What are the Mets going to do at first base?
Plus, the Mets rallied late, almost lost, but survived to earn a split in Atlanta
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets pulled out a wild 7-6 win in 10 innings to split their holiday weekend series with the Braves (Box)
RHP Freddy Peralta started for the Mets and went 4.2 innings while allowing three runs (just one earned) on six hits and a walk. He struck out six, hit a batter, and allowed a solo home run
With the Mets down to their last out in the 9th, Juan Soto demolished a dramatic three run home run
Francisco Álvarez contributed two big hits, an RBI single in the 6th and a leadoff single in the 9th to set the stage for the Soto homer
Devin Williams blew the Mets two run 9th inning lead almost instantly, surrendering a leadoff double to Ozzie Albies and then a two run game tying home run to Matt Olson, but Luis Torrens delivered a clutch two out two run double in the 10th to put the Mets ahead for good
RHP Luke Weaver’s 27 outing scoreless streak came to an end when he allowed the free runner to score in the 10th inning, but he was still able to secure the save to give the Mets an exciting win
Roster Moves 📰
The Mets acquired minor league righty Matt Seelinger from the Tigers for cash considerations
Play of the Game 🤦♂️
The Mets were dramatically outplayed by the Braves defensively in this game, but thanks to a yeoman effort from Freddy Peralta and excellent work by the bullpen, the Mets were still in the game late.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias entered with a 3-2 lead in the 9th inning, having not blown a single save all season.
Singles by Francisco Álvarez and Ronny Mauricio set the stage for a dramatic two-out plate appearance for Juan Soto.
And the Mets superstar delivered in a huge way. Soto crushed a 3-1 fastball deep into the Atlanta night, a dramatic three-run blast that completely flipped the script on the game and the series.
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest Just Mets Podcast, Rich and Andrew actually gave us six reasons to continue watching the Mets this season!
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Down on the Farm 🌾
All Mets minor league affiliates were off on Monday
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (38-53) vs Royals (37-54)
Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY
Starters: TBD vs. RHP Seth Lugo (3-6, 4.20 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Who’s on first? ✍️
The Mets have had an entire catalog of issues for the entirety of the 2026 season, but to me, one dramatic black hole has stood above all the rest.
First base.
Look, it was an awful decision at the time, and as the days and weeks go on, letting Pete Alonso just walk away as a free agent continues to haunt this organization’s present and future. At some point, we have to learn to live with a Polar Bear-less future. The Mets were certainly ready for that as early as the 2024-2025 off-season.
The Mets have been dreadfully inadequate at position number three on your scorecard for the duration of the campaign. And honestly, it is not even really the fault of the guys that are playing over there.
Statistically speaking, the Mets rank 27th with -7 outs above average (OAA), 29th with a -9 fielding run value (FRV), and 23rd with -3 defensive runs saved (DRS) at first base this season. They’ve committed 11 errors at the position, 30th best.
This has been an organizational failure, and one that the front office has to own and reevaluate moving forward. The Mets decision-makers seemingly did not have nearly an appropriate level of respect for the intricacies of playing a position that handles that ball almost as often as any other.
Plan A was to deploy career-long middle infielder Jorge Polanco at first base, though after just a handful of defensive games over there, he landed on the IL early and has not been seen since. And it was clear early on in Spring Training that the Mets were concerned about his abilities there to a point that the messaging shifted to Polanco not being the everyday first baseman if he had been healthy.
Mark Vientos and Brett Baty—a pair of third basemen—were next given the lion’s share of the opportunities over there, but both struggled mightily to the point where outfielder Jared Young has now been given some run as the starter.
Young has done a commendable job over there in comparison to his peers, but it’s also beyond evident this is not a comfortable position for him. His second-inning error last night was one of the biggest plays in the game.
But, here’s some perspective for you.
The Mets thought a combination of Vientos, Baty, Polanco, and Young would work over Alonso, none of whom were actually major league first basemen. That’s exactly what they thought of Alonso.
Coming into 2026, 22-year-old Ryan Clifford was one of New York’s top overall prospects. He’s hit for power at Triple-A Syracuse, but has consistently struck out too often and is currently hitting under .200, and the Mets simply aren’t seeing the growth and adjustments needed to open the door for Clifford.
Given how badly things have generally gone for the Mets at first base this season, not even considering Clifford as an alternative there just goes to show what they think of him at the moment.
So it really does beg the question: if this front office was dead set on not bringing Alonso back, what the hell is the plan?
It certainly feels as if the Mets’ 2027 first baseman might not currently be in the organization. In fact, among the three players currently seeing time there in Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Jared Young, it’s conceivable none of them will be on the roster in 2027, either.
There are a handful of veteran first basemen set to be free agents this coming winter. Yandy Díaz, Nathaniel Lowe, Rhys Hoskins, and Ryan Mountcastle headline that list.
None of those four would be looked at as the long-term answer for the Mets, but all would represent capable stopgaps. And it’s worth mentioning they could’ve swung a deal for Willson Contreras this past winter, a converted catcher who has become competent on his worst day at the position, which is more than anyone can say about the first baseman of the day for the Mets in 2026.
But, nope.
Is there another trade candidate that could solidify the future of the position in Queens? Or, at least be competent there even if its for a season or two?
Cole Mathis, whom the Mets acquired from Chicago for David Peterson recently, looks like a solid offensive prospect who has recently shifted from third to first base. But he’s not on the radar for the Mets at this time, and it’s safe to say this club could really use a much more known quantity.
I’m not sure who exactly that individual is, but one thing is certain: This front office has to take first base seriously this winter and find an actual answer. Not just a hope and a prayer like they took this past winter.
Around the League 🚩
The Royals erupted for 15 runs on 22 hits in a 15-1 thrashing of the Phillies
Jose Caballero homered and drove in four in the Yankees 5-1 road win in Tampa
James Wood crushed a grand slam and scored three runs to help the Nationals win a wild 12-11 affair with the Astros