Mets manufacture a win thanks to great base running and a shutdown bullpen

The Mets are still the only team in MLB to have not lost three games in a row in 2025

Michael Baron

May 18, 2025

What’s up with the Mets? 🚊

The Mets edged the Yankees in a 3-2 thriller on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx (box | highlights)
Griffin Canning started for the Mets and he was solid into the sixth inning, allowing only a pair of solo home runs on seven hits
The Mets bullpen shutdown the Yankee offense over 3.2 IP, allowing just one hit the rest of the way
The Mets scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead on an RBI single from Pete Alonso and a key sac fly from Mark Vientos
Luisangel Acuña scored the go-ahead run on a sac fly from Francisco Lindor in the ninth
The Mets went just 1-for-7 with RISP on the afternoon, but the Yankees went 0-for-6 with RISP

Stats of the Day 📊

The Mets remain the only team in MLB to not lose three games in a row in 2025
The Mets are now 4-1 this season when tied after eight innings
The Mets now have 17 sacrifice flies on the season, fourth most in MLB

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Who’s Hot? 🔥

Huascar Brazoban has not allowed an earned run in 17-of-20 appearances this season, going 2-0 with one save and a 1.01 ERA (26.2 IP, 3 ER) and 25 K. He has posted a 0.61 ERA (14.2IP, 1ER) in 11 road games (one start) this year, and has gone unsecured upon in 10 of those games
Reed Garrett has not allowed an earned run in 18 of his 20 outings this season and 31 of his last 34 games (since 8/18/24), going 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA (30.1IP, 6ER) and 33 K over that stretch
Francisco Lindor has reached base safely in 18 of his last 20 games. He is hitting .280/.362/.476 with four doubles, four home runs, 14 RBI with 23 hits, 7 walks and 11 runs scored during that span
Juan Soto has reached base in 39 of his 45 games this season, reaching base multiple times in 28 of those games. Soto has an .888 OPS over his last 26 games with 5 doubles, 5 home runs, 13 RBI, 4 stolen bases, 22 walks, 26 hits and 19 runs scored during that span

Play of the Game 🌟

With one out and runners at first and second, Juan Soto got a walking lead on Clarke Schmidt to steal third uncontested to setup Mark Vientos’ sac fly to give the Mets the lead, likely changing the whole complexion of the game and setting up the win:

Down on the Farm 🌾

C Jakson Reetz (Triple-A): 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
RHP Jonah Tong (no. 6 prospect, Double-A): 6 IP, 2 H, 2B, 8 K
OF Chris Suero (no. 21 prospect, High-A): 1-for-2, HR, RBI, 3 R
LHP Jonathan Santucci (no. 12 prospect, High-A): 5 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K
OF Simon Juan (Low-A): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR

Today’s Game 🗓️

Match-up: Mets (29-17) vs. Yankees (26-19)

Where: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY

Starters: LHP David Peterson (2-2, 3.05 ERA) vs. LHP Max Fried (6-0, 1.11 ERA)

When: 7:10 PM EDT

Where to Watch: ESPN

Thoughts on Juan Soto’s key steal, Griffin Canning’s renaissance, and Huascar Brazoban! ✍️

Yesterday’s game was one of the best games of the year. Fortunately for the Mets, they found a way to win it, but it was entertaining, nail-biting, and there was a lot of quality play on both sides.

Yes, I know, the Mets didn’t hit with runners in scoring position again, but the Yankees were just as bad. But that’s what good pitching does to the opposing club, and for the Mets specifically, they just don’t give up a lot of runs, which is why, in large measure, they’ve been among the best teams in baseball right from the start of the season.

To me, this whole win was set up for the Mets in the fourth inning when Juan Soto stole third on a walking lead-off of Clarke Schmidt. The funny thing is, Schmidt took a good look at Soto, but Soto must have seen something on the previous pitch that signaled he could go once he turned away, because as soon as he turned his head, he was off to third and he stole it uncontested. Mark Vientos would soon drive him in on one of two sacrifice flies on the afternoon for the Mets.

They now have 17 sacrifice flies on the season, fourth most in MLB.

It was a tone-setting moment in the game for the Mets. Who knows if they ever take the lead in that game without Soto’s high IQ base running play.

Of course, the bullpen gave one of their lockdown performances behind Griffin Canning, who was good himself but fell victim to a Yankee Stadium homer from DJ LeMahieu. That ball would’ve been out in three other ballparks—Daikon Park in Houston, Petco Park in San Diego, and of course, Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

It happens— I implore the Mets to take advantage of that short porch tonight against Max Fried, because good luck getting anything out on the left side against him tonight.

Anyway, back to Canning. He pitched a lot better than the line would suggest. The Mets have completely transformed him while putting a safety net under him for each of his starts. They know he’s typically only good for 2 1/2 turns through the lineup or so, although he’s completed six innings twice in his nine starts this season.

But the biggest key for him has been his pitch usage.

56 percent of his pitches against the Yankees yesterday were changeups and sliders, and he induced 10 swings and misses with that pitch over the course of his outing. His slider usage is up ten percent over last year’s usage, which in turn has made his fastball more effective.

The Mets knew they could fix Canning with a simple strategic adjustment. It has worked, and he has emerged as one of the great steals in free agency so far this season.

Then, of course, there was another stellar performance by the bullpen, highlighted by Huascar Brazoban’s escape job in the sixth inning to bail out Canning and give the Mets a path forward in the game. Brazoban specifically has been quietly awesome so far in 2025 (don’t want to jinx him, of course). Aside from his immaculate 1.01 ERA on the year, he has only allowed two of 13 inherited runners to score. Brazoban’s main issue has been confidence and conviction, not so much stuff, and the Mets have certainly unlocked that confidence over the first two months of the season.

And he has been a boon for the Mets and their bullpen, which has been heavily taxed thanks to so many short starts from the rotation.

Now they have a big test tonight as part of this gauntlet in their schedule - Max Fried. Going to be a tough one, but good teams find a way. And as Carlos Mendoza said yesterday afternoon, the Mets have a good team.

Around the League 🚩

The Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde after their 15-28 start to the season
The Twins won their 13th game in a row on Saturday, blanking the Brewers 7-0 in Milwaukee
The Cardinals kept their good times rolling with a 1-0 win over the Royals. They have won 12 of their last 13 and have a 2.33 ERA during that span
Clayton Kershaw made his season debut for the Dodgers, but got racked around for five runs over four innings as the Angels won 11-9