213 Miles From Shea

The Mets look to take the series against the Pirates tonight behind Kodai Senga. Last night the Mets survived Paul Skenes due to a fantastic performance by David Peterson. Once both starters were out of the game, each team took turns tacking on runs with the Mets eventually taking the lead in the bottom of the ninth.

There is a chance that the Mets could lead the league in wins again by the end of day. Enter today’s slate of games the Mets, Tigers and Dodgers each have 27 wins.

Kodai Senga has been phenomenal so far in 2025. Over 38 2/3 innings (seven starts), Senga has a 1.16 ERA, 3.03 FIP, 1.164 WHIP and a 338 ERA+. His walk rate and hit rate are both similar to where he was his rookie season (6.8 vs 6.5 H/9, 4.2 vs 4.0 BB/9). The big difference for Senga so far this season has been his home run rate, going from 0.7 to 0.2. Over his last two starts he held the Diamondbacks to one run over 10 innings scattering seven hits and eight hits. He didn’t allow a home run to the Diamondbacks, both in Arizona and in Queens, despite the Diamondbacks being a top five home run hitting team this year. The Pirates have the following career numbers against Senga:

• Ji Hwan Bae 0-3
• Ke’Bryan Hayes 0-3, 2 K
• Andrew McCutchen 0-3, BB, K
• Tommy Pham 1-2, BB
• Bryan Reynolds 0-2, BB, K

Mitch Keller is having another solid, Mitch Keller – esque season in 2025 for the Pirates. Over 45 innings (eight starts) he has as a 4.40 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 1.400 WHIP and a 96 ERA+. Over his last four seasons his ERA+ has ranged from 96 to 104, consistently sitting right around league average. Over his last two starts he has allowed eight hits, seven earned, over 11 innings from 15 hits while striking out nine. Keller had a brilliant start against the Mets in 2024, holding them to two runs over eight hits. The Mets have the following career stats against Keller:

• Pete Alonso 0-9, K
• Francisco Alvarez 2-7, 2 K
• Brett Baty 0-2, BB
• Francisco Lindor 2-10, 5 BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 0-2, K
• Jeff McNeil 2-12, HR, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 3-12, HR, 4 K
• Juan Soto 3-8, 2B, BB, K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-4, K
• Luis Torrens 0-3, K
• Mark Vientos 1-5, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Jeff McNeil. Is Jeff McNeil off to a strong start this season or is there something deeper going on? The last time that McNeil had an OPS above .800 and OPS+ above 100 was in 2022. Over 14 games this season he has an .846 OPS and 141 OPS+. In his last five games McNeil has gone 3-for-9 at the plate with a double, triple, home run and three walks (.333/.500/1.000). With Winker sidelined, there are at bats to go around for McNeil, Baty, Vientos and Acuña. We’ll know in about two weeks if this is a hot streak for McNeil, or if he’s back to his old self.
2. Speed. The Mets are slowly becoming a top 15 club in stolen bases. Tyrone Taylor stole the Mets 31st base last night, moving them to 17th in the league. For context, six stolen bases separates the Mets from 9th in the league. The Mets stolen base leader, Acuña, showed last night the other advantage of having wheels. Acuña was able to score from second base on a ball that took an awkward bounce in the infield and dribbled into the shallow outfield. It’s a different look for the Mets who haven’t really had raw speed like that in some time.
3. Génesis Cabrera. There’s a good chance we see Cabrera tonight. He pitched two innings against the Cardinals on May 4th, holding them to two hits and no runs. He then faced the Cubs on May 10th only needing six pitches to get two outs. The Mets were leaning on Minter when he was healthy. When he went down Young took on that work load. We haven’t really seen Cabrera and his 96-mph fastball and sinker take on that workload yet.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets took the series against the first place Cubs over the weekend and now welcome the last place Pirates to Citi Field. The Pirates fired their Manger Derek Shelton last Thursday as the team was free falling through the start of May. The team has rallied since then, winning two of their last three games against the Braves There only loss was a 3-2 extra inning game. The Pirates have the perfect scenario to keep the winning times going – Paul Skenes opens up the series in Queens. It’s one of the most exciting pitchers in baseball against one of the best pitching staffs in baseball!

David Peterson has tossed 38 1/3 innings over seven games with a 3.05 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.357 WHIP and a 130 ERA+. The Diamondbacks were able score four times off Peterson in his last start off of eight hits and four walks. Last season he allowed two runs from five hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have the following numbers against Peterson:

• Joey Bart 1-5, 2 BB, 2 K
• Oneil Cruz 1-3, HR, 2 K
• Henry Davis 0-2
• Ke’Bryan Hayes 1-4, BB, K
• Andrew McCutchen 1-14, HR, 4 BB, 5 K
• Liover Peguero 2-2, HR
• Tommy Pham 0-2, K
• Bryan Reynolds 2-7, 2 K
• Jared Triolo 0-1, BB, K

The Mets get the tough battle of the week out of the way in game one against Paul Skenes. Over 48 2/3 innings (eight starts), Skenes has a 2.77 ERA, 3.05 FIP, 0.945 WHIP and a 153 ERA+. He’s giving up hits, walks and home runs at almost the identical rates compared to his rookie season (0.947 WHIP vs 0.945). The big difference for Skenes this season has been the strikeout rate, dropping from 11.5 K/9 to 8.7 K/9. He’s looked pretty human in his last two starts allowing five runs from eight hits and eight walks over 11 innings (4.09 ERA, 7.39 FIP). Against the Mets last season he allowed two runs from four hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out eight. The Mets have the following career stats against Skenes:

• Pete Alonso 2-3, 2B, K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-2, K
• Francisco Lindor 0-3
• Jeff McNeil 1-3, HR
• Brandon Nimmo 0-2, BB, K
• Juan Soto 0-1, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Mark Vientos. Is Mark Vientos heating up again? Over his last two games he has gone 4-for-8 with three runs scored and a home run. His home run on Sunday was his first extra base hit in the month of May. Vientos has quietly been building a high on-base percentage over the last eight games, getting on base at a .400 clip. If he gets his power back too the Pirates better watch out!
2. Francisco Lindor. How lucky are we that we get to watch Francisco Lindor day after day. In his last four games Lindor has gone 8-for-19 with two doubles, two home runs, three stolen bases (.444/.474/.889). Going 2-for-4 at the plate on Sunday flipped his batting average back above .300 for the first time since he went 4-for-25 to start off the month of May.
3. Expected Outcomes vs Actual Outcomes. David Peterson is having a great season for the Mets. His ERA and ERA+ are fantastic, both are the second lowest in his career. His FIP is the best of his career. The expected numbers don’t look great though. He’s in the 33rd percentile for xERA (4.49), 12th in xBA (.288), 11th in average exit velocity (91.5 mph). 19th for Whiff% (20.5%) and 4th for Hard-hit (52.2%). Despite all of this he’s getting positive results because hitters aren’t barreling the ball (79th percentile, 5.2% of the time). For context, this is about half the rate that the Cubs, one of the best barreling teams, barrel the ball. He’s also in the 92nd percentile in ground balls (58.3 %). Tonight is another battle in the expected vs actual outcome war.

Let’s Go Mets!

Heads up! MLB is doing that thing again where it’s more difficult to watch one Sunday baseball game and that game happens to be the Cubs vs Mets this week. Over the last several years MLB has played around with making one game from the Sunday slate earlier than others and making it a nationally distributed game on streaming services. This started with Peacock and the contract went to Roku last season. At least with Roku the game is free. You either need a Roku device, a device that can download the Roku Channel app or you can go do their website. Personally, I think it’s a bad idea to create extra steps between fans and baseball but MLB is going to do what MLB is going to do.

Anyway, this should be an exciting Mother’s Day match up this afternoon as the first place Cubs and the first place Mets face each other in a rubber game for the series. The Mets powered their way to a victory on Friday night smashing four home runs over four innings. The Mets got five RBI’s from Brett Baty Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough to over come the Cubs.

Griffin Canning has a 2.50 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 1.389 WHIP and a 159 ERA+ over seven starts and 36 innings this season. He’s been spectacular in his last four starts, allowing only three runs, scattering 20 hits and seven walks, over 21 innings while striking out 24 batters (1.29 ERA, 2.45 FIP). Canning had one start against the Cubs in 2024 and it was in Chicago where he allowed four runs from six hits over 4 1/3 innings. The Cubs have the following career numbers against him:

• Michael Busch 1-2, BB
• Ian Happ 1-1, BB
• Nico Hoerner 0-3
• Carson Kelly 0-6, K
• Nicky Lopez 2-11, 2 BB, K
• Seiya Suzuki 1-2, HR
• Dansby Swanson 0-2, K
• Kyle Tucker 4-15, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 K
• Justin Turner 2-8, BB, 3 K

Matthew Boyd has found a home in Chicago. He’s having a career year in his 11th major league season. Over seven starts and 39 1/3 innings, he has a 2.75 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.347 WHIP and a 147 ERA+. He got off to a really strong start to the season, holding opponents scoreless over 11 innings. Since then he has had a 3.81 ERA, 4.21 FIP over 28 1/3 innings. Only four members of the Mets have seen Boyd in a Major League game before:

• Francisco Lindor 12-33, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 1-7, BB, 2 K
• Juan Soto 1-4, HR, BB
• Tyrone Taylor 3-4, 2B, HR

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Brett Baty. Brett Baty has been on a tear this weekend going 4-for-8 at the plate with three home runs, six RBI’s and three runs scored. In his last four games he has gone 5-for-14 with four home runs and only three strikeouts, slashing .357/.357/1.214 (1.571 OPS). His season slugging has gone from .288 to .485. At the start of the season, the plan was to mainly use Baty against right-handed pitchers, but with how hot Baty has been recently, he deserves to play today.
2. Runners In Scoring Position. Saturday night the Cubs went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Mets went 1-for-10. Both teams struck out a lot in the game (Cubs 10 times, Mets 12 times) but ultimately for the Mets not coming through in clutch moments cost them the game.
3. Reed Garrett. There’s a strong chance we see Garrett this afternoon, since his outing last weekend against the Diamondbacks he has thrown literally two pitches, recording an out in Friday night’s game. Over 17 games and 15 2/3 innings, Garrett has a 0.57 ERA, 2.61 FIP, 1.021 WHIP and a 700 ERA+ (not a typo). He’s in the 77th percentile in Whiff% and 83rd in K%. The only warning lights right now is contact – hitters are making hard contact against him 48.7% of the time and barreling up 10.3% of the time (28th percentile).

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets homered early and often Friday night in their first clash against the Cubs. Lindor started things off for the Mets with a lead-off home run. In the second inning Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil homered. Juan Soto joined the home run party in the fourth inning. The Mets lineup has always had the power potential – they were sixth in the league for home runs in 2024 then added Juan Soto. It feels like now with the weather getting warmer something is starting to click.

A key to last night’s victory was limiting the damage that Cubs power bats could do. The Cubs have hit the 3rd most home runs in 2025 and both of their runs last night came off of solo shots. Let’s run back the same game plan tonight!

Tylor Megill has a 2.50 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 1.167 WHIP and a 159 ERA+ over 36 innings (seven starts). He’s looked a bit more human in his last two starts starts, allowing seven runs over 11 1/3 innings while striking out 15 batters. Those numbers include a start against the Nationals where he just stayed in the game too long. Megill is still striking out batters a career high clip (11.3 K/9, 9.3 career). He has allowed two home runs in his last two starts (one per start) which is something to keep an eye on with the Cubs in town. The Cubs have the following career numbers against him:

• Jon Berti 0-3
• Michael Busch 0-2, K
• Pete Crow-Armstrong 1-2, 3B, K
• Ian Happ 0-4, 2 K
• Nico Hoerner 1-4, BB, K
• Nicky Lopez 3-4, BB, K
• Seiya Suzuki 2-3, HR, BB, K
• Dansby Swanson 3-12, 2B, BB, 6 K
• Kyle Tucker 0-0, BB

Brad Keller is the opener for the Cubs today in a game that should feature the major league debut of one of the Cubs top prospects, Cade Horton. Keller has been an effective reliever for the Cubs this year, pitching 16 2/3 innings with a 3.78 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 1.260 WHIP and 109 ERA+. The hope for the Cubs is that Keller can pitch two innings, face the Mets big bats before passing the ball over to Horton.

The longest Keller has gone this season is first outing where he tossed 46 pitches over two innings. He has gone two innings as recently as May 3rd, keeping his outing to only 28 pitches. Keller made his debut in 2018 as a starter for the Royals and was made 20 starts are more between 2018-2020, so starting isn’t new for Keller. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• José Azócar 1-1, BB
• Francisco Lindor 5-17, BB, 3 K
• Starling Marte 1-4, K
• Juan Soto 4-6, 2 HR, 3 BB
• Tyrone Taylor 0-1

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Cade Horton. The Cubs are saying this is a bullpen game, but this feels like the Cade Horton game. Horton has thrown between 76 and 78 pitches in each of his last four outings. How deep does that get him in a major league game? Especially one where Cade Horton is probably not doing his normal routine to start a game. Horton is off to a hot start in the minor leagues with a 1.24 ERA over 29 innings. He has allowed 12 hits and 13 walks (0.862 WHIP) while striking out 33 batters.
2. Francisco Lindor. What a game for Lindor Friday night! He went 3-for-5 at the plate with a home run and a stolen base. He has had two home runs in his last four games. We are also now seeing an uptick in stolen bases. Lindor has now stolen three bags in his last five games, which is 60% of the stolen bases he has this season. We also know that the Mets have been a much better home team (14-3) than a road team (11-11). Guess who has been a better home hitter? At home Lindor is slashing .412/.447/.765 with seven of his eight home runs. On the road he’s hitting .207/.300/.287. The power of The Temptations!
3. Stolen Bases. Surprising no one, Luisangel Acuña is leading the team with 10 stolen bases, followed by Francisco Lindor (5) who has done most of his stealing in the last week. The Mets as team stole three bases Friday night, bringing their season total to 28, tied with the Dodgers at 18th in the league. This is right around where the Mets were last season, where they finished the season tied with the Pirates at 16th. The three stolen bases Friday night were all off of Kelly catching, but different pitchers. Is this a change in overall strategy for the Mets, a blip on the radar, or something specific to just the Cubs?

Let’s Go Mets!

It’s a first place clash this weekend at Citi Field!

The first place Chicago Cubs (22-16) head into town to face off against the first place New York Mets (24-14). The Chicago Cubs have gotten to this point with their power (3rd in the league with 55 home runs and in OPS at .781). The Mets are being lead by their pitching (1st in the league with a 2.89 team ERA). It’s a classic pitching vs hitting narrative this weekend in Queens!

Clay Holmes has a 2.95 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 1.282 WHIP and a 132 ERA+ over 36 2/3 innings (seven starts) this season. He’s coming off of an average start against the Cardinals where he allowed three runs from eight hits over six innings. Notably, it was only the second time this season that he finished the sixth inning and it was the second time he’s done it in his last three starts. He may be turning a corner, consistently going deeper into games. Holmes faced the Cubs once in relief in 2024, holding them scoreless in one inning while striking out two batters. The Cubs have the following numbers against Holmes:

• Miguel Amaya 0-1, K
• Jon Berti 1-3, K
• Vidal Brujan 0-4, K
• Ian Happ 1-6, 2K
• Nico Hoerner 1-3, HR
• Carson Kelly 1-2, K
• Nicky Lopez 0-3
• Seiya Suzuki 0-1, K
• Dansby Swanson 0-5, 3 K
• Kyle Tucker1-5
• Justin Turner 3-7, 2B, HR, BB

It’s a battle of former Yankees tonight with Jameson Taillon on the mound. Over 39 2/3 innings (seven starts), Taillon has a 3.86 ERA, 4.11 FIP, 1.034 WHIP and a 104 ERA+. Over his last three starts he has allowed only four runs from 11 hits and three walks over 18 innings (2.00 ERA, 2.88 FIP). Taillon was extremely efficient against the Mets in 2024, allowing only two runs from 10 hits over 14 1/3 innings while striking out 11 batters. Both of the Mets runs came on solo shots. The Mets have the following career numbers against Taillon:

• Pete Alonso 2-9, HR
• Francisco Alvarez 2-3, 2B, HR, K
• Francisco Lindor 2-13, 4 K
• Starling Marte 0-3, K
• Jeff McNeil 2-9, K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-8, HR, BB, K
• Juan Soto 1-11, 5 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-10, 2B, 4 K
• Luis Torrens 0-3, 2 K
• Mark Vientos 0-5, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Juan Soto Szn. In seven games in May, Juan Soto has gone 9-for-26 at the plate with two doubles and four home runs while scoring eight runs (.346/.455/.885). Two-thirds of his hits have been for extra bases! He has a 1.6 bWAR, which is second for position players on the Mets (behind Pete Alonso’s 2.0 and ahead of Lindor’s 1.0). His 148 OPS+ is also second the team.
2. The battle of barrels. The Cubs are 8th in the league in barreling the ball (9.7%, just ahead of the Mets who are at 9.4%). Clay Holmes is in the 89th percentile, with opponents barreling the ball only 3.9% of the time.
3. Papal Conversation. The Cubs tried to claimed that Pope Leo XIV is a Cubs fan (there is a picture floating around with Cubs hat in his hand). His brother did an interview Thursday afternoon where he said the Pope roots for the White Sox. The real question is, does SNY make a Pope graphic tonight?

Let’s Go Mets!

Good news for the Mets today! They do not have to face Zac Gallen!

The Mets had another late start last night and Zac Gallen just mowed through the Mets lineup, allowing one run over seven innings. The Diamondbacks as a staff held the Mets to only four hits.

The Mets will try to bounce back this afternoon in a rubber game. They have a scheduled day off tomorrow and travel back to New York – they just need to make it through one more game!

Kodai Senga has been fantastic for the Mets in 2025. He has a 1.38 ERA, 2.78 FIP, 1.163 WHIP and a 283 ERA+ over 32 2/3 innings spread over six starts. HIs last start was against the Diamondbacks and it was one of his shorter starts this season allowing only one run over four innings, scattering five hits and three walks. It took him 87 pitches though to get through four innings. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against Senga:

• Corbin Carroll 2-9, 4 K
• Randal Grichuk 1-5, 2 K
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 1-7, 4 K
• Garrett Hampson 0-3, BB, 3 K
• José Herrera 1-2
• Ketel Marte 0-3, BB, 2 K
• Gabriel Moreno 0-2, K
• Josh Naylor 0-1, BB
• Geraldo Perdomo 1-7, BB, 2 K
• Pavin Smith 0-2, 2 K
• Eugenio Suárez 0-5, 3 K
• Tim Tawa 0-1, BB, K
• Alek Thomas 2-7, 2 K

The Mets bats look to end the road trip on a strong note against Merrill Kelly. Over seven starts and 37 2/3 innings, he has a 4.06 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.062 WHIP and a 103 ERA+. Kelly has been in a groove in his last four starts allowing only five runs over 22 2/3 innings (1.99 ERA, 2.86 FIP). The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Pete Alonso 5-16, 2B, 3 HR, K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-3, 3 K
• Francisco Lindor 2-8, 2B, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 2-9, 2 HR, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 2-5, 2B, BB, 3 K
• Juan Soto 4-16, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-6, K
• Luis Torrens 0-1, BB
• Mark Vientos 0-1, BB

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Can Senga go deep in this game? Senga has gone seven innings once, and into the sixth inning twice. He actually had a three start streak of going into the sixth inning snapped in his last start. The Diamondbacks last time out made him work hard, I’m curious to see what adjustments he makes to have shorter at bats.
2. Kelly and home runs. The only start recently where Kelly gave up two runs was against the Braves and both of those runs came on solo home runs. He has already allowed five home runs this season, good for a 1.2 HR/9, which is also his career average. The Mets do have some pop, even if we haven’t seen it as consistently this season as last season. Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil have combined for five career home runs against Kelly.
3. Génesis Cabrera. Cabrera has a massive opportunity for the rest of the season with Danny Young and AJ Minter both out with major injuries. So far this season he has allowed one run over 2 1/3 innings from three hits and a walk. Cabrera was a major part of the Blue Jays bullpen in 2024, pitching 69 games totaling 62 2/3 innings with a 3.59 ERA, 5.13 ERA, 1.468 WHIP and a 114 ERA+. His weakness has been the long ball, allowing 10 last season (1.4 HR/9) and eight in the 2023 and 2022 seasons.

Let’s Go Mets!

Injuries are piling up for the Mets, but they were able to push the negative news and the two game slide aside with a 5-4 late night win against the Diamondbacks.

Before the game the Mets announced that it was the worst case scenario for AJ Minter who will be out for the season with a torn lat. Jesse Winker’s injury will keep him sidelined for up to two months. Tough news for two key players on the team.

The news didn’t slow down who at one point scored five unanswered runs and were able to stop a Diamondbacks rally late to hold onto the game 5-4. Now the Mets turn to David Peterson to win game two.

David Peterson has a 3.06 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.361 WHIP and a 127 ERA+ over 32 1/3 innings. His last start was against the Diamondbacks, holding them to one earned run, scattering five hits and no walks while striking out two over five innings. Peterson has pitched into the sixth inning in four of six starts this season and has finished the sixth inning twice. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against Peterson:

• Corbin Carroll 1-6, 2 K
• Randal Grichuk 5-12, HR, BB, K
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 2-7, HR
• Garrett Hampson 1-8, 3B
• Jose Herrera 1-4
• Ketel Marte 2-6, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Gabriel Moreno 1-2
• Geraldo Perdomo 2-6, 2B, 2 BB< K
• Pavin Smith 4-6, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Eugenio Suárez 1-6, BB, K
• Tim Tawa 0-2

The Mets bats will try to figure out Zac Gallen tonight. Gallen has a 4.93 ERA, 4.35 FIP, 1.304 WHIP and an 85 ERA+ over 38 1/3 innings (seven starts). Gallen was struggling, allowing 16 runs over four starts. He then faced the Mets last week and found his form again, holding the Mets to one run on two hits over six innings while striking out eight batters. The Mets have the following career stats against Gallen:

• Pete Alonso 5-17, 2B, 2 BB, 7 K
• José Azócar 1-4, 2B, K
• Brett Baty 2-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 3-13, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 0-2, 2 BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 3-18, 2B, 5 K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-9, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Juan Soto 5-24, 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 5 K
• Tyrone Taylor 1-7, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Luis Torrens 1-4, 2B, BB
• Mark Vientos 1-6, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Brett Baty. Baty returns to the Mets! Baty was starting to get into a groove right before he was sent down to make room for Jeff McNeil. Over his last nine games in the majors he went 8-for-27 with two doubles, a triple and a home run slashing .296/.367/.556. He went to slash .300/.364/.500 over three games in Syracuse where Baty has missed a few games with a toe injury. It’s not fully clear how healthy Baty is yet, but we are glad he is back!
2. Tyrone Taylor. You know the player on a team who isn’t a star, but every time you look up at the TV, it seems like he’s doing something amazing or clutch? That’s Tyrone Taylor. In his last eight games he has gone 12-for-22 with three doubles, one triple, one home run, and six runs scored. With Lindor, Soto and Alonso hot at the top of the lineup, Taylor is becoming quite the table setter.
3. Francisco Lindor. Lindor was the hero of the night for the Mets last night. He hit a huge three-run home run and had a game saving tag in the bottom of the ninth. When Lindor is hot, he carries the team with him!

Let’s Go Mets!

Yesterday was a weird day in Mets land. The Mets lost both games by a total of two runs while leaving a whopping 22 runners on base. In addition to racking up base runners, it just felt like the Mets were getting unlucky with balls batted in play. For example, in the second game Juan Soto had a home run robbed that had an xBA of .890, later he would line out to left with an xBA of .690.

As we’ve seen for the Mets multiple times this season, the best solution to an unlucky or frustrating outcome? Win a baseball game. The Mets will head to Arizona tonight to try to take the series season against the Diamondbacks after dropping a three game series in Queens last week.

Griffin Canning gets things started for the Mets. Over six starts and 31 innings, Canning has a 2.61 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 1.387 WHIP and a 149 ERA+. He’s coming off of one of his best starts of the season where he allowed no runs from four hits and three walks over five innings. Like many Mets starters, the thing holding Canning back is how deep he can go in a game. He has entered the sixth inning in half of his starts and has finished the sixth only once. The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against him:

• Corbin Carroll 0-3
• Randal Grichuk 1-6, K
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 2-8, HR, K
• Ketel Marte 1-5, 2B, BB, 2 K
• Gabriel Moreno 0-2
• Josh Naylor 2-6
• Geraldo Perdomo 0-2, BB
• Pavin Smith 1-2, K
• Eugenio Suárez 0-3, 2 K
• Alek Thomas 0-3, 2 K

Corbin Burnes was supposed to start the series against the Mets. He’s been experiencing should inflammation and the Diamondbacks are skipping his spot in the rotation, sending out Ryne Nelson instead. Nelson started 25 games in 2024 (28 games overall), pithing 150 2/3 innings with a 4.24 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 1.254 WHIP and a 99 ERA+. This season the Diamondbacks have been using him as a reliever, pitching 17 innings over seven games with with a 5.82 ERA, 2.19 FIP, 1.176 WHIP and a 73 ERA+. He last pitched against the Mets, holding the Mets scoreless and hitless over four innings in a game the Mets won 8-3. The Mets have the following career numbers against Nelson:

• Luisangel Acuña 0-2
• Pete Alonso 4-9, 3 HR, K
• Francisco Alvarez 1-6, HR, 3 K
• José Azócar 0-3, K
• Francisco Lindor 4-8, 2 3B, HR, 3 K
• Starling Marte 1-5, BB
• Jeff McNeil 3-7, 2 2B
• Brandon Nimmo 4-7, 2B, 3B, BB
• Juan Soto 3-12, 3B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 2 K
• Tyrone Taylor 0-2, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2
• Mark Vientos 1-4
• Jesse Winker 3-8, 2 HR, 2 K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Hits with RISP. Here’s a positive outlook – the Mets had six hits with runners in scoring position on Sunday. They did however go a combined 6-for-26, which is just an insane stat, but that makes sense when you leave 22 runners on base over two games. The Mets did have some rallies yesterday, like the 8th inning in the first game. They just couldn’t get the hit to get them ahead late in the game.
2. Hitting Depth. Jesse Winker needed an MRI after the first game on Sunday after experiencing oblique pain. Mendoza told reporters that the MRI wasn’t clean and Winker needs to go back to New York. The Mets also pulled Marte out early in the second game, but Mendoza said that was a planned move. The Mets this season have been dealing with hitting depth issues for the vast majority of the season, like when McNeil and Alvarez started the season in the injured list.
3. Top of the lineup. It’s no secret that top of the Mets lineup is driving the team. Lindor, Soto and Alonso have an .814 OPS, .808 OPS and 1.124 OPS respectively (133, 133, 220 OPS+). These are numbers I would dream about a few seasons ago. After the top the Mets have room to grow. On the season Vientos has a .682 OPS, Nimmo has a .698 OPS. While both players have had huge days at the plate over the last two weeks, the Mets need both to become more consistent.

Let’s Go Mets!

Juan Uribe will be happy today, because there’s more baseball to watch! Hope you remembered to turn your TV dial from WPIX to SNY for game two of the split-doubleheader.

The extra time between the games this afternoon isn’t ideal for the Mets, who have a game tomorrow night in Arizona. It’s a better situation though than last year. Last year they had a three game series against the Angels in Anaheim then were supposed to fly to Colorado, have a day off to acclimate, and then play. But due to the Cardinals and Mets schedules, the Mets off-day was spent flying from Anaheim to St. Louis, playing a game, then flying to Colorado. Wild times.

Tylor Megill has a 1.74 ERA, 2.32 FIP, 1.129 WHIP and a 223 ERA+ over six starts and 31 innings this season. The pitching line in his last start (three runs over 6 1/3 innings, nine strikeouts) doesn’t tell the whole story. Megill was cruising through the first six innings and the Mets pushing him into the seventh for the first time. It already was the first time this season that he completed six innings. Things fell apart and he allowed two runs. The bullpen then collapsed behind him and the Mets fumbled a 7-1 lead. That being said, Megill has struck out 19 batters over his last 11 2/3 innings. The Cardinals have the following career numbers against him:

• Nolan Arenando 0-4, BB
• Willson Contreras 1-2, HR, K
• Brendan Donovan 1-3, K
• Nolan Gorman 0-3, 2 K
• Jordan Walker 1-2, 2B

Andre Pallante has pitched 32 2/3 innings over six starts with a 4.13 ERA, 5.32 FIP, 1.286 WHIP and a 101 ERA+. In his last three starts he has allowed 11 runs from 20 hits and five walks over 16 1/3 innings (6.06 ERA, 6.30 FIP). This includes a start against the Mets on April 17th where he allowed four runs from seven hits over six innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Pallante:

• Pete Alonso 1-6, 2 BB, K
• Francisco Alvarez 1-2
• José Azócar 0-1
• Francisco Lindor 5-11, 2 BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 3-5, 2B, BB, K
• Jeff McNeil 1-7, K
• Brandon Nimmo 1-13, 2B, K
• Juan Soto 0-6, 2 BB, K
• Tyrone Taylor 4-10, 2B, K
• Luis Torrens 0-2
• Mark Vientos 1-3, HR
• Jesse Winker 1-3

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Energy. Today is a long day for players and the umpires. The Mets have to get out to Arizona and the Cardinals start a series against the Pirates tomorrow. Tylor Megill has been cruising with 19 strikeouts in his last two starts, this feels like a recipe for Megill to rack up strikeouts tonight.
2. Pallante and home runs. Over the last three games Pallante has allowed four home runs, bringing him to six on the season. Last season he allowed only eight home runs through 121 1/3 innings. His HR/9 has jumped from his career low in 2024 of 0.6 HR/9 to a career high this year of 1.7 HR/9 (he had a 0.8 HR/9 in his first two major league seasons). Does he return to the mean tonight and keep the Mets in the park? Or is this a sign of something happening to Pallante this year?
3. Tylor Megill and Statcast pitches. We know that Statcast is not perfect in differentiating between pitches. In 2024, according to Statcast, Megill tossed eight different types of pitches, with the changeup being the least used with 20 tosses. This year he’s used five pitches. He’s using his fastball at pretty much the same rate (44.7% in 2025, 46.7% in 2024). He’s completely eliminated his cutter that he used 14.2% of the time in 2024 and instead he’s using his slider and sinker a lot more. He’s also already thrown his changeup more times this season (34) than in 2024.

Let’s Go Mets!

The Mets absolved their hitting woes Friday night and scored nine runs on 17 hits against the Cardinals. It was the second time in three games that the Mets left at least 10 runners on base, but that doesn’t matter when you score nine runs. Five hitters in the Mets lineup had multi-hit games including three-hit games from Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez. Hopefully the bats still have a few more hits left in them as they take on the Cardinals for game two and game three of the series.

Blade Tidwell makes his major league debut with the Mets this afternoon! The Mets always planned on using a spot starter today to give the starting rotation a bit more rest, so today was the best possible day for the Mets to have a doubleheader. He’s from Columbia, Tennessee so it’s awesome that so many of friends and family will be able to make his debut this afternoon. Tidwell has 27 innings over six starts with a 5.00 ERA, 3.21 FIP and 1.333 WHIP. This season, minor league batters have been whiffing 33.3% of the time leading a 12.3 K/9.

The Mets bats will get a look at former National Erick Fedde. Fedde played with the Nationals from 2017 until 2022. After a couple of poor seasons with the Nationals, he went to the KBO, re-established himself and came back to the White Sox as a strong pitcher. The Cardinals traded for him before the deadline last season.

This season Fedde has pitched 32 2/3 innings over six starts with a 4.68 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 1.347 WHIP and an 89 ERA+. The big change for Fedde has been his walk rate. His last season before the KBO it jumped to 4.1 BB/9, coming back from the KBP it was a 2.6 BB/9. This season it has jumped again to 4.4. His earned run stats this season are being heavily influenced by his last start where he allowed seven runs from 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against Fedde:

• Pete Alonso 6-16, 2 2B, 6 BB, 2 K
• Francisco Alvarez 0-0, 2 BB
• Francisco Lindor 6-19, 2B, HR, BB, K
• Starling Marte 3-11, 2B, HR, 2 K
• Jeff McNeil 7-16, 2B, 2 BB, K
• Brandon Nimmo 6-25, 3 BB, 4 K
• Juan Soto 2-3, 2B
• Tyrone Taylor 0-4, K
• Luis Torrens 1-2
• Mark Vientos 1-2
• Jesse Winker 4-12, 2 HR, K

Three Things To Watch For:

1. Mets are creeping back up the home run charts. The 2024 Mets were sixth in the majors with 207 home runs (Yankees, first 237). The 2025 Mets are starting to climb back up the leader boards, tied the Orioles and Guardians right now for 10th in the league with 38, trailing the Red Sox who have 41. Over the last two games they have hit four home runs, all hit by players hitting in the 2-4 spots in the lineup (Soto, Alonso and Nimmo). Let’s see if they keep this up this afternoon.
2. Mets and triples. Did you know the Mets are second in the league in triples hit (8)? They trail the Cubs who have nine and are ahead of a slew of teams with six. Definitely a fun fact about the 2025 Mets.
3. The Bullpen is finally rested. Friday we talked about how Díaz essentially hasn’t pitched in a week. Thanks to Holmes, Buttó and Stanek, most of the bullpen got the night off on Friday. Kranick and Garrett each got a much needed day of rest and Brazobán hasn’t pitched for a couple of days now. Bullpen management is going to be key this afternoon but in addition to Tidwell, Dedniel Núñez is rejoining the club. Núñez was a critical piece of the 2024 bullpen, pitching 35 innings with a 2.31 ERA, 2.22 FIP, 0.914 WHIP and a 170 ERA+ before his injury. Over 10 1/3 innings in the minors this season he has a 3.48 ERA, 2.032 WHIP with a 11.3 K/9.

Let’s Go Mets!