What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets opened up their series against the Giants with a 10-6 win at Citi Field on Friday night (box)
RHP Nolan McLean faced a lot of traffic and threw a career-high 105 pitches, but allowed just two earned runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over six innings
LHP Jefry Yan gave up a run in the seventh, before RHP Austin Warren allowed a three-run homer to give the Giants a route back into the game. However, RHP Kodai Senga closed things down in the ninth
DH Mark Vientos blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the first to give the Mets an early lead, before C Francisco Alvarez made it a 4-0 game in the second. Alvarez would also homer in the eighth for his third multi-homer game of the season
Both 3B Bo Bichette and SS Francisco Lindor hit two-run homers as the offense scored 10 runs for the second straight game
RHP Jonah Tong will be called up and will start on the mound against the Marlins on Monday (SNY)
The Mets also announced their 2027 spring training schedule, with Grapefruit League play getting underway on Feb. 19 (MLB.com)
Play of the Game ⭐️
The Mets, much like they did in the series finale against the Rays, came out swinging from the get-go on Friday night.
After Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette both got on base, Mark Vientos came to the plate with another chance to impress following his return from injury.
You could say he accomplished that particular mission.
The DH slugged a three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning to give the Mets an early lead. It was Vientos’ second homer in four games, and it also helped to set the tone for the rest of the game.
Who’s Hot? 🥵
RHP Nolan McLean now owns a 1.87 ERA over his last 12 starts - he has allowed just 15 earned runs while striking out 73 hitters over that span
Over his last six games, 3B Bo Bichette is hitting .364/.440/.636/.1.076 with eight hits, five runs scored, three doubles, one home run, two RBIs, and three walks
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest episode of The Just Mets Podcast, Rich is joined by guest Marc Luino, aka @GiraffeNeckMarc (co-host of Mets’d Up & The Windup) to discuss what they were most right & wrong about entering this season, the worst Mets takes of the year, and how to contend in 2027...
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
David Stearns Speaks 🗣️
Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns met with members of the media prior to Friday’s game. Here are some highlights from his availability:
He made it clear that he’s yet to have any kind of discussion with Bo Bichette over whether the infielder plans on opting in or out this offseason
There is “no question” that Francisco Lindor will be the Mets’ everyday shortstop in 2027, while there is no real concern about Lindor’s poor defensive play this year
He admitted that Jorge Polanco’s defensive future is “TBD” and they won’t know more until the infielder is back on the field
Marcus Semien has been “outstanding” in terms of his work ethic, but both player and team want more offensive production next year
He called Jared Young’s production “real,” while admitting that Kodai Senga’s future role with the team is still to be determined. He also stressed that the team will “count on” Sean Manaea next year, speaking of the need for the lefty to have a good offseason
The plan remains for Andy Green to return to the front office in the offseason, while hiring a GM will be considered
Finally, he spoke about the Mets competing against really good teams as of late, while admitting that is also the expectation of this team
Down on the Farm 🌾
C Hayden Senger (Triple-A): 1-for-3, 1 R, 3 RBIs, 1 HR
SS Mitch Voit (No. 4 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 2B
RHP Luke Gabrysh (No. 28 prospect, Double-A): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
LF John Spikerman (High-A): 2-for-2, 3 R, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 HR, 3 SB
C Yovanny Rodriguez (No. 26 prospect, Single-A): 2-for-3, 3 R, 2 RBIs, 1 BB, 2 HR
BOX SCORES
Single-A SLU | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR (GM 1 | GM 2)
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (64-77) vs. Giants (58-84)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: LHP Zac Thornton (3-4, 2.93 ERA) vs. RHP Anthony Molina (2-0, 3.77 ERA)
When: 4:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Where do Nolan McLean and Carson Benge stand in NL ROTY race? ✍️
Today feels like a good time to check in on the chase for the National League Rookie of the Year award.
It is currently a four-horse race with the Reds’ Sal Stewart leading the pack. St. Louis rookie JJ Wetherholt is heavily involved, as are, of course, Mets duo Carson Benge and Nolan McLean.
Regardless of what happens, the fact that the Mets have two leading contenders for Rookie of the Year in what has been a lost and failed season should be considered a massive plus. Whether McLean or Benge can actually win it, however, remains to be seen.
Stewart remains the favorite, and it is not surprising to see why. He’s currently hitting .266/.336/.483/.819 with 31 home runs and 106 RBIs. While he doesn’t offer much defensively due to his position, his offensive exploits no doubt give Stewart a significant edge, especially when you consider that he slashed .304/.349/.530/.880 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs in August alone.
Now, this is where it gets interesting.
Wetherholt was right in the thick of the race, but he’s currently on the Injured List with right wrist tendinitis. The more time the second baseman misses, the more likely it is he will slip further out of contention. As a result, that will only open the door for Benge.
While Wetherholt has been outstanding defensively, posting 22 outs above average, he was hitting .242/.343/.370/.713 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs prior to getting hurt. Benge is currently slashing .278/.337/.419/.756 with 16 homers, 18 doubles, 20 stolen bases, and 54 RBIs. He’s also only gotten better as the year has gone on, hitting .310 with an .816 OPS in the second half of the year. If Benge can have a strong finish offensively, then that should at least put him ahead of Wetherholt even with 0 outs above average.
And then there is McLean.
The righty has had to navigate some struggles this season, but he’s been nearly unstoppable as of late, posting a 1.87 ERA over his last 12 starts with 15 earned runs allowed and 73 strikeouts.
It is probably fair to say that if Stewart is going to be really challenged for the Rookie of the Year, then McLean is going to be his number one rival. McLean is finishing the year with a flourish - he now has racked up five consecutive quality starts and has 18 on the year, which is the most quality starts by a Mets rookie since Dwight Gooden (21) and Ron Darling (22) in 1984.
McLean is finishing the year with a flourish and is just getting better down the stretch. If he can keep this up and post gems in his remaining starts this year, then there is a world in which he could overtake Stewart as the favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year.
All in all, I think we are now looking at a three-horse race with Wetherholt currently on the IL. Stewart is still very much in the lead, but if he slows down in September, then that could leave the door wide open for both McLean and Benge down the stretch. If a Met is going to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, my money would be on McLean given how well he’s pitching right now. But Benge could steal it if he continues to hit and field at a high clip the rest of the way.
Around the League 🚩
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani could go on the IL after missing his second straight game on Friday (MLB.com)
Braves LHP Chris Sale tossed six innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts in a 5-2 win over the Phillies
2B Travis Bazzana blasted a game-tying two-run homer before hitting a walk-off RBI single in the Guardians’ 4-3 win over the Tigers
Padres C Luis Campusano had himself a night; throwing out three basestealers before delivering a walk-off home run in a 3-2 win over the Yankees
Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga threw six innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts in a 6-1 win over the Marlins
Both 3B Miguel Vargas and SS Colson Montgomery blasted their 30th home runs of the year in the White Sox’s 4-1 win over the Twins
It's pretty clear that Stewart will win the award. Those are off-the-chart offensive numbers. But who cares? Have the Mets ever had both a position player and a pitcher in the running for Rookie of the Year? Straw won in 1983 and Doc in 1984, so, obviously, not the same year. If there is a sliver of sunshine in this dismal season, it is the emergence of Benge and McLean, along with strong supporting performances by Scott, Thornton, Ewing and Jerald Young. I want to see plenty of Morabito this month.
Nice effort from McLean.
Tugboat did not do too well.
Tigers blew two games late. The Guardians are only 2.5 back.
I’m rooting for the White Sox. An ill wind blows.