Not much is going right in Mets world right now, but one source of excitement is the debut of Nolan McLean on Saturday. One of the Mets’ most highly touted pitching prospects in recent memory, McLean will see his first major league action and will wear jersey No. 26 in the Mets’ second game against the Mariners.

In a corresponding move Friday night, the Mets designated Paul Blackburn for assignment, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Blackburn provided the Mets five innings of relief in his most recent outing, which came Wednesday. It was his first MLB appearance since June 28, with an IL stint due to a right shoulder impingement in between.

Blackburn had a 6.85 ERA in 23 2/3 MLB innings this season. He had an even 6.o0 ERA over 48 innings in his Mets career.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets’ first game against the Mariners was dreadful, as New York fell 11-9. The bats were on display, but the Mets blew a 3-2 lead and a 6-4 lead as their pitching woes continue to persist among the entire staff. Per Anthony DiComo and Sarah Langs of MLB.com, this is just the second time in the last 17 years the Mets have blown a lead in seven consecutive games.

Jonah Tong joined the latest Meet at the Apple podcast to talk about his rise as a prospect and his breakout 2025 season.

Latest MLB News

Phillies closer Jhoan Durán had to leave the game after taking a comebacker to the foot. The Phillies later announced that X-rays came back negative.

The Pirates recalled former Met Colin Holderman from their Triple-A team. Holderman had a 9.00 ERA in 14 major league games this year before being called back up.

Statcast added new updates to how you can view Fielding Run Value. You are now able to sum by team, split by month, filter by date, and more.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang details the continued struggles of Ryan Helsley.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Roger Cedeño (1974), Rick Reed (1964), Mike Jorgensen (1948), Gene Woodling (1922).

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The performance of the pitching staff was once again the highlight for the Mets, as the Marlins couldn’t score a single run. Kodai Senga started the game and tossed just five innings for the second consecutive start, but he held the Marlins without a run. Senga’s biggest obstacle was in the first inning, where he allowed the first two batters to reach base, but he escaped the inning unscathed.

The next four innings were relatively smooth for Senga, who finished the day allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four. Through two starts, both of which have been against the Marlins, Senga’s ERA sits at 1.80.

Following Senga, the bullpen was once again stellar. Danny Young pitched a clean sixth inning, allowing a hit and striking out a batter, while José Buttó eased through the seventh and eighth innings. Buttó allowed a hit and a walk but struck out two batters as he lowered his ERA through five games to 1.23. Ryne Stanek drew the ninth inning with Edwin Díaz having pitched the previous two games, and he locked down the save with a 1-2-3 inning. Stanek has yet to allow a run in three games this year.

Francisco Lindor scores on a Juan Soto RBI double are words that make us happy pic.twitter.com/bkjab8pR0H

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On the offensive side, the Mets’ bats were once again quiet, with the top of the order the exception. Francisco Lindor recorded three hits (including his 1,500 career hit), while Juan Soto and Pete Alonso recorded two each. Lindor and Soto combined to score the Mets’ first run in the third inning off of Marlins starter Valente Bellozo. Lindor reached first base after dropping down a timely bunt, and Soto immediately drove him in with a double into the left-center field gap.

The Mets added a big insurance run in the ninth inning, with Jose Siri scoring after taking over for Mark Vientos, who reached on a walk. Siri used his speed to steal second base before coming around to score on a Tyrone Taylor ground ball single up the middle.

It wasn’t a pretty win, but then again, most of the Mets’ wins this season haven’t been pretty; they’ve won their last three games by a combined score of 7-3. But with the pitching staff excelling the way they are, the Mets keep finding ways to win and have now won five consecutive games.

Statistic of the Game: 1,500th Hit

With his leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth inning, Francisco Lindor recorded his 1,500th career hit. The milestone comes in Lindor’s 11th season in what has been a fantastic career thus far.

Player of the Game: Juan Soto

Juan Soto had a great night at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Soto’s double in the third inning drove in the first run of the game and put the Mets on top for good. Through 10 games with the Mets, he owns a .286 average and a .905 OPS.

On Deck

The Mets and Marlins play the second game of their series at 7:10 p.m. ET Tuesday night. Clay Holmes (0-1, 2.89 ERA) takes the mound for his third start of the season while Connor Gillispie (0-1, 3.60 ERA), who got the better of the Mets his last time out, will go for the Marlins. The game will be broadcast on SNY.

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Buehler, who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, had a forgettable season in 2024. Although he closed out the World Series for the Dodgers and earned himself a ring, he pitched to a 5.38 ERA in 16 starts in 2024. He came off his second Tommy John surgery and hasn’t pitched a full season since 2021 when he was named to his second All-Star team and finished fourth in Cy Young voting.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Sherman reports the market for him is deep, and various contract types remain on the table. One-year and multi-year deals are options, with opt-outs to help him re-establish himself. Expect him to sign a contract in the vein of Sean Manaea in 2023, who signed a two-year deal with the Mets, which included an opt-out after year one.

The rotation remains a key rebuilding sector for the Mets, even after reportedly signing RHP Frankie Montas to a two-year deal Sunday.

Sherman also notes reliever Clay Holmes is on the Mets’ radar, someone who can bolster a bullpen in need of stability. Holmes comes off a four-year stint with the Yankees, where he posted a 2.69 ERA in 220 games. He saved 74 games, struck out 238 batters and walked 69. However, according to Sherman, the Mets might be interested in Holmes as a starter. He only started four games in his big league career, those coming in his rookie season for the Pirates back in 2018. For more on Holmes, read MMO’s free agent profile here.

Speaking of bullpen stability, Mike Soroka spent the 2024 season with the Chicago White Sox, where, after struggling as a starter, excelled in a relief role. The 27-year-old had a 2.75 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 36 innings as a reliever. Soroka started nine games on the South Side, posting an 0-5 record and 6.39 ERA. In 43.2 innings, he struck out 24 batters, walked 24 and allowed 10 home runs. As a reliever, he also went 0-5 but struck out 60 batters, walked 20 and allowed only three home runs.

His slider and fastball remained elite in 2024, with hitters mustering .168 and .195 batting averages against the pitches. However, his sinker and changeup were hit hard, with batters xSLG .558 and .548 against the pitches. Soroka’s 24.2% strikeout and 12.7% walk percentage were career worsts for him, but that may be a result of an increase in vertical movement in his changeup. While he decreased the pitch usage, it was his most erratic pitch.

Soroka began his career with the Atlanta Braves and is an All-Star. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2019 and sixth in Cy Young voting the same year. As a member of the Braves staff, he was 17-8 with a 3.32 ERA over 44 games (43 starts). He struck out 200 batters, walked 67 and finished his Braves tenure with a 136 ERA+. Injuries derailed much of his career. He suffered an Achilles injury in 2020 and then re-tore the same Achilles in 2021 while walking in the clubhouse.

He’s only pitched 100+ innings once in his career (2019). He pitched 79.2 innings in 2024, the second-most of his career. Teams will view him as a reliever, especially after his success in the role late in the season with the White Sox.

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Position: RHP B/T: R/R
Age: 31 (03/21/1993)

2024 Traditional Stats: 30 GS, 7-11, 150 ⅔ IP, 4.84 ERA, 148 SO, 66 BB, 1.367 WHIP
2024 Advanced Stats: 89 ERA+, 22.6% SO%, 10.1% BB%, 4.71 xERA, 4.71 FIP, 4.26 xFIP, 1.4 fWAR

Cara Owsley / USA TODAY NETWORK

The baseball calendar has turned to December, and with it the Mets made their first big move of the offseason, signing starting 31-year-old pitcher Frankie Montas to a two-year, $34 million deal, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Per Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Montas will have a player option for that second year.

RUNDOWN

Montas and the Mets have an immediate past, as he made his final two starts of the 2024 season against New York. In his final start of the season, Montas threw four innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out six. In Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series, he gave up one earned run in under four full innings. The Mets couldn’t tack on runs against him and ended up losing, 5-3. Montas will turn 32 in March.

It’s a return to the Big Apple for Montas, who had a not-so-stellar run with the Yankees after being dealt in a trade deadline move in 2022. In a year-and-a-half in pinstripes, Montas made just eight starts, amassing a 6.15 ERA and a shoulder surgery. 2024 saw him split his time between the Reds and Brewers, putting in a complete season with 30 starts, 150.2 innings pitched, going 7-11 with a 4.84 ERA.

The signing is eerily familiar to Mets fans after David Stearns and his team signed Sean Manaea and Luis Severino to similar “low-risk, high-reward” short-term deals heading into the 2024 season. The Mets hit big with those two signings, and Stearns hopes to do the same here. Montas was also not given the qualifying offer heading into the offseason, continuing the trend of the Mets signing players they wouldn’t have to surrender a draft pick to acquire.

Montas made his bones pitching for the Oakland Athletics (RIP) for six seasons, making 89 starts to a 3.70 ERA and finished sixth in Cy Young voting in 2021, a year in which he finished with a career-high 4.0 fWAR. The Mets are counting on his returning to a pitcher’s park as something that will spark him, but park factors or not, his only elongated success was as an Athletic. Montas had a 111 ERA+ in Oakland and was below average at every other stop.

According to Baseball Savant, His fastball velocity ranked in the 70th percentile in 2024, averaging 95.3 MPH, but his other peripherals weren’t as clean. Montas finished below the 50th percentile in xBA, Average EV, Chase rate, whiff rate and strikeout rate. He also finished below the 25th percentile in xERA, walk percentage, barrel percentage and hard-hit rate. The Brewers found a way to boost his K% from his time with the Reds, however, going from 7.5 K/9 to 11, while keeping his walk-rate stagnant. Stearns and company will certainly be looking to continue that improvement and beyond with help from the Mets’ pitching lab.

Montas’ four-seam usage increased in 2024, throwing it 33% of the time (up from 28% in 2022 and 12% in his one outing in 2023). He threw his sinker, cutter and splitter at similar rates (19%, 19% and 18%), and rounded out his repertoire throwing his slider 11% of the time. His splitter was by far his best pitch, getting hitters to struggle with a 63 WRC+.

GRADE: B

Frankly, with a low-risk, short-term contract such as this one, and the ones the Mets doled out to Sean Manea and Luis Severino in 2023, it’s nearly impossible to give a grade any higher than a B and any lower than a C. That one-grade difference is predicated upon one’s faith in the baseball decision-maker. After his success in just year one as president of baseball operations, David Stearns certainly has earned the benefit of the doubt.

It’s hard to imagine any major league starting pitching deals ending up with a much shorter AAV than this one. The Angels signed 33-year-old Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $63 million contract, setting the status quo for what to expect in free agency for pitchers. Looking back, the deal for Montas might be another steal for the Mets.

As is true with every early move in a baseball season, the grade will also be looked at differently based on what happens next. With the addition of Montas, three starting pitchers are expected to be in the Opening Day rotation, along with Kodai Senga and David Peterson, neither of whom pitched a full 2024 season. Additional options include José Buttó, Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn, injury permitting.

Of course, this is just the first signing of many for the Mets and their rotation. Montas profiles to slot into a backend rotation role, likely a fourth or fifth starter. The Mets don’t expect him to be their ace right now. They will sign more starters. However, as 2024 proved with Manaea and Severino, anything is possible.

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Mark Vientos. Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Pre-Grimace Era

3. The Lindor Flu Game

Before this September, Francisco Lindor‘s presence in the lineup was an everyday occurrence. After exiting early on May 1 with flu-like symptoms, Lindor was not a starter for the next afternoon’s game at Citi Field versus the Cubs. But he was the finisher. He entered as a pinch-hitter in the sixth and delivered a two-run double. Then in the bottom of the 11th, down by a run with men on first and second, he went the other way with an extra-base hit down the left-field line. Brett Baty and Harrison Bader scored easily. Even if Lindor was still feeling bad, he made Mets fans feel great. Four RBIs and a walk off isn’t bad for an off day.

2. Mark Vientos Maximizes His Opportunity

He made the most of his time in the majors—even when it was just for a few days. Mark Vientos‘ brief stint in the bigs while filling in for Starling Marte might have had tremendous long-term effects. He hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 11th as the Mets avoided a sweep against the Cardinals on April 28. About 48 hours later, he was sent back to Triple-A. It would be less than three weeks before Vientos got the call-up again. It was an opportunity he never let go.

1. Torrens Saves the Day in London

A two-game series in the UK was on the brink of a two-game Phillies sweep before Luis Torrens made a play that was both intelligent and physically impressive. The Mets had rallied to take the lead with three in the top of the ninth and held a 6-5 edge with the bases loaded and one out for Philly. Nick Castellanos hit a weak grounder in front of home. Torrens picked it up, then stepped back and touched the plate. He heaved it to first just before Garrett Stubbs slid in and knocked him over. Pete Alonso handled the throw in time to complete the first-ever game-ending  2-3 ground-ball double play.

Walk-off Home Runs

3. Francisco Alvarez vs. Orioles (August 19)

The young catcher endured a tough year full of injuries and slumps. So when he connected off of Baltimore’s Seranthony Domínguez, Francisco Alvarez savored it. He was given the green light a 3-0 count in a tie game. What followed was a no-doubter to center field, estimated at 421 feet. Alvarez didn’t waste time to celebrate as Citi Field went wild.

2. Mark Vientos vs. Reds (September 6)

Now established as the Mets third baseman, Vientos was on his way to a 111-game performance highlighted by 27 home runs and an .838 OPS. Perhaps the best highlight in this regular season full of them came as New York extended its win streak to eight. He started the Mets scoring with a two-run shot in the first and ended it with a two-run shot in the tenth. The latter was a low and inside pitch that he golfed over the left-field wall. The Mets won a big game…and Vientos lost his shirt.

1. Jesse Winker vs. Orioles (August 21)

Two days after Alvarez’s dramatics, the veteran who had been a friendly pest to Mets fans throughout his career unofficially became a true member of the orange and blue. Winker’s first home run as a Met came at the perfect time. Domínguez was the victim again. This homer went nearly to the same spot as Alvarez. And like his teammate, Winker showed his emotions once it was official—stopping to slam his helmet before rounding the bases in full flow.

Pitching Performances

3. Jake Diekman Owns Aaron Judge

Admit it. The left-hander in the midst of a terrible season pitching to Yankees’ slugger in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on and a one-run lead had all the makings of a Yankees walk-off. Everyone thought it—except maybe Carlos Mendoza. With a depleted bullpen and Edwin Díaz unavailable, the call went to a man with a 5.28 ERA to get the save. Diekman got Judge to strike out looking with a 96 mile per hour fastball on the inside corner. He then retired Ben Rice to preserve the Mets victory. Diekman was DFA’d two days later.

2. Sean Manaea‘s Development

After observing the Braves Chris Sale, Manaea lowered his arm slot to mimic the fellow southpaw and possible Cy Young winner in the NL. From July 30 on, he struck out 83 over 75.2 innings as the Mets won 10 of his 12 appearances. Not only was he missing more bats, but he was providing length. He went into the seventh inning 10 times and posted nine quality starts. He didn’t allow an earned run against the Twins, Cardinals, and White Sox while unofficially garnering ace status. Manaea was one example of the remarkable performance of the entire the rotation down the stretch—posting a 2.67 ERA in September.

1. Severino Blanks Marlins

The right-hander wanted it. The Citi Field crowd wanted it. Complete-game shutouts are rare these days. The atmosphere on this Saturday afternoon on August 17 reflected that into the ninth inning. Luis Severino was carrying his scoreless effort against the Marlins, but hit Jake Burger with his first pitch. Mendoza went to visit with his starter and, after a brief conference, left him in to try and finish it. Severino retired the next three batters to preserve a four-hitter. His 113th and final offering got Derek Hill to swing at strike three.

Miscellaneous OMGs

3. Pop Star Second Baseman

While Grimace was the mascot of the Mets’ revival, “OMG” was the anthem. Jose Iglesias signing a minor-league contract on December 5 went, as expected, unnoticed. He arrived to the Mets on May 31. His insertion was one of many catalysts to New York’s charge—slashing .337/.381/.448  and ending the regular season with a 22-game hitting streak. Oh, and the singing career isn’t bad either. His song blared each home at-bat, fans recited every lyric, a sign with the title letters was carried in the dugout and showed up among the crowd. And after a June 28 win over Houston, giving the Mets their 16th victory in the turnaround month of June, Iglesias transformed into “Candelita” and performed it live on the field.

2. Lindor Homers to End No-No

He did what MVPs are known to do. For much of this September afternoon game in Toronto, the Mets offense was lifeless…and hitless. Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis cruised through eight with a 1-0 lead. Lindor led off the ninth, fell behind 0-2, and proceeded to end the no-hitter and the shutout all at once. The homer to right field was the wake-up call they needed. New York went on to score five more in the frame and win the game.

1. Exorcizing the Demons in Atlanta

The blast against the Blue Jays was Lindor’s biggest home run for less than three weeks. Entering the doubleheader of make-up games at Truist Park to conclude the regular season, both the Mets and Braves needed one win for a playoff berth. Everything was pointing to a do-or-die finale when New York was down 3-0 through seven. But the Mets’ resilience showed in the eighth. The six runs scored were an afterthought as Edwin Díaz gave the lead back. Mets fans’ thoughts went to another nightmare in Atlanta. New York’s shortstop and face of the franchise dispelled all negativity with one swing of the bat. Credit to Starling Marte for getting on ahead of Lindor’s heroics. Edwin Diaz redeemed himself in the bottom of the ninth and the Mets put champagne on ice.

Postseason Heroics

T3. Still on the Mark

The playoff stage really had an effect on Mark Vientos—because it made him better. It was exciting enough that he had a great regular season. But Vientos became a star in October. He slashed .327/.362/.636 with a .998 OPS, five home runs over 13 games and his 14 RBIs set a new Mets postseason record. Four were collected on one plate appearance against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS, when he finished a terrific at-bat with a second-inning grand slam.

T3. Masterful Manaea

The culmination of his second half adjustment came in the Division Series with Philadelphia. After splitting the first two games and hoping to finish it at home, Manaea made sure the Mets would have the edge. He honored his late aunt with a brilliant outing of one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts over seven against a potent Philly lineup. Leading 2-0, he escaped a sixth-inning jam with two on and none out by fanning Bryce Harper and getting Nick Castellanos to hit into a line-drive double play. New York would soon break it open to get one step closer to the NLCS.

2. Grand-cisco Lindor

Citi Field had never seen a Mets clinching celebration. Game 4 versus Philly was that opportunity, but the offense was squandering their chances to score. Down 1-0 in the sixth, New York loaded the bases for the third time. With one out, the Mets needed someone to step up. Lindor had been the one to do it most frequently in 2024. So why not now? The 2-1 pitch was sent out and into the bullpen. It was the kind of situation he was brought to Queens for. He circled the bases like he expected it to happen. Surrounding him was the loudest cheer this 15-year stadium had ever experienced. Three innings later, after a 4-1 win, it got to host the party fans had long been waiting for.

1. Pete Alonso Saves the Season

It may have been the best moment of 2024. It certainly was the best moment of Alonso’s career. On a night when he tripped over his own bat, dropped a pop up, and prolonged his struggles at the plate, the Mets’ first baseman erased all those bad memories—and so much more—when he came up with two runners on and his team down two with two outs left in New York’s season. Alonso has 226 regular season home runs as a Met. There might not be another, depending on how free agency goes. Regardless, he earned a special place in team history with his top-of-the-ninth drive over the right-field wall in Milwaukee.

The post The Greatest Moments from the 2024 Mets Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The rule is under discussion and like other major changes, such as the pitch clock, would first be tested in the minor leagues. It would take years before it came to MLB, according to ESPN. It would also have exceptions, such as if a pitcher reaches 100 pitches, gives up four or more earned runs or gets injured (with a required trip to the injured list to avoid chicanery.)

“We are interested in increasing the amount of action in the game, restoring the prominence of the starting pitcher and reducing the prevalence of pitching injuries,” an MLB official told ESPN. “There are a whole host of options in addressing those issues.”

Those in favor of the change think that it would push pitchers to stop relying so much on velocity, forcing them to train to pitch deeper into games and work more on command. This could, in theory, cut back on injuries, and have the added benefit (for fans of offense) of giving hitters easier (or at least slower) pitches to hit.

One assistant general manager who spoke with ESPN was skeptical.

“The genie is out of the bottle when it comes to max velocity,” the executive told the network. “I’m not sure it can go back in, no matter the rules.”

Some thought less drastic measures could be worth trying before a six-inning requirement, such as a five-batter minimum for relievers which could sway managers to leave starters in. The league is also discussing limiting the size of pitching staffs and the double-hook DH, which forces teams to forfeit their DH if the starter doesn’t go at least five innings.

Starting pitchers tossed an average of 5.97 innings per start in 2014, according to ESPN. That number is 5.25 this year and 4.3 in Triple-A.

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The bats exploded as the Mets took two out of three from the Cubs in a series that could have huge implications for the Wild Card race.

Pitching also did its job – the rotation and bullpen – mostly, but the highlight of the weekend was the electrifying offense.

Now, just one game back of a Wild Card spot, the Mets have made up tremendous ground over the last little stretch. And the series win at Wrigley Field was another huge step in the right direction for this team.

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

3 Up

Photo by David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

UNSTOPPABLE FORCE

Francisco Alvarez has been like an unstoppable hurricane since returning off the IL. Entering Sunday, the catcher was 10-for-19 (.526) with two home runs and six RBIs since coming off the IL. He collected another hit on Sunday with a double, going 4-for-9 with four walks, two homers and two RBIs in Chicago overall. Since April 5, the Mets are now 18-3 in games that Alvarez plays in. That’s pretty damn impressive. Overall, Alvarez has been red hot since returning, and he’s helping to power this unstoppable offense.

OFFENSIVE AVALANCHE

The offense overall was impressive at Wrigley. The lineup exploded for 14 hits and 11 runs in the series opener on Friday, with the Mets blasting three homers before the second inning was over. Nearly everyone in the lineup contributed on Friday. Granted, the bats did go cold in an 8-1 loss on Saturday. However, they rebounded on national TV on Sunday with Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo all going yard. Harrison Bader was also electric with a couple of doubles and two runs scored. Furthermore, every Mets hitter – outside of Jeff McNeil – reached base in Sunday’s win. The offense continues to be electric, and that was on full display in Chicago.

EXHILARATING SEVY

Told he wasn’t pitching against his former team, the Yankees, in the Subway Series, you couldn’t blame Luis Severino if he felt aggrieved. However, if he did feel a certain way, that wasn’t on display on Sunday. Severino was electric in the series finale and was as key to the win as the offense was. The veteran was breathtaking on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out 10. That marked a season-high in strikeouts for Severino. He was everything the Mets needed him to be on Sunday and more.

3 DOWN

Jun 19, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Mets right fielder Starling Marte (6) reacts after hitting an rbi double during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

STICKY SITUATION

The fact the Mets won a huge series in Chicago wasn’t the main narrative to come out of the weekend. Why? Edwin Díaz‘s ejection for sticky stuff on Sunday was the bigger and juicer story. The shutdown closer was tossed out of the game without even throwing a pitch. He now faces an automatic 10-game suspension, with the odds of it being overturned via appeal incredibly slim.

Now, this isn’t the forum for a wider discussion on the protocols involving checks on sticky substances. I’m also not going to get into whether Díaz was guilty or not, or if crew chief Vic Carapazza needs to be held accountable. The reality is that the Mets will likely lose Díaz for ten games. They aren’t allowed to replace him on the roster, either. Given how crucial Díaz is to the bullpen – and the team overall – this could be a big blow.

NO LUCK

Starling Marte appears to be breaking down. The veteran outfielder exited Saturday’s game with a sore right knee, an ailment that has been persistent over the past few weeks. He sat out of Sunday’s game and will undergo an MRI on Monday. It is disappointing for Marte, who is hitting .278/.328/.416/.745 with seven homers, 12 stolen bases and 30 RBIs. However, Marte’s defense has fallen off a cliff this year, and a pile-up of injuries seems to be taking their toll on his body. Given that he’s clearly been restricted athletically for a while now, maybe an extended period out would do wonders for Marte and his beaten-up body.

SAME OLD TREND

Tylor Megill has a boatload of talent. There is no doubt about that. However, the 28-year-old has long struggled to parlay that talent into any kind of consistency over a full 162-game season. That worrying trend is seemingly rearing its ugly head once again. Megill crapped the bed in the worst way possible on Saturday, shelled for six runs in the first inning alone. He managed to last two more innings, leaving after giving up six earned runs on five hits. It was the second time in the last three starts that Megill had failed to complete five innings. With an ERA of 4.81 on the year, Megill needs to figure out how to be a consistently good pitcher over a full season. Otherwise, all that potential will be wasted.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Offense, Pitching Carry Mets In Chicago appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The story of the season in the minor leagues has been pitching, and that was the case again this week. The Mets saw dominant pitching performances at all levels this week, most of which came from the Mets’ top pitching prospects.

Let’s dive into all of the best and most notable showings from this past week from the Mets minor league teams.

Christian Scott, Photo by James Farrance

Triple-A Syracuse

The Syracuse Mets and Columbus Clippers completed a six-game series this past week. The Mets took an early 2-0 series lead but it quickly evened when Columbus won the next two games. The final two games of the series came on a doubleheader Sunday, and it was a Mets sweep to secure a 4-2 series victory.

Luisangel Acuña had a productive week, which was much needed considering his .563 season OPS entering the series with Columbus. Acuña played in all six games and recorded six hits including a double, a triple, and a home run. He also recorded three RBIs, walked twice, and stole a base. His OPS on the year is still just .652, but it’s a considerable improvement from where he stood a week ago.

Rylan Bannon also had a solid week against Columbus, raising his season OPS to .876. Bannon went just 3-for-15 in five games but two of his hits were home runs, and he also walked four times to get on base a total of seven times.

Christian Scott made two fantastic starts against Columbus this week. In those two starts, he pitched 11 innings and gave up three runs while striking out 10 batters. Despite the three earned runs, he allowed just two hits and three walks over his two appearances. He now sports an impressive 3.20 ERA—over a run and a half below league average—as he looks more and more ready for the major leagues.

Dom Hamel was named the International Pitcher of the Week for his performance, as he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. In those 5 1/3 innings, he allowed just one hit and two walks. Hamel’s ERA is now 4.42, though his ERA in his last three outings is a much better 2.30.

Joey Lucchesi also continues to be very impressive, as he threw five innings of one-run ball in his lone start of the week. Lucchesi sports a season ERA of 2.42.

Photo Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Double-A Binghamton

The Rumble Ponies started out their season with a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Binghamton dropped that series 2-1. This week, the teams matched up for a six-game series and the Rumble Ponies got their revenge. They dropped the first game of the series but rattled off four straight wins before losing the series finale, giving them a 4-2 series win.

Alex Ramírez continued his torrid start to the season with a week that saw him go 8-for-24 with four doubles, five walks, five RBIs, and six stolen bases. His week raised his batting average up to .324 and his season OPS up to .859. Ramírez continues to look like one of the more pleasant surprises in the Mets’ system this year.

Rowdey Jordan had a solid week, switching it up between second and third base throughout the series. In six games, he recorded eight hits, including two doubles and a home run. He also recorded four RBIs, five runs, and three stolen bases. He hasn’t had the most impressive start to the year, but his OPS is now raised to .732.

Matt Rudick had perhaps the best week of any Rumble Ponies position player. In five games, he went 8-for-22 with two home runs and seven RBIs. He also walked three times and scored six runs. His big week gave a massive boost to his OPS, raising it from .499 to .759.

Tyler Stuart had far and away his best performance of the year in his start against New Hampshire this week. The tall righty threw six innings, allowing one run and striking out 12. He allowed just four hits and one walk in the effort. That performance lowered his season ERA to 3.45.

Blade Tidwell also had a fantastic start against New Hampshire, but he unfortunately drew a loss as he was unable to receive much run support. Tidwell threw for 6 2/3 innings in the series finale, allowing one run on two hits while striking out nine. Despite receiving the loss, it was arguably his best appearance of the year. 21 1/3 innings in, he has an outstanding 1.69 ERA.

Two relievers who did great in two appearances each this week were Wilkin Ramos and Trey McLoughlin. Both have had fantastic starts to the season, and each threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings this past week. Ramos has yet to allow a run this year through 9 2/3 innings, and he also has four saves and a win to his name. McLoughlin has allowed two runs to come across this season, but his 2.57 ERA is nothing to be ashamed about.

Ryan Clifford, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

High-A Brooklyn

Like Syracuse and Binghamton, the Brooklyn Cyclones also won their series 4-2 this past week. They grabbed the first two games from the Wilmington Blue Rocks before dropping game three. The Cyclones then won two more in a row before losing the final game of the series.

Ryan Clifford cooled down with the bat in this series, recording just two hits in 13 at-bats, but it was still a productive week in that he was able to draw eight walks. That’s compared to just four strikeouts. Even with a .154 batting average on the week, his on-base percentage was a whopping .476. For the season, Clifford has a .222 average and a .430 on-base percentage. He hasn’t hit much, but he continues to find his way on base.

Nick Lorusso played in just four games against Wilmington, but he made the most of his playing time. The corner infielder went 5-for-15 with a double and six RBIs. He also struck out just once and recorded two runs. Lorusso remains the most productive Brooklyn batter, with an OPS that sits at .859.

Drake Osborn also had a productive week at the plate, going 5-for-14 with two doubles in five games. Osborn walked three times and drove in a run. The catcher has just 36 at-bats on the year, but as of now has a 1.083 OPS.

Even though he wasn’t productive at the plate in this series, Nolan McLean is still worth mentioning for his pitching performance. McLean went just 1-for-10 with two RBIs in three games this series, but as a pitcher, he started two games and combined for eight scoreless innings.

In those two games, he allowed three hits and struck out eight batters. He now has a .946 OPS and a 3.86 ERA on the year.

Brandon Sproat and Jordan Geber each had a start of five innings allowing no runs in this series. In Sproat’s outing, he allowed just two hits and a walk and struck out five. Geber allowed just one hit and struck out four. Both have pitched extremely well this season, as Sproat has a 1.23 ERA and Geber has a 2.25 ERA.

Dakota Hawkins and Justin Lawson were the best relievers for the Cyclones in this series. Hawkins made two appearances and threw four combined scoreless innings. He now has a 2.31 ERA on the year. Lawson made just one appearance but recorded a save with three perfect innings in which he struck out four batters. Lawson still has not allowed a run this year in nine innings.

Nick Morabito. Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Low-A St. Lucie

St. Lucie was the only Mets affiliate to lose their series this week, falling 4-2 to the Daytona Tortugas. Both pitching staffs were great as each team recorded two shutouts in the series. The only two games in the series where both teams scored, St. Lucie lost both by just one run.

Nick Morabito has been St. Lucie’s best hitter on the young season. Morabito hit in each of the five games he played, including two three-hit games. He currently carries a six-game hitting streak. Against the Tortugas, Morabito went 9-for-17 and walked twice. Through 65 at-bats this year, Morabito is slashing .385/.500/.523/1.023. He’ll turn 21 next week, and if he keeps performing like this, he should be in Brooklyn soon.

Christopher Suero also hit in all five games he played in this week and holds a seven-game hitting streak. Against Daytona, Suero went 7-for-20 with four doubles and four RBIs. He also walked twice, struck out twice, and scored three runs. He now holds an impressive .918 OPS on the season.

Jonah Tong had yet another brilliant performance this week. Tong pitched six innings against the Tortugas, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. His outing kept his scoreless streak to the start the season alive at 18 2/3 innings. He has also allowed just 13 baserunners and struck out an astounding 36 batters. His next challenge at High-A awaits him.

Jack Wenninger also had a brilliant performance against Daytona, throwing six innings and allowing just one hit while striking out 10 batters. He made another appearance in the series, though it was much less successful. In 1 1/3 innings, he allowed four earned runs to score in what was a walk-off loss in Sunday’s game. His ERA is 4.19 on the year, but it was at 2.50 before his poor outing.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – Nick Morabito (STL) – .385

OPS – Ben Gamel (SYR) – 1.030

HR – Ben Gamel (SYR), Rylan Bannon (SYR), Luke Ritter (SYR), Trayce Thompson (SYR), Mark Vientos (SYR) – 5

SB – Omar De Los Santos (BRK) – 13

Pitching

(Among Qualified Players)

ERA – Jonah Tong (STL) – 0.00

SO – Christian Scott (SYR), Jonah Tong (STL) – 36

WHIP – Jonah Tong (STL) – 0.64

Players of the Week

Offense – Matt Rudick, OF Binghamton

You could make the case for Nick Morabito here, but his lack of extra-base hits and RBIs limits him. Because of that, we’re going to go with Matt Rudick. An unlikely player of the week, Rudick entered this week with just a .499 OPS, but he raised it .260 points in just five games. Eight hits, two home runs, seven RBIs, three walks, and six runs in a five-game stretch is impressive for anybody, and especially so for Rudick.

Rudick will hope that this serves as a turning point in his season. Last year in Binghamton, Rudick had an .862 OPS in 61 games so he’s better than how he was performing to start the year.

In addition to Rudick and Morabito, Luisangel Acuña and Alex Ramírez are deserving of some love for their weeks. Acuña would love to turn his season around, while Ramírez would love to continue producing at the level he has been.

Pitching – Nolan McLean, P/DH Brooklyn

You could make the case for a number of pitchers here: Christian Scott, Dom Hamel, Tyler Stuart, Blade Tidwell, Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong. They all pitched extremely well. But we’re going to go with McLean here because he made two separate appearances, each of which were scoreless. It’s important to note these appearances followed a brutal one last week in which he gave up six runs in 2 2/3 innings.

With his two starts, McLean lowered his season ERA from 9.00 to 3.86. Even more impressive is his .174 average and .495 OPS against. He’s been extremely effective on the mound even with his one rough outing.

Upcoming Schedule – April 30-May 5

Triple-A Syracuse: @ Rochester

Double-A Binghamton: vs. Hartford

High-A Brookyln: vs. Aberdeen

Low-A St. Lucie: vs. Jupiter

The post Mets Minors Weekly Report: Pitching Dominates Across Organization appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Starting Rotation

The biggest strength is the rotation, which features the Mets’ No. 1, 3 and 5 pitching prospects, according to MLB Pipeline’s ranking. The pitchers are, in that order, Christian Scott, Mike Vasil and Dom Hamel. Vasil made 16 starts for Syracuse last year, while Scott and Hamel finished the 2023 season with Double-A Binghamton.

The rotation also features Jose Buttó and Joey Lucchesi, who should be the Mets’ first two rotation depth options in the short term if there’s an injury to the major league rotation.

Christian Scott, Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

Bullpen

The relief corps isn’t as top prospect-heavy as the rotation, but it still features an interesting array of options. The main prospect to watch in the bullpen is Nate Lavender, who posted a 2.98 ERA in 42 games last year and is the Mets’ No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline. He had an impressive spring as well.

Shintaro Fujinami didn’t make the big league team after signing a split-contract this offseason but he has plus stuff and could be a contributor to the Mets’ bullpen down the line. The bullpen is rounded out by some other arms who have made appearances in Queens such as Grant Hartwig, Reed Garrett and Josh Walker. Righties Jon Duplantier, Dedniel Núñez, Eric Orze, Yacksel Ríos and Cole Sulser finish the bullpen.

Infield

The big name here is Luisangel Acuña, brother of Ronald Jr. and ranked No. 3 in the Mets’ system by MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old will be playing his first games above Double-A.

The infield is filled out by some players who just missed the big league roster, like Jiman Choi and Mark Vientos. Vientos didn’t make the team after the Mets’ late signing of J.D. Martinez, but he’ll have a chance to continue getting regular at-bats in Syracuse, where he’s performed well in the past.

Rylan Bannon, Jose Iglesias, Luke Ritter and Yolmer Sánchez are part of the Syracuse infield as well. The catchers will be Austin Allen, Matt O’Neill and Tomás Nido.

Outfield

The outfield features arguably the Mets’ best prospect: Drew Gilbert. He’s No. 1 or No. 2 depending on who you ask, but either way, he has some of the best upside in the whole system.

Gilbert will be making his Triple-A debut after posting a .984 OPS in 35 games for Binghamton last year. He was acquired midseason in the Justin Verlander deal. He should be a pivotal run producer in the heart of Syracuse’s order.

Longtime Mets prospect Carlos Cortes is on the roster as well. The outfield is completed by Trayce Thompson, Ben Gamel and Taylor Kohlwey, all three of whom have at least a taste of big league experience.

The post Slew of Mets’ Top Prospects Make Syracuse Mets’ Roster appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Even if his plaque isn’t in the Hall, the home run should be. The result of the at-bat in 2016 at Petco Park against James Shields was Bartolo Colón’s career moment, becoming the oldest player to hit his first homer, it didn’t make his career by no means—a career that crossed centuries and spanned generations.

Colón began as a relatively slender fireballer and ended as a rotund craftsman. He was an All-Star in 1998 and an All-Star 18 years later. Colón’s longevity is a testament to his physical prowess and his ability to adapt and evolve. He pitched for 11 different teams, starting with Cleveland in 1997, tossing 3,461.2 innings and tallying 2,535 strikeouts until his final stop in Texas in 2018.

His peak from the late 90s to the mid-2000s culminated in the AL Cy Young Award in 2005. The ace of the Los Angeles Angels, he had a 3.48 ERA and 157 strikeouts while going 21-8.

He struggled through the rest of the decade before finding success with the Yankees and A’s. The Mets acquired Colón before the 2014 season having already surpassed age 40.

For three years in New York, Colón was a veteran leader on a young rotation—eating up innings and often putting them in a place to win games.

And, oh yeah, this day was pretty fun too. Colón was a good pitcher, but also entertaining—one of the most interesting figures in baseball. ‘Unique’ is thrown around loosely, but it was appropriate for Bart. 

Longevity isn’t a significant factor when weighing Hall of Fame credentials. Colón’s, though, is especially impressive when considering how he changed his style over the years. His statistics, while given the amount of time it took to achieve them, are more impressive when compared to others throughout history and compared to the time in which he did them.

Of all the hurlers born in the 1970s, nobody threw more innings, and only one had more wins. Colón is second among that group in strikeouts. Like all pitchers on the mound in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Colón’s prime came in a time slanted heavily toward offense. Another disadvantage was the rash of injuries pitchers encountered trying to keep up, and modern medicine hadn’t figured out how to fully address them.

As advanced metrics have taken over justifiably, traditional statistics like wins and strikeouts don’t carry the same weight they once did. However, Colón’s achievements become more impressive when viewed in the context of his contemporaries. Wins, especially, are more a reflection of the longevity he displayed than the success he had. His 247 wins rank him among the top 50 in major league history and the most among all Dominican-born players.

The Case Against

The big mark on Bartolo’s resume is his 50-game performance-enhancing suspension in 2012. He also was suspected of PED use after surgery two years before. The trend appears to be a little favorable in terms of steroid use, but known users are still on the outside looking in. That’s especially the case if you’re a borderline candidate at best.

Colón’s 4.12 career ERA is significantly worse than any modern pitcher in the Hall (Jack Morris is the highest at 3.90). A better judge is ERA+, which levels out time periods. But even with that, 106 is slightly above average. However, that’s better than Morris and fellow Cooperstown member Catfish Hunter.

His pitching WAR ranks 113th all-time, just ahead of Dwight Gooden and higher than four Hall of Famers: Morris, Hunter, Bob Lemon, and Dizzy Dean. But while that might seem like a case in Colón’s corner, Morris and Fisher’s resumes are enhanced by postseason performances, while Dean and Lemon had far shorter careers.

Final Thoughts

If the Hall of Fame was for uniqueness and recognition that athletes of this sport come in all shapes and sizes, then Bartolo Colón must be included. If being inducted is a measure of excellence, which it is, then that’s a different story. Watching Bartolo pitch, field, and hit was a joy. He is unlike anyone in baseball history, and he has historic merit. He’s also one of the better pitchers of this century for a career that somehow began even before this century. But by the standards, this is for the museum in Cooperstown, he falls short.

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