Mets lose second straight at home, drop series to Arizona
Juan Soto's two home runs were all for naught in the series finale. Also - Mark Vientos continues to struggle but there is some hope
What’s up with the Mets? ⚾
The Mets lost their second straight to the Diamondbacks 4-2 to drop their first series at home (box | highlights)
The Mets had won each of their last ten series at home which was the longest streak in franchise history
This is the first time the Mets lost back-to-back games at home since July 27, 2024 against Atlanta
RHP Kodai Senga got the start but was a bit under the weather. He pitched 4.0 innings, gave up five hits, allowed one earned run, walked one, and struck out six
Senga has not allowed more than two earned runs in each of his last fourteen starts
Mets starting pitchers have not allowed a home run in sixteen consecutive home games which is the longest single-season streak in franchise history
RF Juan Soto went 2-for-3 with two HR and a walk. It was his first home run at Citi Field as a Met and his first multi-home run game as a Met
Rumor Mill 💨
The Mets are expected to look externally for left-handed relief help (SNY)
Injury Updates 🏥
LHP AJ Minter (lat strain) moved to the 60-day IL
RHP Frankie Montas (lat strain) moved to the 60-day IL
Roster Moves 📰
RHP Ty Adcock selected from Triple-A Syracuse
LHP Génesis Cabrera selected from Triple-A Syracuse
LHP Brandon Waddell optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Chris Devenski optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
RHP José Ureña outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse but he instead elected free agency
Who’s Hot? 🔥
Over his last seven games, RF Juan Soto is hitting .320/.433/.620 with two home runs and two RBIs
Who’s Cold? 🥶
LF Brandon Nimmo is hitting .190/.213/.310 with two home runs and 12 RBIs over his last fifteen games
Play of the Game ⭐️
It was a home run so nice that he did it twice. The Citi Field crowd has been waiting for Juan Soto to go deep in front of the home crowd, and he finally did against the Diamondbacks. Not satisfied with just the one home run, Soto did it again in the eighth inning both times to the opposite field.
Soto did not get off to the blazing start that everyone had hoped for, but he has been playing better as of late. The Mets may have lost the game against Arizona, but if Juan Soto found his power stroke, that is definitely a win for this team.
Down on the Farm 🌾
OF Simon Juan (Single-A): 2-for-4, R, 4 RBI, HR, K
SS Jesus Baez (No. 7 prospect, High-A): 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR
OF Carson Benge (No. 3 prospect, High-A): 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG (PPD) | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓️
Match-up: Mets (21-11) vs. Cardinals (14-18)
Where: Busch Stadium — St. Louis, MO
Starters: RHP Clay Holmes (3-1, 2.64 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (3-0, 3.60 ERA)
When: 8:15 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Taking a look at Mark Vientos’ early struggles, and where there might be some hope… ✍️
After his big season and postseason heroics in 2024, expectations were high for Mark Vientos heading into the 2025 season. It seemed like he was finally coming into his own, and the team had a budding star on their hands.
So far this season, that has not been the case.
Both games that they lost against Arizona were winnable games if only someone had come up with a big hit. Mark Vientos had the opportunity in the series finale in the eighth inning with runners on second and third and one out. But, he struck out.
In the previous game, he did hit a solo home run to open the scoring, but in the seventh, he struck out with runners on first and second to end the inning, and in the ninth, he had a shot at redemption with the game on the line and the bases loaded, but he struck out yet again in a non-competitive at-bat.
He is hitting just .212/.297/.394 with four home runs and 15 RBIs and an OPS of .691. Yes, he is hitting .274/.324/.548 with four home runs and 14 RBI over his last 16 games, but there are warning signs everywhere.
The exit velocity off his bat is down, his barrel percentage is down, as well as his hard-hit rate from 2024. These are worrying signs for someone the team is counting on to be one of their main sluggers. To be fair to Vientos, outside of one monster game, Brandon Nimmo has struggled just as much if not more, but the team cannot afford both of them to continue as they are right now. The difference is the team has options in the outfield; they do not at third base. Brett Baty did not seize the opportunity when it presented itself, so he is most likely not a serious option if Vientos continues to struggle.
The good news is that Vientos’ K% is down and his walk rate is up. Last year, his walk percentage was 7.3%, and this year, it is up to 11%. His strikeout rate in 2024 was 29.7%, and so far in 2025, it is 20.3%. So he is recognizing the zone better this year; he just isn’t just barreling the ball with authority like last season.
It is still just a little over a month into the season, and Vientos might still get it going. He does look like he’s pressing, and there have been some small moments over the first month to suggest Vientos’ is figuring it out, as has been the case over the last two weeks. It is just more glaring at the moment when his failures led to two losses that were winnable games.
Hopefully, he turns it around because the team will need him during the dog days of summer as they navigate a tough NL East race.
Around the League 🚩
Umpires have tightened their strike zone across the league due to how they are graded which has led to batters having to make adjustments on the fly (The Athletic)
Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hit streak to 22 games in Kansas City’s 8-2 win over the Rays
The Tigers DFA-ed RHP Kenta Maeda after he struggled for over a year in Detroit
The Rangers are reportedly demoting 1B Jake Burger to Triple-A after his horrific start to the year
The Yankees transferred Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day IL and there is still no timetable for his return
Other than that crazy 9 RBI game Nimmo has been horrible. It’s surprising to me that Vientos K rate is down this year. I feel like he’s striking out a lot. I’m still confident he can turn it around. He might miss JD. I feel like he really helped some of the hitters last year.
The Mets have had their fair share of special moments this year, and every situation will not result in the desired outcome. The first 20% of the season is done, now time to attack the next segment. Starting pitchers need to gut out a few more outs per game, not overusing the pen daily, and the offense will be fine. Let's go Mets!!!