The Mets complete a weekend sweep of the Padres
And the team's best players are finally starting to produce as such as the good time begin to roll for the Mets
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets completed a weekend sweep of the Padres by defeating San Diego 11-6 on Father’s Day (Box)
Tylor Megill started on the bump for the Mets and earned the win, going five innings and allowing two runs on five hits
Francisco Lindor crushed a leadoff homer for the Mets, and three batters later Pete Alonso delivered a three-run shot, giving NY four runs before they ever made an out
Brandon Nimmo collected three hits in the contest
Jake Diekman sure made it interesting in the 8th inning, committing a costly throwing error and allowing three runs in just a third of an inning
In the bottom of the 8th the Mets scored four runs on five hits to put the game away, headlined by a bomb from catcher Luis Torrens
Sean Reid-Foley was called upon with a five-run lead in the 9th inning and delivered a perfect frame
The Mets scored ten runs or more in a game for the fourth time this season, and second time in four days and the tenth time they’ve hit three or more home runs in a game
The Mets are now a perfect 5-0 since Grimace threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Mets
Injury Updates 🏥
Kodai Senga (shoulder capsule strain) came away feeling fine from a recent 30-35 pitch bullpen session. He is expected to throw another bullpen session on Wednesday before a decision is made on whether or not he will face hitters
Who’s Hot 🔥
Brandon Nimmo went 8-for-13 (.615) in the three games with the Padres with a double and 3 RBI
JD Martínez is hitting .500/.609/1.167 with three doubles, three home runs and nine RBI over his last five games, during which the Mets are 5-0.
He has 18 extra-base hits since May 18, extended his on-base streak to 20 games with his walk in the first inning and became the first Met to reach base in 20 straight games since Mark Canha from September 4, 2022 - September 30, 2022 (22 games)
Reached base in ten straight plate appearances before striking out in the eighth inning, tied for the second-longest such streak in club history (last Robinson Canó from 8/3-9/6/2019) (Elias)
Down on the Farm 🌾
Rhylan Thomas (No. 30 Prospect, Triple-A) 2-for-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R
Luisangel Acuña (No. 5 Prospect, Triple-A) 2-for-5, HR, RBI
Alex Ramirez (No. 16 Prospect, Double-A) 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (33-37) @ Rangers (33-38)
Where: Globe Life Field — Arlington, TX
Starters: LHP David Peterson (2-0, 4.32 ERA) vs. RHP Jon Gray (2-2, 2.17 ERA)
When: 8:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
The best players are starting to play like it…✍️
Even three months ago, all the way back in spring training, the Mets knew their pitching staff was going to experience growing pains. They were, however, confident that the core members of their offense could offset some of the deficiencies on the mound.
The reason New York endured such a difficult May was largely due to the fact that the big-name members of their offensive attack were failing to live up to the numbers on the back of their baseball cards. On that front, the tide is finally beginning to turn.
The Mets have now won nine of their last eleven games and surged to within four games of .500 and sit just 1.5 games back of a wild card berth.
And it should come as no surprise that during that stretch, the most important players on the roster are taking center stage.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez has been sensational thus far in June, slashing .320/.433/.620 with three homers, 13 RBI, and four doubles. He’s thrived hitting third in manager Carlos Mendoza’s reshuffled line-up and has somewhat quietly been the Mets most consistent hitter in recent weeks.
After a well-documented horrific beginning to his campaign, it’s safe to say shortstop Francisco Lindor has made it all the way back. The veteran already has seven extra-base hits and four multi-hit games in June, and he’s currently thriving in the leadoff spot in the Mets’ lineup.
The team’s predominant leadoff hitter for most of the last several years, Brandon Nimmo, has spent recent weeks hitting second and third, and he’s played a starring role in the Mets resurgence regardless of where he’s been deployed. In the first half of June Nimmo has slashed .300/.352/.400 with 20 total bases in 50 at-bats.
Then there’s slugger Pete Alonso, who is still having a relatively down campaign by his own standards, but as he showed Sunday, every time he steps to the plate he is in scoring position and has the potential to deliver a game breaking bomb. Aided by improved performance ahead of him, Alonso has already driven in 10 runs in 13 games in June, a trend the club hopes continues in the coming weeks.
On the mound, while the Mets are clearly understaffed to compete with the better teams in the National League, they have gotten better outings of late from some of their veteran starters as well.
On Saturday night, lefty Jose Quintana allowed just a single run over six innings en route to earning just his second win of 2024.
The night before, Sean Manaea rebounded from two subpar outings in a row to fire five innings of one run ball and earn a victory of his own.
Then there’s right-hander Luis Severino, who struggled through a difficult May but has been a different pitcher here in June. Through two starts in the sixth month on your calendar, the veteran has fired 14 innings and allowed just two runs on 14 hits while walking only three.
And let’s also include embattled closer Edwin Diaz in this two, as after coming off the injured list earlier this week he’s thrown two crisp scoreless frames.
All of these performances—and more—have allowed the Mets to potentially put competing in 2024 back into play, and it has set up a very interesting next month or so.
If there’s a world where the Mets become serious factors in the National League this year, they’ll need help on the mound. That may be Kodai Senga and Christian Scott, but it will also likely have to include external additions.
This club’s best players will have to continue performing the way they have the last few weeks for at least another month or so to convince the front office that this team is worth investing in THIS summer.
The Mets have suddenly made themselves fun to watch again, and now it’s time to see how long their renaissance can continue.
Around the League 🚩
Miles Mikolas went 6.1 innings and allowed just one run in the Cardinals 2-1 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley
Zack Wheeler had a rough day at the office on Sunday, as the Orioles hammered him for eight runs in just 4.1 innings in the Phillies 8-3 loss in Baltimore
Daulton Varsho connected on a 5th inning grand slam that proved to be the biggest hit in Toronto’s 7-6 win over the Guardians
Ronel Blanco tossed seven no hit innings in the Astros 4-1 win over the Tigers
Minnesota swept a double header with the Athletics on Sunday
Elly De La Cruz tripled, homered, and stole his 36th base in the Reds 5-4 loss to the Brew Crew
The Dodgers were dealt a crushing blow on Sunday, when Mookie Betts was hit by a pitch and suffered a fractured bone in his hand
Great weekend of Mets baseball. We looked like a good team for the most part. 1 negative is as good as Marte has been at the plate the balls he can’t get in RF because he’s so slow out there can’t continue.