Mets sweep the Nationals away, but now their big challenge is ahead
The final ten games on the schedule for the Mets are against the Phillies, Braves and Brewers
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets cruised by the Nationals again with a 10-0 rout at Citi Field on Tuesday night (box)
The Mets exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning on Wednesday - Tyrone Taylor doubled in a run, Mark Vientos singled in two runs, Luisangel Acuña singled in a run, Starling Marte singled in two runs, and Brandon Nimmo capped the scoring by adding a three-run home run
The fourth inning on Wednesday was the first time New York has scored nine or more runs in an inning since July 9, 2021 vs. Pittsburgh when they scored 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth
Luisangel Acuña added a solo home run in the eighth inning
Jose Quintana was brilliant again while notching seven more scoreless innings under his belt, and both Phil Maton and Huascar Brazoban each added scoreless frames to cap another evening of brilliant pitching for the Mets
The Mets finished 11-2 vs the Nationals in 2024. They’re 12-4 in September, have won 15 of their last 19, earned their 12th sweep of the season, are 26-19 vs the NL East, 23-19 vs a left-handed starter, and are 35-22 since the All-Star Game. They’re a season-best 84-68, 16 games over .500 for the year, and their 62-35 record since May 30 is the best record in baseball during that span
Playoff Race 🏁
The Braves, Padres and Diamondbacks all won on Tuesday.
As such, the Mets remained two games ahead of the Braves for the final wild card spot in the National League. They’re tied with the Diamondbacks record wise, but hold the second wild card by virtue of the tiebreaker. They remained 2.5 games behind the Padres for the final wild card spot.
There are 10 games remaining.
Per FanGraphs, the Mets have a 71.5% chance of making the postseason.
New York will play four with the Phillies, three with the Braves, and three with the Brewers to finish their season, the last two opponents on the road.
Tiebreakers:
vs. ATL: 5-5
vs. ARI: 4-3 (finished)
vs. SD: 5-2 (finished)
Acuña Matata! 🦁
Luisangel Acuña is the first player in Mets history to have multiple hits in each of his first three major league starts
Is tied with Daniel Murphy and Mike Vail for the 3rd highest batting average by a Met in their first four big league games with an at-bat (Min. 10 at-bats)
Injury Updates 🏥
SS Francisco Lindor (lower back strain) performed agility drills at Citi Field on Wednesday, and said he is feeling better than he did in Philadelphia last weekend
RHP Kodai Senga (strained calf) hopes to throw an inning for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend, with hopes he can return in some capacity during next week’s series in Atlanta
RHP Christian Scott will soon undergo hybrid Tommy John/Internal Brace surgery to repair the UCL in his right elbow next week. He will not pitch again until the 2026 season
3B Brett Baty (fractured finger) was activated from the Syracuse Mets’ injured list on Wednesday
RHP Paul Blackburn (spinal fluid leak, lower back) recently restarted a throwing program, with hopes he can return in a relief role before the end of the season
Down on the Farm 🌾
SS Jett Williams (No. 2 prospect, Triple-A): 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 R
OF Drew Gilbert (No. 3 prospect, Triple-A): 2-for-4, 2 RBI
OF Carlos Cortes (Triple-A): 2-for-5, HR, RBI, 3 R
LHP Joey Lucchesi (Triple-A): 4 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 K
BOX SCORES
Triple-A SYR
Mets top 30 prospects
Who’s Hot 🔥
Jose Quintana has a 23.2 consecutive scoreless inning streak. He has allowed one earned run (two runs total) in his last 32 innings pitched over his last five starts
Mets starting pitchers own a 1.77 ERA during the month of September, by far the best in baseball this month. The starters’ 3.35 ERA since June 13 is the best in the NL during that span and second best in baseball, 3/50 of a point behind the Astros
Pete Alonso now has a six-game hitting streak, during which he’s hitting .417/.462/.708 with 10 hits, a double, two home runs, six RBI and five runs scored
Jose Iglesias extended his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games on Wednesday. He is hitting .409/.447/.455 with 18 hits and two doubles and nine runs scored during that span
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (84-68) vs. Phillies (91-61)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Luis Severino (10-6 3.77 ERA) vs. RHP Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29 ERA)
When: 7:15 PM EDT
Where to Watch: FOX
The Mets have that playoff feel to them - now they need to get there… ✍️
The Mets are 16 games over .500.
Can you believe it?
When I say that to myself, I certainly can’t. Not considering where they were 3 1/2 months ago. Going from 22-33 to 84-68 would mark one of the greatest turnarounds in franchise history.
If the Mets make the playoffs, of course.
I would put it behind 1969 and 1973 for this franchise. The expectations in 1969 were non-existent and of course we know the story there. The 1973 Mets were in last place when play began in September that year, rallied to win their division and make it all the way to game 7 of the World Series, and might have won it with some better pitching decisions from then manager Yogi Berra.
The story for the 2024 Mets is still incomplete. They have a daunting schedule ahead beginning tonight against the Phillies. It’s their last four home games of the season before hitting the road in what will probably be a must-win series against the Braves next week. Then they will head to Milwaukee, and we won’t know what the stakes are presumably until we know the outcomes of this series against the Phillies and that series against the Braves.
But if the Mets make it, this will turn out to be a season for the ages. And if they make it and then make a deep run into October, perhaps then we can talk about this being one of the greatest seasons in club history.
Of course, let’s walk before we run, shall we? I am just thinking out loud here.
Especially with this schedule.
But you know, we keep talking and talking about this difficult schedule, yet so far, the Mets have not only treaded water, they’ve gained ground in the wild card race since the Philly series last weekend, despite dropping two of three.
Yes, they just torched the second-division Nationals but that’s what they’re supposed to do, right? I mean, Arizona didn’t exactly do that against Colorado this week, which is why the Mets were able to tie them in the standings and takeover the second wild card.
And the Mets have that mojo to them. They’re playing with that electricity championship teams have, even when they lose ballgames. It’s not as if Philly blew them away last weekend. They were just out pitched and those games - as we know - could’ve gone the Mets way with a little bit better execution.
Look - the Mets have been the best team in baseball for 3 1/2 months. They’ve had the best starting pitching in the National League for three months. Their offense has been among the best in the sport during that span as well.
So, why wouldn’t they not be up for this forthcoming challenge in the schedule, but be able to overcome it and make it to the playoffs?
They look like a playoff team. They feel like a playoff team. They’ve overcome literally every obstacle that has come in front of them to run up a 62-35 record since May 30.
They’re now going to essentially play playoff games from here on out. But in 10 days, I expect the Mets to be where they want to be.
This is playoff baseball, and this is what everyone wants, as Brandon Nimmo put it last night (watch).
Another topic - I did want to talk about Luisangel Acuña for a bit today.
He’s been incredible, and the Mets haven’t missed a beat with him at shortstop in Francisco Lindor’s absence. He has injected another dose of energy into this club, and has been an important piece for them over the last week, something most people might not have anticipated at all this season.
He had a mediocre season at Triple-A this past year, his prospect ranking dropped, and many wondered if the Mets would ever enjoy the return on the investment they made in him, that which includes paying the bulk of Max Scherzer’s salary while on the Texas Rangers roster.
Maybe he was just bored there, as many prospect become in the minors?
When prospects come up, I feel like in most cases, we can see if that player has what it takes almost immediately, even if they don’t come up and crush it immediately. Anyone I’ve talked to believes what I believe - Acuña has what it takes. He’s clearly uber talented and so far anyway, his head appears to be in the right space. I think he has a strong supporting cast around him to help him along the way here, but between his physical skills and his presence, I believe the Mets have something here and more than many might’ve believed even a week ago.
And I am not just saying that because he’s a spitting image of Ronald Acuña Jr. at the plate. Well, maybe I am a little, but I think you know what I mean.
The question is, what do the Mets do with him when Francisco Lindor gets back? Do they shift him to second and make José Iglesias a part-time player? Do they make him their right-handed designated hitter in place of the slumping JD Martínez? Or, do they make Acuña a part-time player and roll with what got them here?
That’s a tough puzzle for David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza to solve at the moment.
But a fun one at that.
Around the League 🚩
Eduardo Rodriguez struck out 11 over 6.1 IP and Corbin Carroll hit two home runs as the D-Backs bounced back against the Rockies 9-4 in Denver
Manny Machado hit two home runs and Dylan Cease allowed two hits over 8.1 IP in the Padres 4-0 shutout win over the Astros
Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II homered and Spencer Schwellenbach allowed a run over 6.1 IP in the Braves 7-1 win over the Reds
Aaron Nola rebounded to allow just a run over seven innings, but the Brewers held the Phillies offense down and won on a walk-off 2-1
Baseball is about second chances.
They have a second chance against the Phils. And, if Miami can win at least once, it would be nice. And then, the Mets have a second chance vs the Braves. You know what I'm talking about there.
The final countdown.
LFGM!