MLB

New York Mets: Jed Lowrie and Brandon Nimmo Continue Rehab Assignments

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Two forgotten Mets who have been on the shelf with injuries are quickly making waves in their return to the big leagues. Brandon Nimmo started playing games at Triple-A and the glassboned Jed Lowrie actually started playing games with the Mets Single-A team.

On Tuesday Nimmo went 2-for-3 in another minor league appearance with the Syracuse Mets. He played center field for five innings in his third game of his rehab assignment. The Mets do not have an exact time for when we should expect to see Nimmo again. They will make sure he is fully healthy before bringing him back up.

Lowrie Finally Playing Games

Jed Lowrie saw his first action in months with the St. Luice Mets. He went 1-for-4 with an infield single and ran without any issues. The Mets are certainly going to take it slow with the 35-year old infielder. Since camp started in February, he has been dealing with leg ailments. They are confident he will be fine just DH’ing before going back to the infield.

The Mets have to give Lowrie plenty of time to get back to game speed, but the Mets could use his bat and versatility on their bench. He was signed to a two-year/$20 million deal in the offseason and was projected to play a huge role throughout the season.

How Do They Fit in if They Comeback?

The Mets lineup has lot of potential when both of these guys return. Nimmo could assume the centerfield role and allow a healthy Jeff McNeil to play second base. Nimmo will not have the pressure of batting lead off with McNeil and Amed Rosario securing their roles at the top of the order. He can hit lower in the lineup to get his bat back in the form it was in 2018.

Lowrie would be a key part to fill in at either third base or second base when the Mets want to give Todd Frazier, J.D. Davis or Jeff McNeil a rest. He will not have the pressure to play everyday either since the Mets will do everything they can to keep him healthy. Along with Dom Smith, important players returning will give Mickey Callaway options he has never had as manager of the Mets.

Jeff McNeil Lands on the 10-Day IL, But Won’t Be Out For Long

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One of the catalysts to the New York Mets lineup is going to spend some time on the shelf after straining his right hamstring during Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Jeff McNeil is heading to the Injured List, which creates an opportunity for a former Mets shortstop to return….no it is not Jose Reyes.

During the ninth inning of Monday’s loss, McNeil injured his hamstring attepmting to leg out a ground out. He made a final lunge towards the first base bag, but never actually touched it. His leg expected to absorb the impact of the bag and the shock of missing it tweaked the hamstring.

How to Replace McNeil

The Mets are still out of a playoff spot and his bat in the lineup is irreplaceable. McNeil solidified his spot as the Mets lead off man and was hitting .332. He is expected to be on the IL for 10 days, and the Mets need him back desperately. McNeil now joins Dom Smith and Robinson Cano as key Mets bats on the IL.

He was battling multiple ailments throughout the season and was visibly frustrated as he limped back to the dugout. The damage was not as gruesome as Cano’s hamstring, which likely keeps him out through the season. McNeil and the organization hopes it only takes the minimum 10 days to fully recover.

Former Met Makes A Return

The last game Ruben Tejada played as a Met was Game 2 of the 2015 NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For all involved, except for Chase Utley, it did not have the ending he planned for. Utley broke Tejada’s leg with a dirty slide and he missed the rest of the Mets magical run to the World Series. In the two seasons following he spent time with the Cardinals, Giants and Orioles, but has not played in the big leagues since 2017.

It seems like Tejada is an older veteran, but he still has not turned 30 yet. When the Mets first brought him to the big leagues, he was only 20 and had second base partners of Luis Castillo and Alex Cora in his first two starts. Tejada only had 10 home runs during his big league career, but already has six in the minors this season. Whether it has to do with the juiced balls or not remains to be seen, but he has been hitting to ball well to all fields and has a .330 average with the Syracuse Mets.

Tejada still plays third, short and second, which gives the Mets a solid defender at all three positions. Jacob Rhame will likely be moved to the 60-Day IL following elbow surgery to create room for Tejada. With a lefty on the mound for the Braves Wednesday night, Tejada could likely slide into McNeil’s spot at second base as the Mets search for a temporary leadoff hitter.

New York Mets: How Many Awards Can Pete Alonso Win?

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It is safe to say Pete Alonso has already exceeded the expectations of the New York Mets throughout his rookie season. He has asserted himself as the current front runner for the NL Rookie of the Year award, but what other hardware can he take home?

Two-Man Chase for ROY

Throughout the last few months Alonso and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres have emerged as the top two contenders for the award. Alonso has the edge in hits, home runs, RBIs and walks, Tatis has more triples, stolen bases and a better batting average. Outside of certain categories, both players have very similar stats. Tatis’ defense could be the ultimate factor for the award, but Alonso playing for a winning team could boost his own status as well.

Both players have already put together terrific rookie campaigns. Tatis has flown up the polls for the award since the All-Star break. In MLB’s latest poll he actually had more first place votes than Alonso, but still remained in second place. The second half slump also hurt Alonso in the rankings, but his bat has comeback to life over the last two weeks. Alonso is also two home runs away from breaking the NL rookie record.

Can Alonso Win MVP?

To keep it simple, no. Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich have separated themselves from the rest of the league the same way Alonso and Tatis have for the ROY. If Alonso gets extremely hot again and pushes past 50 home runs, he could enter his name in the discussion. He will also need some help from the Mets as well, knocking the Brewers out of contention could certainly help his case.

Alonso still needs plenty of luck to even become a finalist for the MVP. He will also be in consideration for the sliver slugger for first base. His competition will feature Josh Bell, Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy. If Alonso can take home the award, he will become the second Mets first baseman to take home a sliver slugger award, first being Keith Hernandez.

New York Mets 2020 Schedule Released

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At one point for the New York Mets, it seemed all they had to look forward to was the 2020 season. With the Mets back in the race it seems crazy to already jump to next season. MLB released the 2020 schedules on Monday, here is a look for what lies ahead for the Mets.

The Mets ver early with the Washington Nationals on a likely chilly, March 26, Opening Day. 21 of their first 30 games will be played against fellow NL East teams, which will give the Mets a chance to create some early space in the division.

Interleague Play

In 2020 the Mets will cycle through the AL West for their interleague opponents. The Mets could potentially create amazing pitching duels when they matchup with the Houston Astros. J.D. Davis will also get the chance to remind the Astros why they should have kept him.

2020’s Subway Series will take place in July with two games in the Bronx, in early July, followed by two in Queens at the end of the month. When the Seattle Mariners visit Citi Field, the Mets could potentially see former top prospect Jared Kelenic.

Puerto Rico Series

The April 28-30 road series against the Miami Marlins will be played in Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. This will be the fourth time both teams have played there and the second time against each other. Both also faced off against the Montreal Expos when they split time between Puerto Rico and Montreal in 2003 and 2004.

Puerto Rican fans will be happy to see Edwin Diaz, Tomas Nido and the “quarterrican” Seth Lugo play in their home country. Young prospect Isan Diaz is currently the only Puerto Rican with the Marlins.

New York Mets: How to Handle Edwin Diaz?

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New York Mets, Edwin Diaz

Edwin Diaz has been doing his best impression of a reliever from the Washington Nationals all season. In the New York Mets loss to the Nats, he was once again tagged for another home run on a hanging slider. It was the 11th one this year, setting a career high he does not want.

What is Next For Diaz?

The Mets have to make a clear decision on what their bullpen direction is. Either they continue trying to guide Diaz through the ninth inning or they move on from him as their closer. Over their hot streak, they have been going back and forth with Lugo and Diaz as their closer.

Manager Mickey Callaway has lost trust in Diaz because he is using Lugo for six out saves. Diaz ERA is now 5.60 and with the Mets back in playoff contention they cannot afford to hope he figures things out. Even if they wanted to send Diaz to triple-A to figure himself out, there is not a better option to replace Diaz.

The Inconsistency of Diaz

Diaz has had many ups and downs throughout the season and even during his appearances. He has allowed four home runs in his last six outings. Diaz will show flashes of why the Mets traded top prospects for him, but the home runs damper his outings. His fastball command has been better in the second half, but he has failed to consistently find his slider.

Hitters sit on his fastball when his slider is no where to be found. Despite the struggles with his slider, his strikeout numbers are still on par with past years. His slider still has the great break it usually has but it might as well be a batting practice fastball when it is down the middle.

What is Diaz Role in the Bullpen Now?

Callaway says Diaz still has to get big outs, but who knows if he will keep to his word when the situation arises. Jeurys Familia was dominant Sunday and has a 3.29 ERA in the second half. Moving Lugo to the ninth and Familia to the eighth for the series against the Atlanta Braves is very much a possibility.

The Mets can treat water, if Familia returns to the form that led the Mets to the World Series in 2015. If Familia’s recent run is a fluke, their bullpen flaws will be exposed the same way they were in the first half. Even if Diaz pitches to the same ERA as Familia it will be a major upgrade to the bullpen. Whether it is this year or in the future, the Mets need him to close games. He was not acquired to set up games, he was brought in to lock them down.

New York Mets: The Biggest Home Series Since 2015

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New York Mets, Noah Syndergaard

After a miraculous run to close within half a game of a wild card spot, the New York Mets start a very tough schedule. The Washington Nationals come into Citi Field for what is the most anticipated series since 2015, when they face these same Nationals.

How Did We Get Here?

The Mets pitching staff from top to bottom led the way throughout their hot stream. The hitting was hot and cold, but caught fire against the Miami Marlins. Their odds to make the playoffs were at single digits in July and now the odds are close to 50 percent.

The Mets seemed dead in the water and ready to sell at the trade deadline, but Brodie Van Wagenen had other plans. He added Marcus Stroman, traded Jason Vargas and kept the team in tact. The Mets took advantage of a relatively weak schedule, but the red hot Mets are no fluke.

Home Cooking Against the Nationals

The Mets swept the Nationals at home earlier this season and did the same during their magical 2015 run to move into first place in the NL East. Just like 2015 the Mets can pass the Nationals with a sweep, but their eyes are on the division not the wild card.

The Mets have Marcus Stroman, Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom lined up to pitch. This give the Mets favorable matchups in all three games of the series. The Mets have been criticized for their weak schedule, but now they will truly be tested and they have the weapons to come out on top.

New York Mets: Finally Over The Hump

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With their doubleheader sweep of the Miami Marlins on Monday night, the New York Mets went to one game over .500 for the first time since May 2nd. The Mets have pulled off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in baseball history, but they are not done yet. On July 12, they were 11 games under .500 and seemed dead in the water. Since then they went 17-5 to turn their season around and get themselves back in the wild card race.

How Did This Happen?

The Mets have played some poor competition, but not too long ago they were the second worst team in the NL. They have taken care of business against the teams they need to beat. Most of the credit goes to towards the Mets starting pitching and bullpen. The ERA of their starting pitchers have been the lowest in baseball and their bullpen has been spearheaded by the Seth Lugo.

During this hot streak Lugo has only allowed one base runner in 12.2 innings out of the Mets bullpen. He is also starting to take save chances away from Edwin Diaz. The Mets need to get Diaz right and he has shown glimpses of finding himself again. In his last few innings he surrounded home runs or walks between three strikeouts where he looks like the Diaz of old. After pitching coach Phil Regan came out to speak to Diaz during game 1 on Monday, it seemed to calm him down.

The Calming Influence of Regan

There is a lasting impact from the 82-year old pitching coach. He brings a calming influence and has an answer for any situation. Regan was not some random guy the Mets picked to replace Dave Eiland. Regan had been in the organization for many years and worked with most of the Mets pitchers when they were in the minors. Most of the pitchers the Mets have are loaded with talent and the small adjustments Regan has made is taking them over the top.

Watching Regan interact with all of his pitchers is coaching gold. When he came out to speak to Diaz Monday, he came out with a smile on his face and made Diaz grin as well. He relaxed Diaz which led to him closing out the first game of the doubleheader. One of his other great moments is after, what could have been, Zack Wheeler’s last start as a Met. After Mickey Callaway removed him from the game you can see Regan greet him first with a pat on his back following a subtle fist pump as Wheeler walks by.

The Comeback Kids

Monday night’s comeback win was pulled straight out of the 2000 and 2015 Mets playbook. It took three home runs from J.D. Davis, Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso to get the Mets the lead. Alonso’s capped off the inning and drew flashbacks to the Mike Piazza home run down the left field line against the Atlanta Braves in 2000.

At 57-56 the Mets now set their sights towards the top two wild card spots. They have two more games against the Marlins, then three against the Nationals. The Mets are 2.5 games back and will have Stroman, Syndergaard and deGrom lined up against the Nats. If the Mets take either of the next two against the Marlins, you can guarantee a playoff atmosphere over the weekend.

New York Mets: Donnie Hart Claimed Off Waivers

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On Saturday, I put up an article about the New York Mets searching for their final arm to complete their bullpen. They heard my prayers as they claimed left handed reliever Donnie Hart from the Milwaukee Brewers the same day, who could be the final arm they have been searching for.

Originally Hart was sent to triple-A and the Mets called up Jacob Rhame. Hart was recalled to the big leagues Sunday after Rhame was sent to the 10-day IL with right elbow discomfort.

Hart started his career with the Baltimore Orioles, but bounced back and forth between triple-A and the MLB. Over his three years as an Oriole he had a 3.43 ERA in 81.1 innings. He only pitched 6.2 innings with the Brewers this season, but he did not allow a run.

What Does The Mets Bullpen Look Like Now?

Hart will join Luis Avilan and Justin Wilson as the three lefties in the Mets bullpen. He will likely get some low pressure situations since Wilson and Avilan have been solid in the second half.

Hopefully Hart patches a hole the Mets have been struggling to fix all year. It is a positive that he is another lefty, which gives Mickey Callaway more flexibility with his bullpen. The Mets have a big week coming up and need all hands on deck to come out over .500 and put themselves in a wild card spot.

New York Mets: The Bullpen is Better, But Needs More Work

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The New York Mets miraculous seven game winning streak came to an end on Friday after they suffered an 8-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets were only down one heading into the bottom of the eighth, but Tyler Bashlor allowed a three run home run to Starling Marte to put the game out of reach.

The Mets Need More Production From Their Bullpen

The Mets bullpen has undoubtedly been better since the All-Star break. Seth Lugo just won reliever of the month for July and Robert Gsellman has found his hard sinker/slider combo. Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia have been inconsistent with their control, but have pitched better of late.

The major X-Factor in the Mets success has been the production of lefties Justin Wilson and Luis Avilan. They both combined to only allow one run since the break and have pitched in key moments for the Mets. This has deepened the bullpen greatly, but they have not found success from the final guys who round out the bullpen.

The Revolving Door For A Seventh Bullpen Arm

Last nights loss was a perfect example of an issue the Mets still have not fixed yet. They do not have a seventh man in their bullpen who can come in and pitch an inning to keep the Mets in the game when they are behind. The Mets were down one so instead of wasting Lugo while losing, the Mets went to Bashlor who knocked the Mets out of the game.

The Mets have tried more than a fair share of guys in that role. They have gone through Wilmer Font, Drew Gagnon, Chris Flexen, Chris Mazza, Hector Santiago, Tim Peterson, Brooks Pounders, Paul Sewald, Stephen Nogosek, Daniel Zamora, Jacob Rhame, Ryan O’Rourke and Tyler Bashlor. The combined ERA of all of them in relief is 7.11 which is no where near useful.

If the Mets make the postseason, they can throw Steven Matz in the bullpen, but they need to get the postseason first. It may not hurt them if they cannot find someone to fill the role, but they cannot afford to send the same guys out there night after night. Someone has to bridge the gap when they are behind.

New York Mets: How Should We View Their Hot Streak?

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Simeon Woods-Richardson

Since the beginning of the second half of the season, the New York Mets have been one of the best teams in baseball. Their terrific starting pitching and much improved bullpen has led their rise in the wild card standings.

Their recent hot streak has come against subpar teams, which could taint their success to some. It is a plausible idea, but about a month ago the Mets were struggling to beat below average teams. When their cold streak started, they were swept by the last place Marlins.

Why Should We Believe?

The Mets have certainly given us plenty of reasons to think our hearts will be broken again, but what is the point of loving the Mets if you will never believe in them? They now possess a starting rotation capable of beating any team on any day. Even Matz and Syndergaard who struggled early in the season are starting to find their groove.

Their hitting has been up and down, but with their starting rotation all they need is three to four runs a game. This is very reminiscent of the 2015 Mets where they had five great starters, but this version of the flushing five may be their best one.

Why We Should Not Believe?

If you are still pessimistic about this team, it is understandable. Edwin Diaz still has to find some consistency as the Mets closer. His ERA is just over three in save situations, but his control needs to be reined in big time before the Mets can be confident in him.

The Mets defense has been called into question as well, but it also has been better during the second half. Good pitching needs good defense to be successful. This was part of the reason they struggled in the first half, their defense could not help their pitchers. Will their defense struggle again? Yes, but it is important that their defense is more consistent now.

What’s Next?

If the Mets can get through the next string of games and get back to .500, they should be fully confident in taking their big series against the Washington Nationals. This season should be proof that anything can happen in baseball.