year — to finish off a fabulous .455 batting average over the five games. Two doubles and two Oriole errors in the eighth led to a 5-3 Mets lead.

It was an advantage the Mets’ superb big-game pitcher would protect. Jerry Koosman allowed just one hit over the final six innings while his hitters mounted their comeback. The final out came off the bat of Davey Johnson and landed in the glove of Cleon Jones in left field.

1. Game 6

It’s been talked about, shown, and debated a million times over (at least). In film, in books, and in spoken word, October 25, 1986, is among the greatest days in the history of the universe for Mets fans and (for a while) among the worst for Red Sox fans.

Wally Backman and Hernandez flew out to start the bottom of the 10th with New York down two runs. It brought Boston within one out of its first title since 1918 and the Mets to within one out of their season being a colossal disappointment.

The rest is a sequence of events that remains unbelievable. A Gary Carter single, a Kevin Mitchell single, a Ray Knight single, a wild pitch by Bob Stanley, all leading up to Mookie Wilson‘s grounder.

The post The Top 10 Mets World Series Moments appeared first on Metsmerized.

The New York Mets go for a sweep this afternoon to end the first half of the season.

Juan Soto hit a two-run home run Saturday and that was pretty much all the Mets needed as they held on and beat the Kansas City Royals, 3-1. Manager Carlos Mendoza went all out, pushing his closer, Edwin Díaz, to get a six-out save. Sunday, the Mets should be able to give most of the bullpen the day off as Clay Holmes will be followed by Sean Manaea’s 2025 debut.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Mark Vientos – DH
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Brandon Nimmo – LF
6. Ronny Mauricio – 3B
7. Tyrone Taylor – CF
8. Luis Torrens – C
9. Luisangel Acuña – 2B

Clay Holmes gets the start Sunday, looking to end the first half of the season on a high note. Over 18 starts (98 1/3 innings), he has a 3.29 ERA, 4.27 FIP, 1.261 WHIP, and a 116 ERA+. Holmes is coming off of a rough start against the Baltimore Orioles where he allowed five runs over five innings from seven hits. Before that start, Holmes allowed only eight runs over 26 innings spread over five games (2.77 ERA).

The Royals hit him well in 2024, scoring three runs off of five hits over 1 2/3 innings against Holmes. The Royals have the following career numbers against him:

• Freddy Fermín 0-1
• Maikel García 2-7, 2B, 2 K
• Jonathan India 1-3, 2 K
• Kyle Isbel 3-5
• Luke Maile 0-0, BB
• Vinnie Pasquantino 0-3, K
• Salvador Perez 2-5, HR
• Bobby Witt Jr. 0-6, BB, K

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Royals Lineup

1. Jonathan India – 2B
2. Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
3. Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B
4. Maikel Garcia – 3B
5. Salvador Perez – C
6. Jac Caglianone – RF
7. John Rave – LF
8. Freddy Fermin – C
9. Kyle Isbel – CF

The Mets’ bats will close out the first half against rookie Noah Cameron. Cameron is off to a fine start to his major-league career posting a 2.56 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 0.963 WHIP, and a 160 ERA+ over 11 starts (63 1/3 innings). He’s been great in July allowing only two runs over 11 2/3 innings while striking out 12 batters. He was more human in the month of June allowing 13 runs over 20 innings stretched over four starts, mostly due to allowing four home runs. The Royals will need Cameron to go deep in today’s game after yesterday’s surprise bullpen game with Michael Lorenzen being a late start due to illness. Cameron can provide that length, going seven innings in his last start and going at least six innings in six of 11 starts this season.

Game Notes

Prior to Sunday’s game, the Mets announced they reinstated left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea from the 60-day injured list. In the corresponding move, they optioned right-handed reliever Austin Warren to Triple-A Syracuse.

Prior to Sunday’s game, it was confirmed that right-handed relief pitcher Max Kranick will be visiting an orthopedic surgeon and Tommy John surgery is under consideration.

The Kansas City Royals announced that Sunday’s game will begin in a rain delay. They followed that up confirming the estimated start time is 2:50 pm ET.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Sean Manaea’s 2025 Debut. Manaea has been sidelined since spring training with an oblique injury followed by an elbow injury while rehabbing. Manaea was the ace of the Mets’ staff for stretches in 2024, especially when he dropped his arm slot and changed his delivery. Over 32 starts (181 2/3 innings), Manaea had a 3.47 ERA, 3.83 FIP, 1.084 WHIP. and a 111 ERA+. In his last rehab start, he allowed three runs from four hits over 3 2/3 innings getting up to 73 pitches. The Mets are counting on Clay Holmes and Manaea to carry the pitching staff today.
2. Juan Soto. Juan Soto continued being Juan Soto on Saturday, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. It was his second-straight game with a home run and his third straight with an RBI. Soto has a 4.1 bWAR, a league-leading 77 walks, and is tied for seventh in the league with a .915 OPS. His 163 OPS+ is the fourth-highest of his career.
3. The Mets are stealing more bases. Francisco Lindor stole his 15th base of the season on Saturday. Earlier this week, Juan Soto stole his 11th base, just putting him one shy of his single-season best 12 stolen bases in a single season. As a team. the Mets have 74 stolen bases, tied with the Marlins for 11th in majors. The Mets were 16th in the league in 2024, 13th in 2023, and 23rd in 2022.

The post Game Chat: Royals vs. Mets, 2:50 P.M appeared first on Metsmerized.

With a rotation riddled by injuries — Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, Griffin Canning, and Sean Manaea all missing time — the Mets’ bullpen has been asked to do far too much. The result? A relief staff that’s stretched thin, trying to clean up after an underperforming, incomplete rotation.

There was a stretch in June that looked eerily familiar, almost a sequel to the 2023 unraveling. But, lately, the Mets have started to claw out of it. They’ve taken three of their last four series, relying on patchwork pitching and just enough from the arms that matter. The back-to-back wins this weekend? Those had Senga and Montas written on them.

Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

Since David Peterson’s complete game on June 11, the Mets have had a starter record an out in the sixth inning just four times — all by Peterson.

That trend didn’t break during Saturday’s 3–1 win over Kansas City. Frankie Montas was pulled after surrendering back-to-back doubles in the sixth, but not before delivering his most encouraging outing as a Met. Over five innings, the former Brewers right-handed starter allowed one run on four hits, striking out five without issuing a walk. It wasn’t a quality start on paper, but it was exactly the kind of outing New York needed. Reed Garrett cleaned up the sixth, and the bullpen held from there.

Almost.

Edwin Díaz flirted with trouble in the eighth but escaped thanks to a favorable replay review. Even so, he’s been lights out since April. Since April 22, Díaz, who will be representing the Mets at the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, has allowed just one earned run in 28 1/3 innings. Over that stretch he has 40 strikeouts, seven walks, 13 hits, and 13 saves, including Saturday’s six-out effort. He’s back to pounding the zone, commanding his stuff, and missing bats with purpose.

Montas doesn’t need to be an ace. Díaz doesn’t need to be perfect. But if the Mets can get five clean innings from their starters and Díaz keeps locking down leads, they might finally have a formula that holds. It’s not ideal — the formula could use a little more length — but it sure works better than whatever New York had been running with since Senga went down with a hamstring injury.

The post Díaz, Montas Anchor Mets Pitching Staff In Victory appeared first on Metsmerized.

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Juan Soto scored from first on the double, sliding around the catcher just ahead of the tag to give the Mets a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. The big hit came after Pete Alonso struck out with the bases loaded and nobody out and broke the bat over his knee. It also got Huascar Brazobán off the hook after he coughed up a tie-breaking, two-run home run to Bobby Witt Jr. in the seventh inning.

The Mets (54-41) exploded for four runs in the ninth on back-to-back home runs – a three-run blast by Francisco Lindor and a Soto solo shot – that made the final score misleading.

The game marked the return of Kodai Senga, who used excellent pitching, quick reflexes and a little bit of luck to escape jam after jam after jam.

Senga, returning from a strained right hamstring that he suffered covering first base on June 12, threw four scoreless innings and gave up four hits, walked two and struck out four. It was his 31st-straight start allowing three earned runs or fewer. The Royals missed chances to end that streak right from the start.

Kansas City (46-49) had runners on second and third with nobody out in the first. Senga struck out Vinnie Pasquantino, caught a Maikel Garcia line drive back to the mound (78.6 mph exit velocity) and fanned Salvador Perez.

Senga caught a break on the Garcia line drive because he tried to double off the runner at third and the ball got away, but third baseman Ronny Mauricio stepped on runner Jonathan India‘s hand as he was trying to reach for the base and he was in too much pain to advance.

The Royals had two on and two out in the second, but Senga retired India when Mauricio made a nice play on a hot shot (82.4 exit velocity) to third that he fielded backhanded on a short hop. With two on and two out in the third, Senga threw four consecutive ghost forks to rookie Jac Caglianone, and he chased the last one for strike three.

The Mets scored their first run when Alonso worked an eight-pitch walk with the bases loaded in the third inning. Vientos came up after Alonso and struck out to end the frame, then broke the bat. Vientos may have been upset with a questionable called strike earlier in the at-bat that had manager Carlos Mendoza arguing with umpire Jim Wolf.

The Mets had a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning when Nick Loftin hit a ball off the end of the bat into left field. Brandon Nimmo could have played it safe and let it fall for a single, but he tried to make a diving catch with two outs and Perez on first. He failed to come up with it, the ball got behind him, and Perez scored.

Stat of the Game

It was the sixth time the Mets won a game this year when trailing after seven innings.

Player of the Game

Vientos was 2-for-5 with the big three-run double. Honorable mention to Senga, who threw 42 of 67 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.39. Welcome back.

On Deck

Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) faces Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61 ERA) in the penultimate game of the first half. Lorenzen’s career ERA is 4.06, but it’s 2.61 in 41 1/3 career innings vs. the Mets. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. ET on SNY.

The post Offense Comes Alive Late in Mets’ Win Over Royals appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets look to end the first half of the season on a strong note against the Kansas City Royals. After beating the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees in consecutive series, the Mets dropped a doubleheader (and the series) to the Baltimore Orioles yesterday.

Right now, it feels like the Mets are bit depleted, but there’s good news! Tonight, they get Kodai Senga back for his first start since June 12, and Sunday they get Sean Manaea back for his season debut!

Kodai Senga (34) Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

1. Brandon Nimmo – LF
2. Francisco Lindor – SS
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Mark Vientos – DH
6. Jeff McNeil – 2B
7. Ronny Mauricio – 3B
8. Luis Torrens – C
9. Tyrone Taylor – CF

Kodai Senga returns to the Mets tonight! He was having a tremendous season, pitching 73 2/3 innings over 13 starts with a 1.47 ERA, 3.19 FIP, 1.113 WHIP and a 261 ERA+, before injuring his hamstring in early June and being diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He allowed four runs (three earned) over 3 2/3 frames in his rehab start last week.

The Royals have the following career stats against Senga:

• Maikel Garcia 3-4
• Jonathan India 2-3, 2B, K
• Kyle Isbel 2-3
• Salvador Perez 1-3, 2B, 2 K
• Bobby Witt Jr. 2-3

Opposing Lineup

1. Jonathan India – DH
2. Bobby Witt Jr. – SS
3. Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B
4. Maikel Garcia – 3B
5. Salvador Perez – C
6. Jac Caglianone – RF
7. Nick Loftin – 2B
8. John Rave – LF
9. Kyle Isbel – CF

The Mets’ batters will face off against one-time friend Michael Wacha tonight. He had a 6.62 ERA over eight games and 34 innings for the 2020 New York Mets. He’s become a very consistent pitcher over the last four years, consistently putting up an ERA in the 3’s. This season, he has pitched 101 innings over 18 outings with a 3.83 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.287 WHIP and a 108 ERA+. He’s coming off of a rough stretch where he he has allowed 12 earned runs over his last three starts (15 IP, 7.20 ERA, 4.55 FIP).

The Mets have the following career numbers against Wacha:

• Pete Alonso 3-6, HR
• Brett Baty 2-3, 2B
• Francisco Lindor, 1-2, BB
• Jeff McNeil 2-5
• Brandon Nimmo 1-2, 2B, BB
• Juan Soto 4-9, 2B, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-2
• Luis Torrens 2-4, K
• Jesse Winker 5-15, 5 K

Game Notes

• Brandon Sproat’s scoreless streak with Triple-A Syracuse has now reached 18 innings.
• The Mets placed Jesse Winker on the 10-day IL with back inflammation and recalled Jared Young. Additionally, the club sent down Justin Hagenman and designated Rico Garcia for assignment while also bringing Austin Warren back up to the major leagues.
• Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that an MRI on Starling Marte’s knee produced “encouraging” results and that the hope is for him to return right after the All-Star break.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Hitting with RISP. The Mets have struggled immensely with RISP this season. Yesterday, the Mets went a combined 2-for-19 in those situations. Although the bullpen couldn’t finish the first game or keep the Mets in the second one, the bats just gave the team nothing to work with, leaving 14 runners on base. Having at least one inning with a crooked number will go a long way for morale and setting the tone this weekend.
2. The Bullpen. The Mets used five relievers yesterday. That number is low because newly-named All-Star David Peterson pitched seven innings. Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman were able to complete five innings in the second game. The bullpen yesterday just didn’t get the job done, and it’s safe to assume they may receive extra work with Senga still ramping back up to full strength.
3. Juan Soto. Soto stole his 11th base of the season yesterday. He’s now only one stolen base away from matching his career high of 12, which was set in 2019 and 2023. Soto still currently leads the league with 75 walks (five ahead of Rafael Devers) and is ninth in OPS at .901. Sounds like an All-Star to me.

Let’s go Mets!

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Their opponent, the Kansas City Royals (46-48), are well off the pace in the American League Central. They’re 13 games back of the Detroit Tigers, who have played outstanding baseball all season. Scoring runs has been a problem for the Royals. Their 3.41 runs per game is the second-worst mark in baseball, only ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets will look to keep Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez quiet this weekend.

Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the three pitching matchups.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

PITCHING MATCHUPS

• Friday: Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.47 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (4-9, 3.83 ERA): For the first time since June 12, Senga will be on the mound for the Mets. That should provide a massive boost. Before he got hurt last month, Senga was in the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award, and deservedly so. He made one rehab start for Double-A Binghamton last Saturday, allowing three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. Senga is 2-2 with a 2.00 ERA in six road starts. Wacha has been solid for the Royals over the last year and a half, but he is in the midst of a pretty rough stretch. He is 1-5 with a 5.85 ERA since the start of June. The former Met has allowed four runs or more in three of his last five starts. Wacha is 5-4 with a 3.76 ERA in nine career outings against New York.
• Saturday: Frankie Montas (1-1, 6.14 ERA) vs. Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.61 ERA): Montas has had a bumpy start to his time with the Mets. After a brutal performance against the Pirates on June 29, he was a bit better his next time out. He went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits vs. the New York Yankees last Saturday. The home run ball has hurt Montas, though, as he’s given up four in his last two starts. Montas is 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Royals. Lorenzen re-signed in Kansas City after a strong second half with the team in 2024, helping the Royals advance to the ALDS. He is coming off his best start of the season, throwing seven shutout innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks last Sunday.
• Sunday: TBD vs. Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.56 ERA): It has been all but confirmed that both Clay Holmes and Manaea will pitch in the series finale. The main question is who will be the starter and who will come out of the bullpen. Manaea’s return is going to be the big story, though. Last season, he proved to be the Mets’ most important starter, especially after the All-Star break. Manaea made six appearances (five starts) on his rehab assignments, pitching to a 6.27 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. In addition to Seth Lugo, Cameron has shined in the Royals’ rotation. The rookie left-hander has been superb since making his debuting on April 30. He’s turned in six quality starts, including five to begin his career. Cameron is 2-3 with a 3.93 ERA in six home starts.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

There are plenty of ways to answer this question right now. My eyes will be on Mark Vientos this weekend. Starling Marte is on the injured list, and it appears Jesse Winker will be joining him after injuring his back on Thursday. In the short-term, that opens up an opportunity for someone to grab a significant role as the team’s designated hitter. Vientos needs to take advantage.

Ronny Mauricio has started to get more comfortable, and Brett Baty‘s bat has come back to life while providing strong defense at both second and third base. All of a sudden, a clear role for Vientos is not there, at least for now. After a breakout season in 2024, this is not what anyone could have expected. Since returning from the injured list on June 27, Vientos is slashing .118/.118/.147 with just one extra base hit.

The Mets may go big-fish hunting at the trade deadline. If they do, their group of young position players will draw interest. For years, it seemed like Baty would be the one to go. Now, could Vientos be moved in a deal for a quality arm? Who knows. Right now, Vientos needs to put together good at bats, and that starts in Kansas City this weekend.

PREDICTION 

The Royals are back within striking distance of a Wild Card spot after winning seven of their first nine games in July. Right now, they are playing better baseball than the Mets. I think it will be a tight series, especially with the inconsistencies of both lineups. With the duo of Senga and Manaea returning, I give the slight edge to the Mets. They will end the first half by taking two of three in Kansas City.

The post Series Preview: Mets Get Two Key Arms Back Against Royals appeared first on Metsmerized.

Also, good morning to any Knicks fans out there!

A good Wednesday for the guys in blue started in Arizona where the Mets took the rubber match against the Arizona Diamondbacks by a score of 7-1. Despite having some control issues early on, Kodai Senga found the range and went six innings of shutout ball, lowering his ERA to 1.16 on the season. Along with that, Juan Soto had his second multi-homer game of the season, going 2-for-4 with two long balls and three RBIs. Click here for a full game recap!

The Mets have an off day on Thursday and will start a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Citi Field. The projected starters are Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning. 

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets signed veteran left-handed reliever Colin Poche to a minor-league contract and he will report to Syracuse. Click here for more on the signing. 

Padres’ Jose Iglesias was ‘totally shocked’ he didn’t receive contract offer from Mets in the offseason, per Anthony Rieber of Newsday.

Latest MLB News

The Baltimore Orioles acquired RHP Luis F. Castillo (not the All-Star) from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Evan Phillips is on the IL with right forearm discomfort, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino announced he will be playing for Team Italy in the 2026 WBC, per his X page.

Former Mets relief pitcher Stephen Nogosek signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals, per player agent John Shinn.

Alex Bregman launched his 200th career home run over the Green Monster on Wednesday night.

Breggy Bomb No. 200 💥 pic.twitter.com/E0QPmJ47lE

— MLB (@MLB) May 7, 2025

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters that Kris Bryant is undergoing an ablation procedure on his lower back on Thursday.

The Cincinnati Reds placed on the 10-day injured list IF Noelvi Marte, retroactive to May 5th, with a left oblique strain. 

The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Andrew Benintendi on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 5th, with a left calf strain.

Latest On MMO

The Mets sign a veteran lefty reliever.

Soto goes deep twice in the Mets’ win.

Mets have three players in Baseball America’s updated top 100. 

On This Date In Mets History

2010: Henry Blanco hits a walk-off home run to beat the Giants.

1961: New York’s National League expansion team announces that they will be known as the “Mets.” 

Born on This Date: Sean Gilmartin (1990), Adrián González (1982), John Maine (1981).

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