Pete Alonso is good, and the Mets bullpen... not so much

Sep 16, 2023

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

The Mets fell to the Reds by a score of 5-3 on Friday night (box)
1B Pete Alonso clubbed his 45th home run of the season for the team’s only three runs on the night
LHP David Peterson had another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) with 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings pitched
RHP Grant Hartwig served up the game-winning two-run homer to Reds 2B Jonathan India in the top of the 7th inning
Reds RHP Alexis Díaz, brother of Mets closer Edwin Díaz, slammed the door by recording the final five outs of the night
Ronny Mauricio made his first career start at third base in the loss

Match-up: Mets (68-79) vs. Reds (77-72)

Where: Citi Field – Flushing, NY

Starting pitchers: RHP Tylor Megill (8-7, 5.03 ERA) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (8-5, 3.64 ERA)

When: 7:10 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

Pete Alonso is a good baseball player – the Mets should do what they can to hold onto him. How good is he, you ask?

Well…

After Friday night’s game, Alonso is one of two active players in the major leagues to record multiple seasons with 45 or more home runs. The other? Aaron Judge.
Alonso now has 191 career home runs, the third most of any player in their first five seasons behind Albert Pujols (201) and Ralph Kiner (215).
Of his 191 career homers, 72 of them have either tied the game or given the Mets the lead.
Alonso ranks second in the major leagues in home runs (45) and RBI (112) this season.
Alonso now has 135 multi-RBI games in his career, the sixth most in Mets history behind Ed Kranepool (137), Howard Johnson (142), Mike Piazza (171), Darryl Strawberry (182) and David Wright (235).
Over his last four games, Alonso has hit two home runs and recorded nine RBI.
Alonso is batting .286/.390/.735 with six home runs, four doubles, 16 RBI, 11 runs scored and a 1.125 OPS over 13 games this month.
In the second half of the season, Alonso is hitting .250/.371/.588 with 19 home runs, 11 doubles, one triple, 51 RBI, 35 runs scored and a .959 OPS in 57 games.

Sometimes, it doesn’t take all that much analysis to paint a picture.

Rays RHP Zach Eflin pitched into the 6th inning with a no-hitter as Tampa Bay knocked off the Orioles for the second straight night to force a tie atop the AL East
Twins 3B Royce Lewis clubbed his fourth grand slam of the season as the team blew-out the White Sox, 10-2
Braves OF Ronald Acuña was removed with right calf tightness as Atlanta fell to the Marlins by a 9-6 score
The Dbacks pulled off a critical victory against the Cubs to stay within a half game of the third and final Wild Card spot