The Mets (82-78) fell to the Marlins (78-82) 6-2 Friday night. New York got out to a 2-0 lead just four batters into the game but couldn’t muster up any offense afterwards. The team’s sloppy defense continued, and it contributed greatly to a six-run fifth inning for the Marlins that put the game to bed.

Meanwhile, the Reds (82-78) won their game over the Brewers (96-64) 3-1 to put the Mets back on the outside looking in. The Mets and Reds once again own the same record, but with the Reds holding the tiebreaker, they have taken back control of the third Wild Card spot. The Diamondbacks fell 7-4 to the Padres, so it’s officially down to two teams.

As the Mets try to squeeze back into a playoff spot, it was reported late Friday night that they’ve called up flamethrower Dylan Ross. Will Sammon of The Athletic was first with the news.

Ross owns a 2.17 ERA across three minor league levels this season. He worked his way back from two UCL surgeries, as discussed in further detail in an exclusive Metsmerized interview by Mojo Hill this past summer.

Ross’s campaign includes a 1.69 ERA over 32 innings in the hitter-friendly International League. He has an 11 K/9 in that span, although accompanied by a 6.2 BB/9.

He adds a weapon to the Mets’ beleaguered bullpen over these crucial final two days of the regular season.

Dylan Ross. Photo by Kylie-Richelle

Latest Mets News

Brett Baty left Friday’s game with side discomfort after appearing to tweak something on a swing early in the game. The Mets announced after the game that it was an oblique injury, and there’s a fear Baty is done for the season.

Prior to Friday’s game, manager Carlos Mendoza announced that Clay Holmes would start Saturday’s game against Miami and that Sunday’s starter was to be determined. Mendoza, on constructing the rotation, said “this is literally one day at a time.”

According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, doctors have recommended that Reed Garrett get Tommy John surgery, but he is seeking a second opinion first. Garrett would be out all of next season if he does in fact need the surgery.

Latest MLB News

After walking off the Tigers Friday night, the Red Sox clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2021.

MLB released the top 20 jersey sales from this season. Shohei Ohtani had MLB’s most popular jersey for the third consecutive year, while the Mets had three players inside the top 20: Francisco Lindor (no. 5), Juan Soto (no. 6), and Pete Alonso (no. 17).

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 30th home run of the season on Friday to join the 30-30 club for the first time in his career. Sammy Sosa was the only other Cub to have achieved the feat.

The Braves announced that they claimed former standout pitcher Alek Manoah off waivers from the Blue Jays and transferred Ozzie Albies to the 60-day injured list to make room on the roster. Manoah had a 3.96 ERA in 10 minor league starts this season and last pitched in the majors in May of 2024.

Baseball Savant added a feature to pitchers’ pages which displays their pitch mixes to righties and to lefties.

Latest on MMO

Kai Chang discusses why Nolan McLean got the job done in Thursday’s win over the Cubs despite seemingly poor numbers.

On This Date in Mets History

2000: The Mets punched their ticket to the postseason with a 6-2 win over the Braves, clinching a Wild Card spot. The Mets would go on to win the National League pennant.

Born on This Date: Luis Guillorme (1994), John Lannan (1984), Jon Rauch (1978), Jason Phillips (1976), Don Schulze (1962).

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A Braves win paired with both the Mets and Diamondbacks losing created a three-way tie for the final two spots. The Padres’ win over the DBacks also solidified home-field advantage for the Friars starting on Tuesday.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

So, what does this mean for the Mets? The club still controls their own destiny, with their magic number falling to three with four games remaining. They hold the tiebreaker over the Snakes, so as long as they tie the DBacks record they’ll play in October.

But to do so, they have to start winning. Two ugly losses leave the Mets with two more in Milwaukee, and two more in Atlanta Monday if the games hold any weight.

Right now, those games mean a lot to the Mets for seeding (for now), and to the DBacks. Regardless if the Mets get in, the club will fly to San Diego or back to Milwaukee. Same goes for the Braves. Those two games will determine whether or not the Braves hold the season head-to-head record over the Mets or if New York can leapfrog them.

Meanwhile, if the DBacks finished tied with either the Braves or Mets, or one game ahead or behind, they’ll be rooting for one or the other in Monday’s doubleheader.

Now, let’s get to the action on Friday.

Padres and Diamondbacks

We’re lumping these two teams together. It’s just easier that way.

The two wild card teams started their final three games Friday, with the Padres coming out victorious. Yu Darvish was okay, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched. But that’s more than okay for this Padres squad that’s foundation is it’s impenetrable bullpen.

Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, and Robert Suarez combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts to stifle the DBacks offense, securing a 5-3 win and home field advantage as the first wild card seed.

On the other hand, the Diamondbacks continue to crater. They’ve failed to pick up any ground on the Mets, and have now lost three of their last four games. Merrill Kelly was another DBack starter to struggle as of late, allowing five earned runs in 5 2/3 innings Friday.

In Mets land, this is fantastic news. But for the Snakes, the desert has frozen over. It won’t get easier for them, as they’ve got two more against a Padres squad that rivals any postseason team in talent. Mets fans should put on their Padres hats the next two days.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves, meanwhile, keep on rolling.

After jumping the Mets and being held out for two days due to severe weather, the Braves steadily defeated the postseason-bound Royals at home.

Max Fried dominated, striking out nine Royals in 8 2/3 innings. If that was the lefty’s last start as a Brave, he sure left in style.

The offense produced just enough to comfortably win 3-0. Sean Murphy blasted a two-run homer off Brady Singer, then Marcell Ozuna score in the eighth via a throwing error from Salvador Perez while stealing third.

The win boosted the Braves back to a playoff spot. And the club continues to be clutch late, despite all the injuries they’ve suffered. The Braves are in the same boat as the Mets, continue to win, hope the Diamondbacks lose, and force the Monday doubleheader to mean squat.

A Guide for Fandom

Again, if you’re a Mets fan (which why would you be reading if you’re not), you’re rooting for two things this weekend.

For the Mets to win, and the Diamondbacks to lose. Their magic number is three games, meaning a win Saturday and Diamondbacks loss would bring it to one.

To this point, seeding isn’t important. The Brewers have pestered the Mets over a 30-game sample size dating back multiple seasons, and the Padres are at the same caliber as the Dodgers.

To root for seeding is somewhat ludicrous. Just get in. For the Braves meanwhile, what they do isn’t as important for the Mets solidifying a spot in the playoffs. You should root for them to lose because it’s Atlanta, but the Royals are in due to the Twins losing, and have nothing to play for the next two days.

The post Wild Card Update: Mets, Braves, Diamondbacks Tied For Last Two Spots appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

San Diego Padres (85-65, +3.5)

San Diego had an ideal weekend in the heat of a tight playoff race, not only gaining ground in the Wild Card chase by sweeping their division rival Giants but also moving closer to contending for the NL West title with their outstanding performance.

The Padres completed the crucial sweep with a 4-3, 10-inning win on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park. The victory pushed San Diego to 20 games above .500 for the first time since 2010.

Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered in the clutch, hitting his first career pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning to give the Padres the lead. Despite closer Robert Suarez blowing a save opportunity for the second time in three chances, San Diego pulled ahead for good with a two-run rally in the 10th inning, improving their extra-innings record to 9-1 on the season.

With the win, San Diego stayed 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West after Los Angeles beat the Braves on Sunday Night Baseball.

The Padres also came out of the weekend series in a stronger position, sitting 3 1/2 games ahead of the Mets in the Wild Card race, and they gained two games on the Diamondbacks and now lead Arizona by 1 1/2 games for the top Wild Card spot. Fangraphs has San Diego at a 90.4 percent chance to clinch a Wild Card in any capacity.

Arizona Diamondbacks (83-66, +2)

After tallying just nine runs across two losses, the Diamondbacks roared back on Sunday to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers and avoid a sweep, preventing further ground lost to San Diego in the standings.

Arizona jumped out to a 5-0 lead by the third inning, only to see it slip away as Milwaukee surged ahead 8-5 by the seventh. The D-backs managed to tie the game in the eighth, and though the Brewers added two runs in the top of the 10th, Arizona responded with a three-run rally in the bottom half to grab the win.

In the 10th inning, the D-backs started with three consecutive singles, scoring one run and loading the bases. Jared Koenig hit Christian Walker with a pitch, bringing in the tying run, before Eugenio Suárez singled to right field, driving in the game-winner.

With the victory, the D-backs remained just 1 1/2 games behind the Padres for the top NL Wild Card spot and have an 88.6 percent chance of clinching a Wild Card spot, according to Fangraphs. Another bright spot for the D-backs? They just reinstated top catcher Gabriel Moreno from the IL.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

New York Mets (81-68, – )

The Mets entered their weekend series against Philadelphia riding high after a strong 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. They carried that momentum into the opener against the Phillies with an impressive 11-3 win. However, the team faltered in the next two games, squandering leads and losing ground in the Wild Card race.

Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the division-leading Phillies was particularly tough, as Edwin Diaz surrendered a game-winning single to J.T. Realmuto in the bottom of the ninth. Diaz struck out Bryce Harper to start the inning, but Nick Castellanos singled to right. After Castellanos stole second and Alec Bohm struck out, Realmuto delivered the game-winning hit to right field, scoring Castellanos.

To make matters worse, Francisco Lindor left the game due to ongoing back discomfort in the first inning, casting further doubt on the Mets’ playoff aspirations. Lindor will undergo an MRI on Monday; there is no guarantee he’ll be at full strength for the rest of the season. His potential absence could be a major blow as the Mets return home to face a surging Nationals team.

The upcoming stretch without Lindor, including a crucial series against the Phillies at Citi Field followed by road games in Atlanta and Milwaukee, looks challenging. The Mets currently trail the Padres by 3 1/2 games for the top Wild Card spot, and after Atlanta’s loss to the Dodgers, they remain tied with the Braves for the third and final Wild Card position.

As it stands, the Mets have a 43.7 percent chance of clinching a Wild Card spot after Sunday’s loss, as noted by Fangraphs.

Atlanta Braves (81-68, – )

The Braves, chasing the Mets, have gone toe-to-toe with their rivals in Queens, and even though the Mets lost two out of three to Philadelphia, they could not take advantage of their misfortunes as they blew a huge lead on Sunday to the Dodgers.

Entering the ninth inning tied at two, the Dodgers exploded against Braves relievers Raisel Iglesias and John Brebbia, giving up a total of seven runs combined between the two. Raisel Iglesias intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani, setting the stage for the Los Angeles Dodgers to take control.

Mookie Betts followed with a single to left, scoring Will Smith and advancing Ohtani to second. Freddie Freeman then hit a sharp single to left, driving in both Ohtani and Betts and advancing to second on an error by Jarred Kelenic, pushing the lead to 5-2.

Teoscar Hernández extended the lead with his 29th homer, a two-run shot, followed by solo home runs from Tommy Edman and Max Muncy. This loss keeps the Braves tied with the Mets in the battle for the third and final National League Wild Card spot and will finish their series against Los Angeles on Monday night.

Fangraphs has the Atlanta Braves with a 67.7 percent chance at clinching a Wild Card spot despite not gaining ground on Sunday.

The post Wild Card Update: Mets Escape Tough Weekend Tied For Third Spot appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The playoff race is entering the stretch run, and it’s looking like the Mets and Braves will battle it out for the final Wild Card spot.

Atlanta (72-60) leads New York (69-63) by three games. Let’s take a look at who the division rivals play the rest of the way.

The Mets have seven games with the Phillies, three each with the Brewers and Red Sox and two with the Diamondbacks. So, 15 games against clubs that are over .500. New York also plays three games apiece with the White Sox, Nationals, Reds and Blue Jays—combined winning percentage of remaining opponents: .504.

The Braves have four games apiece with the Dodgers and Phillies, three with the Royals, and a game with the Twins tonight. That’s the hard part of their schedule. They also have three each with the Marlins, Rockies and Blue Jays, four with the Reds and two with the Nationals. Combined winning percentage of remaining opponents: .500.

The Mets have 13 games left at Citi Field and 17 on the road, while the Braves have 17 at home and 13 away.

Photo by Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

There is also the potentially key/critical/must-win three-game set the teams have with each other in Atlanta from Sept. 24-26, which could go a long way toward deciding who plays postseason baseball. That series begins with just six games left in the season. Atlanta finishes the regular season at home against the Royals, while the Mets travel to Milwaukee.

The NL East rivals are still chasing Arizona (75-57) and San Diego (76-58), who started tied for the top Wild Card spot Wednesday, with three games clear of the Braves and six of the Mets.

Arizona has the fourth-toughest schedule in baseball the rest of the way. Its remaining opponents, including 11 games with the Dodgers and Brewers, have a .525 winning percentage. The Padres’ remaining opponents’ winning percentage is .493.

The Cubs (winners of seven of their last 10) and Giants, who are both at 67-66, are trailing the Mets by 2.5 games. The Cubs have the second-easiest schedule in the National League (including seven with the Nationals), and the Giants have the hardest remaining slate (23 of 29 vs. teams currently in playoff position).

Fangraphs gives the Mets an 18.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, and it has the Braves at 85.3 percent. Buckle up.

The post Comparing Schedules for Mets, Braves With Wire in Sight appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Twice, the Mets beat Baltimore in walk-off fashion to take two out of three from Baltimore. As a result, crucial ground was made up in the race for a Wild Card spot.

Furthermore, New York further highlighted its postseason credentials by beating the Orioles, one of the best teams in baseball.

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

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

3 UP

WALK-OFF HEROICS 

Besides an ugly clunker in the second game, this was a memorable series for the Mets. And a lot of that was thanks to some late-inning heroics. In the series opener, Francisco Alvarez broke out of his slump with a mammoth 421 ft walk-off blast to win the game. It was Alvarez’s first career walk-off homer. If that wasn’t thrilling enough, Jesse Winker arguably went one better in the series finale. With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Winker stepped up to the plate and launched a pinch-hit, game-winning bomb. It was Winker’s first home run as a Met, and what a time for it to arrive. Both walk-off homers were huge in winning this series against an elite O’s team. They could also be massive in the overall context of the season.

STEPPING UP

Sean Manaea continues to be money when his team really needs him the most. The lefty was stellar on Wednesday, retiring the first 17 hitters he faced. He did give up a two-home run, but finished with nine strikeouts and no walks. More importantly, Manaea gave the Mets length by going a full seven innings. He’s now tossed seven innings in four of his last five outings. And the veteran’s dominant start set the groundwork for the heroics that followed in the series finale.

FRANCISCO THE GREAT

There are not enough superlatives to justify Francisco Lindor’s greatness in 2024. The shortstop is playing at the very peak of his powers right now. He’s carrying this team, and that was on display against Baltimore. Lindor laced two doubles on Tuesday, before getting the Mets on the board on Wednesday with his 25th homer of the year. As a result of that blast, he also created some history. Lindor is the first shortstop in MLB history with three seasons of 25/25 (Mathew Brownstein).

Furthermore, he has reached base in 20 straight games and is the only player – along with Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. – to go 25/25 and have 30 doubles in MLB in 2024. Yes, Lindor is playing at an elite level right now, and he deserves MVP consideration.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

3 DOWN

FALSE START? 

There was hope that Francisco Alvarez’s walk-off homer on Monday would signal a breakout. Instead, the catcher returned to his struggles throughout the series. He went 0-for-3 with a walk on Tuesday, before striking out in his only at-bat as a pinch-hitter in the finale. The Mets will need as much power as they can get from their lineup down the stretch. Therefore, they will need more of the slugging Alvarez we saw on Monday.

FALLING OFF? 

Just what has happened to José Quintana? The veteran starter has seemingly fallen off a cliff in 2024. He was awful in his latest start on Tuesday, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits with two walks over five innings. He also gave up two home runs. As a result, Quintana has now allowed 22 home runs on the year and his ERA sits at 4.57. Furthermore, he has pitched to a brutal 8.27 ERA in August. Quintana has become the weak link in this rotation, which could become a major problem.

COMEDY OF ERRORS

The Mets’ one loss in this series was an ugly one. And the 9-5 clunker to the Orioles was filled with unwatchable errors and cheap mistakes. Brandon Nimmo, still nursing a sore shoulder, misplayed a ball in the outfield before lefty reliever Danny Young threw the ball away to allow two runs to score and put the game out of reach. All in all, those mistakes didn’t prove costly as far as the series was concerned. However, those kinds of mental lapses could prove costly in a Wild Card race as tight as this one.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Walk-Off the Orioles appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

On Thursday, the 2023 season’s last road series kicked off for the Mets when they faced the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Despite the Mets mounting comebacks from two separate two-run deficits, their efforts fell short, and the Phillies secured a 5-4 victory in the opening game. It was the Mets’ 82nd loss of the season, assuring that they will finish below .500 in 2023. For more on this game, check out our recap.

Buck Showalter. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Now onto the morning briefing.

Latest Mets News

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Mets’ Double-A affiliate,  clinched a spot in the Eastern League Championship with a 2-0 victory over the Somerset Patriots, marking their first appearance in the championship series since 2014. Binghamton is now set to move on to the best-of-three championship series, scheduled to commence this Sunday. The franchise has claimed the championship title three times in the past. They will face off against the Erie SeaWolves, who swept the Lakeland Flying Squirrels 2-0 to earn their spot in the finals. For more on this, check out our recap.

In a feature on MLB.com, Anthony Castrovince delves into the remarkable tale of former Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry‘s unexpected venture into the then-independent St. Paul Saints and the persuasive charm of Mike Veeck that led him to join the team. The narrative unfolds around Strawberry’s transformative impact on both the Saints and his own life during a remarkable few weeks in the summer of ’96. It’s a heartwarming chapter among the numerous touching anecdotes in “The Saint of Second Chances,” a recently released documentary on Netflix that explores the life of former Saints co-owner Mike Veeck and the unanticipated friendships that blossomed during this unique journey.

Latest MLB News

According to Dr. Keith Meister, the team physician for the Texas Rangers, the recent MRI scans of some of his patients resemble a small explosion occurring on the inner side of the elbow. This insight is part of a story on pitcher injuries this season, as discussed with Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal.

Jeff Greenberg has been officially appointed as the 20th General Manager for the Detroit Tigers, according to an announcement made by Scott Harris, the President of Baseball Operations.

As reported by Craig Mish of SportsGrid, Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara took the mound yesterday for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Nashville. Alcantara delivered an impressive performance, pitching four scoreless innings, and surrendering only one hit while striking out four against the Nashville Sounds, who serve as the Triple-A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers. During this outing, Alcantara threw 51 pitches, with an impressive 34 of them finding the strike zone.

The Cincinnati Reds announced that they have released outfielder Hunter Renfroe.

As reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Tampa Bay Rays will promote their highly touted infield prospect, Junior Caminero. At just 20 years old, Caminero will be making a significant leap from AA, where he boasted an impressive batting line of .309/.373/.548 and had smashed 20 home runs in 314 at-bats.

Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers was asked about his plans for the 2024 season, and according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Kershaw responded that he hasn’t given it much thought at this point. He mentioned that the condition of his shoulder will play a significant role in his decision-making process.

Latest on MMO

MMO and Chiddy’s Cheesesteaks are tagging up on a giveaway for a chance to win a 2023 All-Star Game Mets Bobblehead! It’s easy to participate: simply follow both @Metsmerized and @ChiddysSteaks on Twitter/X, retweet this post, and tag one person in the replies to enter!

MMO dives into the report of Brewers manager Craig Counsell opting to manage in 2024.

Tommy Pham criticizes some Mets effort level, praises Lindor, Alonso and Nimmo.

On This Date in Mets History

1962: On this date in 1962, over 10,000 fans gathered at the Polo Grounds, thinking it might be the last game there. Despite plans to move to a new stadium in Queens, a harsh winter and construction issues delayed it. Nonetheless, the Mets put on a good show that day, with Bob Miller striking out nine Cubs, Frank Thomas delivering a walk-off win in the ninth, and young Ed Kranepool making Mets history with his first double, setting a franchise record with 1,418 hits.

Birthdays: Sam Coonrod (31), Chris Schwinden (37), Jeff Barry (54), Mark Guthrie (58), Vince Coleman (62)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Clinch Losing Record appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports

José Butto took the mound for the Mets, making a notable return to the majors this month. In his last two starts, he logged an impressive 11 1/3 innings, striking out 13 batters and allowing merely three earned runs.

On the other end for the Marlins on the mound was Edward Cabrera. Since his comeback from an injury sustained in July, Cabrera has appeared twice, covering 8 2/3 innings and accumulating 13 strikeouts. As Cabrera readies himself for a potential postseason role, he endeavors to reverse his past struggles against the Mets, having carried a career ERA of 6.65 in their previous encounters.

Monday marked the return of Luis Guillorme, who was slated to start at second base and was activated off the injured list. He had been sidelined on the injured list since July 22 due to a calf injury. In the 50 games he has played this season, the defensive specialist has posted a batting average of .238 with an on-base percentage of .304 and a slugging percentage of .347. Jonathan Araúz was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

In the opening inning, Luis Arraez secured his 200th hit of the season for the Marlins with a base hit. However, Miami failed to score as Butto skillfully navigated out of a tight spot. Butto continued to impress, racking up four strikeouts during his first time through the Marlins’ batting order. The Mets had a runner reach base in the fourth inning when DJ Stewart singled, but he was promptly picked off at first base.

In the subsequent half-inning, Mark Vientos delivered an RBI single to bring in Mauricio, who had stolen a base to secure the game’s first run. In the bottom of the sixth, Jorge Soler launched a towering shot to left field that was initially called a two-run home run. After a discussion among the umpires, the call was reversed to a foul ball. Following this decision, a crew chief review confirmed the foul ball call. Although the ball cleared the pole, it was deemed to have veered foul, hitting the far left side of the left field scoreboard. A few pitches later, Soler struck out on a full count slider.

Both Cabrera and Butto showcased their pitching prowess for their respective teams, as the game was tied during their exits. Cabrera completed 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and conceding only one earned run while striking out four. Butto, on the other hand, pitched six innings, surrendering four hits, one earned run, and striking out six.

In the top of the eighth inning, former Met David Robertson entered the game. He started by inducing a groundout from Luis Guillorme but then allowed consecutive hits to Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor. With a jam brewing, Robertson rallied and struck out DJ Stewart and Pete Alonso, both looking. The Mets bullpen, with Grant Hartwig and Phil Bickford each pitching an inning, held Miami off the board and kept the Marlins from scoring.

In the top of the ninth inning, Jeff McNeil stepped up and smashed his 10th home run of the season deep into right field on a 1-1 count against Tanner Scott, giving the Mets a 2-1 lead. Omar Narváez followed with a single to center field after Ronny Mauricio struck out. Vientos hit a line drive to third base, but Jake Burger mishandled it, putting runners on first and second with just one out. Francisco Álvarez came in as a pinch hitter with the opportunity to break the game open but popped out to second base, with the infield fly rule called. Brandon Nimmo then struck out on three fastballs, allowing Miami to escape the jam.

In the bottom of the ninth, Miami’s heart of the order faced Adam Ottavino. Ottavino got Josh Bell to ground out to second for the first out, struck out Jazz Chisolm Jr. looking for the second out, and then fanned Jake Burger swinging to secure his 11th save of the season. This victory helped the Mets claim the series opener in Miami and boosted their record to 6-2 against the Marlins this season.

Statistic of The Game

According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, Ronny Mauricio has set a new Mets record with six stolen bases in his first 14 career games, surpassing Keith Miller and Mookie Wilson, who both had five, and Lee Mazzilli, who had four.

Player of The Game

José Butto was stellar for the Mets on the mound as he pitched six innings, only giving up four hits, one earned run, and striking out six, matching his counterpart for Miami. His strong start is another notch in his belt and strengthens his case to secure a spot on the 2024 pitching staff.

On Deck

The Mets and Marlins go at it again Tuesday night in the second game of the series, as Joey Lucchesi takes the mound for New York, while Braxton Garrett toes the slab for Miami.

The post Butto, McNeil Help Mets Play Spoiler in 2-1 Win Over Marlins appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Hitter of the Week

After waiting months to get his chance at the major league level, Ronny Mauricio hasn’t looked back since being called up.

Mauricio’s first action of the week came on Monday against Arizona as he went 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base and two-run double off Zach Davies in the fourth inning. Before sitting out the final two games of the series, Mauricio went 1-for-4 on Tuesday with a two-run home run off Ryne Nelson in the fourth.

Mauricio found himself in the starting lineup for each game against Cincinnati and seized the opportunity. He went 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday’s contest, but quickly bounced back with a 2-for-4 performance on Saturday that included another stolen base and an RBI single. He concluded his week with another two-hit performance on Sunday.

Mauricio recorded a .316/.381/.526 slash line to go with one home run, six RBI and two stolen bases.

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher of the Week

In an organization that has historically been blessed with pitching talent, Kodai Senga has emerged as the Mets’ newest ace.

Two months after twirling an eight-inning masterpiece against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, Senga stifled the Snakes yet again on Thursday afternoon. After allowing a two-out single to Tommy Pham in the first inning, Senga set down 13 batters in a row while striking out nine of them. He ran into some control issues in the sixth and loaded the bases with two outs but ultimately tiptoed out of trouble by inducing a flyout from Christian Walker to end his day.

Senga finished the start with 10 strikeouts through six innings of work while allowing zero runs on two hits and two walks, lowering his ERA on the year to 2.95.

The post Players of the Week: Mauricio and Senga Lead Rookie Surge appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Bartolo Colón officially retired from baseball as a member of the New York Mets, signing a one-day contract before Sunday’s game. Former Mets manager Terry Collins was among those on hand for Sunday’s festivities, which included the 50-year-old Colón throwing out the ceremonial first pitch to Brandon Nimmo. During his pregame remarks, Colón said that the Mets had the fan base that accepted him the most and that they gave him a good amount of happiness. He also said he no longer plays baseball other than practicing with his son.

Latest Mets News

After the Colón tributes, José Quintana held the Reds to two runs over 6 2/3 innings of work while the Mets banged out eight runs on 13 hits in an 8-4 victory. Francisco Álvarez drove in two runs with a double, Daniel Vogelbach blasted a pinch-hit bases-clearing double, and Ronny Mauricio collected two knocks and an RBI. Mark Vientos also continued his recent surge, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

The Mets now head to South Beach for a three-game series with the Marlins, the start of a seven-game road trip. José Butto (1-2, 3.46 ERA) will look to follow up his first big league win with another strong start against Edward Cabrera (6-7, 4.52 ERA). The Mets have faced Cabrera twice this year and won both matchups, thanks in large part to the right-hander issuing 13 walks in 6 2/3 innings. The Mets have won five of their seven games against Miami this year, all of which came in the first two weeks of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.

During Friday night’s game at Citi Field, a fan caught two foul balls in a three-pitch span, and he’s gifted both to his mother. 23-year-old Patrick Wedderburn was attending the game with his family for his mother’s birthday celebration when he retrieved both foul balls.

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The Rangers have promoted 2023 first-round pick Wyatt Langford to Triple-A Round Rock, as well as 2021 first-rounder Jack Leiter. It’s unclear whether Leiter will pitch again this season. Langford has dominated in his first taste of pro ball since getting drafted fourth overall out of the University of Florida, hitting .370/.479/.717 with 10 homers, 14 doubles, and nine steals while drawing 29 walks against 25 strikeouts in 169 plate appearances. Most recently, Langford went 17-for-38 with four homers and three doubles, walking 10 times and striking out just four times for Double-A Frisco.

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Sean Kenny recaps the Mets’ win in their series finale against the Reds.

James Villani looks back at Bartolo Colón’s Mets career.

On This Date in Mets History

1963: The Mets and Phillies play the final game at Polo Grounds, with the Phillies winning 5-1. Jim Hickman hits the last New York home run in the stadium.

1975: Dave Kingman sets a new franchise record by belting his 35th home run of the year, a walk-off blast to beat the Cubs 7-5. Rusty Staub also etches his name in franchise history, becoming the first Met to drive in 100 runs in a season with his two-run homer in the fifth inning.

2006: José Valentín goes deep twice, Steve Trachsel tosses 6 1/3 shutout innings, and Billy Wagner gets Josh Willingham to fly out to Cliff Floyd to clinch the Mets’ first NL East title since 1988. After getting swept in Pittsburgh, the Mets get to celebrate their division title in front of their home fans at Shea Stadium.

2015: Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, and Juan Uribe all hit homers, and Steven Matz improves to 4-0 with six innings of one-run ball as the Mets down the Yankees, 5-1. Jeurys Familia loads the bases in the ninth inning but gets Brett Gardner to fly out and strikes out Chase Headley to end the game.

Birthdays: Roger Mason (66), Scott Holman (65)

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