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Mets 3, Angels 2-Baby Mets to the rescue in Mets win over the Angels

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at New York Mets

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Francisco Alvarez’s power returned in a big way in the team’s win over the Angels.

The Mets defeated the Angels by a score of 3-2 to win their third straight and to take the series over Anaheim. This game was a tale of Angels and Demons with the bottom of the lineup succeeding and the top of the lineup failing in crucial situations.

With Francisco Alvarez’s return to the lineup in the series opener, the Baby Mets were reunited and it was the Baby Mets who got the job done. With the team down 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, Brett Baty doubled with two out. Alvarez showed off his power in the minors when he got sent down, and in his first game back he just missed a home run, but settled for a double when it was misplayed by Chris Taylor. This time he did not miss when he blasted a game-tying home run.

Ronny Mauricio followed with a single and stolen base to get into scoring position for Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo drove him in with a single to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.

Frankie Montas got the start and was solid on the mound. He gave up a home run to Jorge Soler in the second and got into some trouble in the fifth that brought home another run. Both times the inning could have been bigger but he was able to limit the damage. With runners on second and third with one out and a run already in, he struck out Mike Trout in the fifth. Then with the bases loaded he induced a fly ball from Jo Adell to end the threat. He finished his night pitching 5.2 innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits, while striking out six. He wasn’t overly dominant but he kept his team in it which allowed them to eventually take the lead. He was also helped out by Juan Soto who threw out a runner at the plate in the first inning.

The Baby Mets had to be the heroes since the top of the lineup continues to struggle. Francisco Lindor is now 0-for-his-last-30 and Lindor, Soto, and Alonso combined to go 0-for-9. After the Angels made two defensive miscues in the seventh, Nimmo, Lindor, and Alonso all struck out to leave the runners stranded.

With a skinny lead to protect, and with a few arms unavailable, Carlos Mendoza had to piece together a bullpen. Rico Garcia and Reed Garrett each struck out two in their appearances and set it up for Ryne Stanek in the ninth. Stanek put two runners on and with two outs up walked Mike Trout to the plate to add to the drama. Stanek got him to pop up weakly to Pete Alonso to nail down the save.

It certainly was not the easiest win, but with their stars struggling, others stepped up to deliver the victory over the Angels.

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Box scores​


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Win Probability Added​

Fangraphs.com

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Francisco Alvarez +24.5% WPA
Big Mets loser: Pete Alonso -17.6% WPA
Mets pitchers: +42.4% WPA
Mets hitters: +7.6% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Francisco Alvarez home run in fifth
Teh sux0rest play: Nolan Schanuel RBI double in fifth
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...-angels-alvarez-montas-trout-new-york-anaheim
 
Mets to activate Jose Butto, option Justin Garza

MLB: Chicago Cubs at New York Mets

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The bullpen arm returns from a stint on the IL after recovering from an undisclosed illness.

The Mets continue their slew of roster moves, activating reliever Jose Butto from the 15-day IL. To make room, they option fellow reliever Justin Garza back to Triple-A Syracuse.

On July 4th, Butto was placed on the injured list due to an undisclosed illness, becoming the 13th Mets pitcher to be placed on the IL. Before his illness, he posted strong numbers for the Mets, owning a 2.47 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 43 innings of work. Going further back, over the past two years, Butto’s been a steady contributor, pitching to a 2.52 ERA in 117.2 total innings.

Garza, 31, returns to Syracuse after being traded to the Mets from the Giants for cash this June. The righty is one of many arms the Mets have cycled through their bullpen, tossing just 6.2 innings for the team with a 5.40 ERA.

The Mets hope this move will fortify a bullpen that has pitched the second-most innings in all of the majors over the past month.
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...-move-activate-jose-butto-option-justin-garza
 
Mets Daily Prospect Report, 7/24/25: In Play, Run(s)

MLB: New York Mets-Workouts

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Catch up on all the Mets prospects in yesterday’s minor league action!

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (31-44/17-6)​


SYRACUSE 8, OMAHA 4 (BOX)

Syracuse had a strong offensive performance, putting together 16 hits on the day. They ran out to a 6-0 lead after the first two innings, with Jared Young collecting four RBI over those two innings. Young also homered on the day, capping off his huge day.

Syracuse was leading 7-1 in the sixth before the Storm Chasers got to Austin Warren a bit, but the game was out of reach by then.

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (45-22*/15-8)​


BINGHAMTON 7, READING 0 (BOX)

Ryan Clifford opened the scoring with a solo home run in the fourth, and the offense was rolling from there. They scored six runs over the final four innings, with Clifford going 3-4 with two home runs.

Binghamton threw a bullpen game and it was largely successful, as the combination of Luis Moreno, Joshua Cornielly, TJ Shook, and Brian Metoyer threw a five hit shutout.

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (46-20*/12-14)​


GREENSBORO 3, BROOKLYN 1 (BOX)

A.J. Ewing got Brooklyn out to a 1-0 lead, cashing in Eli Serrano with an RBI double. Those two hits were half of the Cyclones total on the day, as the offense really sputtered from there.

The pitching was solid. but it needed to be perfect on the day.

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (34-31*/16-9)​


ST. LUCIE 14, DAYTONA 1 (BOX)

Well, where do you start with this one?

St. Lucie played, basically, a perfect game. They surrendered one hit, an RBI double in the first. That 1-0 score held until the third, and then it was wheels up from there for the Mets. They had 18 hits, scored 14 runs, and saw the entire lineup get at least one base hit — with six of them getting two or more hits. Six players notched an RBI as well.

Everyone performed in this one, as one would imagine in a 14-1 win.

They also managed to do this without a home run, which is a funny little quirk.

Rookie: FCL Mets (24-28)​


FCL METS 11, FCL MARLINS 6 / 6 (BOX)

STAR OF THE NIGHT​


Ryan Clifford, Drew Gilbert

GOAT OF THE NIGHT​


Boston Baro
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7/24/24473674/mets-daily-prospect-report-everyone-scored-alot
 
Diamondbacks scouting Mets’ prospects for possible Eugenio Suárez trade

St. Louis Cardinals v Arizona Diamondbacks

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images

There’s no guarantee that Arizona will trade Suárez or that the Mets will acquire a position player.

The Diamondbacks have been scouting the Mets’ prospects in Double-A Binghamton to prepare for any potential trade of Eugenio Suárez, according to SNY’s Andy Martino. That report notes that Arizona is also scouting the Yankees’ system for the same reason.

Suárez has been one of the best power hitters in the game this season, as he ranks fourth in the league with 36 home runs and has a .252/.325/.593 line with a 149 wRC+ in 416 plate appearances. He’s set to hit free agency following this season and would presumably been seen primarily as a rental by any team that might trade for him.

That wRC+ would tie Suárez with Juan Soto and Pete Alonso atop the list of Mets hitters with at least 30 plate appearances this year. And the Mets’ trio of third basemen—or at least players who regularly play third base—all sit in the 80-to-104 range in wRC+ this season. For what it’s worth, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has downplayed the need for the team to upgrade at the position.
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...base-baty-mauricio-vientos-prospects-new-york
 
A look at the Mets’ right-handed starting pitching options at the trade deadline

MLB: San Diego Padres at Miami Marlins

Sandy Alcantara | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Mets have reportedly already checked in on a couple of these pitchers.

While the Mets’ stated focus before the trade deadline is improving their bullpen, as demonstrated by their deal to acquire Gregory Soto yesterday, it’s hard to separate the Mets’ bullpen woes from their workload. Since June 25, the Mets have gotten the fewest innings from their starting pitchers (100.1 IP, an average of 4.35 per game) of any team in baseball. Though their rotation is finally healthy, the Mets are also facing a Clay Holmes conundrum, as the reliever-turned-starter has currently tallied 113.2 innings on the season—well beyond his previous career-high of 70.0.

While the odds that general manager David Stearns splurges for a starter are low, especially with prospects Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong waiting in the wings, the Mets have nonetheless checked in on Padres right-hander Dylan Cease and Sandy Alcantara. So if Stearns is looking to add a right-hander outside the organization at the deadline, who might be a fit?

The aforementioned Dylan Cease is one of the highest-profile names on the trading block, and he should command one of the highest prices. Since his debut in 2019, Cease has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball, ranking first in strikeouts (1,160) and seventh in innings pitched (961.0). A Cy Young runner-up with the White Sox in 2022, the 29-year-old currently holds a 4.59 ERA with 144 strikeouts and 42 walks in his contract year with the Padres. While San Diego is unlikely to part with Cease as they progress on a path toward October baseball this season, the organization is still listening to offers.

The most fascinating potential trade target might be within the Mets’ own division, as the Marlins appear poised to deal former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. Since returning from Tommy John surgery, which had kept him out through the entire 2024 season, Alcantara has an egregious 6.66 ERA. He’s signed through 2026 with a team option for 2027, which could make him an attractive, high-reward reclamation project for Jeremy Hefner and the Mets’ staff. Alcantara still averages 97.5 mph on his four-seam fastball, and he ranks 15th among qualified right-handers with 2.1 inches of arm-side break on his sinker.

Another trade candidate with multiple years left on his contract is the Pirates’ Mitch Keller, who is signed to stay in Pittsburgh through 2028. At 29 years old, Keller is having his best season yet, posting a 3.53 ERA with 125.0 IP (the fourth-most in the National League). Durability is one of Keller’s greatest strengths; since the start of 2023, he has thrown the fifth-most innings of any pitcher in MLB behind Logan Webb, Zack Wheeler, José Berríos, and Framber Valdez. For the rebuilding Pirates to part with Keller, it would likely take a steeper package of prospects.

There are a plethora of cheaper rental options on non-contending teams who should also be available. The stagnating Arizona Diamondbacks, for example, have a pair of contract-year pitchers to shop in Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Since a pair of top-five Cy Young finishes in 2022 and 2023, Gallen’s stock has plummeted; the 29-year-old currently has a 5.58 ERA, and his peripherals—including a 7th-percentile barrel rate—don’t look particularly encouraging, either.

Kelly has enjoyed more success this season, posting a 3.32 ERA (which would be a 2.74 ERA excluding one disastrous afternoon in the Bronx) over 122.0 IP. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Diamondbacks aren’t yet committed to “go all-in on selling” at the deadline. But given the trade of Josh Naylor, it seems a strong possibility that Gallen and Kelly are on the move as the Diamondbacks fall farther out of contention.

The Orioles, meanwhile, have a trio of contract-year pitchers in Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and Tomoyuki Sugano. While the veterans Eflin and Morton have struggled to the tune of a respective 5.78 and 5.48 ERA, both could provide affordable and dependable depth. Sugano, a 35-year-old rookie from Japan who won the Eiji Sawamura award (given to the best pitcher in the NPB each season) in 2017 and 2018, has slowed since a successful start to his MLB career. Sugano held a 3.04 ERA with a 3.64 K/BB ratio through June 3, but has recorded a 7.88 ERA and 1.53 K/BB ratio in seven starts since then.

The Rockies will be looking to get whatever they can for 30-year-old Germán Márquez, who has put up a 5.67 ERA in his contract year. And the Rays have a contract-year starter in 29-year-old Zack Littell, whose 3.58 ERA since the start of 2024 ranks 17th among qualified starters. Though the Rays are just 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the third A.L. Wild Card spot, the organization notoriously prizes long-term value and efficiency above all else—a mindset which may very well prompt them to deal Littell.

Finally, if Stearns seriously wanted to swing a deal for a right-handed starter, two of his best options might be former Mets. Since departing in free agency following the 2022 season, Seth Lugo has been every bit the starting pitcher he thought he could be, posting the 14th-most innings (466.0) and ninth-best ERA (3.17) among qualified pitchers in baseball. Lugo is in the second year of a three-year, $45M deal with the Royals, but is expected to exercise an opt-out after this season given his performance has well exceeded his payment. With the Royals teetering on the brink of contention, currently 4.5 games out of a playoff spot, Lugo has suddenly become a leading rental option.

Across Lugo’s division, Adrian Houser has had a remarkable resurgence after his abysmal 2024 campaign. In 10 starts, Houser holds a 1.89 ERA while completing six innings eight times; for comparison’s sake, since Houser’s season debut on May 20, David Peterson is the only Mets starter to have completed six innings more than three times. The White Sox are currently languishing in last place in the A.L. Central, not to mention having the worst record in the entire A.L., so getting value for Houser before his one-year contract expires is a must in the coming days for the Sox. Stearns watched Houser pitch for years in Milwaukee, and believed in Houser’s potential enough to acquire him via trade last offseason. Who’s to say Stearns wouldn’t bet on Houser again?
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...ndy-alcantara-seth-lugo-adrian-houser-stearns
 
Evaluating the market for left-handed starters

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Pittsburgh Pirates

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Starters are on the Mets’ radar, but the market offers few inspiring choices for southpaws.

With the trade deadline nearing, the Mets have made it clear their priority is the bullpen—not the rotation. While they continue to look to strengthen their left-handed relief corps, adding a left-handed starter seems unlikely given the limited quality options available on the market. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns summed up the team’s position perfectly: “Acquiring starting pitching at this time of year is pretty difficult... If those [ceiling-raising] guys are available, we’ll be involved.”

On paper, the rotation looks stable with lefty Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, and Frankie Montas; however, workload is becoming a concern. Since June 26, Mets starters have thrown just 100.1 innings—the fewest in baseball—averaging only 4.35 innings per start. Holmes, in particular, is a key figure, having matched a season-high of 104 pitches in his recent start against the Giants. He is now sitting at 113.2 innings—well beyond his previous season high. Managing his workload would be difficult as the Mets push for the playoffs.

Still, given Stearns’ remarks, a trade for a left-handed starter seems unlikely, as most available candidates are innings eaters rather than impact pitchers. Taking a look at pitchers on expiring contracts with non-contending teams, Andrew Heaney (4.79 ERA, 5.18 FIP) has struggled this year with Pittsburgh and lacks consistency. Tyler Anderson of the Angels carries a 4.41 ERA and 5.11 FIP and has looked more like a back-end option than the All-Star he once was. Both are pending free agents and offer little to move the needle for a team like the Mets.

Oakland offers a few alternatives, but the upside is limited there as well. Jeffrey Springs, who was excellent in 2022 with a 2.46 ERA over 135 innings, has seen his stuff diminish—his velocity is down 2.5 mph, and he’s pitched to a 4.13 ERA this season. His teammate, JP Sears has proven durable, making 32 starts each of the last two years, but his ceiling remains low, with a 4.98 ERA and nearly identical FIP. While these arms might help cover innings, they don’t do much to raise the rotation’s overall level.

One possible exception is Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers, a former All-Star now posting a 1.49 ERA over 48.1 innings. However, some of his underlying numbers—particularly a bottom-of-the-league hard-hit rate—suggest some regression is due. Further, with team control through the end of 2026, it’s possible the Orioles would be unwilling to trade him. Finally, Patrick Corbin, now on the Rangers, represents another veteran arm, posting a respectable 3.78 ERA and 4.03 FIP over 104.2 innings with decent peripherals, though his track record leaves plenty of hesitation.

In the end, it’s hard to see the Mets making a move for a left-handed starter—there simply aren’t many “ceiling-raising” options available. More broadly, rotation help of any kind doesn’t seem like a priority, with the front office signaling a disciplined approach despite the mounting innings load. That said, if a right-hander who genuinely raises the ceiling becomes available, the Mets could still be tempted to act.
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...-handed-starters-andrew-heaney-tyler-anderson
 
Mets 5, Giants 3: The Mets break out the brooms in San Francisco

New York Mets v San Francisco Giants

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Ronny Maurcio’s big day at the plate helps sweep away the Giants.

The Mets finished off a sweep of the Giants 5-3 behind a big day by Ronny Mauricio. Mauricio went 4-for4 with two RBIs, but his big blow in the seventh into McCovey Cove tied the game at three apiece. Juan Soto followed with a solo shot of his own two batters later for the go-ahead run.

The Mets did manage to take an early 1-0 lead but after Matt Chapman’s first home run of the day tied it up, Mauricio got the lead right back when he doubled in Francisco Alvarez who led off the inning with a double. The two Baby Mets at the bottom of the lineup picked up most of the slack from the top of the lineup who continued to struggle. Alvarez and Mauricio went a combined 6-for-8 with three runs scored and two RBIs. On the flip side Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso went 0-for-10 with one RBI and four strikeouts.

The team combined went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and it seemed not capitalizing on their chances would come back to haunt them when Matt Chapman hit his second home run of the day to give the Giants the lead. Mauricio’s game-tying home run changed all that and gave his team the chance they needed to seize the victory.

They did manage to tack on an insurance run in the ninth led again by Mauricio. He led off the inning with a double and came home with the team’s fifth run when Brandon Nimmo doubled behind him.

That allowed some breathing room for Edwin Díaz who somehow nailed down the save. He loaded the bases with one out but got back-to-back strikeouts of Willy Adames and Matt Chapman to finish off the win.

All the arms that entered behind Kodai Senga were phenomenal. José Buttó, Gregory Soto, Reed Garrett, Brooks Raley, and Díaz did not give up any runs and they allowed just two hits between them. For Soto it was his debut in a Mets uniform and he pitched a clean inning with one strikeout for his new team.

As for Senga he was mostly ok on the mound. He did a good job limiting the damage despite alot of traffic on the basepaths. Unfortunately, Matt Chapman took him deep twice which accounted for all of the San Francisco runs. By the time his night was over he pitched five innings, allowed three runs, walked five, and struck out three. His ERA rose 2.00 for the season.

The Baby Mets stepped up when the team needed them and it will be interesting to see what the team does with their young players as the trade deadline approaches. Mauricio certainly made a statement and handed the Mets a needed win with the Phillies losing earlier in the day. The team is a game and a half up in the standings as they head to San Diego to take on the Padres.

SB Nation GameThreads​


Amazin’ Avenue
McCovey Chronicles

Box scores​


MLB.com
ESPN

Win Probability Added​

Fangraphs.com

What’s WPA?

Big Mets winner: Ronny Mauricio +44.0% WPA
Big Mets loser: Kodai Senga -19.5% WPA
Mets pitchers: +17.6% WPA
Mets hitters: 32.4% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Juan Soto home run in seventh
Teh sux0rest play: Matt Chapman home run in fifth
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...rancisco-sweep-mauricio-senga-giants-mlb-soto
 
Trade target profile: Merrill Kelly

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Pittsburgh Pirates

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The 36-year-old has quietly been one of baseball’s most reliable arms over the past four seasons.

With the trade deadline less than three days away, it’s time to take a deeper dive into individual players the Mets have been linked to. After reports that the Mets checked in on right-handed starters Dylan Cease and Sandy Alcantara, Buster Olney said during last night’s ESPN broadcast that the team is looking to add a top-of-the-rotation starter such as Joe Ryan or the topic of today’s profile: Merrill Kelly.

At 36 years old, Kelly currently holds a 3.22 ERA over 128.2 IP with the Diamondbacks this season. Excluding one disastrous, torpedo-bat-traumatizing outing against the Yankees in early April, that mark would be down to 2.66. Kelly isn’t a flashy pitcher, with an 8.5 K/9 rate. Instead, his strength lies in his cutter and changeup combo, pitches which average over 3.0 inches of vertical break and have yielded .133 and .178 batting averages this season, respectively. Kelly isn’t a household name, having no All-Star appearances or awards (or even a lone Cy Young vote) on his major league resume. But Kelly has quietly been one of the game’s most reliable starters for years, tossing 580.1 IP with a 3.40 ERA over the past four seasons. Only six pitchers in that span have thrown as many innings with a better ERA: Zack Wheeler, Framber Valdez, Corbin Burnes, Logan Webb, Luis Castillo, and Logan Gilbert.

Kelly’s consistency and ability to rack up innings make him an attractive fit for a Mets team which has been in dire need of length from their starting pitching. Since June 13, the Mets have gotten just 167.0 innings from their starters, which ranks second-fewest in MLB behind the Dodgers. During that span, the Mets have gotten just five starts of at least 6.0 innings, and all of them have come from David Peterson. Sean Manaea should join Peterson on that list as he builds back up following his return from injury, but the Mets will nonetheless be managing the workload of Clay Holmes, who pushes his career-high in innings pitched with every outing.

Kelly, meanwhile, has thrown at least 6.0 innings in seven of his past ten starts. Since the start of May, he’s tallied 96.0 innings, trailing only Tarik Skubal, Robbie Ray, and Garrett Crochet. In addition to getting a top-of-the-rotation arm, adding Kelly would allow the Mets the flexibility to move Holmes back to the bullpen, or potentially switch to a six-man rotation and push their existing starters deeper into games with increased rest. Unlike other rotation trade targets such as Alcantara and Mitch Keller, Kelly would be a cheaper rental option given his contract expires at the end of the season.

The Diamondbacks traded first baseman Josh Naylor on Thursday, seemingly signaling their status as sellers at this year’s deadline. A report from Olney the following day said the Diamondbacks aren’t committed to “go all-in on selling,” but if they did, Kelly would certainly be their most valuable trade candidate behind third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Arizona has slowly slipped out of playoff contention, now sitting 6.0 games out of a Wild Card spot after going 1-5 (and mustering just eight runs) in their past six games.

If Kelly does get moved before the deadline hits at 6 PM on July 31, then he has already made his last start with the Diamondbacks. The Mets have just one series left to assess their options, playing the first of a three-game set against San Diego on Monday at 9:40 PM.
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Source: https://www.amazinavenue.com/2025/7...zona-diamondbacks-dylan-cease-sandy-alcantara
 
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