With the Orioles in the Bronx for a series with the Yankees, it marks the first time Pete Alonso has returned to New York since his departure from the Mets this offseason. Prior to Friday’s series opener, Alonso held a 13-minute session with media where he said he never had a final conversation with Steve Cohen or David Stearns before signing with the Orioles. He did, however, speak with Carlos Mendoza and a few former teammates.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets (11-21) defeated the Angels (12-21) 4-3 on Friday night. New York rallied from down 3-0 with Francisco Alvarezand Marcus Semien combining to tie the game before Ronny Mauricio untied it with a mammoth home run, his first of the year. Christian Scott also looked much more comfortable in his second start of the year, allowing three runs (two earned) in five innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.

Early Friday morning, the Mets provided confidence in Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns via MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. Despite the team’s atrocious start to the season, both Mendoza and Stearns appear to be safe for now.

Rehabbing lefty reliever A.J. Minter gave up an unearned run in an inning of work with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday. Recently promoted top prospect A.J. Ewing also had another good game for Syracuse on Friday, going 1-for-1 with two walks, two stolen bases and two runs.

The Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies released an alternate identity as the Binghamton Bobbers. The name pays homage to the first Dick’s Sporting Goods location, which opened in Binghamton.

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The Orioles placed former Met Ryan Helsley on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Helsley has a 2.53 ERA with seven saves in 12 appearances this year.

Former Met Max Kranick signed a deal with the Nationals. Kranick had a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances with the Mets in 2025.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang highlights the performance of Freddy Peralta in the Mets’ Thursday night loss to the Nationals.

Jorge Eckardt explains why A.J. Ewing might be the Mets’ new best prospect.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Luis Torrens (1996), Jonathan Villar (1991), Erasmo Ramírez (1990), Joe Crawford (1970), Eddie Bressoud (1932).

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The club made a real run at Tucker, reportedly offering him a four-year deal worth $220 million with a $75 million signing bonus, but he opted to join the back-to-back World Series champions in the Los Angeles Dodgers on a four-year, $240 million pact.

Though Bellinger was still on the market on Friday, the Mets instead pivoted to adding Bo Bichette on a three-year contract worth $126 million with opt-outs after the first and second seasons. The two-time All-Star bounced back from a subpar 2024 campaign with a .311/.357/.483 slash line across 628 plate appearances in 2025 with 18 home runs for the American League-winning Toronto Blue Jays.

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

New York’s infield had appeared rather set coming into the day with Brett Baty at third base, Francisco Lindor at shortstop, Semien at second base and free agent signee Jorge Polanco at first base, but the opportunity to add an elite hitter like Bichette, who is expected to slot in at the hot corner, was too tempting for David Stearns, Steve Cohen and company.

There are now some questions about Baty’s role in 2026 considering he’s no longer the Mets’ everyday third baseman, which was a role he largely thrived in last season. He’ll certainly still get some reps at the position when/if Bichette serves as the designated hitter or plays elsewhere on the infield, but perhaps Baty could be used in left field, with The Athletic’s Will Sammon pointing out that he has some prior experience out there, or even at first depending on how the Polanco experiment goes.

Polanco has spent just one game at first base during his big-league career, which came in 2025 as a member of the Seattle Mariners, but the Mets seem to be confident in his ability to adapt to the position. He has primarily played second base over the past two campaigns when in the field, but he was more of a designated hitter for Seattle this past year after undergoing surgery to repair the patellar tendon in his left knee in October 2024.

Francisco Alvarez is locked in as New York’s starting catcher with Luis Torrens once again set to take on the backup duties at the position. Likewise, Lindor and Semien should play just about everyday at their respective positions, but the likes of Baty and Luisangel Acuña could theoretically spell the latter at second base when needed as well.

Mark Vientos is a fall-back option at third and first base, but a lion’s share of his at-bats should come as the DH given his poor defense.

As for the outfield, the only thing set in stone is the fact that Juan Soto will remain in right field. Tyrone Taylor, who is in his final year of club control before reaching free agency next offseason, is currently pencilled in as the Mets’ starting center fielder after posting seven Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and four Outs Above Average (OAA) at the position last year, but his role is subject to change.

2024 first-round pick Carson Benge should push for a spot on the 26-man roster in spring training, and even if he doesn’t break camp with the team, he’ll be on the radar for a call-up shortly after the fact. He slashed .281/.385/.472 over a combined 519 trips to the plate with High-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse last season.

Benge could play in either center or left field for the Mets once he’s ready to debut. Baty, if he does give it a go in left, as well as Acuña and Jared Young profile as the club’s top reserve outfielders at the moment, which doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. Prospects Nick Morabito and Jett Williams could factor into the mix down the line too, though it’s unclear just how much of an impact they’ll have in the majors in 2026.

For that reason, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if New York were to acquire another outfielder in free agency or via trade. Adding Bellinger feels like much less of a possibility for the organization after landing Bichette, but they could benefit from bringing in Harrison Bader, Austin Hays or another veteran at that same level.

With that, here is how the Mets’ Opening Day lineup could potentially shake up based on where things stand today:

1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Juan Soto, RF
3. Bo Bichette, 3B/DH
4. Jorge Polanco, 1B
5. Brett Baty, DH/3B
6. Marcus Semien, 2B
7. Francisco Alvarez, C
8. Carson Benge, LF
9. Tyrone Taylor, CF

The post How Bo Bichette Signing Impacts Mets’ Lineup appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Position: 1B/OF B/T: L/L

Player Data: Age: 30 (7/13/1995)

2025 Traditional Stats: 657 PA, .272/.334/.480/.813, 160 H, 29 HR, 98 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 125 wRC+, 13.7% K%, 7.9% BB%, .274 BABiP, .322 xwOBA, 4.9 fWAR, 5.1 bWAR, 7 DRS (LF), -3 DRS (CF), 8 DRS (RF), -1 DRS (1B), 4 OAA (LF), -1 OAA (CF), 2 OAA (RF), 0 OAA (1B)

Rundown

Former NL MVP Cody Bellinger may be among the most polarizing free agents in baseball. In his final three seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he struggled heavily after undergoing shoulder surgery and was non-tendered following the 2022 campaign, which was only three years after he won his MVP Award.

He signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs for the 2023 season and turned in a big bounce-back campaign, but was unable to secure a long-term contract in free agency. Instead, Bellinger took a three-year deal with opt-outs after each season to return to the Cubs.

In his first year of that contract in 2024, he missed a chunk of the season and decided not to opt out. He was then traded to the New York Yankees and had a strong 2025 season, leading him to opt out of the final year of his deal. This marks the fourth time in as many years that Bellinger has had to ability to test free agency, and he is reportedly looking for a long-term deal, but it remains unclear if his wishes will be granted.

Bellinger’s slash line in 2025 was amplified by playing in Yankee Stadium. At home, he batted .302/.365/.544 for a .909 OPS and 152 wRC+. On the road, he slashed .241/.301/.414 for a .715 OPS and 97 wRC+. It isn’t as simple as saying he cannot hit outside of Yankee Stadium, though, as Wrigley Field is known for being brutal on left-handed hitters, and across the two seasons he called it home, he slashed .275/.328/.475 for an .802 OPS and 120 wRC+. Sometimes, single home/away season splits can be more noise than anything else.

Under the hood, there are both plenty of things to like with Bellinger and plenty of things to be concerned about.

The Good

• 91st percentile in K rate (13.7%)
• 90th percentile in Pull Air% (20.5%)
• 84th percentile in Whiff Rate (18.1%)
• 80th percentile in Pull% (43%)
• 79th percentile in Zone Contact (87.5%)
• 76th percentile in LA sweet spot (37.1%)
• 72nd percentile in Squared Up% (28.1%)

The Red Flags

• 36th percentile in Barrel Rate (7.5%)
• 33rd percentile in Max EV (110.2 MPH)
• 26th percentile in Hard Hit Rate (37.9%)
• 24th percentile in Average EV (88.8 MPH)
• 20th percentile in Bat Speed (70.1%)
• 20th percentile in 90th EV (102.7 MPH)

Bellinger was also right around league average in walk rate at 8.7% (54th percentile), which prevented him from having a very high on-base percentage despite the high average. His value comes from being an above-average hitter while also being elite defensively in the corner outfield spots with some flexibility to play in center field and an ability to slot in at first base as well. He was also 72nd percentile in sprint speed at 28.2 feet per second, which stayed consistent with his previous two seasons.

Contract

MLB Trade Rumors projected Bellinger to ink a five-year contract totaling $140 million. That would be just below the five-year, $150 million deal Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles this offseason.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

If Bellinger is unable to find that five-year or longer contract, he could fit the Mets on a short-term contract. The Yankees have reportedly made a formal offer to retain Bellinger, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, but the terms are not yet known.

On a three-year deal, Bellinger could fit the Mets’ roster as a left-handed bat that could play both corner outfield spots, first base, and provide some flexibility in center field as needed. He is projected to provide similar offensive value to Brandon Nimmo, but with much better defense. On a short-term deal, he could be a fit for this Mets roster, but on a longer-term contract, the club would likely find themselves in the same situation they were with Nimmo a few years from now.

The post Free Agent Profile: Cody Bellinger, 1B/OF appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starting Pitching

Another domino is off the board as Tatsuya Imai signs with the Astros on a three year, $54 million deal that includes incentives and opt outs. Both Mark Feinsand and Jon Heyman stated that the Mets were not heavily involved in the bidding for Imai.

Per Heyman, the Mets are still looking to bolster the front end of their rotation and like Framber Valdez on a short term deal if his market lands there. President of baseball operations David Stearns was an assistant general manager in Houston when the Astros first signed Valdez as an international free agent in 2015. Feinsand also mentioned that the trade market could be where the Mets find a starter to lead their rotation and mentioned Brewers starter Freddy Peralta as an option. Heyman also linked the Mets to Ranger Suárez.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Outfield

After trading Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien, the Mets have at least one opening in the outfield. Heyman mentioned that the Mets have checked in on Kyle Tucker and speculated that while Tucker may not receive the $400 million contract that was expected in the beginning of the offseason, he should still end up in the $300 million range. Feinsand labeled the Blue Jays as the favorites for Tucker, but stated that the Mets cannot be counted out “given their need for outfield help and their general willingness to spend big when they feel it’s appropriate.”

Heyman mentioned that Cody Bellinger may be the best fit for the Mets due to his versatility and the expectation that he will command a shorter deal than Tucker. The Dodgers, Giants and Blue Jays have all been linked to him, but Heyman believes it will likely come down to the Mets or the Yankees. Heyman previously reported that the Yankees had made a formal offer to Bellinger. Feinsand stated that it is not believed a Bellinger signing is imminent.

The post Rumor Roundup: Mets Linked to Bellinger, Tucker and Frontline Starters appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Soto mentioned that the value of the contracts he had in front of him were very similar and that the differences came more from the fine print. He said in the end it was a family decision and, “we all sat down, analyzed and checked what was best for me and my family and that’s how we made the decision.”

It has been well-documented how important family is to Soto. He said his entire family still get together at his mother’s house for Christmas.

“My mom always makes sure the whole family gets together on the 24th to have dinner at my house, to have a good time, wherever we were living. It doesn’t matter if we were in the neighborhood, if we were already a little better off, in a residential area, wherever, but that the whole family gets together for dinner and to enjoy the moment.”

He mentioned that all of the hitters have a group chat they are constantly communicating through and that the pitchers have their own chat as well. He mentioned being close with his teammates and said of the Mets players, “there’s something very nice, we have a very young group and team inside the Mets team. So we always get along well, we’re always talking, asking how the guys feel and all that.”

Juan Soto Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Both Soto and the Mets have discussed his drive to continually improve his defense in the outfield. During the Winter Meetings, manager Carlos Mendoza spoke about how he, Soto and new Mets bench coach Kai Correa had met to go over Soto’s defense training plan for the offseason and described Soto as “wanting to be coached.”

When asked whether offense of defense is more important Soto stated, “They say out there that offense wins many games, but defense wins championships. You deduce from there.”

Carlos Beltrán, former Met and current special assistant to the president of baseball operations, helped Soto work through his slow start in Queens.

“He told me last year that always when I was doing a little poorly, he told me, ‘Always remember who you are,’” Soto said.

Soto spoke about growing up in the Dominican Republic playing for the “love of the game”. As he got older, he said his mother told him he could only play as long as he kept his grades up. He cited Manny Ramírez and Robinson Canó as two players he modeled his play after. He also described how important his success is for future baseball players from the Dominican Republic.

“I know I opened many doors, not only for me, but for the Dominican Republic, for the athletes of the Dominican Republic. I know it was one more step for baseball here in the Dominican Republic. Many people didn’t believe that a Dominican could reach the point where we are right now.”

In the interview he also discussed how the contracts signed by Fernando Tatís Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Geraldo Perdomo have made a difference to help set up the success of future Dominicans.

Finally, Soto discussed what he loves the most about living in New York City: the food.

“There are so many very good places there. And I’ve gone to Washington Heights, I’ve gone to Midtown, I’ve gone to the Lower East Side, everywhere trying to find what can you eat because I tell you because I know many Dominicans who haven’t spent 24 hours in New York they tell you, “I already want a plate of rice, I’m going to Washington Heights and I don’t want to know anything about down there in Manhattan.”

The interview was recorded in Spanish and translated using Claude

The post Juan Soto Discusses Relationship with Mets Teammates, Carlos Beltrán’s Advice appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

In his latest week at the Double-A level, Benge went 9-for-20 with three home runs, a triple, and five RBIs while stealing a base and scoring six runs. In 26 games since his promotion, the 22-year-old has a 1.132 OPS.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the minor leagues.

Credit: Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets had yet another easy series win, taking five of six games from the Buffalo Bisons in their most recent series. The Mets just continue to roll and are now 26-7 in the second half of the season, taking their overall record to 57-51.

Hayden Senger had a fantastic week at the plate, leading the team with three home runs and five RBIs while going 4-for-14. He walked twice, stole a base, and scored three runs. Senger’s great week raised his season OPS to .689.

Luke Ritter and Jared Young also had a great series, with each tallying two home runs. Ritter finished 6-for-19, scoring six runs, while Young went 6-for-25 and added a couple of doubles. Ritter’s OPS is slowly creeping up, now at .744 for the year, while Young has been great all year and sits with a .926 OPS.

Yonny Hernández and Pablo Reyes did a lot of hitting, with Hernández leading the team with eight hits in 16 at-bats, while Reyes went 6-for-17. Hernández has been solid in 62 games for Syracuse, owning an .850 OPS, while Reyes has a .962 OPS with Syracuse.

Brandon Sproat looked dominant on the mound once again, tossing five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. It’s been a complete turnaround for Sproat, who has a 0.55 ERA in his last six starts with just two runs allowed in that span. For the season, he still sports a 4.07 ERA.

Nolan McLean also looked great, allowing two runs over six innings with six strikeouts. McLean’s effort lowered his Triple-A ERA to 3.01 through 14 appearances.

Paul Blackburn made another rehab start and he looked solid. Blackburn went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs with three strikeouts. Blackburn, who the Mets reportedly shopped around before the trade deadline, is nearing a potential return to the major league team.

Brandon Sproat. Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Double-A

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies defeated the Harrisburg Senators four games to two in their latest series. The Rumble Ponies remain dominant with a 23-10 record in the second half of the season and a 68-32 record overall.

In addition to Carson Benge’s heroics at the plate, Chris Suero looked good by going 3-for-11 with a double, a home run, and three walks. Suero has been solid since being promoted to the Double-A level, recording an .811 OPS in 11 games.

Nick Lorusso also had a solid series, going 4-for-13 with two doubles, two walks, and three runs. Lorusso owns a .767 OPS on the year.

Jack Wenninger delivered the best start of the week for the Rumble Ponies, tossing six scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Wenninger allowed six hits and three walks in the effort but was able to keep any runs from scoring. Through 20 starts with Binghamton, Wenninger owns a 2.84 ERA.

R.J. Gordon also had a brilliant start, allowing one run over seven innings with six strikeouts. Through four games (three starts) at the Double-A level, Gordon owns a 3.86 ERA.

Jonah Tong had an interesting start. He didn’t allow any runs and struck out eight, which is typical of him, but he was only able to make it through three innings as he walked five batters. Still, Tong’s ERA lowered to 1.66 through 18 starts. He’s nearly been untouchable.

Christopher Suero. Photo by Ed Delany of Metmerized

High-A

The Brooklyn Cyclones continue to slide, dropping five of six games to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws last week. After a great first half of the season, the Cyclones are just 14-22 in the second half of the season. Overall, they are 60-42.

Boston Baro had the best week of any Cyclones hitter, going 7-for-18 with a double, three walks, and six stolen bases. He also didn’t strike out and scored four runs. Despite a .634 OPS for the season, Baro owns a six-game hitting streak and 15 hits over his last nine games.

A.J. Ewing also had an excellent week, going 8-for-21 with three walks and a stolen base. Through 73 games at the High-A level, Ewing’s OPS sits at .802.

Marco Vargas, who has been in a deep slump, broke out with a 6-for-16 week. Vargas walked six times and stole four bases while scoring four runs. It’s been a struggle in Brooklyn for Vargas, who owns a .624 OPS at the level.

Will Watson had a scoreless start, not allowing a run over 5 1/3 innings of work. Watson walked four batters, but struck out five to lower his High-A ERA through 10 appearances (nine starts) to 1.99.

Noah Hall also had a scoreless start, but he only went 3 1/3 innings with a hit and four walks. Hall also struck out six to lower his ERA to 2.23.

Brendan Girton made a pair of starts, totaling just 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) and struck out five. Girton’s ERA on the year lowered to 2.41.

A.J. Ewing. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets played two shorter series with the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Daytona Tortugas. St. Lucie swept Jupiter over three games, outscoring them 33-15. Against Daytona, St. Lucie won three of four games to record a 6-1 record for the week. The Mets are 26-10 in the second half of the season and 60-41 overall.

Randy Guzman, recently promoted from rookie ball, was on fire all week. Guzman went 11-for-25 with five doubles, a home run, and a team-leading eight RBIs, also scoring five runs. Through nine games with the St. Lucie Mets, Guzman owns a 1.024 OPS.

Yonatan Henriquez also remains hot, as he went 7-for-20 with three doubles, seven walks, and three stolen bases. Henriquez has a .707 OPS for the year, but a .927 OPS in his last 21 games.

Several 2025 Mets draft picks or rookie signees, including first-rounder Mitch Voit and third-rounder Antonio Jimenez, made their professional debuts. Voit and Jimenez struggled in small sample sizes, as did AJ Salgado, an undrafted free agent.

Chase Meggers, an undrafted catcher out of Oregon, went 3-for-5, while John Bay from Austin Peay State went 3-for-9 with a triple.

Irving Cota had the best start for the St. Lucie Mets, striking out three over five scoreless innings. Cota owns a 3.99 ERA in 19 appearances (eight starts) with the Mets this year.

Hunter Hodges, who received a promotion to Brooklyn, made a pair of great appearances out of the bullpen. In total, Hodges tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out eight. He had a 2.37 ERA in 29 appearances at the time of his promotion.

Yonatan Henriquez, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

DSL Mets

The DSL Mets Orange went 2-3 this past week to move to 25-20 after 45 games. The DSL Mets Blue had an even tougher week, going 0-5 to move to 16-29 through their first 45 games.

Elian Peña had a really strong week at the plate for the Orange squad, going 9-for-19 with a double, a triple, two walks, three stolen bases, and five runs scored. Peña also drove in two runs. He’s been excellent of late, owning an .858 OPS. On the mound, Osiris Calvo had an excellent start of five scoreless innings. He owns a 1.67 ERA through nine appearances (seven starts).

For the Blue squad, Yovanny Rodriguez, who was the Mets’ top international signing in 2024, looked excellent. He went 7-for-14 with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs, and four runs scored. He’s had an excellent season, owning a .973 OPS through 32 games. On the mound, Luis Sotillo tossed four scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his lone start. It was his first appearance for the Blue squad after recording a 5.14 ERA in eight starts with the Orange squad.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – Carson Benge (BRK/BNG) – .323

OPS – Carson Benge (BRK/BNG) – .969

HR – Ryan Clifford (BNG) – 21

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – 56

Pitching

ERA – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 1.66

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 146

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.812

Players of the Week

Offense – Carson Benge, OF Binghamton

Carson Benge has been a revelation in Double-A, needing no adjustment period to start mashing. His level of play has made it clear he’s the center fielder of the future in Queens, and if he keeps playing like this, it might not be too long until he takes over that position.

Pitching – Jack Wenninger, P Binghamton

Jack Wenninger has been awesome for the Rumble Ponies after a 2024 season in which he had a combined 4.30 ERA between Low-A and High-A. The 2023 sixth-rounder has cemented himself as one of the more exciting young arms in a Mets system that is full of them.

Upcoming Schedule – August 5-10

• Triple-A Syracuse: vs. Charlotte
• Double-A Binghamton: @ Somerset
• High-A Brooklyn: @ Hudson Valley
• Low-A St. Lucie: @ Tampa

The post Minors Weekly Report: Carson Benge Continues to Rake appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Contradicting the later stages of the game, the first five innings were a breeze as both Sean Manaea and Slade Cecconi cruised through five easy scoreless innings. Both kept relatively low pitch counts, especially Manaea, who was at just 57 through five frames.

But as Mets fans know, the sixth inning has not been kind to Mets starters this year. It was no different in this game, as the sixth inning was nothing short of a nightmare. Manaea faced eight batters and only retired two of them. Steven Kwan led off with a single to right field before Ángel Martínez was hit by a pitch while attempting to bunt. José Ramírez then flied out to right, putting runners on the corners with one out. That’s when things started to get out of hand.

A Manaea wild pitch nearly brought home Kwan from third, but Kwan opted to stay at the base while Martínez advanced to second. Manaea then surrendered three straight hits, two singles and a three-run homer off the bat of Gabriel Arias, to put the Guardians ahead 5-0 after entering the inning in a scoreless tie. Manaea then struck out Nolan Jones before allowing a single to Brayan Rocchio, ending Manaea’s night.

Through five innings, it appeared a near certainty that Manea would become the first Mets starter not named David Peterson to complete six innings in almost two months, but a blowup of epic proportions saw him exit the game just one out shy of that mark. In all, he allowed five runs over 5 2/3 innings, watching his ERA balloon from 2.08 to 3.52.

Cleveland’s starter Cecconi was equally as strong as Manaea through five innings. He didn’t allow a run, even working out of a runner-on-second, no-out scenario in the fifth. Like Manaea, though, Cecconi also faltered in the sixth, but not to the same extent and not entirely by his own doing.

Francisco Lindor reached base to lead off the inning on a strikeout and wild pitch before Juan Soto grounded a ball that got by the second baseman for an error. With runners on first and third and no outs, Pete Alonso socked a three-run homer to left-center field to get the Mets back within two. It was the 251st home run of Alonso’s career, putting him just one behind Darryl Strawberry‘s club record. The Mets couldn’t add on further, however, as the next three batters went down in order.

Tyler Rogers and Reed Garrett each pitched a relatively easy scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth to keep the Mets within striking distance. The Mets were unable to get anything going in the seventh but jumped all over Hunter Gaddis in the eighth.

Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil started off the inning with four straight singles, scoring a run and loading up the bases with no outs. Mark Vientos hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and Cedric Mullins nearly gave the Mets the lead, but a great defensive play kept the game tied, and it stayed that way into the ninth.

Edwin Díaz faced immediate trouble in the top of the ninth as he allowed a leadoff single, a stolen base, and an advance to third on a throw that made it to center field. With the Guardians threatening to take the lead right back, Díaz—coming right off a National League Reliever of the Month award for July—induced a strikeout, a popup, and another strikeout to strand the runner at third and give the Mets a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the inning.

Francisco Alvarez started the bottom of the ninth with a single off Cade Smith, promptly being removed from the game so Tyrone Taylor could pinch-run for him. Brandon Nimmo struck out for the fourth consecutive plate appearance before Francisco Lindor ripped a line drive double into right field. Taylor was held up at third, though there’s a chance he could have made it home safely to win the game. Juan Soto was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Pete Alonso to put an end to one of the best games of his career. Alonso worked a 2-2 count but struck out on a high fastball before Jeff McNeil hit a soft liner to the shortstop to put a sudden end to the game-ending threat.

José Ramírez was intentionally walked in the top of the 10th to put runners on first and second with no outs and Ryan Helsley on the mound. Disaster ensued when David Fry dropped down a bunt and Brett Baty sailed the throw to second wide and into the outfield, scoring a run and putting runners on second and third with still nobody out. A sacrifice fly gave the Guardians a massive insurance run, putting them ahead 7-5 as the game turned over to the bottom of the inning.

The first two batters of the inning, Mark Vientos and Cedric Mullins, both hit the ball hard, but both at-bats resulted in outs. Brett Baty then singled home Jeff McNeil, the ghost runner, to get the Mets back within a run. However, with Francisco Alvarez having been removed from the game, Luis Torrens was next up to bat with the game on the line. Torrens took a couple of pitches before skying a fly ball to deep right field, very close to the wall, but it ultimately fell short and was caught for the final out.

One of the most exciting wins of the season quickly turned into one of the worst losses of the season. It is the Mets’ sixth loss in their last seven games as they are now 1.5 games out of first place in the National League East.

Player of the Game

Pete Alonso had a fantastic game despite not coming through with a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth. He went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and three singles, totaling four RBIs on the night. With almost the entire top of the lineup slumping before the past few games, Alonso appears to be fully back.

On Deck

The Mets will continue their series with the Guardians Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Clay Holmes (9-6, 3.45 ERA) will look to give the Mets a rare lengthy outing, while Logan Allen (7-9, 4.06 ERA), coming off a really good start against the Rockies, will take the mound for Cleveland. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

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His week was so good, he won Eastern League Player of the Week.

Now, let’s look at the rest of the system in its first full week back in action after the All-Star break.

Ryan Clifford. Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets completed a rare six-game sweep in their most recent series with the Omaha Storm Chasers, bringing their win streak to seven games. Syracuse has been on a tear in the second half, improving their record to 21-6 and 52-50 overall.

Several players had excellent weeks at the plate, including Luis De Los Santos (two home runs, 1.094 OPS) and Jared Young (one home run, 1.084 OPS). Perhaps the best offensive player of the week, though, was veteran Joey Meneses who went 9-for-19 with a double, two home runs, and a team-leading seven RBIs. Meneses also walked twice and scored two runs. His OPS is inching closer to .800 at .788.

Drew Gilbert also continued his tear at the plate, going 9-for-23 with two doubles, two home runs, and five RBIs. Gilbert also walked twice and scored three runs. Gilbert is in one of his best sustained stretches since joining the Mets organization, recording a .947 OPS over his last 36 games to bring his OPS on the season to .790.

Nolan McLean was dominant yet again for the Mets, allowing just two runs across 7 1/3 innings in his start. He allowed four hits and struck out six batters. McLean continues to be fantastic, and his ERA through 13 games in Triple-A is 3.01.

Brandon Sproat had another solid start, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out three. Sproat now has a 0.64 ERA in his last five starts and a 4.30 season ERA.

Sproat and McLean are making cases for late-season call-ups.

Paul Blackburn also looked excellent in two rehab starts, combining to throw 11 1/3 innings with just two runs allowed. He also struck out 11 as he looks to make his way back to the major league team.

Carson Benge. Photo via Brooklyn Cyclones

Double-A

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies completed a dominant series against the Reading Fightin Phils, winning five of six games and outscoring their opponent 54-22. The Rumble Ponies are now 19-8 in the second half and 64-30 overall.

In addition to what Ryan Clifford did at the plate, Carson Benge looks like a superstar in the making, and he had another fantastic week. Benge went 9-for-25 with three home runs, six RBIs, a walk, and seven runs scored. Benge is crushing Double-A pitching, owning a 1.046 OPS through 21 games at the level.

Nick Lorusso stood out behind Clifford and Benge, going 7-for-18 with two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs. Lorusso also walked four times, scored five runs, and stole a base. The third baseman now owns a .762 OPS on the year.

The best start of the week from a Rumble Ponies pitcher was Jonathan Santucci, who fell just one out away from a quality start. Santucci allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings to give him a 2.03 ERA through three starts since being promoted.

Jonah Tong also had a good start, allowing a run over five innings while striking out six. Tong’s ERA through 17 starts is now 1.72.

Boston Baro

High-A

The Brooklyn Cyclones barely avoided a sweep last week, winning just the final game of their six-game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The second half of the season has not been kind to the Cyclones, who have a 13-17 record. Their record on the entire season is 59-37.

Corey Collins, a slugging first baseman drafted in 2024, had arguably his best week in pro baseball by going 6-for-20 with a triple, a home run, and two RBIs. He also walked three times and scored four runs. Collins has dealt with injuries and lack of production when healthy since being drafted, and he has just a .678 OPS in 17 games with the Cyclones.

Boston Baro, another recent draft pick (2023) who has struggled, also had a good week, going 8-for-24 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. Baro also stole two bases and scored two runs. He owns just a .615 OPS on the season.

Noah Hall delivered two great starts for the Cyclones, combining to allow just one run over seven innings. He allowed four hits and six walks, struggling with command, but he struck out five. Hall has a fantastic 2.32 ERA in 19 games (15 starts) this season.

Will Watson also looked solid, allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts. Watson has shined for the Cyclones, recording a 2.25 ERA in nine games (eight starts).

Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets won five of six games against the Daytona Tortugas. It was a pretty lopsided series, with the Mets outscoring the Tortugas 43-16. The Mets are now 20-9 in the second half of the season and 54-40 overall.

Nick Roselli had an amazing week, going 9-for-15 with a double, two home runs, and a team-leading seven RBIs. Roselli also walked twice, stole a base, and scored six runs, which tied for the team lead. Roselli hasn’t had the best year, but his great week puts his OPS on the year at .726. He was the Florida State League Player of the Week.

Simon Juan also stood out, going 7-for-16 with a double, two triples, and five RBIs, also adding two walks, two stolen bases, and three runs. Juan has really struggled this year, and he now owns a .634 OPS.

Yohairo Cuevas and Yonatan Henriquez had great weeks at the plate, with Cuevas going 8-for-21 and Henriquez going 9-for-24. Cuevas recorded two doubles, while Henriquez recorded a double and a home run. Cuevas has had the better fortunes this year, owning an .809 OPS, while Henriquez owns a .682 OPS.

Franklin Gomez delivered the best start of the week for the Mets, tossing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts. He allowed two hits, a walk, and hit a batter. Gomez has been stellar all year, owning a 1.85 ERA in 14 games (seven starts) with St. Lucie.

Jose Chirinos had a lengthy outing from the bullpen (four innings), but he was great. He didn’t allow a hit, walked two, and struck out six. In eight games (five starts) with St. Lucie, Chirinos has a 3.18 ERA.

FCL Mets

The FCL Mets had multiple games canceled due to rain and thus played just two games this past week, going 1-1. The team is now 25-28 on the year and still in third base in the division.

Edward Lantigua shone in the two games, 3-for-7 with two home runs and a walk. The 18-year-old has been fantastic all year with an .832 OPS.

Yacksel Ríos was one of just two pitchers to appear in the two games to throw a scoreless inning. He hit a batter but otherwise didn’t allow a walk or a hit. It was the first appearance of the year for Ríos, who had a 3.30 ERA in Triple-A Syracuse last year.

DSL Mets

The DSL Mets Orange went 2-3 this past week, moving to 23-17 on the year. Meanwhile, the DSL Mets Blue went 1-4 to move to 16-24 on the year.

Elian Peña had a decent week at the plate for the Orange squad, going 4-for-18 with a home run, three walks, and four stolen bases. He owns an .814 OPS through his first 39 professional games. On the mound, Franyel Diaz looked fantastic with 11 strikeouts over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Diaz owns a 2.93 ERA in 10 games.

For the Blue squad, Leandy Mella went 5-for-14 with a double, a triple, a walk, and two RBIs. In 23 games, he has just a .633 OPS. On the mound, Darling Perez made a start of five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a hit batsman while striking out two. Perez owns a 4.81 ERA through eight starts.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – .314

OPS – Carson Benge (BRK/BNG) – .936

HR – Ryan Clifford (BNG) – 21

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – 55

Pitching

ERA – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 1.72

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 138

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.812

Players of the Week

Offense – Ryan Clifford, 1B/OF Binghamton

Ryan Clifford’s best tool has always been his power, and he’s demonstrated it in a huge way lately. The 22-year-old now has 21 home runs on the year after recording 19 all of last year in 37 more games. If he can consistently mash, he could be an exciting offensive piece for the Mets in the future.

Pitching – Paul Blackburn, P Syracuse

Paul Blackburn made one great start at the major league level this year before floundering, and he’s trying to prove he still belongs. He made two great starts at the run-heavy Triple-A level and could be close to returning to the major leagues. If these two starts are any indication, he could still be a valuable back-of-the-rotation or bulk bullpen arm for the Mets down the stretch.

Upcoming Schedule – July 29 – August 3

• Triple-A Syracuse: @ Buffalo
• Double-A Binghamton: vs. Harrisburg
• High-A Brooklyn: vs. Jersey Shore
• Low-A St. Lucie: @ Jupiter

The post Minors Weekly Report: Ryan Clifford Crosses 20-Home Run Mark appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The beginning of the game was defined by the starters’ elevated pitch counts and the lack of production with runners on base. Both Frankie Montas and Dylan Cease threw a ton of pitches and created traffic on the basepaths, but they were both able to limit the opposition to just one run each through the first four innings. In that span, both pitchers left five runners stranded.

A pivotal moment in the game occurred at the top of the third inning, when the home plate umpire made two questionable strike calls on Juan Soto, who struck out looking. Soto was incensed, and to save him from being ejected, Carlos Mendoza sacrificed himself and got himself booted from the game. It was Mendoza’s third ejection of the season, and it caused him to miss the rest of what turned into a crazy game.

Just an inning later, Mark Vientos nearly had a two-run, go-ahead home run to give the Mets the lead. He sent a pitch by Cease deep to right field, over the wall, but Fernando Tatis Jr. made a brilliant leaping grab over the wall to bring it back and rob Vientos. The play kept the game tied at one, and Cease was able to get out of the inning without allowing the Mets to score.

In his next at-bat the following inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Vientos lifted another Cease pitch to the same area of the ballpark. This time, it went way over Tatis’ head and gave Vientos that elusive home run he nearly had the previous inning, his first long ball in two months. This one was grand, turning a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 lead.

Vintage Vientos.
pic.twitter.com/sPPCt4fsmh

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) July 29, 2025

That statement slam didn’t last long, as Montas and Huascar Brazobán melted down in the bottom of the inning. The two combined to surrender five runs, including a two-run shot off the bat of Luis Arráez and a would-be, inning-ending ground ball out that Brazobán was too slow covering first to get. A massive shot of momentum for the Mets quickly turned in favor of the Padres, who now held a 6-5 lead.

After Brazobán was finally able to get out of the fifth inning, the game became much milder with neither team scoring until yet another crazy inning in the ninth. Adrián Morejón, Jeremiah Estrada and Jason Adam combined for three hitless innings, bridging the way to closer Robert Suarez. Suarez, who had only allowed one home run all season before Monday’s game, left a fastball middle-away for Ronny Mauricio, who crushed it over the wall in right-center field. Mauricio’s second home run in as many games tied the game and sent it to the bottom of the ninth.

The bottom of the inning began as a disaster, with a single and a Gregory Soto throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, putting the winning run on second with no outs. Soto quickly recorded two outs on a fielder’s choice and a strikeout, but with one out to go and in a two-strike count, Elias Díaz lined a base hit into left field to secure a Padres walk-off win.

The Mets’ loss ends their win streak at seven games and keeps them 1.5 games ahead of the Phillies in the National League East.

Player of the Game

Mark Vientos’ grand slam was massive in the moment, considering how it affected the game, but also considering the trade chatter surrounding Vientos recently. He’s had a really rough season, but he’s swung the bat well lately and was rewarded (almost twice) for it tonight.

On Deck

The Mets continue their series with the Padres Tuesday night with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Sean Manaea (1-1, 2.19 ERA) will take the mound for New York while San Diego’s starter is to be determined. The game will air on SNY and MLB Network.

The post Mets Win Streak Ends in Wild Loss to Padres appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mets are still interested in multiple additions to the bullpen after acquiring lefty reliever Gregory Soto from the Orioles for minor league pitchers Wellington Aracena and Cam Foster Friday morning. Danny Coulombe, Griffin Jax, and David Bednar stand out as potential targets for a team looking to fill its biggest need.

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets (60-44) defeated the Giants (54-50) 8-1 on Friday. Francisco Lindor went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, a single, an RBI, and three runs scored as he gets hotter, while the bullpen completed four scoreless innings. The Mets have now won five games in a row.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, one player on the Mets drawing trade interest from around the league is Starling Marte. Marte has been great in a part-time role this year, owning a .751 OPS in 59 games.

Mike Puma also reported that the Mets have checked in on Sandy Alcantara, but they’re told the asking price is steep.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz spoke recently about his desire to return to the World Baseball Classic in 2026 to play for Team Puerto Rico: “As of now I would play if I had the chance… I just want to go and represent my country and have fun.” Díaz infamously suffered a torn patellar tendon while celebrating after a win to advance to the WBC quarterfinals in 2023, causing him to miss the entire 2023 MLB season.

Latest MLB News

Nick Kurtz, just a 22-year-old rookie, had one of the greatest games in MLB history Friday night. Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four home runs, eight RBIs and six runs scored. He ties Shawn Green for the most total bases in a single game ever with 19. He also hit a double that nearly left the yard, coming just short of the first five-homer game ever.

The Yankees acquired Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon in exchange for minor league pitchers Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz. McMahon has 16 home runs and a .717 OPS this year in 100 games, and he shores up the Yankees’ defense at third base which had been a glaring hole.

To fill the roster spot left by Gregory Soto, the Orioles are calling up former Mets prospect Jeremiah Jackson, per interim manager Tony Mansolino. Jackson, who was originally acquired by the Mets when they traded Dominic Leone to the Angels in 2023, has an .878 OPS this year between Double-A and Triple-A, including a 1.079 OPS in Triple-A.

MLB posted the first look of what the field will look like in the Speedway Classic, which takes place August 2 between the Braves and Reds. The baseball diamond is constructed in the middle of Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.

Latest on MMO

Max Smith-Yee profiles White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. as a potential trade target for the Mets.

On This Date in Mets History

1962: In their inaugural season, the Mets set a new National League mark for the most consecutive losses away from home, with their 20th straight loss in games not played at the Polo Grounds.

Born on This Date: Ryne Stanek (1991).

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