Ohtani won his first National League MVP award by unanimous vote after leading the league in home runs, RBIs, runs, OPS, bWAR and posting the first 50-50 season in history, MLB announced Thursday. Judge hit 58 home runs and drove in 144 to earn the American League honor in unanimous fashion as well.

Francisco Lindor, one of three finalists for the award, finished second, the highest he’s placed in his career. He earned 23 out of 30 second-place votes. His previous best finish was fifth in 2017 with Cleveland. It was the sixth time Lindor finished in the top 10 of MVP voting. He came in ninth with the Mets in 2022 and 2023.

Ohtani, 30, who won two MVPs with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League in 2021 and 2023, had his best season yet. He hit 54 home runs, eclipsing his career high by 10, drove in 130 runs, scored 134 runs, and slashed .310/.390/.646/1.036. His 9.2 bWAR was all the more impressive considering he was a designated hitter. He stole 59 bases and was caught just four times. Aside from homers, he set career-bests in RBIs, doubles, stolen bases, hits and runs. In the first year of his 10-year, $700 million contract, he set the Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season.

Ohtani was second in the N.L. in hitting, coming up four points shy of a Triple Crown – Luis Arráez hit .314. The National League has not had a Triple Crown winner since Joe Medwick (.374 batting average, 31 HRs, 154 RBIs) did it for the Cardinals in 1937.

Ohtani is the first primary DH to win the award and the second to win it in both leagues. Frank Robinson was the NL MVP for the Reds in 1961 and the AL MVP for the Orioles in 1966. Ohtani is the 13th Dodger to win the award and the first since Cody Bellinger in 2019.

He is the eighth player to win the MVP with more than one team: Barry Bonds (Pirates, Giants), Jimmie Foxx (A’s, Red Sox), Alex Rodriguez (Rangers, Yankees), Rogers Hornsby (Cardinals, Cubs), Mickey Cochrane (A’s, Tigers), Bryce Harper (Nationals, Phillies) and Robinson.

Judge wins his second MVP with a career-high 10.8 bWAR and a .322/.458/.701/1.159 slash line. He led the AL in home runs, RBIs, walks, OPS, and bWAR. He was third in the A.L. in hitting, 10 points behind batting champ Bobby Witt Jr., who finished second in MVP voting.

The 32-year-old, nine-year veteran’s 223 OPS+, which adjusts for ballparks, was the best in baseball since Bonds’ 263 for the Giants in 2004. It was the best in the A.L. since 1957 when Ted Williams put up 233 for the Red Sox.

Judge, who set career bests in RBIs, walks, doubles, and OPS, becomes the seventh Yankee to win multiple MVPs. He joins Rodriguez (2), Mickey Mantle (3), Roger Maris (2), Yogi Berra (3), Joe DiMaggio (3) and Lou Gehrig (2).

When Judge won his first MVP in 2022, Ohtani finished second.

The post Ohtani, Judge Earn Unanimous MVPs, Lindor Finishes Second appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Carlos Mendoza was named a finalist for NL Manager of the Year, while Francisco Lindor is a finalist for the NL MVP award. Mendoza is joined by Pat Murphy of the Brewers and Mike Shildt of the Padres. Lindor is in the running along with heavy favorite Shohei Ohtani and Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte. Managers of the Year will be announced on Monday, Nov. 18, and MVPs will be revealed on Nov. 21.

Photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets have hired Desi Druschel to be an assistant pitching coach for Jeremy Hefner. Druschel served the same role for the Yankees over the last three seasons and was a pitching coach at the University of Iowa in 2017.

Mets prospect Luke Ritter spoke about hitting in the powerful Syracuse lineup in the latest episode of the Meet at the Apple podcast. Ritter said it helps to have other big hitters around him in the batting order because it tires pitchers out, which can lead to more baserunners and better scoring opportunities.

Latest MLB News

Former Mets hurler Seth Lugo was named a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award. In his first year in Kansas City, Lugo made his first All-Star Game and tossed a career-high 206 2/3 innings, turning in a 3.00 ERA with 181 strikeouts. You can find a full list of finalists for each award on the BBWAA website.

Former Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday for an altercation in which guns were drawn. Franco is currently awaiting trial for charges related to a sexual relationship he had with a 14-year-old. According to Meregirdo Espinosa, a Dominican police spokesman, Franco was fighting another man over a woman’s attention.

Aaron Boone told reporters Monday that he plans on flying to California to be part of Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman’s meeting with Scott Boras and Juan Soto. Boone added that he hasn’t had any talk about a contract extension with the team.

The Dodgers are considered the heavy favorites to land Roki Sasaki, but Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Padres have the second-best odds of landing the Japanese sensation. Heyman mentions that Sasaki’s connection to Yu Darvish makes San Diego an attractive landing spot.

Former Mets reliever Adonis Medina is nearing an agreement with the Mariners on a minor league contract. Medina spent 2024 in the Nationals organization, posting a 3.76 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings for Triple-A Rochester.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro profiles Corbin Burnes as a free agent.

Allison Waxman breaks down where Brett Baty fits into the Mets’ 2025 plans.

Tyler Antonelle grades José Buttó‘s performance in the 2024 season.

On This Date in Mets History

1975: Tom Seaver wins his third Cy Young award, beating out runner-up Randy Jones with 15 first-place votes. Seaver led the NL with 22 wins and 243 strikeouts with a 2.43 ERA and 15 complete games over 280 1/3 innings.

Born On This Date: Al Schmelz (1943), Gary Thurman (1964), Aaron Heilman (1978).

The post Morning Briefing: Mendoza, Lindor Named Awards Finalists appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Lindor’s Historic Season

After starting the season in a dismal 1-for-31 slump, the superstar ended the 2024 campaign batting .273/.344/.500, with 33 home runs, 107 runs scored, 91 RBIs, 39 doubles and 29 stolen bases. He produced a career-best 137 wRC+ and tied his career fWAR (7.8). His 7.8 fWAR was second-best in the NL and third-best in baseball by a shortstop. Lindor ranked 11th in baseball in expected weighted on-base average (.382), 13th in expected slugging (.539) and 18th in expected batting average (.287). According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 94th percentile in batting run value (31), 96th percentile in fielding run value (12) and 99th percentile in fielding range (16).

Lindor was infamously snubbed as a Gold Glove finalist after posting the 14th-best fielding run value in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson, Ezequiel Tovar and Masyn Winn, the three Gold Glove Finalists at shortstop, each posted fielding run values of 14, 11 and four, respectively.

Despite the snub, Lindor’s MVP nomination comes on the heels of a season that saw the shortstop produce clutch hit after clutch hit. His two most memorable hits, both home runs, came at the end of the season. The first, a go-ahead, two-run home run off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias, sent the Mets to October. The second, a go-ahead grand slam against Phillies reliever Carlos Estévez, sent the Mets to the NLCS. His leadership speaks for itself, rallying the team when the Mets seemed destined as sellers and were 11 games under .500. Even with a bad back, he encouraged his team from the bench, acting as a mentor and spark plug off the field. Without a doubt, Lindor led the 2024 team to one of the most memorable seasons in Mets history.

Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Bobby Witt Jr. are the AL MVP finalists.

Winners will be announced Thursday November 21.

The post Francisco Lindor Named NL MVP Finalist appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Against all odds, these remarkable Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games to advance to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2015.

And, at this point, can you really bet against this team taking down either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the San Diego Padres and going all the way to the World Series? They just doesn’t know when to quit, and they have all the juice right now.

And, on that note, let’s dive into a very special edition of Six Up. Yes, that’s right, we’re doing things a little bit differently today. Because, after all, how can there be any negatives after what the Mets have just done?

Let’s get on with the show…

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

SIX UP

AGAINST ALL ODDS

Not only is the above heading an all-time classic song from Phil Collins, but it should also be the official mantra of the 2024 Mets. Because, no matter the situation, no matter the opponent, no matter the amount of adversity thrown their way, this team finds a way to deliver time and time again. Many, myself included, felt their run would come to an abrupt end against the Phillies. And yet, the Mets made what was supposed to be a World Series contender look anything but. In fact, it is New York that more resembles a team that could go on and win it all. Granted, the Mets will have to overcome greater odds in order to be crowned kings of baseball. But, at this point, they will no doubt relish that challenge.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

Just where would the Mets be without Francisco Lindor? We’ve uttered that very same sentence a bunch this year, but it feels even more relevant after Wednesday. In a Game Four that was light on offense, Lindor came up with the monster hit to end all monster hits. His sixth-inning grand slam put the Mets on top for good, booking their ticket to the NLCS in the process. Lindor has consistently come through in the clutch for his team this year, but his Game Four heroics may well end up being the defining moment of a truly stellar year.

GETTING HOT

Pete Alonso has stepped up when it has really mattered the most. Following his heroics in the Wild Card series, Alonso enjoyed an incredibly productive series against Philadelphia. He went 4-for-13 with two homers, one double, four walks, three RBIs and three runs scored. Alonso is now hitting .273/.433/.727 in October. The Mets were always going to need Alonso to take over games if they were going to make a deep run, and that is exactly what is happening so far.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

RISING STAR

ESPN should commission a 30 For 30 on Mark Vientos‘ meteoric rise in 2024. It really is a stunning story, especially when you consider that his Mets future was in doubt back in March. Yet, fast forward to the present day, and the young slugger is playing a major role in an unlikely postseason charge. Vientos is currently riding a four-game multi-hit streak, including nine hits and five RBIs against the Phillies. Furthermore, Vientos’ RBI double in the eighth inning of Game One helped change the entire tenor of the series. All in all, Vientos has entered rarified air as it pertains to his October exploits for this team.

PITCHING MASTERCLASS

The Mets starting rotation deserves a collective Cy Young Award, especially for what they accomplished in this series. All four starters delivered and then some, helping to shutdown a dangerous Phillies lineup. Kodai Senga was impressive in his short outing in Game One despite allowing a leadoff home run. Luis Severino was excellent for the most part in Game Two, but did allow back-to-back homers. Sean Manaea, who is quickly proving he is an ace for this team, delivered an absolutely breathtaking start in Game Three with just one run allowed in seven-plus innings. Then, in the decisive Game Four, Jose Quintana produced his best and most important start of the year to help send the Mets to the NLCS. Overall, the starting pitching was beyond extraordinary in this series, and the Mets have a legit shot at doing something really special this October because of the rotation.

MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF 

Speaking of pitching, let’s give the bullpen their flowers. Yes, there were some scary moments in this series when it comes to the Mets’ relievers. But, overall, they delivered when they really had to. David Peterson hurled three scoreless innings in long relief in Game One. Reed Garrett followed by tossing two scoreless innings to help get the job done. Both Garrett and Peterson were perfect in Game Four, before Edwin Díaz atoned for some earlier sins by earning the save and sending Mets fans into a frenzy. Yes, this bullpen is gassed. Yes, this group of relievers are running on fumes. Yet, despite everything, they just keep finding a way to get the job done just like the entire team has themselves.

The post Six Up: Mets Trounce Phillies To Reach NLCS appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

This is the game you’re gonna talk about.

There’s not a single person in this room who’s ever gonna be the same.

You be proud of yourselves. Because, gentlemen, you are champions.”

Those words were uttered by the iconic Coach Taylor in the beloved TV series Friday Night Lights. Granted, that speech was made to a fictional team in the wake of a heartbreaking loss in the State Championship game.

But, yet, those very words will no doubt resonate with every single person that resides in Mets land today. Because, and this isn’t being hyperbolic, Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Braves on Monday will live on in Mets lore forever. It is a heroic, almost mythical tale that will be passed on to generations and generations of Mets fans.

And that’s almost not doing it justice.

What we witnessed in the early portion of Monday is still hard to comprehend even after the dust has settled. For so much of Game 1, Mets fans were being forced to listen to the same old sad song they’ve had to listen to for years when it comes to the Braves. With everything on the line, their dreams were being crushed by the evil nemesis from Atlanta. Yet again.

For seven innings, New York was enduring a long, slow death by a thousand cuts thanks to a new Mets killer in Spencer Schwellenbach, who tossed seven innings of scoreless ball. As a result, the Braves headed into the final two innings armed with a 3-0 lead. With the bats going cold in a huge spot—again—it looked almost certain that the entire season was going to come down to a do-or-die Game 2.

Then the first of many, many, many brain-warping plot twists took place.

As if they suddenly flipped a switch, the offense found their groove and turned the game on its head with six monstrous runs in the eighth inning. Mets fans everywhere were experiencing a joyful wave of absolute euphoria—a sensation not felt by this fanbase in a long while.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

ROLLERCOASTER MOMENT IN A ROLLERCOASTER YEAR

However, in a cruel twist of fate that could only happen to this franchise in Atlanta, the Braves hit right back and flipped the script once more. After an improbable rally by the home team, coupled with a meltdown by Edwin Díaz, Mets fans were on the verge of getting their hearts shattered into a million pieces by the Braves. Again.

Diaz and Phil Maton gave up four runs in the bottom half of the eighth, sending the Braves to the ninth with a one-run lead.

This is the year 2024, however, and we should all know by now that this current vintage of the Mets don’t like to do things the easy way. It’s almost as if they have to endure the very lowest of lows in order to make the highest of highs that much more special.

And that’s exactly why Francisco Lindor‘s clutch, heroic and legacy-sealing home run in the ninth inning will go down as one of the biggest hits in franchise history. Period.

There was something beautifully poetic about Lindor, the very heart and soul of this team, stepping up in the biggest spot of the entire year and delivering in the biggest way. Just as he has done all year long. In a Game 1 that had enough plot twists to make HBO drool, in arguably the biggest regular season game this organization has ever played in, it is only fitting that it was Lindor who had the final say in a game for the ages.

It was only fitting that it was Lindor who finally slayed the dragon and banished the ghosts once and for all in Atlanta.

And it was only fitting that it was Lindor who sent the Mets to the postseason.

After all, without Lindor, that rollercoaster of a Game 1 would never have happened. Without Lindor, this mesmerizing, inconceivable rollercoaster of a year wouldn’t have been possible.

As much as Monday’s implausible events in Atlanta were the very epitome of the Mets’ entire season, Lindor coming to his team’s rescue with everything on the line will tell the true story of the 2024 season in Queens.

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

SIGNATURE MOMENT

Lindor has been the one constant for this team all year long. He has carried this entire franchise on his back so much that his back actually gave out. He put aside his own early season struggles to hold a team meeting and act as the glue when everything around him was falling apart. And, more importantly, he elevated his own play and led a remarkable turnaround that will be talked about with reverence in Queens for years to come. The Mets were once 11 games under .500 and looked well and truly dead after the darkest of months in May. Yet, thanks to their heart and soul, their inspirational and unstoppable shortstop, this team became just the fourth team in major league history to start a season 0-5 and make the postseason.

No matter how many times we all thought the Mets might be dead, they always found a way to rise up and live to fight another day. And it was always Lindor leading the charge. Even after erasing lofty deficits in the Wild Card standings over the final month, this team looked to have run out of gas after imploding in the final week of the regular season. Three consecutive choke jobs looked to finally be the undoing of what was a miraculous run. But Lindor wasn’t having any of it. Despite playing through the pain with a broken down back, despite looking a shadow of his former self, the leader of this entire franchise led the way in a must-win game on Sunday. Then, in arguably the biggest at-bat of his entire career, Lindor produced the statement moment of the entire year on Monday.

In any other year, and were it not for the enduring brilliance of Shohei Ohtani, Lindor would have run away with the MVP.

Not that actual hardware really matters. Because, ultimately, thanks to his heroics on Monday, Lindor will always be this year’s MVP in the eyes and hearts of Mets fans everywhere. The role he played in the most incredible, thrilling of seasons will never, ever be forgotten in Queens.

He led this team back from the dead and guided them to the postseason, while playing a huge part in finally, finally slaying the dragon in the house of horrors that had inflicted so much pain and heartbreak on this fanbase.

In a wild season for the ages, Lindor was the one true stabilizing force right until the bitter end. And his signature moment to cap a signature year will stand the test of time.

Of course, this could be only the beginning for Lindor and this Mets team. They now have to shake off the emotion from Monday and get ready for a Wild Card game in Milwaukee on Tuesday. The Brewers are an imposing foe and these three games will be the toughest challenge of the entire year.

Although, given what we witnessed all year and then to the extreme on Monday, you’d be a fool to bet against these Mets at this point.

However, no matter what happens over the next few days, nobody can take Monday away from us. That day was one long in the making for Mets fans, especially those who have had to suffer under the yoke of the Braves for decades.

Even if New York’s postseason adventure ends at the first hurdle, we will always have that crazy, emotionally-charged, thrill-ride of a game in Atlanta. And the ultimate statement moment from the leader of this team that will live on in baseball lore forever.

A rollercoaster game fit for a rollercoaster season.

The post Lindor, Mets Provide Rollercoaster Moment Fit For 2024 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Two consecutive losses to the elite Phillies ensured the Mets failed to make up any ground on their NL Wild Card rivals. More importantly, though, a nagging injury to a crucial player ensured a rather dark cloud will hover over this team heading into the week.

However, all hope is not lost, and, on that note, let’s dive straight into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 UP

PLENTY TO PLAY FOR

This weekend wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Mets. Yes, they dropped a series at a time when they could ill afford to. And, yes, a certain star player is dealing with an injury that could prove problematic. More on that later. But, despite all of that adversity, the Mets are still right in the thick of things. With Atlanta losing to the Dodgers on Sunday night, New York is still tied with the Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. As a result, this team could send a real statement by taking care of business against the Nationals to start the week. It isn’t over yet. There’s still a hell of a lot of baseball yet to play.

CAREER DAY

David Peterson gave the Mets every chance to clinch the series against the Phillies on Sunday. The lefty tossed a career-high 7.2 innings. He allowed one run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. In other words, Peterson was absolutely money when he needed to be. He did his job, but unfortunately, the offense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Despite that, Peterson lowered his ERA to 2.85 on the year. He has easily been one of the Mets’ biggest surprises of the year.

GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

Mets fans finally got their wish during the series in Philadelphia. The team called up highly-rated prospect Luisangel Acuña to The Show, and his first showing did not disappoint. The shortstop collected a pair of hits in his Major League debut on Saturday, recording a pair of hard-hit singles. Acuña also made some nice plays in the field on Sunday, including some fancy glovework to get the final out of the fourth inning. All in all, Acuña flashed some tantalizing signs of what we could come to expect from the prospect down the road.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

HOPE AND PRAY

Monday will be a nerve-wracking experience for everyone in Mets land. Francisco Lindor, the team’s MVP of this year, will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of his lower back tightness. Lindor was hindered by back pain all weekend, exiting early on Friday, and not playing in Saturday’s game. He was in the lineup for the finale on Sunday but lasted less than two full innings. The star shortstop was clearly in a lot of discomfort, and we now wait and hope for positive news. Lindor will likely play through as much pain as possible for the final 13 games of the regular season if can. He’s a gamer. However, if he’s forced to miss any time at all, that could act as a fatal blow to the Mets’ hopes of making the playoffs.

SAME OLD STORY

The bullpen has been a major concern for most of the year. It was considered a weakness coming into the season, and despite some high points here and there, the relief pitching could be what ultimately dooms the Mets. That was certainly the case over the weekend. Danny Young, Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek combined to allow three runs on five hits with a walk as the bullpen melted down on Saturday. Then, in the series finale, Edwin Díaz entered a tied game in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a walk-off single to J.T. Realmuto. The Mets need their relievers to be money and clutch down the stretch. If not, October baseball may remain a distant dream.

GOING COLD

Other than Friday’s offensive explosion, the lineup didn’t really produce the goods for the Mets against the Phillies. And, even in the series opener, it took until the fifth inning for the bats to wake up. The offense was shut out for the final six innings of Saturday’s game before being held to just one run on Sunday. All in all, the Mets went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position over the final two games of the series in Philadelphia. And, with the top of the lineup not delivering consistently enough, that should be a real concern heading into the final couple of weeks of the regular season. Especially if Lindor ends up missing any more time.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Endure Tough Weekend In Philly appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After dropping an ugly one to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Mets were being no-hit on Wednesday through eight innings and were well on their way to suffering a body blow of a series loss.

Given New York’s status in the playoff race, dropping two out of three to the Blue Jays would have been devastating.

However, keeping in line with the fairytale nature of this year, Francisco Lindor delivered the biggest hit of the year with a game-tying solo home run in the ninth to help pave the way for the biggest win of the year.

That isn’t hyperbole, either. Lindor’s clutch heroics could really prove crucial once it’s all said and done.

And, without further ado, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo by Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

3 UP

THE REAL MVP

Shohei Ohtani deserves to be crowned the most special player in baseball without any shadow of a doubt. However, Lindor is the true MVP in the National League. Because, as should be obvious by now, the Mets would be planning their winter vacation if it were not for the superhero turn from their shortstop. Lindor is playing the best baseball of his life right now and he’s carrying this team, which was evident in Toronto on Wednesday. Being no-hit through eight innings and staring a series loss in the face, Lindor stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of the year so far. And, after running into a mini skid as of late, it was as consequential of a hit for Lindor as it was for the Mets.

Simply put; this team would have been dead a long time ago if not for Lindor. He’s played in every single game this year and has come up with monster hit after monster hit. And, more importantly, Lindor has saved the day for the Mets more times than you can care to remember. He’s invaluable to this ball club, and he’s the Mets’ MVP without a doubt.

TURNING THE CORNER

We’ve written about Francisco Alvarez’s long slump in this space before. We’ve also wondered if a big hit would prove to be the turning point, only for his struggles to continue thereafter. However, Alvarez’s three-run home run on Wednesday just felt different, and the Mets sensed it too. After all, manager Carlos Mendoza opted to play Alvarez the day after a night game because of how he had been hitting the ball following a recent adjustment. Well, that faith in his catcher paid off in a big way. It was Alvarez’s first extra-base hit since Aug. 19, which hopefully proves to be a portent of better things to come.

RISING STAR

Sean Manaea is proving he deserves a role in the starting rotation for the Mets long-term. The lefty has been money during the second half of the season, and that trend continued on Wednesday. Manaea allowed just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Yes, the veteran did walk four batters, and yes, he did load the bases with nobody out to begin the fourth. However, he was able to work out of that jam, only allowing one run to score to keep the game close. Manaea has arguably been the Mets’ best starter this year, and he showed why on Wednesday.

3 DOWN 

Photo by John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

TOUGH NIGHT AT THE OFFICE

David Peterson has, for the most part, been stellar this year. His impressive 2.98 ERA backs that statement up. However, Tuesday proved to be a bad day at the office for the left-hander. Peterson was roughed up for four earned runs on eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings. It was a rare misstep by Peterson, but one that could prove costly this time of year.

PEN ADVENTURE

The bullpen didn’t make life easy for the Mets in this series. Danny Young and Jose Buttó handed the game back to Toronto by giving up the tying and go-ahead runs in Monday’s series opener. Thankfully, Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz were able to clean that mess up and get the job done in the end. However, on Wednesday, Stanek gave up a run in the ninth that forced Díaz into the game to get the final out. Ultimately, it didn’t matter in the end, but the Mets still can’t afford any more heart attacks from their ‘pen the rest of the way.

GOING COLD

Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Mets were hitting just .208/.299/.330 with 37 runs scored in nine September games. They were also just 18-for-75 with RISP since Aug. 30 before the series finale. Well, a lot of those offensive struggles stretched into Wednesday’s game. The Mets were no-hit for eight innings before Lindor played the role of hero. Those struggles at the plate continued what has been a worrying trend so far this month. Too many of the Mets’ big bats are going cold at a critical juncture in the season. For instance, Pete Alonso entered Wednesday with 14 strikeouts and just one home run in his last 30 at-bats. Brandon Nimmo has been a non-factor with the bat since the All-Star break, Alvarez was ice cold before his three-run home run, and even Lindor had started to struggle a little bit. Again, with every game a must-win, the offense can’t afford to stumble the way it did at points in this series.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Take Series From Toronto appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Despite winning the first two games, the Mets dropped the series finale on Sunday. As a result, their nine-game winning streak came to
an unceremonious end. More importantly, however, they are once again tied with the Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

You have to be ruthless this time of year. The Mets will have to hope their inability to finish off the Reds and complete the sweep doesn’t come back to bite them in a few weeks.

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

3 UP

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

GIVE HIM HIS FLOWERS

The Mets would be dead and buried now were it not for Francisco Lindor and his MVP heroics. But you can also make a compelling case that this team would not be where it is now were it not for the emergence of Mark Vientos. We all know the story by now. Ignored and effectively thrown into the garbage at the start of the year, Vientos has done nothing but rake since being recalled to the Majors. He’s established himself as the guy at third base, possibly the successor to David Wright we’ve been waiting for, while coming up with big hit after big hit. He was huge against the Reds, too.

Vientos’ weekend started with a pair of home runs on Friday, including a walk-off two-run blast in extras. He followed that up by getting on base on Saturday and Sunday with two walks. But, make no mistake: Vientos’ power surge on Friday set the tone for the weekend and provided yet more memorable scenes at Citi Field. More importantly, the 24-year-old has proven that he belongs in the Majors.

GREAT RELIEF 

Reed Garrett is coming up big for the Mets when it matters the most. The righty reliever was stellar all weekend, striking out three and not allowing a run or a hit in 1.1 innings on Friday. Then, on Sunday, Garrett recorded another three strikeouts on his way to retiring all four batters he faced. As a result, the reliever hasn’t given up a single run or hit in his last six outings, striking out nine hitters in that span. Now, that’s pretty good.

STARTING EXCELLENCE

The Mets got to enjoy two stellar starts in the Reds series. José Quintana was first up. The veteran delivered arguably his best start of the year on Saturday. He tossed 6.2 scoreless innings with five hits, two walks and six strikeouts. It also proved a significant and special day as Quintana recorded the 100th win of his MLB career – the first Colombian-born pitcher to accomplish the feat. Then, on Sunday, Luis Severino continued his resurgence with another dominant outing. The righty allowed just one run on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings. If the Mets are to punch their postseason ticket, more starts like these from Severino and Quintana will be a must down the stretch.

3 DOWN 

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

MAN DOWN

It wasn’t all rainbows and marshmallows for the Mets this weekend. No, the team was dealt some crushing news on the injury front. Jeff McNeil, who suffered a right wrist contusion in Friday’s game, was placed on the IL with a wrist fracture. He will miss the rest of the regular season. Now, while McNeil could return later in the postseason, the fact he will miss the most crucial stretch of the season is a body blow. McNeil was hitting .289/.376/.547/923 since the All-Star break. He will be a big loss. And let’s hope McNeil has something to come back to.

RARE MISTAKE

Phil Maton has delivered for the Mets since being acquired from the Rays before the trade deadline. However, his first real bad game in a Mets uniform couldn’t have come at a worse time. The righty gave up a pair of runs in the ninth inning on Sunday, allowing a game-winning double from Santiago Espinal. As a result, the team dropped a crucial game, allowing the Braves to pull back even with the Mets for the final Wild Card spot in the NL.

LETTING OFF THE GAS

Maton wasn’t entirely responsible for the loss on Sunday. The offense also played a big role in a frustrating day. The top five hitters in the Mets lineup went a combined 0-for-16 with three walks and five strikeouts. The Mets managed just four hits all day and couldn’t get a rally going at any point. Plus, they went 1-for-6 with RISP and left seven runners stranded on base. Again, you have to develop a killer instinct this time of year. The sweep was right there for the taking, but the Mets couldn’t take advantage.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Fail To Finish Off Reds appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Now in the home stretch, the Mets have kept their eyes on the prize and swept the Red Sox in another clear signal of intent. Talk about a perfect way to begin a crucial homestand.

As a result, the Mets have now won seven straight and are gathering all the momentum at exactly the perfect time. They remain hot on the heels of the Braves for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. New York is also now a season-high 12 games over .500.

This team appears to be getting red-hot when it matters the most. We should be in for a very fun September.

And, with that, let’s dive deep into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

LEAVING HIS MARK

Jesse Winker could go down as the best pickup of the entire trade deadline. He’s certainly in the conversation. The one-time Mets nemesis has done nothing but mash since arriving in Queens. He’s come up with big hit after big hit, including in the Red Sox series. Although silent in the first two games, Winker saved his best for last by hitting a first inning grand slam to set the tone in the series finale. A monster hit set the Mets up perfectly to complete the sweep.

Since being acquired from the Nationals at the deadline, Winker is hitting .306/.341/.471/.811 with three homers, five doubles, 12 runs scored and 13 RBIs for the Mets. Now, that’s what you call making an impact.

SEASON FOR THE AGES

I’ve long been a proponent of there being an MVP Award and an award for Best Player. For instance, looking at this year, Shohei Ohtani would win the Best Player Award and Francisco Lindor would be crowned the NL MVP. Without Lindor, the Mets would have been dead and buried long ago. As special a player as Ohtani is, the Dodgers are arguably still a playoff team with or without him. But the Mets depend on Lindor. That was proved with the shortstop continuing his season for the ages against Boston, going 6-for-12 with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored and four RBIs.

He now has a 33-game on-base streak and a 15-game hitting streak. Furthermore, Lindor continues to lead the National League with a 7.3 fWAR. We’re witnessing something truly special with Lindor this year, and he deserves all the accolades coming his way, even if he does miss out on the NL MVP.

TIMELY BOOST

Everything seems to be going perfectly for the Mets right now. Case in point: Kodai Senga could return before the end of the regular season. Senga threw an impressive bullpen session on Wednesday, and he’s eligible to return off the IL on Sept. 25. If that were to happen, that would be a significant boon for the Mets rotation with the Wild Card race likely to go right down to the wire. Having Senga available for the postseason would also be huge. Furthermore, Paul Blackburn is set to return to the rotation early next week against the Blue Jays. As such, the Mets are getting key reinforcements back when they need them the most. Having a healthy rotation could prove to be the difference down the stretch.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

GOING SHORT

Tylor Megill didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in his start on Wednesday. The righty allowed three earned runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. More significantly, he only went four innings. Consequently, Megill has only pitched six innings once in his last five starts for the Mets. He opened the door for the Red Sox to get back into the game in the finale. Thankfully, some aggressive management from Carlos Mendoza, a stellar showing from the bullpen, and clutch hitting got Megill off the hook. But, with Blackburn coming back and Senga set to return at the end of the month, Megill’s short-term future could be pitching out of the bullpen.

TOUGH NIGHT

Pete Alonso did hit a home run in this series, but that two-run shot on Tuesday was a rare bright spot. Other than that, the slugger struggled against Boston. He went 0-for-3 in the opener with a strikeout, before striking out three times and going 0-for-4 in a tough game on Wednesday. Alonso continues to struggle in clutch situations and with runners on this year. He is now hitting just .211 with RISP after going 0-for-2 with runners on in the finale. If the Mets are to punch their postseason ticket, and then play deep into October, they need their power hitter to start coming through in the clutch consistently.

NO HELP

The Mets are doing all they can right now to keep their postseason hopes alive. They are giving it their all and can’t really do much else. At some point, they will need help from elsewhere. And that help needs to come in the form of the Braves finally succumbing to a boatload of adversity and falling out of it. Or the Padres and the Diamondbacks slowing down. And, with the Cubs going on a heater and not going away quietly, the Mets can’t afford to run into any kind of losing streak. All the Mets can do is keep on winning, but they will also need a helping hand from elsewhere sometime soon to extend their season.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Stay Red-Hot With Sox Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After exiting Friday night’s game with an apparent right hand injury, according to Tim Healey of Newsday, a CT scan was done on Paul Blackburn’s hand on Saturday and the scan was negative, showing no fracture, just a bad bruise. Blackburn hopes to avoid the injured list and hopes to make his next state; it’s all dependent on his pain level day-to-day.

The Mets, meanwhile, had a dominant 7-1 win Saturday night to bounce back from an ugly loss on Friday. Francisco Lindor hit two home runs, and David Peterson turned in 7 1/3 strong innings. Now up 2-1 in the series, the Mets will look to win the series Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.

Denis Poroy-USA TODAY Sports

Wild Card Update

The Braves beat the Nationals 4-2, scoring four unanswered runs. So the Mets held steady at 2.5 games behind Atlanta for the third Wild Card.

The first Wild Card, Arizona, won its fifth consecutive game to stay 3.5 games ahead of the Braves. The Padres’ loss to the Mets made them two games above the Braves.

Latest MLB News

According to Major League Baseball, the Chicago Cubs are the first team in MLB history to have one Japanese-born player with three or more extra-base hits (Seiya Suzuki) and another Japanese-born player earn the win (Shota Imanaga) in the same game.

The New York Yankees on Saturday welcomed back a whole lot of legends for Old Timers Day 2024.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, a day after achieving 40-40 as a hitter, Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani is throwing off a mound for the first time since elbow surgery.

Latest on MMO

Matt Mongin recapped the Mets’ minor league affiliate games from Friday, which included a home run by Drew Gilbert in Syracuse’s win over the Durham Bulls.

Christian DeBlock discusses how Blackburn’s injury leaves the Mets’ rotation in a difficult position.

Chris Bello breaks down how Francisco Lindor’s on-base streak extended to 22 games.

On This Date in Mets History

2009: Johan Santana’s season was ended early due to bone chips in his throwing elbow.

Birthdays: Deven Marrero (34), Pedro Feliciano, Gary Matthews (50), Shaun Fitzmaurice (82)

The post Morning Briefing: CT Scan Negative on Paul Blackburn’s Right Hand appeared first on Metsmerized Online.