Mets walk-off the Rangers, a big prospect is coming, and it's DJ Stewart appreciation day!

The Mets will be calling up top prospect Ronny Mauricio when rosters expand on Friday

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

• The Mets walked off the Rangers in a wild 6-5 win at Citi Field on Wednesday (box)

• DJ Stewart had a career night for the Mets on Wednesday, homering twice, making a run-saving catch in right field and driving in the winning run by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the tenth inning. He went 2-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored

• Denyi Reyes got the start for the Mets and pitched well, allowing two runs over 5.1 IP

• The Mets bullpen was it’s typical adventure, allowing three runs in relief of Reyes thanks in part to seven walks over 4.2 IP

• The Mets might consider shifting Carlos Carrasco to the bullpen for the remainder of the season

• The Mets intend to call up top prospect Ronny Mauricio when rosters expand tomorrow (New York Post)

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Who’s Hot 🔥

• Over his last 13 games, DJ Stewart is hitting .378/.429/.978 with three doubles, eight home runs and 15 RBI with nine runs scored

• Over his last 33 games, Jeff McNeil is hitting .311/.352/.432 with five doubles, a triple, three home runs and 14 RBI with 20 runs scored

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Injury Updates 🏥

• Edwin Díaz (knee surgery) threw off a mound for a second time on Thursday, and remains hopeful he can return for the end of the season

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Roster Moves 📰

• Recalled RHP Denyi Reyes from Triple-A Syracuse

• Optioned RHP Sam Coonrod to Triple-A Syracuse

• Sent INF/OF Abraham Almonte outright to Triple-A Syracuse

• Sent LHP Adam Kolarek outright to Triple-A Syracuse

• Signed LHP Tyler Jay to a minor league contract

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Prospect Watch 🔎

• INF JT Schwartz (Double-A Binghamton): 2-for-4, 2 RBI

• OF Brandon Mcllwain (Triple-A Syracuse): 2-for-4, HR, R, RBI

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Today’s Game 🗓

The Mets are off today. They open a three-game series with the Mariners tomorrow at Citi Field.

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It’s DJ Stewart appreciation day! ✍️

DJ Stewart had himself a night on Wednesday, didn’t he?

He homered twice, drove in four runs, saved at least one run with a great, late-game catch at the wall in right field, and got the game-winning RBI after being hit by a pitch in the tenth inning on Wednesday.

His performance last night was really an extension of what has truly been a standout effort from Stewart since the club’s teardown in late July, as he’s posted an 1.106 OPS in 24 games since his regular duty began with the Mets on August 1.

Inside that remarkable OPS, Stewart has four doubles and eight home runs in only 76 plate appearances. Yes, he’s struck out 22 times but that’s the fad these days in baseball anyway, so it’s hard to really get upset by that considering he still has a .378 OPS in those 24 games.

But to me, it’s more than just his performance.

Stewart has been a positive presence for this team during a time when every new day brings a new round of negativity, whether it’s another rumor the Mets are going to run Pete Alonso out of town, or Carlos Carrasco’s roster status being inappropriately leaked to the media, or one former Met or another is being asked about the toxicity of the clubhouse they vacated before the trade deadline.

And it’s that positivity and that good story the Mets and this player in particular needs right now.

Stewart, 29, has had an uphill battle as a pro since the day he was drafted. He was a 28th round selection by the Yankees in the 2012 draft, decided not to sign and then settled for a 25th round selection by the Orioles three years later. He’s from Jacksonville, went to Florida State, debuted five years ago but has only amassed about two years of service time thanks to an endless battle to stick in the big leagues. He got varying degrees of chances with Baltimore between 2018-2020 but didn’t hit well enough to stick. But he did get a longer-term chance with Baltimore in 2021, although he struggled to the tune of a .698 OPS over nearly 400 plate appearances.

But Stewart has stayed patient during the course of his professional career, and with the Mets in whatever mode they’re in today, he’s being afforded another regular opportunity in the big leagues and so far, Stewart is taking advantage of his chance.

One might suggest the stakes aren’t high for Stewart with the Mets season in the toilet, but they’re high for him as it’s a make or break time in his career. He’s trying to show off that power that got him drafted to begin with, and show he’s more than just a Triple-A shuttle player in this league.

There’s no way of knowing how Stewart might fit into the organization’s plan for next season, considering I don’t even know if they know what the plan is. There’s also no way to know if Stewart has figured this out or not or if he’s just a flash in the pan in a small sample size. Baseball has a way of defining one’s big league skill level and figuring things out for the player over a longer period of time, rather than vice versa.

But in a season shrouded in so much misery for the now last place Mets, Stewart is at least giving fans at the ballpark something to cheer about with his gritty, hard-nosed style of play and his own pursuits in what is really a tryout for him here and perhaps for another club this winter.

Plus, it’s fun to watch players come out of their shell, relax, have fun and show off their talents when given the opportunity.

“I love New York,” Stewart said after Wednesday’s game. “I really enjoy being here. My family enjoys it. I’m hoping I do enough to stay here.”

How can you not appreciate what Stewart is doing for the Mets? A no-name player trying to make a name for himself on a team that flatlined is someone certainly I can respect, appreciate and enjoy watching over the season’s final month.

I wish him the best of luck here as he looks to keep a roster spot through the winter. He is certainly doing his part in earning his keep.

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Around the League 🚩

• The Dodgers won their 24th game in August on Wednesday with a 7-0 shutout win over the Diamondbacks - LA is now 14.5 games ahead of the Giants in the NL West

• The Mariners kept on rolling with a 5-4 win over the A’s - Teoscar Hernandez highlighted their offense with a three-run home run

• The Astros kept pace with the Mariners atop the AL West with a 7-4 win over the Red Sox to sweep that series in Boston

• The Yankees won their first series since July with a 6-2 win over the Tigers in Detroit

• The Rays closed back to within 1.5 games of the Orioles thanks to their 3-0 win over the Marlins