What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets dropped the opening game of the series to the Astros by a score of 3-1 at Citi Field on Friday night (box)
RHP Christian Scott held the Astros to just one hit through five innings before imploding in the sixth, loading the bases with three straight walks. His final line: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
LHP Nate Lavender allowed the three inherited runs to score, before RHP Jonathan Pintaro, RHP Dedniel Núñez, and RHP Kodai Senga combined for three innings of scoreless relief
The offense did nothing yet again and finished with just five hits, with RF Carson Benge’s RBI double in the fourth inning the Mets’ only run of the game
The Mets have now lost three straight and have scored just four runs over that span, while also going a combined 2-for-16 with RISP, including finishing 0-for-4 on Friday night
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Chris Devenski selected to the Major League roster
RHP Xzavion Curry optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
INF Jorge Polanco transferred to the 60-Day Injured List
Injury Report 🩺
INF Jorge Polanco successfully underwent ankle surgery this week and will be in a “baseball progression” in spring training in 2027
OF Juan Soto (left calf strain) is edging closer to a return and the team will see how he feels on Saturday following another work day on Friday. It isn’t expected that Soto will need a rehab assignment before coming back
RHP Devin Williams (right shoulder strain) hasn’t started a throwing progression yet but is expected to in the coming days, and the Mets hope to have the closer back before the end of the season
INF Mark Vientos (fractured right hand) went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in his latest rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday
Play of the Game 🙃
The Mets have started to hit a skid offensively over the last few games, and that continued to be the case on Friday night.
Largely shut down by Houston starter Hunter Brown, who was excellent on the night, the Mets did strike first thanks to Carson Benge’s long double in the fourth inning.
Then, in the fifth inning, the Mets had a real opportunity to add on to their lead after Marcus Semien and Luis Torrens both got on base with singles. With runners on the corners and just one out, A.J. Ewing stepped to the plate with the chance to do some real damage.
Instead, the young outfielder weakly grounded out into just his second double play of the year, prolonging his own struggles at the plate with the rookie hitting just .158/.231/.200/.431 over his last 24 games.
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest edition of The Just Mets Podcast, Rich recapped a rough series against Milwaukee, discussed Sean Manaea’s recent regression, and the rumors around Andy Green and a potential landing spot as the club’s GM.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Down on the Farm 🌾
SS Ronny Mauricio (Triple-A Syracuse): 3-for-4, 1 R
CF Chris Suero (No. 18 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-4, 1 R, 4 RBIs, HR
SS Marco Vargas (Double-A): 3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 SB
CF Yonatan Henriquez (High-A): 3-for-4, 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 (60-75) vs. Astros (68-67)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Nolan McLean (9-8, 3.21 ERA) vs. LHP Bennett Sousa (1-3, 6.27 ERA)
When: 4:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Carson Benge could be this team’s heart and soul ✍️
I’m going to get straight to the point and keep today’s editorial very short and sweet.
Carson Benge is already becoming my favorite Met to root for.
The rookie is just electric to watch and, more importantly, he plays the game the right way.
In a play from Friday’s stinker of a loss that probably won’t get too much attention, Benge sprinted 30.2 feet/second in an effort to beat out an infield hit.
Now, the effort failed and it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway given that the Mets offered nothing offensively for a third straight game.
However, at least to me anyway, the play mattered a lot and it also spoke volumes about Benge the player.
Listen, I get there will be people that will scream that Benge was only doing what all players should be doing and that we shouldn’t be showering anyone with praise for showing some hustle. Then again, I know how upset some folks get when Juan Soto doesn’t hustle at all - and rightly so - and, sadly, players busting it down the line is hardly a given in today’s game.
Therefore, I am going to praise Benge for showing some fight last night. Again, in a 3-1 game in a lost season, not too many players would have busted a gut in that situation. But Benge did because I think it is crystal clear that he really cares, and I don’t think it has anything to do with him trying to impress as a rookie. I mean, let’s face it, he’s done enough impressing already.
No, I really do feel that Benge knows what it means to play for the Mets, knows what it means to play baseball in New York, and I think he just deeply loves the game.
That’s evident whenever you see him play.
He gives it his absolute all every time he’s out on the field.
Whether it’s coming up with big hits - like his RBI double in last night’s game - or making highlight-reel plays in the field, Benge does everything with a lot of heart, a lot of spirit, and a lot of swagger.
Watching Benge ascend reminds me of when Pete Alonso burst onto the scene in 2019. And, no, I’m not comparing Benge to Alonso because they are two very different players. With that said, however, Alonso instantly won his place in the hearts of all Mets fans because of how he played the game and the joy he showed, and I feel as if Benge is doing exactly the same.
It is so easy to root for Benge because he plays the game the way it should be played - with a kid-like spirit and a huge smile on his face.
Plus, although it was just one small, insignificant play, if Benge continues to hustle even when it doesn’t matter, then I have no doubt that he will eventually morph into the very heart and soul of this team. Just like Alonso did.
So, while his rookie season probably won’t end with the NL Rookie of the Year - come on, the Reds’ Sal Stewart has 29 home runs and 102 RBIs - Benge is ticking all the right boxes and proving that not only could he be a great player for the Mets, but also that he can be the type of player Mets fans are proud to root for.
Around the League 🚩
RHP Cam Schlittler recorded his 200th career strikeout and tossed 5.2 innings of scoreless ball to lift the Yankees to a 1-0 win over the Red Sox
In his return to Detroit, LHP Tarik Skubal struck out seven over six innings of one-run ball as the Dodgers beat the Tigers, 2-1
Reds rookie 1B Sal Stewart’s magical rookie year continued as he hit his 29th homer and recorded his 102 RBI in a wild 10-8 win over the Cubs
Down to the final out, Phillies PH Edmundo Sosa’s grand slam lifted his team to a dramatic 5-3 win over the Angels
RHP Dylan Cease strengthened his Cy Young case with eight strike outs and six innings of one-run ball in the Blue Jays’ 8-1 win over the Mariners
RHP Logan Henderson allowed just one run over seven stellar innings as the Brewers beat the Rangers, 6-1
Veteran starters, young starters.....there seems to be a pattern and a growing problem perhaps with the way Mets pitchers are being trained...Maybe as Darling said there is a wall impeded in pitchers that says 6/7innings and 90/100 pitches is all ypu cannot before flame out. When I grew up in the 60s it was a standard that a pitcher complete a game. Look at the statistics of Seaver, Gibson, Carlton, et al. I know baseball teaches the 120 max effort on every pitch.....which I think is freekin stupid. The concept of wiley deception and off speed is gone. It's a topic for an 8 hour seminar.
Carson Benge reminds me of David Wright. I hope he stays healthy and is with us for many years. And AJ Ewing hustles too. Love to see it. Hate when I see the veterans lolligag.