Mets set to open weekend series against the Cubs
Plus, three Mets candidates to be considered for the All-Star Game
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets were off on Thursday, and open a three-game series against the Cubs this afternoon at Wrigley Field
LHP Brooks Raley discussed his recovery from Tommy John and what the future holds for him (Newsday)
Joan Payson’s granddaughter shared her family’s remembrances of the great Willie Mays with the Mays family (Mets Insider)
Former Met Max Scherzer offered Pete Alonso some advice on his upcoming contract (Newsday)
C Francisco Alvarez played three games in a row which was another crucial test he had to pass coming off the injured list (NY Post)
The team has played its way back into playing meaningful games after falling way behind in May (NY Post)
Down on the Farm 🌾
3B Brett Baty (Triple-A): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
C Kevin Parada (No. 9 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-4, RBI, 2 R, 2B
RHP Jonah Tong (No. 20 prospect, High-A): 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (35-38) @ Cubs (36-39)
Where: Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL
Starters: LHP José Quintana (2-5, 4.98 ERA) vs. LHP Shōta Imanaga (7-1, 1.89 ERA)
When: 2:20 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY, MLBN (out-of-market only)
Who is the Mets All-Star(s)? ✍️
We are less than a month away from the All-Star Game, and with All-Star balloting open, the question needs to be asked: Who is the Mets All-Star?
After a brutal start to the season it wasn’t looking good for any Met to be deserving of the nod. Yes someone had to go to represent the Blue and Orange, and Reed Garrett seemed to be the only one who could potentially play in the Midsummer Classic.
However, after their recent Grimace-led hot streak, and with Garrett coming back down to earth a bit, the question needs to be asked again: Who is the Mets All-Star?
The most worthy right now is J.D. Martinez.
Among DHs with a minimum of 100 at bats, he is 6th in the league in fWAR despite playing in only 47 games. His wRC+ of 146 puts him in the top five in the league and his average of .282 is fourth trailing only Shohei Ohtani, Marcell Ozuna, and Joc Pederson. Overall he is hitting .282/.356/.494 with 8 home runs and 27 RBIs. His walk-off home run was one of the thrilling moments of the season so far and he has finally filled the role of DH that the team has been missing for so long.
The next candidate of course is Francisco Lindor.
Fans may focus on the low batting average, but his fWAR of 2.7 is good for fourth in the league among shortstops and his 112 wRC+ places him sixth among National League shortstops. That low average (which is rising) is due mostly to his horrid start. During the month of June, his wRC+ jumps to 168 and he is batting .270/.347/.569 with 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, 13 runs, and 4 stolen bases. For the Mets to get back in the race, they needed their star shortstop to get hot and he did so just in time. In May he certainly wasn’t playing like an All-Star but now he has certainly placed himself in the conversation.
This is more of a long shot, but Luis Severino could get the nod if the others do not.
It has been a nice bounce back season for the righty, who currently owns a 3.52 ERA. He is nowhere near the leaders in most categories, but for a team that lost its ace and rebuilt its rotation in the offseason, he has been a stabilizing force for the Mets and a solid and reliable presence for the Mets in their rotation. He is the unquestionable standout of the rotation and even took a no-hitter into the eighth earlier in the season.
Of course, the All-Star game is ultimately for the fans and it is up to them to vote their favorites in. Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso remain popular among the fanbase and will probably garner some votes but if we go by numbers alone, J.D. Martinez or Francisco Lindor should be in Texas come July.
Around the League 🚩
The festivities at historic Rickwood Field honored Willie Mays and all those who played in the Negro Leagues
The Cardinals defeated the Giants 6-5 on a special night for baseball
The Orioles blew out Luis Gil and the Yankees by a score of 17-5
LHP Clayton Kershaw threw three innings in his first rehab start coming back from shoulder surgery
Brewers rookie RHP Robert Gasser will undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his season
J.D. has been the biggest difference maker for this team, and the player who jump-started an offense that looked dead a few weeks ago. He deserves the nod. Lindor would be there too if not for the atrocious first month of the season.
We'd love to see the broom come out, but 2 of 3 in Wrigley would be just fine! I don't care about the All-Star Game much. It was a must see in the 60's, and sometimes twice.