Mets take series from the Royals as they celebrate their past with Doc Gooden
The Mets pitching staff shut the door on the Royals to take their third straight series
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
After being held scoreless through seven innings the Mets finally broke through in the eighth to defeat the Royals 2-1 (box)
RHP José Buttó was outstanding on the mound. He struck out nine in six innings of work while not allowing a run
On the day the Mets honored Doctor K, Mets pitching struck out a total of 14 batters
CF Harrison Bader went 2-for-4 and drove in the Mets’ first run in the eighth with an infield single. Bader now has multiple hits in four straight games which is the longest streak of his career
RHP Edwin Díaz gave up a solo home run but picked up his first save at Citi Field in over a year
The team is 7-3 in their last 10 games, have won three straight series and have outscored opponents 58-44 during that span
This was the ninth time their pitching has recorded double-digit strikeouts and trail only the Red Sox for most double-digit strikeout games in the league
Roster Moves 🗞️
The Mets recalled RHP José Buttó and RHP Grant Hartwig
RHP Cole Sulser and LHP Tyler Jay optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
Injury Updates 🏥
DH J.D. Martinez (body soreness) will resume swinging a bat today
Who’s Hot 🔥
Brandon Nimmo is batting .333/.429/.667 with two home runs and 10 RBIs over his last seven games
Starling Marte is hitting .323/.382/.419 in the past week with one home run, three RBIs, and a stolen base
Over his last 7 games Harrison Bader is hitting .357/.379/.357 with six runs scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases
Down on the Farm 🌾
OF Luisangel Acuña (Triple-A) went 3-for-8 with a run in Syracuse’s doubleheader
OF Trayce Thompson (Triple-A) went 2-for-5 with a walk, 4 RBIs, and 2 runs during the doubleheader
DH Alex Ramírez (Double-A) went 3-for-5 with a run
José Buttó… 🤩
His nine strikeouts were a career high surpassing his previous high of seven that he set back in September 2023 against Arizona.
He is one of sixteen starting pitchers in the majors this year who have allowed five or fewer hits in their first two starts of the season
Over his last seven starts dating back to last year, Buttó has a 2.50 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (7-8) vs. Pirates (11-5)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Adrian Houser (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. LHP Martín Pérez (1-0, 1.89 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Which number will be next in the rafters? ✍️
Dwight Gooden became the latest Met to receive the honor of having his number retired by the organization on Sunday when the Mets unveiled his number 16 in the rafters in left field. Darryl Strawberry will join this list of Mets dignitaries in June when his number will be forever enshrined at the top of Citi Field Field as well.
These two legends are just the latest in what has been a noticeable change in honoring former Met greats ever since Steve and Alex Cohen took over as owners from the Wilpons.
The Wilpons’ unwritten rule was that a player had to be in the Hall of Fame in order for their number to be retired, but the Cohen’s have eased those restrictions. During their tenure, Gooden, Strawberry, Willie Mays, Keith Hernandez, and Jerry Koosman have all had their numbers raised in ceremony. The Cohens had to play a bit of catch up to bestow the honor on beloved Mets that for far too long had been overlooked by the uncompromising Wilpons, who only retired Tom Seaver’s, number 41 and Mike Piazza’s number 31 during their tenure as owners.
Now, the Cohens have some decisions to make on who will be the next one to follow in the others’ footsteps.
One of the last overlooked Mets which could be an option is the late Gary Carter. Carter’s Hall of Fame career started with the Expos and he was inducted into Cooperstown wearing a that cap which apparently went against his wishes. He was an integral part of the 1986 championship team and widely viewed as the last piece of their puzzle when they acquired him before the 1985 season.
He lived up to that reputation on and off the field and in the clubhouse.
From 1985-1989 he batted .249/.319/.412 with 89 home runs and 349 RBIs. He had a few big moments during the Mets postseason run in 1986 including starting the rally in the tenth inning in Game 6 of the World Series and his game-winning RBI single in game 5 of the NLCS to score Wally Backman. His number is currently uncirculated in the clubhouse.
The next option would be Carlos Beltrán who is arguably the greatest centerfielder in Mets history but is unfortunately more synonymous with a single moment in time. In his seven years as a Met, he was a five-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove award winner. He batted .280/.369/.500 with 149 home runs, 559 RBIs, and 100 stolen bases. His best year was 2006 when he came in fourth in MVP balloting and finished the year batting .275/.388/.594 with 41 home runs and 116 RBIs. It is only a matter before he gets voted into Cooperstown despite his role in the Astros cheating scandal. When that day comes he will most likely be wearing a Mets cap and if we go by the old Wilponian rules than he should have his number retired by the organization as well. His number is currently being worn by Tyrone Taylor.
The last option is obviously David Wright.
He holds nearly every franchise records and spent his entire career with the team before injuries heartbreakingly cut his time short. In his first year on the Hall of Fame ballot he received enough votes to stay on the ballot but it is still unlikely he will ever get the call. Still, Number 5 will definitely join the others one day - it is just a matter of when and perhaps if he will be the next one up. His number is currently uncirculated in the clubhouse.
No matter what direction the Cohens decide to head in next, it is a refreshing change to honor Mets legends who did so much for the organization and to right past wrongs. It’s an opportunity to celebrate their past and what has truly been a rich history of playing careers with those who remember them and today’s youth.
While honoring the past was never the Wilpons strong suit, fans of every generation are now getting the chance to celebrate the past while looking to the future.
Around the League 🚩
The White Sox are reportedly close to signing OF Tommy Pham to a minor league deal
Jackson Holliday picked up his first major league hit and scored the Orioles’ go-ahead run in their 6-4 win over the Brewers
Andrew McCutchen blasted the 300th home run of his career in the Pirates 9-2 win over the Phillies
The Rangers placed Cody Bradford on the injured list with a low back strain after he started the season 3-0 for Texas
Justin Verlander could be activated off the IL this week if he feels good after his latest rehab start
The Wilponzi’s were so much worse than we even knew. Beyond what we already know, Fred’s deep disrespect and disregard for the fanbase are coming out by virtue of the ways that the Cohens have been quickly righting those wrongs since they bought the team. I was at the Gooden ceremony and the game yesterday and it was a wonderful day. Thank goodness.