Chicago Mets Showcase Strong Performance Against Cubs

CHICAGO — Nolan McLean’s pitching on Thursday night proved to be crucial for the Mets, though they’ll need more than just a solid starter to hold onto their wildcard lead in the National League.

The Mets displayed a well-rounded game: an impressive swing from the bat, solid defense, and a reliable bullpen that has faced some challenges this week.

They were aware that the Reds had won, meaning they had to secure the final game of this series against the Cubs to keep a grip on the third wildcard spot.

As it stands, the Mets held a narrow one-game lead over the Reds, with the Diamondbacks trailing after losing to the Dodgers.

Without any tiebreakers against either Cincinnati or Arizona, it’s crucial for the Mets to finalize at least one victory soon.

This upcoming series in Miami could be a turning point before the final weekend. Meanwhile, the Reds will be facing the Brewers, and San Diego is also in play.

It’s looking like they’ll be facing off against the Dodgers in the wildcard round next week.

Brett Baty sparked the game with a three-run homer, while Francisco Lindor helped out with 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief alongside Lynn Staneck, Brooks Raleigh, Tyler Rogers, and Edwin Diaz.

McLean made a strong start, leading 6-1 halfway through, but he couldn’t finish strong. He achieved a career-high with 11 strikeouts but gave up five earned runs, marking the toughest outing since his promotion from Syracuse.

Over 5 1/3 innings, he allowed five hits and two walks, causing his ERA to jump from 1.27 to 2.06.

The Mets quickly gave McLean some cushion before even throwing the first pitch—Pete Alonso hit a double, Lindor walked, and Mark Vientos popped up.

Lindor got a run home after some confusion led to Swanson tumbling into the stands. Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single then put the Mets up 2-0, with Lindor adding another run to extend the lead to 3-0. This also marked a franchise milestone, as three Mets, including Lindor and Alonso, have now achieved 30 home runs in a single season.

For context, this signifies a rare achievement in MLB history, highlighting a significant moment for the Mets.

Baty followed up with an additional three-run homer, placing the Cubs in a daunting 6-0 hole. He hit his 18th homer of the season with some impressive form, showing the effectiveness of his skills.

However, in the fourth inning, Seiya Suzuki’s homer chipped into the Mets’ lead, reducing it to 6-1.

Later, Dansby Swanson hit another homer in the fifth, doubling the Cubs’ score and giving them a fighting chance.

McLean, who entered the day having given up only one homer in his previous seven starts, struck out Pete Crow Armstrong for his ninth strikeout of the night, setting a new career record.

As the game progressed, McLean managed to notch his tenth strikeout, but soon after, Tyrone Taylor launched a two-run double, bringing the Cubs within 8-2.

Unfortunately for the Mets, Suzuki’s second homer of the game tightened the score to 8-5 in the sixth inning, prompting McLean’s exit.

Stanek came in to try and close out the innings.