Jeremy Hefner transformed Mets’ pitching into sudden strength
MILWAUKEE — Starting Friday, the Mets face the prospect of finishing a marathon season in a five-game, four-day spurt, but they have a depleted rotation and won't have starters on regular rest for Game 1 of the wild-card series. A solid bullpen that has the potential to perform in the most important innings of the […]
Mets must find way to weather scheduling storm to reach playoffs
ATLANTA — OK, we can argue for days to come that the Commissioner's Office should have been more aggressive, that the Braves shouldn't have been so greedy, that the Mets should have played just one make-up game in Atlanta this season so they wouldn't get into a tight spot down the stretch. Ok, to deal […]
Mets face challenging rotation questions after postponements
ATLANTA — Carlos Mendoza remembered a whirlwind 10-game, 10-day August road trip that included a day trip to St. Louis and tried to make it through more than just the strange weekend that awaited the Mets. “We've been through a lot this year, but this is nothing new for us,” the Mets manager said, sending […]
Francisco Lindor back in Mets lineup as weather threatens Braves game
ATLANTA — Francisco Lindor is expected to return to the Mets starting lineup on Wednesday, if the teams actually play games. Lindor was scheduled to start against the Braves as the shortstop and leadoff hitter because rain was forecasted to fall all day ahead of Hurricane Helen. The Mets shortstop has missed the past eight […]
How Braves’ decision for Mets series set up nightmare Hurricane Helene scenario
ATLANTA — For business, logistical and maybe game tactical reasons, the Braves didn't want to change the start time, date or location of their series with the Mets, despite forecasts that made Wednesday night's game iffy and Thursday night's final game of the three-game series even less likely. MLB could have ignored the wishes of […]
The Mets’ defense was a mess in loss to Braves
ATLANTA — The Mets got four hits and couldn't handle the four Braves' batted balls. Such ratios rarely lead to wins. There was little good going on for the Mets, but their defense was especially poor in the series opener against the Braves on Tuesday at Truist Park, resulting in a disappointing 5-1 loss. On […]
Francisco Lindor watches end of Mets’ loss from on-deck circle
ATLANTA — Francisco Lindor stood in the on-deck circle Tuesday night, ready to pinch-hit in the ninth inning, but the game ended before he got his chance. But Lindor's readiness to return, albeit perhaps in a limited role, with the Mets was the most positive sign of the past week and a half. “Let's see […]
Mets’ J.D. Martinez may return to lineup vs. Braves, Chris Sale
ATLANTA — J.D. Martinez is a veteran with plenty of key late-season games under his belt, but that experience doesn't mean much to a struggling player. And Martinez is certainly in a slump. He arrived at Truist Park on Tuesday but struggled, going 0-for-32 at-bats, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to remove him from the starting […]
This Braves horror movie look all too familiar for Mets
ATLANTA — I've seen this horror movie before, but the Mets won't leave this haunted house alive. The cast changes for both teams, and the sets change as the Braves move ballparks every 20 years or so. But the end result? It's not just that the Mets came to Atlanta and lost on Tuesday night. […]
Mets show little fight in loss to Braves that trims NL wild-card led
ATLANTA — The opening act for a National League wild-card spot might have booed the Mets off on a Broadway stage, but it was greeted with raptures at Truist Park. Was it a lack of energy on the part of the Mets, or was the home team's pitching staff just superior? Perhaps it was a […]