Mets come back again, defeat Cardinals 7-5 to win the series
The Mets put up a six-spot in the fifth to win their first series since April 19-21
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets rallied from three runs down to defeat the Cardinals 7-5 in St. Louis on Tuesday (box)
The Mets put up six runs in the fifth inning - Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer, Pete Alonso drove a two-run double, and JD Martínez drove in Alonso with an RBI single
Alonso added his ninth home run of the season in the ninth to cap his strong evening at the plate
José Buttó started for the Mets and staggered through five innings, allowing eight baserunners in total and three runs with only three strikeouts
The Mets bullpen pitched well in support of the Mets comeback, allowing only two runs over four innings highlighted by Reed Garrett’s two-strikeout, shutdown eighth inning to lower his ERA to 0.47 for the year
The Mets earned their 10th comeback win of the season, won a series for the first time since April 19-21 in Los Angeles, earned just their third win of the season when allowing five or more runs, and are 6-5-1 in series overall
Injury Updates 🏥
RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder injury) will throw another bullpen session before it is determined when he will start a major league rehab assignment. He is eligible to come off the 60-day IL on May 27
RHP Tylor Megill (shoulder soreness) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday - he struck out seven over four hitless and scoreless innings
RHP Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) will pitch an inning for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday
Roster Moves 🗞️
RHP Jake Stevenson signed to a minor league contract
Down on the Farm 🌾
OF Trayce Thompson (Triple-A Syracuse): 2-for-4, 2B, GS, 6 RBI
DH Luke Ritter (Triple-A Syracuse): 1-for-4, 2 BB, 4 RBI
OF Simon Juan (Florida Complex Mets): 3-for-5, 5 RBI, 4 R
RHP Tyler Stuart (Double-A Binghamton): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 ER, 3 K
DH Nolan McLean (Single-A Brooklyn): 2-for-4, 3 RBI
LHP Felipe De La Cruz (Single-A Brooklyn): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (18-18) @ Cardinals (15-21)
Where: Busch Stadium - St. Louis, MO
Starters: LHP José Quintana (1-3, 5.20 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (4-1, 0.89 ERA)
When: 1:15 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Notes: Pete Alonso’s awakening, Brandon Nimmo’s power, Harrison Bader’s role ✍️
I have to admit - I was not one to believe the Mets were going to rally, comeback and beat the Cardinals on Tuesday. They fell down early, José Buttó was struggling his command and only adding to the club’s unsightly walk problem, and I felt it was one of those nights when the Mets were going to simply be playing down to the competition.
I happily stand corrected, of course.
There’s one thing about this Mets club that has stood out despite this up and down start to the season, and that is their resiliency and guile. The 10 comeback wins they already have on their ledger is representative of that, albeit unsustainable at this rate (10 of their 18 wins on the year are of this form). But this club does have guts and determination, a strong character trait that can serve them well if they can simply tread water to the trade deadline.
At any rate, it’s a notes post today since there are a variety of subjects on my mind this morning…
Pete Alonso’s awakening?
On Monday night, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza decided to sit Pete Alonso and instead have DJ Stewart start at first, who hadn’t logged a single inning in his pro career at that position.
Alonso would enter the game late as a defensive replacement for Stewart and go 0-for-1 at the plate.
It should be noted that it was a good 0-for-1, a hard line out to the second baseman who was playing up the middle on him.
On Tuesday, Alonso looked more like the Alonso we have grown accustomed to and the player he needs to be. He lined a double the other way as part of the club’s six-run fifth inning and then pulled a solo homer to the left side in the ninth inning, tallying two extra base hits and three RBI on the night.
Is it the start of something big for Alonso? Who knows but the signs are all now pointing in the right direction for him. He had looked so tense at the plate over the last couple of weeks, swinging out of his shoes and had become a one-zone hitter as a result, which is what led him down that 2-for-37 hole.
For his sake and the team’s sake, the Mets need Alonso to look more like the Alonso from Wednesday night. That’s obvious. But Alonso is at his best when he is using the entire field and not only hitting for power, but taking his singles the opposite way and spraying the ball line-to-line. Not this pull-happy, tense, all-or-nothing approach which has been evident over the last couple of weeks.
Brandon Nimmo’s power stroke
The one thing I love about Nimmo is his multi-faceted approach at the plate. He knows when it’s time to be patient, he knows when it’s time to be more aggressive. He knows how to combine patience with power, aggressiveness with shortening up.
To use the classic baseball cliche, Nimmo is a professional hitter. Amazing how far he has come, isn’t it?
There’s this notion Nimmo has sacrificed contactibility for more power. To an extent, that may be true and I think Nimmo has talked about that over the course of the last season. In the end, he’s getting on-base at the same clip he always has even if his strikeouts have climbed a bit. Quite frankly, I’ll take that, especially since he does have big exit velocity potential and it was on full display on Wednesday when he crushed that three-run homer to center as part of the club’s six-run fifth inning.
It’s just been a lot of fun to watch Nimmo grow, evolve, mature and adapt over the course of his professional career. He defied the odds and naysayers and not only became one of the best leadoff hitters in the game, but a force at the plate that can beat anyone in a lot of different ways whether it’s an aggravating eight-pitch walk or a powered up bomb to plate multiple runs.
Now, if they can just get him to feel more comfortable stealing bases, that would be next level for Nimmo.
Harrison Bader’s role
In a report in the New York Post, Mets OF Harrison Bader isn’t particularly happy with his reduced role with the Mets so far this season.
“It certainly has been a challenge, not what I expected, but that is what life is about,” Bader explained. “But adjustability is availability — that is what I was always taught. So I’m just staying in the pocket and waiting for any given opportunity to do something good for my teammates. That is what I care about.”
Bader said while the club receives the lineup the day before, he chooses not to so he can sleep better at night.
“I don’t handle it well, I can tell you that,” Bader explained. “But I certainly don’t let it affect the way I prepare, the way I keep focused when I do get an opportunity to go in there and play, even if it’s later in the game. If anything it lights more of a fire under my ass. I’m bothered by it for sure.”
In 30 games so far this season, Bader has logged 105 plate appearances, hitting .280/.314/.340 with a homer and seven RBI. Bader has logged two late-inning go ahead run scoring hits in the early part of the season.
Still, Bader has logged just four starts since April 30 and did not start the first two games of the series against the Cardinals.
Look - Bader is a glove-first guy who has had some very nice moments early in this season for the Mets. He’s a hometown guy and it’s always nice to see our locals shine under the spotlight in New York.
But there are a few things with Bader. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power and health is always a problem for Bader. Fortunately, he has kept himself healthy so far, and that might be because the Mets are simply being judicious about his usage, especially as a centerfielder which is a very taxing position.
Carlos Mendoza has to manage playing time for Bader, Tyrone Taylor, and DJ Stewart all while making sure Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte remain everyday players. Bader certainly doesn’t profile as a DH, but neither does Taylor, especially since both are plus-defenders out there.
It’s a tough spot in a crowded field for Bader.
Back to .500
Just when it seemed like the world was crashing down on the Mets on Sunday evening, the Mets and that resiliency of theirs has led them back to .500. Yes, they’ve beaten a beleaguered Cardinal team, but wins are wins and these games against teams they should beat become even more important.
Especially after they got their asses handed to them in Tampa Bay.
This is what this roster is. They’re going to go a few games over .500, go a few games under .500, and be that kind of inconsistent team that will look like champions one day, and a second division team the next.
The question is whether or not they can hold on, get Kodai Senga and Francisco Álvarez back and productive, and stay in a playoff race to the trade deadline.
For what it’s worth, this team is definitely different than that of last season at this time. We could all see the writing on the wall by this date last year. They lacked that IT factor and that pulse that could get them into the playoffs.
This team is different, albeit inconsistent. They need help in the rotation, they could always use another bullpen arm, and they’re going to need a bat for sure. But I think David Stearns and Steve Cohen are inclined to check those boxes should this club warrant them by the end of July.
Just tread water until then…
Around the League 🚩
Shota Imanaga struck out eight over seven innings in a 3-2 win over the Padres - his ERA is 1.08 for the year
The Phillies kept rolling with a 10-1 win over the Blue Jays. Bryce Harper and Kody Clemens each drove in four runs for the Phils
The Yankees clubbed Justin Verlander for seven runs over five innings en route to a 10-3 win over the Astros
Kevin Pillar drove in six runs to help the Angels to a 9-0 rout of the Pirates