Morning Briefing: Mets Secure Crucial Game 1 Victory
Good morning, Mets fans!
The Mets secured a crucial 8-4 victory over the Brewers Tuesday to open their NL Wild Card series. A big fifth inning saw them score five runs off right-hander Joel Payamps and southpaw Aaron Ashby (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Mets lefty Danny Young). Nearly every hitter in the starting lineup reached base, with just one exception, in catcher Francisco Alvarez.
Additionally, after a shaky first few innings from starter Luis Severino, Mets pitching settled in, retiring 17 consecutive Brewers to close out the game. The Brewers can’t abuse the stolen base if they can’t make it to first!
A key talking point in Tuesday’s ballgame is the manager decisions. The Mets’ Carlos Mendoza pushed all the correct buttons, while the Brewers’ Pat Murphy pushed the wrong ones. Mendy kept his confidence in Sevy, while Murphy lacked confidence in his starter, Freddy Peralta. Also, Mendoza pitched José Buttó and Ryne Stanek, who didn’t allow a baserunner. Pat Murphy pitched Payamps and Ashby, who both couldn’t make it through an inning.
The Mets’ win Tuesday puts pressure on the Brew Crew. One more win, and New York leaves Milwaukee to travel to Philadelphia. It’s October, and the Mets are playing playoff baseball. What a year.
Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA) will take the mound for the Metropolitans. Frankie Montas (7-11, 4.84 ERA) will take it for the Brewers. The last time Manaea went out against Milwaukee, he turned in his worst start in recent weeks. Moreover, the Mets ace allowed six runs (five earned) in just three innings of work.
Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen is a nominee for the 2025 Ford C. Frick Award, which honors broadcasters yearly for their contributions to the broadcasting. Likewise, Yankees radio announcer John Sterling is also among the candidates.
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The Wild Card round kicked off Tuesday, with the Padres beating the Braves 4-0, the Royals defeating the Orioles 1-0 and the Mets’ win against the Brew Crew. Perhaps the most exciting contest was the Tigers-Astros game. Tarik Skubal‘s six innings of shutout baseball fueled Detroit’s 3-1 victory, but it wasn’t pretty at the end. Tigers reliever Jason Foley allowed three straight hits in the ninth before getting an out on a sacrifice bunt. The Astros would load the bases with two outs. Finally, on a 2-2 changeup down the middle, Jason Heyward hit a line drive that looked like it could tie the game, but Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson snagged it to end it.
Astros veteran Justin Verlander didn’t make the Astros’ postseason roster after a disappointing 2024 campaign. Just a year ago, the future Hall of Famer was traded for two wonderkids in Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford, now ranked among the top 100 prospects in the game. Verlander, 41, has a 5.48 ERA in 90 1/3 innings pitched this season, translating to a 72 ERA+.
The NLDS broadcast schedule was released Tuesday, with games airing on Fox and Fox Sports 1 in the NL and TBS/Max on the AL side of things.
Major League Baseball reported a boost in viewership, with increases in Sunday Night Baseball viewers, over 10% growth in young adult spectators, MLB.TV minutes and international audiences.
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick quite bluntly stated his idiocy in the signing of Jordan Montgomery: “…a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did.” Kendrick’s investment resulted in a rough season for the former Yankee. After three consecutive seasons with a sub-four ERA, Montgomery’s ERA has ballooned to 6.23, leading to his demotion to the bullpen late in the year.
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Christian De Block previewed the Mets-Brewers series.
In the latest MMO roundtable our writers predicted the MLB postseason.
Gianna Arantes recapped Tuesday’s series opener.
On This Date in Mets History
1991: William Shea passed away at the age of 84. Shea played a key role in founding the Mets, and the team named their former home, Shea Stadium, in his honor.
2005: Legendary Met Mike Piazza played his final game in blue and orange. Piazza, who crushed 220 homers for the team, left the field to an excess of cheers from the crowd.
Born On This Date: Scott Schoeneweis (1973), Kevin Kobel (1953).
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