Entering the Atlanta Braves series in Queens, the Mets were in free-fall mode. The slide looked to have been stopped thanks to an offensive explosion on Tuesday. Not to mention Pete Alonso making history.

However, Tuesday proved to be the exception rather than the recent rule.

Wednesday saw an all-time meltdown, before the Mets continued their never-ending slide by losing the finale, and the series, to Atlanta on Thursday.

As a result, New York has now lost three consecutive home series, and five straight series in total. That is tied for the longest such streak this season. Furthermore, the Mets are 2-13 over their last 15 games, which is the worst record in any 15-game span since May/June of 2018.

Not good.

And, on that note, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down. It will be another largely negative one, but we’ll do our best to draw some positives if we can…

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 UP

NEW HOME RUN KING

Pete Alonso now stands alone in the annals of Mets history. The slugger launched a pair of home runs in the series opener on Tuesday to cement his place in forever. Alonso hit his 253rd career homer in the bottom of the third to officially surpass Darryl Strawberry for the most home runs in Mets franchise history. It took Alonso about a full season less to accomplish that significant milestone than Strawberry. Alonso also blasted home run No. 254 later on in the game to put an exclamation point on what was just a special night for everyone connected with the Mets. Alonso now stands alone as the best power hitter in the history of the franchise.

TURNING POINT

Francisco Lindor has been going through it as of late. The shortstop entered the series finale hitting just .158/.333/.211/.544 with one extra-base hit and six strikeouts over his last five games. A lot of his at-bats have also looked largely non-competitive recently. However, on Thursday, Lindor broke out offensively. He finished the night 3-for-4 with a home run, two singles, a stolen base and two runs scored. All in all, Lindor did all he could to help his team. Furthermore, Lindor’s 22nd home run of the year has him tied with Michael Conforto for eighth all-time on the Mets’ home run list. More importantly, though, the Mets will be hoping that Lindor can now build on his big night and go on an absolute tear the rest of the way.

SOLID RETURN

Paul Blackburn doesn’t have a concrete role with the team moving forward. However, he sure did help the Mets out on Wednesday night. Activated from the IL after six weeks out with a right shoulder impingement, Blackburn took on the role of a long man out of the bullpen. He gave his team five innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on one hit and one walk with three strikeouts. Not only did Blackburn somewhat stop the bleeding on just a bad night, he also saved the bullpen. A nice job all around.

Juan Soto by Roberto Carlo

3 DOWN

ALL-TIME CHOKE JOB

Wednesday night will go down as one of the worst losses of the year for the Mets. It could potentially be season-defining, too. Things started out so well. Coming off a big-time win the night before, the offense came out swinging and built an early 6-0 lead before the third inning. David Peterson also looked sharp on the mound. But, then, the wheels well and truly fell off. Peterson imploded, being shelled for six earned runs on five hits and five walks in just 3 1/3 innings. Reed Garrett then entered the game and allowed a grand slam, capping off an embarrassing nine-run fourth inning. In all, the Mets allowed 11 unanswered runs. The offense couldn’t get anything going from the third inning onwards, advancing just one runner into scoring position from the sixth onwards. Entering Thursday, the Mets had lost leads of four-plus runs in each of their last three games – the first time that has ever happened in franchise history.

FADING FAST

The Mets do not look like a playoff team right now, let alone a World Series contender, and this series against the Braves underlined that sobering reality. In the wake of losing a fifth consecutive series, New York has now blown nine leads in its last six games. The team is five games back of the Phillies for the NL East lead. The Mets are also just half a game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Furthermore, they are just seven games over .500 – the lowest watermark since April 19. All in all, the Mets are finding new ways to lose every single night and, if this continues, the season may well get away from them quickly.

STARTING CONCERN

This team has a slew of problems right now. Chief among them is the continued failures of the starting rotation. Aside from Kodai Senga on Thursday, the starting pitching was not good in this series. Clay Holmes allowed five runs on six hits and five walks in his outing on Tuesday. David Peterson was also blown up in his start on Wednesday. But it is the lack of length that is really getting out of hand. Holmes pitched just 3 2/3 innings. Peterson lasted just 3 1/3 innings. And, as a result of Peterson’s early exit, the Mets officially went a full turn through the rotation without a single starter completing five innings. Senga did buck that trend on Thursday. However, the point remains that this team is getting killed by its rotation right now. Prior to Thursday, the Mets were getting fewer than five innings per game from their starters over 120 games. Plus, since June 13, and also prior to Thursday, Mets starters had put together just 227 innings – that’s the lowest total in all of baseball. That’s just not good enough, and it isn’t sustainable, either. Unless things change with this rotation, and fast, the Mets are doomed.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Hit New Rock Bottom Against Braves appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Triple-A

Box Score

Syracuse Mets (60-52) 9, Charlotte Knights (52-59) 5

• SS Luisangel Acuña: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R (.724 OPS
• LF Rafael Ortega: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R (.801 OPS)
• 3B Luis De Los Santos: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R (.660 OPS)

Syracuse broke through in the fourth inning after falling behind early. Luisangel Acuña started the fourth-inning rally that brought home three runs with a single. The following frame proved even bigger, as Pablo Reyes lined a two-run double and Rafael Ortega followed with a two-run double of his own to push the lead to seven. Ortega finished with three RBI on the night, and Luis De Los Santos added insurance with a solo homer in the eighth.

• RHP Paul Blackburn (W, 5-1): 5 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HBP (2.55 ERA)
• RHP Dom Hamel: 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HBP (4.94 ERA)

Paul Blackburn delivered another solid outing in his rehab start, pitching 5 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs and issuing no walks. He threw 97 pitches with 61 of them as strikes. Right-hander Dom Hamel followed him but struggled, allowing five baserunners and two earned runs.

Double-A

Box Score

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (71-33) 5, Somerset Patriots (56-50) 2

• SS/CF Jett Williams: 3-for-4, BB, 3 R (.881 OPS)
• OF Carson Benge: 1-for-4, 2B, BB (1.033 OPS)
• 1B/OF Ryan Clifford: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R (.868 OPS)

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies earned a 5-2 win over the Somerset Patriots behind a powerful night from Ryan Clifford, who drove in three runs via a go-ahead two-run homer, his 24th of the season. Jett Williams also helped energize the offense with three hits, three runs scored, and three stolen bases, while designated hitter D’Andre Smith added two hits and a run.

• LHP Jonathan Santucci: 6 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR (3.33 ERA)

Left-hander Jonathan Santucci delivered a dominant performance for Binghamton, pitching six strong innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits and three free passes. Santucci retired 17 of 18 batters in one stretch and secured his third win of the season. He was supported by Daniel Juarez’s two scoreless innings of relief and a perfect ninth inning from Carlos Guzman.

High-A

Box Score

Hudson Valley Renegades (64-39) 2, Brooklyn Cyclones (61-45) 0

• OF/2B A.J. Ewing: 0-for-4, SO (.840 OPS)
• INF Boston Baro: 1-for-4, SO (.629 OPS)
• SS Colin Houck: 0-for-3, BB, SO (.492 OPS)

Brooklyn’s offense struggled to produce runs, managing only three hits and going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Boston Baro, however, was still able to extend his hitting streak to nine games with a single in the eighth. The Cyclones failed to capitalize and were held scoreless. Multiple runners were left on base throughout the game, including two walks in the fourth that ended with a double play and a caught stealing in the eighth to end a potential rally. MMO’s #9 ranked prospect A.J. Ewing has started his August off on a sour note, going 4-for-29 to begin the month.

• RHP Noah Hall: 6 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (2.08 ERA)

24-year-old right-hander Noah Hall extended his strong season with 6⅓ innings of one-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one to keep the Cyclones competitive. Hall has now recorded exactly 100 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched this year. Debuting reliever Hunter Hodges took the loss as his control issues persisted. He struck out three in the eighth but two walks and two hits doomed him, resulting in two runs scored.

Low-A

Box Score

St. Lucie Mets (61-42) 10, Tampa Tarpons (48-52) 4

• INF Jeremy Rodríguez: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 SB (.570 OPS)

St. Lucie had a field day on the bases, stealing 11 bags and converting that aggressive baserunning into 10 runs. The Mets went a perfect 11-for-11 on steal attempts, with Jeremy Rodríguez, Trey Snyder, and Yonatan Henriquez each swiping two bases. At the plate, first baseman Trace Willhoite (.858 OPS), AJ Salgado (.749 OPS), and Simon Juan (.644 OPS) all recorded multi-hit games, though only among them, only Salgado had an extra-base hit.

• RHP Jonathan Jimenez: 4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (0.87 ERA)
• RHP Joel Lara: 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (0.00 ERA)

Jonathan Jimenez was sharp over 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Joel Lara’s St. Lucie debut saw him earn the win in relief. He gave up two unearned runs over 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts. Luis Alvarez and Jorge De Leon combined to close out the final inning to secure the win.

Note: St. Lucie was originally scheduled for a doubleheader Thursday against Tampa, but the second game was canceled due to weather. Therefore, the first game was a shortened seven-inning contest. They will make up the second game in a twin bill on Friday, with Game 1 starting at 4:00 p.m.

Dominican Summer League

DSL Nationals (23-25) 8, DSL Mets Orange (26-22) 7
DSL Rangers Blue (15-33) 13, DSL Mets Blue (17-31) 6 

The DSL Mets Orange’s first two hitters, top prospect Elian Peña and outfielder Heriberto Rincon, each had big days at the plate. Both recorded multi-hit performances, with Rincon leading the charge by collecting four hits, including a triple.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Blackburn Solid In Fourth Rehab Start appeared first on Metsmerized.

The New York Mets saw encouraging signs on the mound Saturday across multiple levels of their system. Paul Blackburn continued his rehab assignment with a solid 5 1/3-inning outing as he works his way back from a shoulder injury. Also on rehab, Brandon Waddell threw 2 2/3 hitless innings as Binghamton’s pitching staff threw their second seven-inning no-hitter of the season, combining for 13 strikeouts.

Paul Blackburn. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (56-51) 5, Buffalo Bisons (40-63) 4

Box Score

• LF Jared Young, 2-for-4, HR, 1 RBI (.936 OPS)
• C Hayden Senger, 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI (.689 OPS)
• 3B Luis De Los Santos, 1-for-4, HR, 1 RBI (.658 OPS)

Jared Young and Hayden Senger both went deep for the second straight day, continuing their power surge at the plate. Young collected two hits, including a solo shot, while Senger added a two-run homer. Meanwhile, Luis De Los Santos joined the home run parade with a solo blast of his own, rounding out a strong day for the Syracuse lineup.

• RHP Paul Blackburn, 5.1 IP,  2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K (2.45 ERA)
• RHP Huascar Brazobán 1.2 IP, 3 K (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Jonathan Pintaro 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K (4.11 ERA)

Paul Blackburn continued his rehab progress as he works his way back from a right shoulder impingement, tossing 5 1/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. Huascar Brazobán followed with 1 2/3 scoreless frames, striking out three in relief as he works on lengthening out. Jonathan Pintaro closed out the game with two innings of work, surrendering two runs on two hits and two walks.

Brandon Waddell. Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Double-A

Game 1: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (67-31) 3, Harrisburg Senators (47-52) 0 

Box Score

• LF Chris Suero, 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI  (.764 OPS)

• LHP Brandon Waddell 2.2 IP, 6 K,  (0.00 ERA)
• RHP Luis Moreno 3.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K (3.61 ERA)
• RHP Ryan Lambert 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 3 K (2.15 ERA)

Brandon Waddell, Luis Moreno, and Ryan Lambert combined for a no-hitter while putting up 13 combined strikeouts for Binghamton. Waddell, who is rehabbing his way back from injury, set the tone with 2 2/3 scoreless innings and six strikeouts, while Moreno followed with three shutout frames, allowing just one walk and striking out four. Lambert closed the door with an inning and a third, fanning three to seal the combined no-hit effort.

It is Binghamton’s second no-hit performance of the season. The first was a perfect game effort, also in one half of a seven-inning doubleheader game.

Chris Suero. Photo by James Villani, MMO

Game 2: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (67-32) 5, Harrisburg Senators (48-52) 7  

Box Score

• C Chris Suero, 2-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI  (.764 OPS)
• 1B Nick Lorusso, 1-for-4, 1 RBI (.752 OPS)
• DH Kevin Parada 2-for-4 , 2B , 2 RBI (.726 OPS)

• LHP Jonathan Santucci 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 7 K  (3.93 ERA)

Boston Baro. Photo by Ed Delaney of MMO

High-A

Jersey Shore BlueClaws (43-54) 7, Brooklyn Cyclones (60-41) 4

Box Score

• SS Boston Baro 2-for-5, 2B (.632 OPS)
• LF Yohairo Cuevas 1-for-4, 1 RBI (.321 OPS)

Boston Baro led the charge atop the lineup with a pair of hits, including a double. Yohairo Cuevas chipped in with an RBI single from the left field spot, but the contributions weren’t enough as the Cyclones fell to the BlueClaws.

• RHP Noah Hall  3.1 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 6 K (2.23 ERA)

Noah Hall turned in a gutsy outing, working around four walks to strike out six over three and a third hitless innings. Despite some control issues, he limited the damage and kept the opposition in check with just one hit allowed.

Mitch Voit. Photo by: LON HORWEDEL

Single-A

Game 1: St. Lucie Mets (58-41) 2, Daytona Tortugas (46-53) 3

Box Score

• 1B Trace Willhoite, 1-for-3, 1 RBI (.869 OPS)
• DH Mitch Voit, 1-for-4, 1 RBI (.453 OPS)

Recent Mets draft pick Mitch Voit notched the first hit of his professional career, an RBI single that put the Mets on the board, while Trace Willhoite added an RBI single of his own as part of a late push. However, the eighth-inning rally came up short, as St. Lucie’s comeback fell just shy.

• RHP Irving Cota 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 K (3.99 ERA)

Irving Cota delivered a steady performance on the mound, tossing five scoreless innings while scattering four hits and striking out three to keep the opposition in check. Cota has now gone 10 straight innings without allowing a run.

Game 2: St. Lucie Mets (59-41) 6, Daytona Tortugas (46-54) 1 Game 2

Box Score

• CF Yonatan Henriquez 2-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI (.639 OPS)
• RF Randy Guzman, 2-for-3,  HR, 2B, 4 RBI (.996 OPS)

Randy Guzman stole the show, collecting two hits, including a home run and a double, while driving in four runs in a stellar performance. Yonatan Henriquez set the table from the top of the lineup, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

• RHP Omar Victorino 4.2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K (1.93 ERA)
• RHP Hunter Hodges  2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K (2.37 ERA)

Omar Victorino bounced back nicely from his rough July 23 outing with the Florida Complex League Mets, allowing just one earned run over 4 2/3 innings while giving up only two hits and striking out four. Hunter Hodges followed with 2 1/3 dominant frames in relief, striking out five and surrendering just one hit to shut the door.

Dominican Summer League

DSL Blue Jays Red (22-22) 0, DSL Mets Orange (25-19) 5

Box Score

• DH Roybert Herrera,1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI (1.016 OPS)
• RF Adolfo Miranda, 1-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI, (.881 OPS)

• LHP Osiris Calvo  5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K  (1.67 ERA)
• RHP Franyel Diaz 2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB (2.73 ERA)

Osiris Calvo turned in a dominant start, limiting the opposition to just one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings while striking out three and earning his fourth win of the season. Franyel Diaz followed with two solid frames of relief, working around a pair of walks and a hit to keep the game in check.

DSL Angels (25-19) 6, DSL Mets Blue (16-28) 5

Box Score

• DH Vladi Guerrero, 1-for-3, 1 RBI (.665 OPS)
• C  Yovanny Rodriguez, 2-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI (.958 OPS)

Designated hitter Vladi Guerrero, the half-brother of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., chipped in with an RBI single, finishing 1-for-3 on the night. Behind the plate, Yovanny Rodriguez stayed hot at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

• RHP Yoelvis Martinez  1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 2 K (3.55 ERA)

The post Mets Minors Recap: Blackburn Steady In Rehab, Voit Picks Up First Pro Hit appeared first on Metsmerized.

Per The Athletic‘s Will Sammon and Tim Britton, the Mets are actively shopping 31-year-old right-hander Paul Blackburn ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, despite him currently being on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Blackburn threw 87 pitches in his most recent rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse, allowing just one earned run over six-plus innings. He was slated to make a final rehab start on Saturday before rejoining the big-league club.

Though his time in Queens has been tainted by injuries and poor results, Blackburn was once an All-Star, and his starting experience might make him a low-cost option for teams needing rotation depth. Given his recent struggles and health history, the Mets aren’t expected to receive much in return, but a deal could help clear roster space while giving Blackburn a fresh opportunity elsewhere. Overall, he owns a 7.71 ERA this season and a 6.28 ERA over 43 total innings in a Mets uniform.

Blackburn had drawn trade interest as early as June, but that became moot as the Mets faced rotation issues of their own.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets dropped their second straight on Tuesday, falling 7-1 to the Padres. The game stayed close until the seventh, when José Buttó allowed four baserunners and Chris Devenski let them all score on a three-run homer. To make matters worse, Juan Soto exited with a foot contusion, though the X-rays on his foot have come back negative. Offensively, the Mets managed just four hits, with all of them coming from the bottom half of the lineup.

Today, New York will send Clay Holmes (9-5, 3.40 ERA) to the mound to face the recently returned Yu Darvish (0-3, 9.18 ERA) as they look to salvage one of the three games. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET and will air on SNY.

Per Buster Olney of ESPN, the Cincinnati Reds could potentially have interest in one of the Mets’ trio of young infielders, depending on the asking price for more expensive options like the Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez.

MLB.com‘s Mark Feinsand writes that the Mets and White Sox are in talks involving Luis Robert Jr., and infielder Luisangel Acuña has been among the names discussed. Via Feinsand, one source called the Mets the “frontrunner” for Robert, though the Padres and Phillies are also reportedly in pursuit.

The Mets have optioned right-hander Huascar Brazobán to Triple-A Syracuse to open a roster spot for Chris Devenski, who was signed to a major league deal on Tuesday. Carlos Mendoza said Brazobán will stretch out to 40 pitches in Syracuse as the Mets look to build him up for an eventual multi-inning role with the big league club.

Latest MLB News

On Tuesday, Eugenio Suárez’s CT scan and MRI came back clean, revealing no breaks.

The Braves announced that Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from Tuesday’s game due to right Achilles tightness. According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Acuña is in a walking boot and going on the injured list.

Former Dodgers catching prospect Diego Cartaya has a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, as first reported by Daniel Álvarez-Montes of El Extra Base. Cartaya, 23, was recently released by the Twins after slashing .085/.217/.136 in Triple-A.

The Royals designated 45-year-old lefty Rich Hill for assignment after just one week on the team’s active roster. He made two appearances and took the loss in both, ending his brief stint with his 14th MLB team. Perhaps another club takes a flier on Hill, which would give him a record 15th team.

The Dodgers placed speedy utility man Hyeseong Kim on the injured list with left shoulder bursitis. After hitting .383 across May and June, he’s fallen off a cliff in July, batting just .193 while dropping his average by 76 points and his OPS by nearly 200.

Former Phillie Seranthony Domínguez was traded from the Orioles to the Blue Jays for pitching prospect Juaron Watts-Brown, confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The trade happened between games of the Blue Jays-Orioles doubleheader. Domínguez even walked past his old teammates on his way to the Blue Jays bullpen.

AL Rookie of the Year candidate Jacob Wilson has been placed on the injured list with a fractured right forearm. Wilson, 23, is hitting .312/.354/.439 on the year but was struggling through a rough slump that opened the door for teammate Nick Kurtz to emerge as the new rookie of the year front-runner.

The Twins have placed outfielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with left ribcage inflammation. He’s actually managed to stay healthy for 85 games this season, but it’s yet another trip to the IL for the former No. 2 overall pick.

Latest on MMO

Jack Ramsey’s rumor roundup from 7/29 includes Mets interest in Ryan Helsley.

David Melendi takes a look at what it might take to extend David Peterson.

Melendi also writes about Mark Vientos and his recent resurgence.

Mathias Altman-Kurosaki profiles Minnesota relievers, including Jhoan Duran, in a trade profile.

Jorge Eckardt selects the most interesting traits from the Mets’ Day 2 draft picks.

On This Date in Mets History

2004: The Mets infamously trade away Scott Kazmir to the Rays for Victor Zambrano, and send Jose Bautista and Ty Wigginton to the Pirates for Kris Benson and Jeff Keppinger. Don’t worry—Rick Peterson can fix Zambrano… well, apparently not.

2016: Mike Piazza‘s number 31 is retired.

2021: The Mets send Pete Crow-Armstrong to the Cubs for Javier Báez in another win-now move that ultimately proves costly.

Born on This Date: Ellis Valentine (1954), Clint Hurdle (1957), Todd Haney (1965).

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Looking to Trade Paul Blackburn appeared first on Metsmerized.

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.

Benge went 4-for-6 with a walk, three RBIs and four runs scored. He is slashing .350/.458/.588 with five homers, 15 RBIs, 15 walks and three steals in 21 games since being promoted to Binghamton.

Triple-A

Omaha Storm Chasers (38-63) 1, Syracuse Mets (52-50) 2

Box Score

• 2B Luis De Los Santos, 1-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI (32), 2 K (.619 OPS)
• CF Drew Gilbert, 1-for-4, 2 K (.790 OPS)
• RF Omar De Los Santos, 2-for-3, 3B, SB (1) (1.333 OPS)

Luis De Los Santos hit a two-run, walk-off homer to center off Michael Fulmer to lift Triple-A Syracuse to its seventh-straight win. He tossed his helmet skyward between third and home and was doused with three buckets of Gatorade at the plate. The Syracuse Mets posted wonderful photos of the scene.

Fulmer was a Mets first-round pick in 2011, but never played for New York. He was traded with pitcher Luis Cessa at the 2015 deadline to the Tigers for Yoenis Cespedes. Who, if anyone, might be traded this week? The deadline is Thursday.

• RHP Paul Blackburn (2.30 ERA) 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 6 K
• RHP Justin Hagenman (5.40 ERA) 2 IP, 2 K, W

Blackburn was sharp in what is expected to be his last rehab start, with him reportedly set to join the Mets this weekend. He went on the injured list on July 3 with a right shoulder impingement.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (64-30) 17, Reading Fightin Phils (36-58) 3

Box Score

• CF Carson Benge, 4-for-6, 2 HR (5), 3 RBI (15), 4 R, BB (1.046 OPS)
• LF Ryan Clifford, 3-for-4, HR (21), 2B, RBI (67), 5 R, 3 BB, K (.864 OPS)
• RF D’Andre Smith, 3-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI (26), R, 2 BB (.766 OPS)
• 1B JT Schwartz, 2-for-6, 2 2B, RBI (22), R (.581 OPS)
• SS Jett Williams, 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 BB, K (.891 OPS)
• DH Chris Suero, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI (5), R, 2 BB (.710 OPS)

Benge wasn’t the only standout on offense. Clifford leads the Eastern League in home runs and RBIs and is third in OPS. Williams leads the league in runs (64), doubles (28) and OPS.

• RHP Jack Wenninger (3.02 ERA) 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, K, HR

Wenninger, 23, is second in the Eastern League in strikeouts (110) and ERA, trailing only his teammate Jonah Tong.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (59-37) 3, Greensboro Grasshoppers (67-28) 2

Box Score

• SS Boston Baro, 4-for-4, HR (4), 3 RBI (31), SB (18) (.615 OPS)
• 2B Marco Vargas, 2-for-4, 2B, R, BB (.602 OPS)
• CF A.J. Ewing, 1-for-4, R (.800 OPS)

Baro put on a show. The 20-year-old’s two-run homer in the sixth put the Cyclones in front. He added a tiebreaking single in the eighth that proved to be the game winner.

• RHP Noah Hall (2.32 ERA) 3 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, K
• RHP Hoss Brewer (3.65 ERA) IP
• LHP Ryan Ammons (2.89 ERA) IP
• RHP Josh Blum (0.90 ERA) IP, SV

Hall, who is having his first fully healthy season since the Mets drafted him in the seventh round in 2023 out of the University of South Carolina, entered Sunday ranked third in the South Atlantic League in ERA and batting average against. He has 87 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings pitched.

Low-A

St. Lucie Mets (54-40) 6, Jupiter Hammerheads (39-55) 1

Box Score

• 3B Trey Snyder, 3-for-5, RBI (35), 2 SB (30), R, K (.658 OPS)
• SS Yonatan Henriquez, 2-for-4, HR (6), RBI (41), BB, 2 K (.682 OPS)
• 2B Nick Roselli, 2-for-5, HR (7), 2 RBI (31) (.726 OPS)
• CF Simon Juan, 2-for-5, 2B, 2 SB (5), R, K (.634 OPS)

Roselli’s blast was his second in three games and he’s 9-for-16 in his last four games with the two homers, a double, seven RBIs and a stolen base. The 22-year-old born in Levittown was taken in the 11th round of last year’s draft from SUNY Binghamton.

• RHP Irving Cota (4.29 ERA) 5 IP, 4 H, 5 K
• RHP Cristofer Gomez (3.86 ERA) IP, H, 3 K

Gomez, a 22-year-old from the Dominican Republic, has 60 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings pitched for St. Lucie. Cota 21, of Mexico, has struck out 56 in 65 innings for St. Lucie, including one here.

The post Mets Minors Recap: Benge Blasts Two Homers For Binghamton appeared first on Metsmerized.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Triple-A

Syracuse Mets (47-50) 4, Omaha Storm Chasers (38-58) 3

Box Score

• RF Jose Azocar, 1-for-4, R, HR (2), 2 RBI, K (.777 OPS)
• C Hayden Senger, 1-for-4, R, 3B, K (624 OPS)
• 2B Yonny Hernandez, 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI (.819 OPS)

Azócar crushed his first Triple-A home run of the season after spending all of July in Syracuse, following his DFA by the big league club at the end of May.

• RHP Paul Blackburn (2.52 ERA) 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

After returning to the IL with a shoulder impingement on July 3, Paul Blackburn made his second rehab start — his first with Syracuse — looking sharp over 72 pitches.

Double-A

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (59-30) 3, Reading Fightin’ Phils  (35-53) 6

Box Score

• SS Jett Williams, 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, K (.903 OPS)
• RF Ryan Clifford, 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K (.796 OPS)
• DH Kevin Parada, 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K (.740 OPS)

Jett Williams recorded his fourth multi-hit performance in his last six games, adding two more doubles to his league-leading total in the Eastern League.

• RHP Joander Suarez (3.16 ERA) 5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• RHP Anthony Nunez 1 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

On Tuesday, Nunez allowed his first earned runs since June 8th, but still holds a stellar 1.67 ERA across High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton in 2025.

High-A

Brooklyn Cyclones (58-33) 5, Greensboro Grasshoppers (63-27) 8

Box Score

• DH Marco Vargas, 3-for-4, R, BB (.605 OPS)
• CF A.J. Ewing, 2-for-5, 2B, K (.806 OPS)
• 1B Corey Collins, 2-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI (.650 OPS)

Collins, the Mets’ sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft, belted his first High-A home run of the season — the third of his professional career.

• RHP Noah Hall (2.30 ERA) 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Hall turned in his second consecutive scoreless outing, lowering his season ERA to 2.30 while contributing in both starting and relief roles for the Cyclones.

Low-A

Daytona Beach Tortugas (42-47) 6, St. Lucie Mets (49-40) 1

Box Score

• LF Simon Juan, 1-for-2, RBI (.595 OPS)
• SS Jeremy Rodriguez, 1-for-3, BB (.569 OPS)

The St. Lucie Mets’ offense struggled on Tuesday, managing just three hits. However, Simon Juan’s second-inning sacrifice fly stood out with an exit velocity of 108 mph — the second highest among all Low-A games on Tuesday.

• RHP Irving Cota (4.65 ERA) 6 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Cota was roughed up again on Tuesday, extending his streak to seven of his last eight outings with at least two earned runs allowed.

Florida Complex League

FCL Astros (36-16) 8, FCL Mets (24-27) 1

Box Score

• CF Edward Lantigua, 2-for-4, R, HR (2), 1 RBI, K (.809 OPS)

Following his walk-off two-run double on Saturday, Lantigua crushed his second home run of the Complex League season, bringing up his OPS to .809.

The Mets Dominican Summer League teams both won their Tuesday matchups – Mets Blue won 9-2 and Mets Orange won 13-3. 

The post Mets Minors Recap: Blackburn Makes Successful Rehab Start appeared first on Metsmerized.

Raley, who signed a one-year deal with the club in April, will now slot in as the Mets’ lone left-handed reliever after they designated Richard Lovelady for assignment to make room on the 26-man roster. 

Brooks Raley. Photo by Roberto Carlo

Across two separate stints with New York, Lovelady logged a 10.80 ERA across eight appearances and 8 1/3 innings.

Raley made eight appearances across three levels during his rehab assignment, which began in the middle of June. In nine innings, he gave up no runs, seven hits and one walk to go alongside 13 strikeouts. The timing of Raley’s return couldn’t be better, as the bullpen is still searching for a reliable lefty following season-ending injuries to both A.J. Minter and Danny Young. 

Additionally, the Mets provided updates on two more big league pitchers working their way back from injury. The first was right-hander Paul Blackburn officially being placed on a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League squad in Port St. Lucie. The news was a bit tardy given Blackburn made his first appearance yesterday for the FCL Mets, giving up three hits, one earned run and two walks while recording eight strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. 

Lastly, the Mets announced that right-hander José Buttó’s rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Syracuse. He made a lone appearance for the FCL Mets this past Tuesday, July 15, during which he pitched a scoreless first inning while striking out one batter and giving up a hit. 

Additionally, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that right-handed pitcher Max Kranick will officially undergo Tommy John surgery. He was placed on the 15-day IL with a right flexor strain on June 19.

The post Mets Activate Brooks Raley, DFA Richard Lovelady appeared first on Metsmerized.

For the first time in three weeks, the Mets won a series. They took two out of three from the Milwaukee Brewers. It wasn’t always pretty, but New York got the job done to record just a fifth win in its past 19 games.

Despite imploding in the opener, the Mets rallied to beat a red-hot Milwaukee team in the final two games. With the Yankees now in town, we will see if this team can truly take off.

Before we get to the Subway Series, however, let’s proceed with the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brandon Nimmo By Roberto Carlo

3 UP

GOING LONG

David Peterson was everything the Mets needed and more in the series finale on Thursday. The starter navigated a rain delay to deliver a strong outing on the mound. He allowed just one earned run on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. More importantly, though, Peterson gave his team 6 2/3 innings. New York needed length with all the injuries to the rotation and a taxed bullpen, and that’s exactly what it got. Peterson became the first Met since June 17 to get through six innings (14 games). It was arguably the most important start the lefty has made in recent weeks given all the current pitching adversity.

GUTSY CHANGES

Full kudos to Carlos Mendoza. The Mets manager came under fire for removing Clay Holmes after 90 pitches during the first game of the doubleheader. Holmes’ exit was immediately followed by an all-time implosion from the bullpen. However, rather than be haunted by that decision, Mendoza made some bold changes for the second game. He bumped Brandon Nimmo up to the leadoff spot. Francisco Lindor, who entered Game Two in a 2-for-29 slump, moved down to hit second. The end result? An offensive explosion from the top of the lineup. Nimmo and Lindor combined to drive in all seven of the Mets’ runs in the nightcap on Wednesday. Nimmo hit a monster grand slam in the second inning to blow the game wide open. Lindor finished 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, a run scored and three RBIs.

Then, in the finale, Mendoza opted to have Starling Marte leadoff. The veteran went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Nimmo, hitting in the five-hole, hit his second home run in as many games. That solo blast came in the second inning again, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Mendoza made some gutsy calls in order to spark his lineup into life, and they paid off. He deserves a ton of credit for that.

GRINDING IT OUT

Despite being gassed and overworked, the bullpen delivered in this series. After an ugly meltdown in the opener, Mets relievers proceeded to shut it down the rest of the way. Five relievers, including Huascar Brazobán as the opener, combined for 4 2/3 shutout innings in the second game. Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz deserve special praise, though. Stanek struck out two in his outing on Wednesday. He then struck out three of the four batters he faced over 1 1/3 innings in the finale. Díaz, meanwhile, recorded the save in each of the final two games, continuing his dominant stretch. When they were needed, Mets relievers truly delivered in this series.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

MELTDOWN

As mentioned above, Mendoza’s decision to take Holmes out of the game proved to be costly. Reed Garrett entered the game with a lead, and he would leave having authored a 6-2 deficit. The righty immediately gave up an RBI double to make it a tie game. He then surrendered a grand slam to Joey Ortiz. That proved to be a backbreaker for Garrett and the Mets. There was no recovering from that knockout punch.

INJURIES PILING UP

The Mets just can’t catch a break on the injury front. Another week brought a fresh round of injury blows on the pitching side of things. Paul Blackburn was placed on the 15-Day IL with a right shoulder impingement. The real bad news was still yet to come. Dedniel Núñez was placed on the 15-Day IL with a right elbow sprain, and it is possible that the reliever could require Tommy John surgery. Losing another starter is a blow, but losing another reliever for the year would act as yet another huge punch in the mouth for the bullpen. The Mets are facing a pitching nightmare right now.

HOT & COLD

The offense continues to be maddeningly inconsistent. The lineup managed just two hits all game in the series opener, and eight hits and three runs in the finale. Granted, there was a seven-run explosion in the middle game. But, given the current pitching crisis currently engulfing this team, the offense needs to step up and be a lot better. It also needs to be a lot more consistent. Runners in scoring position also remains a huge problem. Furthermore, the 6-through-9 hitters went a combined 1-for-12 in the finale, and 1-for-10 in the opener. It is way past time for this offense to stop being so hit and miss. The lineup has to now carry the load and start living up to its potential.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Stop Skid Against Brewers appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Both pitchers could never quite find their footing so far this 2025 season. Blackburn missed the start of the year after he spent the offseason recovering from a spinal fluid leak. The soft-tossing righty also dealt with right knee inflammation that kept him off a big league mound until June. Blackburn made an impressive scoreless start against the Dodgers in his season debut, but has been hit hard ever since. With an ERA totaling 7.71, the Mets are hoping that he can right his season before it’s too late.

Núñez also spent the offseason recovering from injury, a strained flexor tendon in his pitching arm. The Mets slow-played his recovery, and after coming seemingly out of nowhere in 2024 to become a key contributor in the bullpen with his fastball/slider mix, he didn’t make his 2025 debut until May 5. He walked all three batters who subsequently scored, and fewer than two weeks later, he was sent to the minors. Núñez was brought back up and made his return on June 22.

All in all, Núñez had a 4.66 ERA in 10 appearances, but only gave up a run in two of them.

The Mets made some additional moves ahead of their rubber game against the Brewers on Thursday. The team optioned Blade Tidwell to Triple-A, a day after serving as the bulk guy in Game 2 of the split doubleheader, when he got his first major league win.

Austin Warren will stay in Queens after serving as the 27th man during the doubleheader. Justin Hagenman was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, and the team confirmed that it’s calling up Rico Garcia for the first time in 2025.

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