3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Take Series From Toronto

What a story the 2024 New York Mets are proving to be.

After dropping an ugly one to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Mets were being no-hit on Wednesday through eight innings and were well on their way to suffering a body blow of a series loss.

Given New York’s status in the playoff race, dropping two out of three to the Blue Jays would have been devastating.

However, keeping in line with the fairytale nature of this year, Francisco Lindor delivered the biggest hit of the year with a game-tying solo home run in the ninth to help pave the way for the biggest win of the year.

That isn’t hyperbole, either. Lindor’s clutch heroics could really prove crucial once it’s all said and done.

And, without further ado, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

THE REAL MVP

Shohei Ohtani deserves to be crowned the most special player in baseball without any shadow of a doubt. However, Lindor is the true MVP in the National League. Because, as should be obvious by now, the Mets would be planning their winter vacation if it were not for the superhero turn from their shortstop. Lindor is playing the best baseball of his life right now and he’s carrying this team, which was evident in Toronto on Wednesday. Being no-hit through eight innings and staring a series loss in the face, Lindor stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of the year so far. And, after running into a mini skid as of late, it was as consequential of a hit for Lindor as it was for the Mets.

Simply put; this team would have been dead a long time ago if not for Lindor. He’s played in every single game this year and has come up with monster hit after monster hit. And, more importantly, Lindor has saved the day for the Mets more times than you can care to remember. He’s invaluable to this ball club, and he’s the Mets’ MVP without a doubt.

TURNING THE CORNER

We’ve written about Francisco Alvarez’s long slump in this space before. We’ve also wondered if a big hit would prove to be the turning point, only for his struggles to continue thereafter. However, Alvarez’s three-run home run on Wednesday just felt different, and the Mets sensed it too. After all, manager Carlos Mendoza opted to play Alvarez the day after a night game because of how he had been hitting the ball following a recent adjustment. Well, that faith in his catcher paid off in a big way. It was Alvarez’s first extra-base hit since Aug. 19, which hopefully proves to be a portent of better things to come.

RISING STAR

Sean Manaea is proving he deserves a role in the starting rotation for the Mets long-term. The lefty has been money during the second half of the season, and that trend continued on Wednesday. Manaea allowed just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Yes, the veteran did walk four batters, and yes, he did load the bases with nobody out to begin the fourth. However, he was able to work out of that jam, only allowing one run to score to keep the game close. Manaea has arguably been the Mets’ best starter this year, and he showed why on Wednesday.

3 DOWN 

TOUGH NIGHT AT THE OFFICE

David Peterson has, for the most part, been stellar this year. His impressive 2.98 ERA backs that statement up. However, Tuesday proved to be a bad day at the office for the left-hander. Peterson was roughed up for four earned runs on eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings. It was a rare misstep by Peterson, but one that could prove costly this time of year.

PEN ADVENTURE

The bullpen didn’t make life easy for the Mets in this series. Danny Young and Jose Buttó handed the game back to Toronto by giving up the tying and go-ahead runs in Monday’s series opener. Thankfully, Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz were able to clean that mess up and get the job done in the end. However, on Wednesday, Stanek gave up a run in the ninth that forced Díaz into the game to get the final out. Ultimately, it didn’t matter in the end, but the Mets still can’t afford any more heart attacks from their ‘pen the rest of the way.

GOING COLD

Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Mets were hitting just .208/.299/.330 with 37 runs scored in nine September games. They were also just 18-for-75 with RISP since Aug. 30 before the series finale. Well, a lot of those offensive struggles stretched into Wednesday’s game. The Mets were no-hit for eight innings before Lindor played the role of hero. Those struggles at the plate continued what has been a worrying trend so far this month. Too many of the Mets’ big bats are going cold at a critical juncture in the season. For instance, Pete Alonso entered Wednesday with 14 strikeouts and just one home run in his last 30 at-bats. Brandon Nimmo has been a non-factor with the bat since the All-Star break, Alvarez was ice cold before his three-run home run, and even Lindor had started to struggle a little bit. Again, with every game a must-win, the offense can’t afford to stumble the way it did at points in this series.

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