Morning Briefing: Mets Tied With Braves Once Again

Good morning, Mets fans!

Luis Severino held the Reds to just one run over 6 2/3 innings, but Phil Maton surrendered a two-run double to Santiago Espinal as the Mets dropped the series finale, 3-1, snapping their nine-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Braves rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat the Blue Jays, 4-3, and pull even with the Mets in the NL Wild Card standings.

NL Wild Card Update

The Giants cracked three homers against Joe Musgrove in a six-run fourth inning, then held off a late charge by the Padres’ offense to down San Diego, 7-6. The Mets remain two games back of the Padres for the first Wild Card spot.

Pavin Smith smacked three homers and drove in eight runs as the Diamondbacks routed the Astros, 12-6, to avoid a sweep. The Mets are now 1.5 games back of Arizona for the second Wild Card spot.

Latest Mets News

The Mets are in Toronto to start a three-game set with the Blue Jays this evening – their first series north of the border since 2018. Paul Blackburn (5-4, 4.66 ERA) will make his return from the injured list, while the Blue Jays have yet to announce a starter. Blackburn has been on the IL since August 25 after he was struck on the wrist by a line drive in his start against the Padres. Last season, the Blue Jays swept the Mets in a three-game series at Citi Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.

The Mets have officially placed Jeff McNeil on the 10-day IL with a fractured right wrist and recalled DJ Stewart from Triple-A Syracuse. Stewart was with the club during the series against the Red Sox while J.D. Martinez was on paternity leave.

Latest MLB News

The Red Sox have designated Bobby Dalbec for assignment. Dalbec crushed 25 homers as a rookie back in 2021 but is hitting just .133/.217/.193 with one homer in 93 major league plate appearances this season.

Both Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom hope to return to the Rangers’ rotation this coming week following their last rehab outings. Scherzer struck out eight over four hitless innings for Triple-A Round Rock, while deGrom struck out five over four scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said infielder Ha-Seong Kim isn’t as close as they would like in his return from shoulder inflammation and is still experiencing discomfort when trying to throw across the diamond. Kim has been on the IL since August 20.

The Guardians have designated right-hander Scott Barlow for assignment. Barlow has a 4.25 ERA and 68 strikeouts against 31 walks in 55 innings this season. He has a 5.94 ERA in the second half.

A pair of former Mets – Travis Blankenhorn and Billy McKinney – were outrighted to their respective minor league organizations on Sunday. Both players were designated for assignment over the weekend.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro recaps the Mets’ loss in their series finale against the Reds.

Christian De Block looks at Jose Quintana‘s strong start on Saturday.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: During the Mets’ showdown with the Cubs, a black cat appears on the field and walks in front of the Chicago dugout. The Mets attack Fergie Jenkins for seven runs, while Tom Seaver tosses a complete game to complete a two-game sweep with a 7-1 victory. Donn Clendenon and Art Shamsky both take Jenkins deep. The win secures the Mets their first winning season and franchise history and moves them within a half-game of the Cubs for the division lead in the NL East.

2015: Trailing the Nationals 2-1 in the top of the eighth inning, Kelly Johnson leads off with a pinch-hit, game-tying homer off Stephen Strasburg. Later in the frame, facing Drew Storen, Yoenis Céspedes clubs a two-run homer to give the Mets the lead. Jeurys Familia strikes out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to give the Mets a 5-3 victory, finishing off a three-game sweep of Washington and extending the Mets’ division lead to seven games.

2016: The Mets fall into a 4-0 hole against the Braves, but Curtis Granderson hits a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and New York rallies for four runs against the Braves bullpen in the eighth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Jeurys Familia strikes out Tyler Flowers with two men on in the ninth inning to secure the victory.

Born on This Date: Todd Zeile (59), Mike Hampton (52), Kazuhisa Ishii (51), Alex Young (31).

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