Morning Briefing: Mets Own Second Wild Card Spot

Good morning, Mets fans!

The Mets and Braves begin their crucial three-game series at Truist Park this evening. Luis Severino (11-6, 3.79 ERA) will take the hill for the Mets against rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (7-7, 3.61 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 p.m.

The Mets enter the series now in sole possession of the second Wild Card spot after the Diamondbacks lost to the Giants 6-3 on Monday. The Mets lead Arizona by a half-game, and the Braves by two games.

The Mets and Braves are tied 5-5 in the season series. Back in April, the Mets took two of three games from them in Atlanta. There also appears to be a hurricane headed toward Georgia this week, which could impact the series.

Latest Mets News

Kiley McDaniel of ESPN wrote about how the Mets have set themselves up for a run of success in 2025 and beyond. McDaniel noted that the Mets have almost 50% of their payroll coming off the books this offseason.

Coming off two clutch hits this weekend, Jay Horwitz has an interview scheduled with Brandon Nimmo for today. Horwitz has known Nimmo since the Mets drafted him as an 18-year-old despite having never played high school baseball.

Brandon Sproat was named the Mets’ Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America. Sproat skyrocketed from High-A Brooklyn to Triple-A Syracuse this season. Baseball America also named Mets prospect Jonah Tong to its 2024 Minor League All-Star Second Team.

This past weekend’s series between the Mets and Phillies was the highest-attended four-game series in Citi Field history, drawing nearly 165,000 fans. The games on Saturday and Sunday were both sellouts.

Latest MLB News

The Tigers are calling up prized pitching prospect Jackson Jobe to join their major league bullpen as they continue their playoff push. Jobe has a 2.36 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings across three levels this season.

With Mike Trout struggling to stay healthy and seeing his productivity decline, Sam Blum and Andy McCullough of The Athletic spoke to Trout and others in the Angels’ organization about his future. Trout said he was given the option to be the team’s designated hitter when he initially suffered a torn meniscus in April but opted for surgery. The three-time MVP said he hasn’t really felt right at the plate the last few years, and hitting coach Johnny Washington said he hopes he can help Trout get back to his old form.

Ahead of the team’s final series in Oakland, A’s owner John Fisher wrote a letter to fans, imploring them to stick with the team as they get ready to move to Sacramento, then potentially Las Vegas. Fisher wrote that he began exploring the move to Vegas in 2021 because of a binding agreement with MLB to find the team a new home.

Longtime Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon announced on social media that he will retire at the end of the season. Blackmon played all 14 seasons of his big league career in Colorado, making four All-Star games, winning two Silver Sluggers, and capturing the NL batting title in 2017.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro analyzes Edwin Díaz‘s six-out save against the Phillies on Sunday.

David Melendi looks at the highs and lows from the Phillies series in the latest 3 Up, 3 Down.

Allison Waxman breaks down the potential playoff outcomes based on the upcoming Mets-Braves series.

David Melendi previews the Mets’ series in Atlanta.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: Gary Gentry tosses a complete-game four-hit shutout, and Donn Clendenon goes deep twice as the Mets clinch their first NL East title with a 6-0 victory over the Cardinals. Clendenon tags Steve Carlton for a three-run homer in the first inning then takes Dave Giusti deep in the fifth. Ed Charles also goes yard against Carlton, who gets knocked out in the first inning.

1991: The Mets drop their contest to the Pirates, 10-8, but Howard Johnson clubs his 37th homer of the season, setting a new record for NL switch-hitters. Johnson had previously set the mark in 1987.

2015: The Mets hit a trio of three-run homers – two by Lucas Duda and one by Curtis Granderson – as they rout the Reds, 12-5. Noah Syndergaard strikes out 11 batters while allowing two runs over 7 2/3 innings. The win brings the Mets’ magic number to clinch the NL East down to 1.

Born On This Date: Hubie Brooks (1956), Bernard Gilkey (1966), Hunter Strickland (1988), Drew Smith (1993).

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