Latest news with #CarlosMendoza
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets Make Move After Sixth Straight Loss
Mets Make Move After Sixth Straight Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Currently reeling from a six-game losing streak, the New York Mets are also dealing with the absence ace starting pitcher Kodai Senga who suffered a right hamstring strain during a June 11 win against the Washington Nationals. The injury occurred while Senga was covering first base in the sixth inning and reached for a high throw from Pete Alonso. Advertisement He exited after 5.2 dominant innings, having allowed just one hit and striking out five. With a league-best 1.47 ERA, Senga has been the anchor of a rotation now in flux. His absence leaves the team without its most dependable arm at a time when bullpen usage is already stretched thin. New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) and first baseman Pete Alonso (20)© Brad Penner-Imagn Images Manager Carlos Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner are left scrambling to find answers ahead of a pivotal series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The bullpen has been heavily taxed during this skid, and options are limited. The Mets' need for innings, stability, and upside has made their latest move all the more urgent. Enter Blade Tidwell. Advertisement Tidwell, the organization's top pitching prospect, has been recalled for a second stint in the majors (via Anthony DiComo of His debut last month against the St. Louis Cardinals was a mixed bag—3.2 innings, three walks, and an inflated 14.73 ERA—but also offered a glimpse of his potential. His fastball touched 96 mph, and his slider showed promise, though command issues derailed what began as a confident start. This second opportunity comes with real stakes. The Mets don't just need an arm—they need production. Tidwell now finds himself thrown into the fire, tasked with stabilizing a spiraling rotation and proving he's more than a prospect. His ability to adjust, execute in high-leverage situations, and limit base traffic will determine both his future role and the club's immediate fortunes. Advertisement With Senga's timeline unclear, the Mets must rely on internal reinforcements. That means young pitchers like Tidwell must mature quickly, because every game now holds postseason implications. Related: Mets Facing Clay Holmes Decision After Sixth Straight Loss Related: Mets Send Message to Juan Soto After Major News on Thursday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets Facing Clay Holmes Decision After Sixth Straight Loss
Mets Facing Clay Holmes Decision After Sixth Straight Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Mets are amid their worst stretch of the 2025 MLB season. Dropping their sixth straight game on Thursday night, a 7-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets no longer have sole possession of first place in the NL East. Advertisement New York's starting pitcher Clay Holmes struggled mightily on Thursday, walking a season-high six batters in 4.2 innings of work. Now tied atop their division with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets are entering a critical series against Philly this weekend. New York not only brings a six-game losing streak into the series with Philadelphia, but significant pitching staff questions as well. New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35)© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Mets manager Carlos Mendoza would not reveal Friday's starter when speaking with reporters postgame, but it was later reported by Anthony DiComo of that Blade Tidwell will be getting the ball. However, Friday's starter is not the only pitching question New York faces. Advertisement Holmes, who is in his first season as a full-time starting pitcher, has already surpassed a career-high in innings pitched for a season. While it's unclear if his six walks on Thursday were a product of that, Mendoza admitted postgame the team is keeping a close eye on Holmes' workload. As Mendoza alluded to, the Mets currently face a decision on how to best manage the 32-year-old right-hander. Prior to this season, Holmes' career-high in innings pitched was 70 in 2021. He is now at 83 through 15 starts, and there are still more than four months remaining before the postseason begins. Related: Francisco Lindor Sends Clear Message After Mets' Fifth Straight Loss Related: Carlos Mendoza Breaks Silence on Controversial Decision in Mets' Loss to Braves This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Mets will need offense to step up to snap losing streak
ATLANTA — Before this week, the New York Mets' last memory of the visiting clubhouse at Truist Park was of revelry — of Freixenet and Coors Light and of demons exorcised in unforgettable fashion. And so the quiet in that clubhouse Thursday night, as players sat expressionless at their lockers, looking down at their phones, felt all the more conspicuous. Advertisement The Mets' malaise stretched into a second straight series sweep, this time a more demoralizing one to the division rival Atlanta Braves. New York's sixth straight loss came in a 7-1 rout, done in by a pitching staff that issued nine walks and a lineup that went 1-for-22 to close the game. 'These are good teams,' Brandon Nimmo said, 'and you need to play good baseball to beat them.' The Mets have not been playing good baseball over the past week. Manager Carlos Mendoza pointed to the starting rotation as a primary culprit: New York's starters, the strength of the roster until this point, have allowed 19 earned runs in 24 1/3 innings during the streak. But while the rotation might be a cause of the losing streak, the solution resides elsewhere. It's time for the Mets offense to step up. 1️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ career hits for @JuanSoto25_! — New York Mets (@Mets) June 19, 2025 That's the way the Mets were built — for an elite offense to carry a pitching staff whose job was to keep it in games. Over nearly half the season, it has played out the other way, with New York's hurlers exceeding every expectation and shouldering the load in a 45-30 start. But that pitching staff is reeling and will be for at least a couple more weeks. It has lost Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill for at least the next month. Though Frankie Montas is returning next week, it's with a boatload of questions fueled by a 12-plus ERA over six rehab starts. The Mets will look to rookie Blade Tidwell on Friday in Philadelphia opposite Zack Wheeler. And the offense is in one of its worst slumps of the season. Over the past six games, New York's lineup is hitting .204 with a .279 on-base percentage, .289 slugging percentage and .568 OPS. Pretty much everyone outside of Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor is going through it. Francisco Lindor is hitting .136, Ronny Mauricio .150, Juan Soto and Jeff McNeil .190 in that stretch. Advertisement 'It starts with smaller thinking,' Nimmo said. 'You can't try to do it all at once. You try to win the battles you control. That's where you start, and you go from there.' Yes, part of that is the terrific starting pitching the Mets are facing nightly. Unfortunately, that's not going to change soon. After getting Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale and Spencer Strider at Truist Park this week, they'll see Wheeler and Jesús Luzardo (around promising rookie Mick Abel) in Philadelphia this weekend. They're in line to see Sale and Strider again next week. (They should miss Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh, for what that's worth.) 'That's the ultimate test,' co-hitting coach Jeremy Barnes said. 'We're going to see what plays out over the next little bit and how we respond to it. From that, we'll make adjustments.' 'We've just got to be able to dictate the at-bats,' Mendoza said before Thursday's loss. 'These guys are not only good, but they're going to attack. We've got to be able to attack them, too.' How do you dictate the at-bat against a pitcher with, say, Sale's stuff? 'We have to be aggressive,' Mendoza said. 'When he's coming in the zone, we've got to be able to put pressure on him. They are who they are, but we also know we're a good offensive team, too. We've got a lot of good hitters here.' The Mets did that for about a dozen batters Thursday against Strider. Five of those 12 reached, and even the outs were hard-hit. In the next dozen hitters against Strider, only four put the ball in play (one walk, seven strikeouts). Strider got ahead 0-2 on four of those seven strikeouts. That was a theme of the series. Of New York's 18 total hits, 11 came in the first three innings. In three games, the Mets generated five at-bats with a runner in scoring position after the third inning — three of which came when they were handed a ghost runner on second in Friday's 10th inning. Advertisement 'We've had a few bad games, but I don't think our offense is terrible the last few games,' Nimmo said. 'I think it's right around the corner.' It better be. This lineup was constructed to be the club's foundation. Just check out the level of investment. New York's top six hitters Thursday night are making $163.5 million this season combined. Their six regular starting pitchers so far this season? They're making $41.9 million. And so it's time for the offense to come out and beat a strong starter. It's time to win a game in which their own starter doesn't have it. The Mets have allowed as many as five runs in a game 17 times since the end of April; they've won only one of those games (against the historically bad Colorado Rockies, of course). It's time for the offense to carry the load. (Photo of Juan Soto reacting after an eighth-inning strikeout: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mets Fans Upset After Carlos Mendoza's Announcement
Mets Fans Upset After Carlos Mendoza's Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Mets are in one of the most enviable positions in MLB, as they're a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the NL. However, their pitching health leaves plenty to be desired amid their five-game losing streak. Advertisement Ace hurler Kodai Senga (hamstring) and fellow starter Tylor Megill (elbow) are both on the 15-day IL. The Mets relied on right-hander Paul Blackburn against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, who had made just three appearances this season before that contest. The 31-year-old coughed up four runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings, and New York lost 5-0. Manager Carlos Mendoza announced an upcoming addition to the rotation on Thursday afternoon, via SNY. New York Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47).Sam Navarro-Imagn Images He said that there's a "good chance" that right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) will "join the rotation for us next week." The 32-year-old is 0-3 with a 12.05 ERA across six rehab starts in the minors this season and has yet to make his first big-league appearance of the year. New York fans aren't happy on social media. Advertisement "Why, he literally sucks," one said. "I hope he's joking," another said. "How does he deserve that opportunity? Long relief in blowouts. I guess we have games to throw away," another said. "I think we're trying to lose at this point," another said. "Is that a threat directed at the clubhouse?" another asked. Right-hander Clay Holmes (7-3, 2.87 ERA) will start against the Braves on Thursday. After that, the Mets will continue their road trip against the Philadelphia Phillies, who are one game behind them for first place in the NL East. Related: Francisco Lindor Sends Clear Message After Mets' Fifth Straight Loss Related: Mets Facing Problem Before Phillies Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Thin Mets rotation could receive help from Hagenman on Friday and Montas debut may soon follow
ATLANTA — A depleted New York Mets' rotation could see right-hander Justin Hagenman make his first start of the season on Friday at Philadelphia. Perhaps of more significance, the Mets debut for right-hander Frankie Montas could soon follow. The Mets on Thursday recalled Hagenman and right-handed reliever Dedniel Núñez from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned right-hander Ty Adcock to Syracuse. Right-hander Max Kranick was also placed on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain. Hagenman, who gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings in his only appearance for the Mets this season, was with the team for Thursday night's game at Atlanta. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Hagenman could pitch on Friday, either as a starter or in bulk relief behind an opener. Mendoza said Montas, who was placed on the IL with a strained right late on March 24, also may be ready to join the rotation despite allowing eight homers and posting a 12.05 ERA in six minor league rehab games. Montas allowed 30 hits in 18 2/3 innings in his series of rocky rehab outings. 'I mean, I'm not going to lie, you know, he got hit,' Mendoza said of Montas. 'He got hit around, you know? But look, we seen it before where guys in spring training struggle and they get hit around. And once you put him on a big league game under the lights and your game plan, and you make adjustments and they flip the switch. He's had success before at this level.' Montas, 32, signed a $34 million, two-year contract with the Mets in December. Montas missed most of the 2023 season because of shoulder surgery. He was 3-3 with a 4.53 ERA in 11 starts for Milwaukee in 2024. The Mets' rotation needs help. Right-hander Tylor Megill was placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday with a right elbow sprain and will miss at least one month. Last week, right-hander Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Mendoza said Kranick, who had a 3.65 ERA, returned to New York on Thursday for an MRI after having continued discomfort in his elbow on Wednesday when he played catch and then tried to throw from the mound. Kranick, 27, was recalled from Syracuse on June 13. The Mets took a five-game losing streak into Thursday night's game. Mendoza said he was encouraged by the progress of third baseman Brett Baty, who missed the first two games of the series with a groin injury. ___ AP MLB:
