Homer happy Mets end losing streak with a rout of the Phils
The Mets hit seven home runs on Saturday night, the most homers in a game this season
What’s up with the Mets? ⚾
The Mets routed the Phillies 11-4 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night (box)
The Mets slugged seven home runs on the night - two from Brandon Nimmo, two from Juan Soto, and one each from Francisco Lindor, Jared Young and Francisco Álvarez
Griffin Canning started for the Mets and allowed three earned runs over five innings for his seventh win of the year
The Mets got four scoreless innings of relief from Huascar Brazoban, Ryne Stanek and Chris Devenski
The win marked the end of the Mets seven-game losing streak, and drew them back even with the Phillies for first place in the NL East
Injury Updates 🏥
RHP Max Kranick (right flexor strain) will not throw for 3-4 weeks and will ramp up as tolerated
LHP Sean Manaea (right oblique strain) will make one more rehab start before being activated, likely in early July
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Chris Devenski recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Tyler Zuber recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Blade Tidwell optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Justin Garza optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
INF Pablo Reyes has been signed to a minor league contract, assigned to Triple-A Syracuse
Stats of the Day 📊
The Mets hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the 10th time in franchise history and for the first time since Oct. 4, 2022, against Washington. It was also the fifth time in franchise history that they hit seven or more home runs in a single game
Juan Soto recorded the 26th multi-homer game of his career, third of this season and his first since May 7 at Arizona. He is now tied now tied with Jimmie Foxx for the most multi-homer games before turning 27. His second home run of 437 feet was his farthest of the year
Brandon Nimmo hit multiple home runs for the ninth time in his career, the third time this season and the first time since June 11 against Washington
The Mets had two players hit multiple home runs in a game for the second time this season, with the other instance being June 8 at Colorado, when Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil did so. It is the first time they have had multiple such games in the same season since 2010 (5/7 vs SF & 4/9 vs WSH)
Play of the Game 🌟
In the third inning on Saturday, the Mets hit back-to-back-to-back home runs against Phillies starter RHP Mick Abel.
It was the 10th such occurrence in franchise history and the first since 2022.
Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer, followed by a shot from Brandon Nimmo and then Juan Soto.
Down on the Farm 🌾
RHP Nolan McLean (no. 5 prospect, Triple-A): 5 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
RHP Jonah Tong (no. 4 prospect, Double-A): 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 11 K
OF AJ Ewing (No. 26 prospect, High-A): 2-for-3, 2 R
RHP Wellington Aracena (Low-A): 5 IP, 2 BB, 8 K
BOX SCORES
Low-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-up: Mets (46-31) at Phillies (46-31)
Where: Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
Starters: LHP David Peterson (5-2, 2.60 ERA) vs. LHP Jesus Luzardo (6-3, 4.41 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: ESPN
Hopefully, the Mets got the rut out of their system! ✍️
If there’s any way to bust out of a team-wide slump, last night was it.
The Mets had their most prolific game of the season, mashing seven home runs and nearly making some history in the process. The Mets had multi-homer games from both Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto, and if Francisco Lindor had been able to do the same, it would have been the first time in major league history that players 1-3 in the lineup hit multiple homers in a game.
Oh well. They had to settle for back-to-back-to-back home runs from the trio in the third inning. I think that was good enough.
The Mets needed that, for sure. They were sinking, and generally fast when you consider that the Mets were 5.5 games up on the Phillies not too long ago. The Mets’ schedule got a little tougher, they became a little more wounded, and their flaws became a little more apparent in the process, and before we knew it, they were in second place coming into play on Saturday night.
Maybe Friday night’s loss and surrendering first place back to the Phillies was the wake-up call the Mets needed? We will see what today brings, I suppose, but after a game where the Mets slugged seven home runs, it’s very easy to be hopeful that their week-long malaise is behind them.
The concerns aren’t gone. Not by any means. It was another rough start for Griffin Canning in what has clearly demonstrated some rather harsh regression in what was a promising start to his season. He now has a 5.97 ERA over his last seven starts, and it’s quite possible he could be on the rotation bubble, perhaps not as soon as this week but when Sean Manaea returns from the injured list, which could be in the next week or so. Obviously, Jeremy Hefner and co. will remain hopeful that they can course-correct Canning, and they can obviously survive mediocre starts if they’re hitting, as was the case last night.
But aside from that, the Mets got a much-needed ice-breaker on Saturday, calmed the nerves a bit, and positioned themselves for a badly-needed series win tonight with David Peterson going, who has emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last calendar year.
People might scoff at that one, but over his last 35 starts dating back to May 2024, Peterson is 15-5 with a 2.77 ERA over a span of 207.2 innings and 3.9 fWAR.
Yes indeed, one of the best pitchers in baseball right now.
Personally, I am just hopeful last night was the beginning of a renaissance for this offense. I know it’s just one game, and most of the games that preceded it this season would suggest otherwise. But I maintain this lineup - especially 1-5 - is just too good for the pedestrian results to continue. Yes, there are still some serious soft spots, and the Mets have to figure out what they’re going to do at at least two positions (third base/catcher), but if the money part of the lineup is rolling, they can afford to be somewhat more patient with their younger players, and buy themselves time to the trade deadline if nothing else.
And I’ll just be honest - it was just so aggravating to watch! They couldn’t hit, couldn’t pitch, couldn’t do anything!
Hopefully, they got it out of their system.
Around the League 🚩
Cal Raleigh hit his 30th home run of the season, but the Mariners lost to the Cubs 10-7
The Braves kept their resurgence going with a 7-0 in over the Marlins - they’re back to 10 games behind the Mets and Phillies in the NL East
The Rays hit three home runs as they clocked the Tigers 8-3 - Tampa Bay is 1.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East
Rafael Devers hit his first homer for the Giants as they edged the Red Sox 3-2
Our collective mental health needed that game last night.
Do they keep records for the number of HRs with no one on base? Yeah, getting picky.
I think the game demonstrated the need for some more RH firepower, or they're going to be fed an awful lot of LH pitching. They've got Pete and no one. Alvarez and Vientos contributing some pop will even out the lineup some. Let's take back 1st place for good today.