Bo knows hope?
The Mets toppled the Braves on Friday night thanks to Bichette's big night at the dish
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets overcame a lengthy rain delay to beat the Braves 7-5 in what was a statement win at Citi Field on Friday night (box)
RHP Nolan McLean just didn’t have it on the mound, including throwing 42 pitches alone in the second, allowing two earned runs on three hits and four walks with six strikeouts over four tough innings
RHP Huascar Brazobán struckout four over 1.2 scoreless innings without giving up a hit, before RHP Devin Williams delivered a clutch four-out save with two strikeouts
SS Bo Bichette and LF Juan Soto hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, with Bichette going on to have a breakout game, finishing 2-for-3 with two homers, two runs scored, and six RBIs. Bichette’s grand slam in the bottom of the second broke the game wide open
Soto finished 2-for-3 with a run, one RBI, and one walk
C Luis Torrens had another positive night at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored
Injury Updates 🩺
SS Francisco Lindor (strained left calf) took at-bats against pitchers from High-A Brooklyn and played two innings in the field during a simulated game on Friday. However, Lindor did not run the bases and he will play in more sim games next week before being cleared to head out on a minor league rehab assignment. A return at some point in June is still expected
RHP Kodai Senga (right ulnar nerve irritation) took part in a bullpen session and will make another rehab start before the Mets consider recalling him
Play of the Game ⭐️
This is an easy one.
After the Braves fought back in the top of the second to make it a 2-2 game, the Mets came to the plate in the bottom of the inning, needing to come up with a response.
And they did exactly that.
After loading the bases thanks to a MJ Melendez double, a Luis Torrens single, and a Carson Benge HBP, Bo Bichette came to the plate with the chance to do something special, having already homered in the game.
He rose to the occasion and seized the moment.
Bichette blasted a fastball over the plate the other way for a big-time grand slam, blowing the game wide open and giving the Mets a lead they would never give up the rest of the way.
It was part of a statement game by Bichette, who finished with six RBIs on the night, while the extra runs would prove crucial after Atlanta threatened to get back in the game in the later innings.
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David Stearns Speaks 🗣️
Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns spoke to the media before Friday’s game at Citi Field. Here’s a selection of highlights from his availability…
Stearns stressed that the expectation is that Francisco Lindor will play in June, while also admitting that the team needs to be smart in bringing the shortstop back.
Stearns stated that the Mets have played better baseball since April, while also acknowledging that consistency is needed in order to dig themselves out of the hole they dug.
Mark Vientos has struggled on both sides of the ball so far this season, with Stearns reiterating his belief that the infielder has the “skillset to be a quality first base defender,” while also conceding that Vientos’ offense “hasn’t been his best.”
Tobias Myers is close to returning to the Mets but it likely won’t be as a fully stretched-out starting pitcher, with Stearns noting that Myers’ role will be “whatever we actually need at that point.”
The Braves entered Friday with the best record in all of baseball, and Stearns said that they are where they deserve to be having played the best baseball.
Stearns also doubled down on his decision to part ways with former pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, now with the Braves, insisting that the organization is “happy with our coaching staff right now.” Stearns added that he’s not surprised Hefner is enjoying success with the Braves.
Down on the Farm 🌾
3B Nick Lorusso (Double-A): 3-for-5, 1 R, 5 RBIs, 1 2B, 1 HR
LHP Daviel Hurtado (High-A): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
3B Colin Houck (High-A): 2-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBIs, 1 HR, 2 SB
C Daiverson Gutierrez (No. 24 prospect, High-A): 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 2B
DH Jackson Hauge (Single-A): 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, 1 BB, 1 2B
BOX SCORES
Single-A SLU | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (31-38) vs. Braves (45-24)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: LHP Sean Manaea (1-1, 5.02) vs. LHP Martin Pérez (4-3, 3.02 ERA)
When: 4:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Can hope spring eternal, even in summer? ✍️
It may be just one game and, yes, we’ve been here before, but Friday night’s big win over the Braves, holders of the best record in baseball, sure felt good.
It was a win over both a rival and an incredibly good team that offered some promise and a little bit of hope.
Again, we’ve been teased by the 2026 Mets before only to be left severely disappointed, and what I’m about to write may be moot if the Braves go and win the next two games of this series over the weekend.
Still, I can only react to what’s happened and, even with a very pessimistic mind when it comes to this team, I couldn’t help but be stirred by what I saw on Friday night.
The offense came up with some clutch hits early to help survive another rough, uninspiring outing from Nolan McLean, while the bullpen, outside of a rare off-night from Brooks Raley, was money yet again.
But I was mostly left buoyed by Bo Bichette’s breakout game. The infielder had his best game as a Met, showing those watching what he is indeed capable of when he’s fully locked in and playing at the peak of his powers. He started the damage early by hitting a first-inning home run, before reminding us all of his prowess with runners in scoring position by blasting a game-changing grand slam in the bottom of the second.
Bichette drove in six runs on the night and his ability to just take over games is why the Mets signed him in the first place. We haven’t seen nights like Friday nearly often enough from Bichette, but maybe the arrival of tougher opposition will bring out the very best in him on a consistent basis.
So, you have to wonder, if Bichette can now put it all together, and if Francisco Lindor can indeed return later this month, would that be enough to save the Mets?
Okay, that’s a loaded question and there’s no easy or straightforward answer, especially given that we can’t predict the future.
But, with that said, there is some reason for hope even if that slice of hope is razor-thin at this point.
For instance, since the end of April, the Mets are 21-17 while the Braves went 23-14. That equates to just a 2 1/2 game difference in the standings. On its own, it means very little right now. However, if the Mets can now get the real version of Bichette every single game and if Lindor can return and be the player we know he is right from the jump, then maybe the Mets can make things interesting this summer.
Of course, I’m not saying they will play themselves back into contention for the NL East, because I see no reason why Atlanta won’t keep playing at a high level. Therefore, I think the best the Mets can hope for is probably a Wild Card. But, given how bleak things looked just a couple of months ago, wouldn’t we all sign up for that now?
The point I’m trying to make is that there is a pathway to the Mets being at least somewhat relevant for the rest of the season, and I think a lot of that hinges on Bichette and Lindor. With Juan Soto doing what he does best, the top of the lineup could be supercharged with a healthy and productive Lindor and a consistently good-to-great Bichette. If all three of those players are firing and healthy at the same time, then that really does change the overall look of that lineup.
With Lindor leading off, Soto’s superstar hitting ability, and Bichette’s track record of making things happen with runners on, the Mets offense could really take off and do damage to even some of the best pitchers in the game. And maybe a tougher schedule will inspire Soto, Lindor, and Bichette to really put this team on their collective backs and go on a real run.
Sure, it is all ifs and buts at this point. Bichette has shown flashes before only to then immediately go into a slump. And there is no guarantee that Lindor can stay healthy the rest of the way given the problems he’s already encountered this season. Not to mention that there are a slew of other fatal flaws for this team to figure out first. The starting rotation is still very much in flux and, if Freddy Peralta and Nolan McLean continue to struggle, then this team is going nowhere. And, as great as the bullpen has been, that’s probably not sustainable if they are asked to take on a heavier workload because of a struggling rotation.
There’s also the question marks hovering over Luis Robert Jr.’s long-term health and availability this year, Mark Vientos’ ongoing struggles, and the rest of the lineup being so hit and miss. There are so many things to correct in-season, and we haven’t seen this team really be able to adjust and adapt so far.
Therefore, in answer to my own question, I guess it is way too early to know if Bichette and Lindor alone can really save this team and the season. Given the hole they’ve dug themselves, it is going to require Soto, Lindor, and Bichette all playing out of their minds the rest of the way, and everyone else stepping up too. We will also need to see a lot more from Peralta, McLean, and the rest of the rotation.
There is a hell of a lot of work to do and a lot of ground to make up. And maybe the rest of the weekend will serve as yet another sobering reality check.
But, at least for one night anyway, we did witness some tangible signs of hope thanks to Bichette, who could be the key to at least giving us a reason to mentally invest in the rest of this season.
Around the League 🚩
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani (knee) avoided the IL and is expected to DH on Saturday against the White Sox (MLB.com)
Red Sox president Sam Kennedy admitted that the team may need to be sellers unless a turnaround happens soon (MLB.com)
Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski made history on Friday, striking out 15 in a 95-pitch “Maddux” and throwing 104.5 mph in a 6-0 shutout win over the Phillies
INF Gunnar Henderson hit his 100th career home run in the Orioles’ 7-3 win over San Diego, becoming the fourth-youngest player in franchise history to accomplish the feat
Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara recorded his 1000th career strikeout after striking out seven over eight innings in an 8-3 win over Pittsburgh
Astros DH Yordan Álvarez had a monster game, hitting two home runs and collecting six RBIs in the first inning alone in Houston’s 10-8 win over the Royals