Mets have liftoff in series opener against Houston
Mets have liftoff in series opener against Houston
The red-hot offense overpowers the Astros in electric night at Citi Field. Plus, thoughts on Drew Smith and why something really special could be brewing in Queens...
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets blasted their way to a 7-2 win over the Astros at Citi Field on Friday night (box)
LHP José Quintana allowed two earned runs on six hits with three walks while striking out seven in four innings of work
The Mets slugged three home runs on Friday, making it the fourth straight game in which they have hit three or more homers. That’s the first time it has happened this year
1B Pete Alonso, OF Tyrone Taylor and 2B Jeff McNeil all went yard, with McNeil’s three-run blast blowing the game wide open
McNeil went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored in a much-needed offensive outburst at the plate
C Francisco Alvarez continued his red-hot June with a run scored, one walk and a RBI
SS Francisco Lindor went 2-for-4 on the night with one run scored, one RBI, one walk and a stolen base
RHP Adam Ottavino, RHP Dedniel Núñez, LHP Jake Diekman and RHP Reed Garrett combined for five scoreless innings in relief, walking just one and striking out three as the bullpen got the job done
The Mets snapped the Astros’ seven-game win streak and climbed above .500 for the first time since May 2, 12-2 in the Grimace era, improved on its MLB-best June record of 16-6, improving to 18-6 since May 30, have won four straight, 16 of their last 20 and they’ve hit 27 home runs in their last 11 games
President of baseball operations David Stearns hinted that the Mets could be buyers at the trade deadline if they are able to maintain this current run (NY Post)
OMG! 🎉
Highlighting the electric vibes currently engulfing this team, 2B Jose Iglesias took the microphone and performed a live version of his new single ‘OMG’ on the field after Friday’s game, with teammates and fans taking in the performance (Watch)
Injury Updates 🏥
RHP Drew Smith has significant ligament damage in his elbow and Tommy John Surgery is likely. A second opinion is currently being sought
RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder capsule strain) is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week following a bullpen session on Sunday as he ramps up his recovery process
Who’s Hot 🔥
Francisco Álvarez has now extended his hitting streak to nine straight games. During that stretch, he has 10 RBI and 16 hits. The Mets are 23-3 in games played by Álvarez since April 5
Francisco Lindor is hitting .300/.366/.556/.922 in June with 27 hits, 19 runs scored, 11 doubles, four homers, 11 RBI and six stolen bases
Over the last seven days, Tyrone Taylor is hitting .267/.353/.733/.1.086 with two homers, two runs scored and five RBI
Since May 30, a span of 24 games, JD Martínez is hitting .304/.407/.587 with six doubles, a triple, six home runs and 23 RBI and 28 total hits
Down on the Farm 🌾
RHP José Buttó (Triple-A): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
C Austin Allen (Triple-A): 2-for-5, 1 R, 5 RBI, 1 HR
1B Ryan Clifford (No. 4 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR
RHP Justin Jarvis (Double-A): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
RHP Dakota Hawkins (High-A): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
1B Nick Lorusso (High-A): 1-for-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 1 HR
RHP Shintaro Fujinami (Single-A, Rehab Assignment): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
3B Colin Houck (No. 7 prospect, Single-A): 3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG Game 1 | Double-A BNG Game 2 | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (40-39) vs. Astros (40-41)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Tylor Megill (2-4, 4.81 ERA) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (6-5, 3.68 ERA)
When: 4:10 PM
Where to Watch: WPIX
Some thoughts on loyal servant Drew Smith and his now murky future ✍️
Before we get to the fun stuff, it is only right we take a moment to talk about some pretty gut-wrenching news.
Drew Smith, while fighting back tears, revealed on Friday that he has “pretty significant” ligament damage in his right elbow and could require a second Tommy John Surgery. Smith is currently awaiting a second opinion.
That is tough news for Smith, who hasn’t pitched since last Sunday against the Cubs. After warming up quickly in the ninth following Edwin Díaz’s ejection for sticky stuff, Smith entered the game, recorded two outs and then needed to be checked by a trainer. He stayed in the game, gave up a single and was then pulled. Smith did say he started to feel something in his elbow during a previous outing on the Friday before.
It is also significant news for a number of reasons. Firstly, a second Tommy John Surgery is never a good sign, especially for a pitcher 30-years or older.
Secondly, Smith is a pending free agent and what this means for his future with the Mets remains to be seen.
Smith was visibly emotional when addressing his uncertain future on Friday, and that is understandable. After all, he’s the second-longest tenured player on the team behind Brandon Nimmo. He’s been with the organization for a long time, and has been a loyal servant throughout his spell in Queens.
Smith will always have a unique place in Mets lore given that he’s part of a trade during the selloff years that actually worked out. Acquired from the Rays in exchange for Lucas Duda - remember him? - on July 27, 2017, Smith made his Mets debut on June 23, 2018.
He missed all of 2019 after undergoing his first Tommy John Surgery, but went on to pitch to a 3.48 ERA in 196.1 innings pitched with 202 strikeouts and five saves. Smith established himself as a solid middle-to-high leverage reliever for the Mets over six years.
As Smith said himself, this news sucks and it is unfair for someone who has served the Mets so well over a long period of time.
It is also yet another tough break for the bullpen. Smith, who was 1-1 with two saves and a 3.06 ERA this season, joins Brooks Raley in being lost for the year. Sean Reid-Foley is also on the shelf, and Díaz is two games into a 10-game suspension. It remains to be seen how many more body blows the pen can take before collapsing completely.
Overall, Friday was just a horrible day for Smith, who struggled to contain his emotions and now faces the prospect of a second Tommy John Surgery before hitting free agency for the first time in his career. If this is the end of his time with the Mets, then is no worse way to end it than this.
Something special is brewing in Queens with these Mets ✍️
As the kids would say, the vibes are immaculate with the 2024 New York Mets right now.
Everything is seemingly going right for this team, who are now back above .500 and remain just one game back of a Wild Card spot.
That is pretty damn remarkable considering the dark depths that were being plunged by this team back in May.
What is also remarkable is the team spirit that seems to be the jet fuel that is feeding this incredible run.
That team spirit was never more evident than at Citi Field on Friday in the wake of an impressive takedown of the equally red-hot Astros.
After the Mets clubbed three home runs in a 7-2 win to climb above .500 for the first time since May 2, Jose Iglesias proceeded to grab a microphone and perform a live rendition of his new single ‘OMG’ in front of teammates and the Citi Field crowd.
It was electric.
It was also something we’ve never seen before. I mean, who had Iglesias performing a live concert after a game on their bingo cards at the start of the season? Not me, that’s for sure.
But it just highlights the current feel-good factor around this team right now. Everything they touch seems to turn to gold, and an iron-clad team spirit appears to be at the heart and soul of all this success.
This group of players clearly love playing with each other. They seem to genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and they never waste a moment to actively root for each other on and off the field.
I mean, I spotted a handful of Mets sporting 'OMG’ t-shirts while Iglesias was doing his thing Friday night. And the rest of the team had their phones out to film the whole thing while clearly having the time of their lives.
This is a team that is evidently together in every single sense of the word. There is leadership. There is accountability. And there is a pure joy when it comes to playing the game of baseball every single day.
That kind of team spirt has helped to elevate plenty of teams to greater success in years past.
And, while it is important to not get too carried away yet, it is also hard to deny that something special appears to be brewing in Queens these days.
The Mets have done a complete 180 from the dark days of May. The red-hot offense seems unstoppable. The starting pitching continues to get the job done and that group should get Kodai Senga back soon. The bullpen has taken blow after blow after blow, yet refuses to completely buckle. Even the defense has been better.
They were laughably bad in almost every single area. Now they are one of the best teams in baseball dating back to the end of May.
In other words, this is a totally different team.
They are fun. They are entertaining. They are dynamic. They are interesting. And they’re electric to watch on a daily basis now.
Who thought we would be saying that about the 2024 Mets?
Credit has to go to David Stearns who has been ruthless when it comes to cutting the fat and bringing in / up players who are motivated to play for the Mets. Luis Torrens. Jose Iglesias. Dedniel Núñez. Those players have played a crucial role in this dramatic and unbelievable turnaround for the Mets.
This team as currently constituted is doing everything right and are having a lot of fun in the process.
Yes, we’re still in June and there is still a hell of a lot of baseball to be played.
But, after the horrors of May that we all had to endure, it is intoxicating to get lost in the thought of what we’re seeing now leading to something even more special as we get deeper into summer and then into September / October.
Nothing seems out of reach for this version of the Mets anymore.
There is something damn special about this group right now and it is time to embrace it.
Oh, and maybe Iglesias will need to release another single in time for perhaps another live concert at Citi Field in October…
Around the League 🚩
Hall of Famer and Giants icon Orlando Cepeda sadly passed away at the age of 86. The Baby Bull was an 11-time All-Star and a World Series Champion in 1967
The Phillies placed both Bryce Harper (left hamstring strain) and Kyle Schwarber (left groin strain) on the 10-day IL. However, both injuries are not thought to be too serious
The Nationals are expected to call up outfielder James Wood, the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball
Juan Soto hit a go-ahead three-run home run as the Yankees blew apart the Blue Jays in a 16-5 win
Jackson Chourio hit his first career grand slam as the Brewers beat the Cubs 4-2. Milwaukee has now hit a grand slam in two straight games, three of its last four and four of its past eight games overall
Max Scherzer achieved another special milestone in his storied career on Friday, recording his 3,372nd career strikeout to surpass Greg Maddux and move into sole possession of 11th place on the all-time strikeouts list