The Mets blast the Braves out of Atlanta, and who has the club's best player been?
The Mets return home after successful road trip while Brett Baty continues to emerge as a difference maker
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets blew the brakes off the Braves 16-4 on Thursday afternoon as they won their first series in Atlanta since July of 2022 (Box)
Jose Quintana started for the Mets and went 5.1 strong innings to earn the win
The Mets scored four runs in the 3rd inning, capped by a long D.J. Stewart home run
Harrison Bader collected two hits and scored three runs in the win
Pinch-hitting for Brandon Nimmo in the 9th, Tyrone Taylor crushed a grand slam against former Met infielder Luis Guillorme
Jeff McNeil was on base four times and drove in three runs
Lefty Tyler Jay made his Major League debut for the Mets and got the last six outs of the win
For the first time all season, the Mets scored ten runs or more in a game
Roster Moves
The Mets traded recently DFA’d right-hander Yohan Ramirez to the Orioles for cash considerations
Who’s Hot 🔥
Pete Alonso: 4-for-8, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 3 Runs in his last two games
Brett Baty: 10-for-27, 2 RBI during current six-game hitting streak
Drew Smith has not allowed an earned run in any of his six outings in 2024
Down on the Farm 🌾
RHP Dom Hamel (Triple-A) 5 IP 2 ER 3 H 1 BB 10 K
OF Ben Gamel (Triple-A) hit his 3rd home run in the first 11 of games of the season
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (5-7) vs Royals (9-4)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Let’s talk about Brett Baty… ✍️
All winter long, the future of third baseman Brett Baty was routinely discussed by essentially every media outlet covering the New York Mets. Baty was widely viewed as a question mark, a potential liability, and someone the Mets should look to replace.
New York was criticized by the national media for not pursuing veteran upgrades at the hot corner, and while the team consistently said it was committed to giving Baty or Mark Vientos a chance, it was unclear if there was some degree of posturing behind the words.
I feel like for a long time I was one of the only ones with unwavering faith that the Mets first round pick from the 2019 draft would eventually become a difference maker. And while a 12-game sample is not enough for an ‘I told you so’, there’s a legitimate case to be made that through the season’s first two weeks, Baty has been the Mets best player.
In his first 45 at-bats of 2024, the 24-year-old has slashed .311/.354/.378 with a homer and six RBI. Most notably though, thus far he’s emphatically quieted the critics that had been happy to point out the flaws in his game.
Can’t hit lefties?
Baty has gone 4-for-12 with a home run against southpaws.
Not good enough defensively?
Baty has handled all 31 of his defensive chances flawlessly.
And while the numbers paint a flattering and honestly, an accurate picture of how well Baty has played over the first few weeks, I still don’t think they tell the whole story.
Last year Baty was openly transparent about how difficult the grind of a Major League season can be on you mentally, and has admitted at times that his confidence has wavered when he’s struggled.
Here in 2024, though, he looks like an entirely different person and player. The Round Rock, Texas native is noticeably playing with more self-confidence, energy, passion and emotion, and is quite visibly having fun doing it.
He’s not only making all the routine plays at third base, he’s seemingly coming up with a daily web gem at the hot corner.
On the offensive side of the ball, Baty has quickly ascended to a more prominent spot in the Mets’ batting order, and is bringing attitude and swag to the batter’s box.
It’s truly amazing what some success, confidence and a little bit of maturity can do for your psyche, and right now Baty has all of those in spades.
Obviously, it’s hard to predict that the next five and a half months have in store, and we all know things can change quickly in this game. But right now, Brett Baty has been arguably the Mets best player, and I think it’s safe to say we’re all rooting for that to continue.
Around the League 🚩
The Phillies got homers from Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott in their 5-1 win over the Pirates
Baltimore scored six times in the 10th en route to a 9-4 win over Boston
J.P. Sears fired 6.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit in the A’s 1-0 win over the Rangers
Bobby Witt Jr. blasted two home runs in the Royals 13-3 victory over the struggling Astros