Blog

<!–>

Three weeks into the season, the Dodgers and Mets are side by side in the National League standings. Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani are one-upping each other daily, despite the Dodgers dropping five of their past seven games. Pete Alonso is off to a fast start in his walk year, while the Mets have won four consecutive series following an 0-5 start to the season. 

The star power and contrasting trends will come to a head this weekend, as the superteam Dodgers host the reimagined Mets for a three-game set in Los Angeles (Saturday’s game will air on FS1 at 4:05 p.m. ET).

FOX Sports MLB experts Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar tackle these topics and more in this week’s roundtable.

1. Which team’s record are you more surprised by: the 12-9 Dodgers or the 10-8 Mets?

Kavner: I’d say both are about as expected — let’s remember the Dodgers won 100 games last year despite starting the year 10-11 — but I’m a little more surprised (and impressed) by the Mets’ start. Their thin rotation is missing Kodai Senga. Their offense has yet to see Francisco Lindor (.478 OPS) get going. To still have a winning record through 18 games is a testament to the rest of the starting pitchers, who collectively have a 3.29 ERA, and a bullpen doing terrific work led by strikeout machines Edwin Díaz and Reed Garrett, who I guess is just unhittable now?

Thosar: The Mets. Though, it’s not so much their record I’m surprised by, as I am how they got to this point. Starting out the season 0-5 when the entire league and rival fan bases were clowning New York, it was all too easy for the club to continue feeling bad about itself. It was harder, much more in fact, for this bunch to put the winning run together that it did. Through the season’s first handful of games, at the point when teams sport the most optimism, the Mets got punched in the gut, and it served as a crucial reality check. It’s not like their schedule let up either, as they hosted white-hot clubs like the Royals and Pirates. But their momentum from defeating the Braves, in Atlanta no less, carried the Mets into their homestand and they just kept winning. It’s been a fascinating start for a Mets team that most industry insiders counted out in 2024.

2. The Dodgers have lost three of four series, all to teams that didn’t make the postseason last year. Are there any long-term concerns with their roster?

Thosar: A few of the issues currently encompassing the Dodgers’ lineup seem like they could easily mushroom into season-long problems. There are certainly some curious trends in Los Angeles, including Freddie Freeman’s power outage, but I expect that to reverse itself as the season progresses. The offense’s apparent inability to come through in the clutch is concerning, especially because the Dodgers were one of the best teams with runners in scoring position last year. It’s also pretty eye-popping that the Dodgers offense leads MLB in strikeouts. 

The Dodgers seem to be depending on one or two players to get it done. That’s just not how a “superteam” should operate. It’s often difficult to adjust and turn some of these stats around during the season. If the players on the roster aren’t clicking, for whatever reason, the offense could end up being a season-long issue for the team.

Kavner: I don’t anticipate any of their issues preventing them from winning the division again, but the bottom of the lineup is a problem right now without an easy fix. Chris Taylor is 1-for-35 with 18 strikeouts this year. Gavin Lux (.148/.207/.167) hasn’t shown any pop in his return from an ACL injury. James Outman is trending in the right direction, but he hasn’t looked like the guy who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last year. Kiké Hernández has an OPS under .500.

Beyond that, injuries to Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen have left the bullpen vulnerable. Outside of Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson, I’m not sure who the Dodgers can really trust in leverage at the moment. They’ll say a lot of their arms at the back end are neutral, but their lack of reliable lefties could be a problem. In addition, while the infield defense has been more serviceable than expected, it’s something to keep an eye on. The presence of Miguel Rojas does provide some coverage if that gets to be a problem.

3. The Mets have MLB’s best record (10-3) since April 5. What’s the biggest X-factor for them being a 2024 playoff contender?

Kavner: I mentioned the early success of the rotation, and I think that will determine the Mets’ fate as well as what their plans will be at the deadline. This team has enough talent in the lineup that it should hit (better than it has so far), but I thought the Senga loss would be much more detrimental than it has been through the first few weeks.

José Buttó didn’t get much attention on prospect lists over the last couple years, but he has been a revelation through two starts. It looks like this could be a bounce-back year for two-time All-Star Luis Severino, and Sean Manaea is getting more swing-and-miss and chase after two terrific starts (and one stinker in which he lost his command).

Thosar: Before the season began, I would’ve pinned the Mets’ pitching staff as the X-factor. But, even before Kodai Senga has thrown a single pitch this season, the Mets flash the best ERA in the National League. So, there’s a new X-factor. Given how this current hot stretch has been fueled in part by the bottom of the order stepping up in clutch moments, the Mets look like they can be a playoff team if their best bats play to form. Francisco Lindor is one of the worst hitters in MLB right now. The Mets offense tends to go as Starling Marte goes, and though he had a strong start, he’s since dropped off. Of the Mets’ core hitters, only Pete Alonso has an OPS above .734. A lot can go wrong the rest of the season that will generate a new X-factor for the club, but for now, the Mets have been winning while their best hitters are scuffling. If those hitters can get it going, all while the background cast keeps chugging along, the Mets could contend for a playoff spot.

4. Who’s going to finish with the better slash line, Mookie Betts or Shohei Ohtani?

Thosar: Mookie Betts. I’m expecting the seven-time All-Star to win his second-career MVP award this season, partly because his belief that he’s a better hitter when he plays the infield is seemingly coming true. Betts has played like a man on fire to start the year, and I’d be more surprised if he slows down. As for Ohtani, perhaps the ongoing rehab on his right elbow is impacting his home run stroke more than we expected. He’s also still getting used to his new surroundings as a Dodger. The odds are in Betts’ favor on this one.

Kavner: Betts will be the more valuable player — and, on this trajectory, might be the most valuable player in the sport — but I think Ohtani finishes with the better slash line, as he has each of the past three years.

5. Pete Alonso is a free agent at the end of this season. What’s your best guess for how his situation unfolds over the next seven months?

Kavner: Tough call, but my guess right now is he remains with the Mets at the deadline and gets to free agency, as Scott Boras clients are wont to do, at which point it’s anyone’s guess. If the Mets are still contending at the deadline, it will be in large part to Alonso’s work. Right now, he’s the only qualified hitter in the lineup with an OPS over .734 … and his is .905. He is responsible for 40% of their home runs.

Now, if they start to tank in the next couple of months and fall way behind the Braves and Phllies, all bets are off. If that happens, I can see a world where they deal him for more long-term pitching help. I just don’t think that’s likely to occur. Atlanta will probably still hit its way to a division title, but the Spencer Strider injury opens the door a little wider in the East, and Philadelphia’s offense has not inspired much confidence to this point. I expect the Mets, who have also yet to reach their offensive potential, still to be in playoff contention when decisions need to be made.

Thosar: If the Mets keep playing like they have been after their 0-5 start, then they could be in the mix for the division crown at the end of the year. And this is no surprise, but Alonso is their best hitter so far in April. So there’s no shot the Mets will trade him if the season progresses the way they want it to. I think Alonso’s free agency will continue to be a topic of conversation throughout these next seven months. But his landing spot will become clearer should the Mets continue racking up wins, even more so if they make a playoff push. 

In the end, I’m expecting Alonso to bet on himself and test free agency. We know where his loyalties lie, and Steve Cohen wants the slugger to make his decision to give Alonso a long-term deal as difficult as possible. The Mets and their Polar Bear have always seemed like a match for the rest of Alonso’s career. As always, his bat will do the talking. Cohen is paying close attention.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

NEW YORK — When top baseball executive David Stearns builds a roster, he tries to look for players who are spark plugs — guys who promote strong team chemistry. But it’s not always a winning formula. Chemistry, Stearns believes, is tough to predict. 

“Sometimes you get it right, and sometimes you don’t,” he said.

Through the Mets‘ first 18 games, which included a gut-punching 0-5 start, Stearns saw indicators from his players and coaches that he just might have gotten it right. He’s not the only one. Pete Alonso, now a six-year veteran, said this year’s group has a strong sense of individual accountability. Alonso said the 2024 Mets are receptive to criticism, routinely sharing information, and keeping an open dialogue. It’s a full team buy-in. New Met Harrison Bader, a self-described spark plug, noticed players are being themselves, with an organization-wide objective of doing what’s best, not just for the flashier superstars but for the collective group.

The Mets’ goal, since the start of spring training, was to collectively elevate in every facet of the game. Three weeks into the season, it’s working.

“More than anything, the energy coming from the team has been great for all of us to see,” Stearns said earlier this week. “That’s really tough to manufacture from a front-office perspective. It just has to sort of happen. It’s a product of the coaching staff working really hard to create an atmosphere. It’s a product of players believing in each other and genuinely enjoying spending time with each other.”

New York has the best record in baseball since April 5, winning 10 of 13 games as it begins a benchmark series at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday (Saturday’s game will air on FS1 at 4:05 p.m. ET). Stearns credited first-year manager Carlos Mendoza and his staff for promoting an atmosphere that allows the players to feel comfortable being themselves. In the early goings, it seems no one is benefiting from that welcoming climate more than the team’s two youngest players: Francisco Álvarez and Brett Baty. The fun-loving duo, who’ve shared a tight bond for years, is an integral part of the club’s upbeat energy.

“One thing about baseball is, it’s a game,” Álvarez told FOX Sports. “We have to play the game. We can’t make it too serious.”

Álvarez and Baty came up through the Mets’ minor-league system together, and while Álvarez got most of the attention for being a teenage slugging catcher, it didn’t take long for him to recognize a star quality in Baty. The self-confident backstop said he first noticed Baty’s leadership capability and preeminent presence at the plate as early as when they played for the high-A Brooklyn Cyclones in 2021. Álvarez has been hyping up Baty ever since. 

But this year, we’re seeing Baty come out of his shell, too. After Baty pulled into second on a two-run double in the Mets’ 6-1 win over the Royals last week, he stuck his tongue out toward the Mets dugout and pointed his pinky, ring, and middle fingers to his head. It was an homage to Carmelo Anthony’s “three to the head” celebration from his days on the New York Knicks. A few days later, DJ Stewart lined a single and duplicated Baty’s celebration. Stewart said he liked seeing that confidence from Baty, and it made him want to do it too.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor noticed Baty is a high-energy player who thrives off positivity. So far, the team has helped Baty keep up the attitude.

“Sometimes, he has a bad day, and I’m like, ‘Dude you can hit .300 with steady homers and 100 RBI. You are the best hitter I’ve seen in my life,'” Álvarez said, purposely exaggerating for his teammate. “You have to believe it. And this year he’s completely different. When I see how he plays, I want to keep playing. It’s infectious. Sometimes he’s low and I pick him up. I say, ‘Let’s f-ing go, man. Let’s go!’ He’s my friend. Like the other day, he got a base hit, then I got a base hit, and I sent him a kiss.”

As he spoke to FOX Sports, Álvarez reproduced that kiss by turning his body towards Baty’s empty locker and making the smooch sound with his lips. On the field, not only did Álvarez crack himself up with this playful gesture, but he got Baty to bust out a laugh because he wasn’t expecting it. Staying loose and flashing confidence aren’t the only things Álvarez is modeling. Baty said when he feeds off Álvarez’s energy, it’s not just fun and games from the youngest Mets. Baty also learned a key philosophy from Álvarez that the third baseman has carried into this season.

“One thing I have gotten from him is his love for winning,” Baty said of Álvarez. “He hates to lose. I think he hates losing more than he loves winning. I started the same way, but I felt like I kind of lost that a little bit in the minor leagues. It’s hard to have a winning mentality in the minors. You gotta learn how to do it. Especially for young guys coming out of high school, when the only things they see are lineups being set every single day, there’s no pinch hits, it’s harder for young guys to understand that winning is the only thing that matters. But part of development is learning how to win.”

The 10-8 Mets have done more of that lately. 

The club has responded to losing its first five games of the season by winning each of its next four series. The pitching staff, without ace Kodai Senga throwing a single pitch, boasts the best ERA (3.15) in the National League. The offense, without J.D. Martinez taking a swing, flashes the ninth-best OPS (.815) in MLB with runners in scoring position. In the past 10 days, the Mets overwhelmingly defeated the Braves in Atlanta, snapped the Royals’ seven-game winning streak, then swept the red-hot Pirates to close out their homestand. Their new manager just might have a lot to do with it. Amid the early-season ups and downs, Mendoza has stayed steady. There was never any panic from the rookie skipper. Rather, he kept his focus on the long season while remaining upbeat about the strong group inside the clubhouse.

Mendoza’s buoyant spirit in the dugout is the antithesis to how former manager Buck Showalter preferred to celebrate his team’s accomplishments. Showalter would often hold the same pose — arms crossed over the dugout railing, chin resting on his wrists, stoically observant with an emotionless expression — from start to finish of a Mets game. Mendoza, green and enthusiastic, is the Energizer Bunny with a full drum set compared to Showalter. The Stearns hire is seen pumping his arms, clapping his hands, hollering and overjoyed alongside his players. Mendoza gets hyped at the big, score-altering moments just as much as he does at the smaller points, like when the opposing pitcher commits a balk to bring in a run or when the Mets pull off a double steal.

Mendoza seems to appreciate baseball for its entertainment value. He’s allowing young, developing players like Álvarez and Baty to be themselves and have fun. He doesn’t hold back when he wants to rejoice. Look no further than what he was looking forward to most ahead of his first Opening Day as a manager? “Honestly, the trumpets,” Mendoza admitted, referring to Edwin Díaz’s entrance song that turns Citi Field into a nightclub. The Mets look like a better team this year, and the swag and selflessness they’re carrying into each game has as much to do with their success as any other change from last season.

“Winning baseball is really good baseball,” Lindor said. “You bunt, you go first to third, you steal a base exactly when you need to steal a base. You take your glove out to your teammate, or when you see something on the field, you tell them. Then, after the game, you lift. You show up for the team in the training room. The little details — that’s winning baseball.”

Another big talking point within the Mets clubhouse has been the love from the Citi Field crowds. Take Lindor’s shoddy start to the season as an example. Lindor has a 38 OPS+, the second-worst BABIP (.156) among 188 qualified MLB hitters, and just 11 hits in 73 at-bats in his first 18 games. Contrasted against the death threats Lindor received on social media earlier in the year, Mets fans opted to remind the shortstop that he’s beloved at Citi Field by giving him standing ovations.

Through the team’s first two homestands, fans made it a point to cheer for Lindor every time he dug into the box. A year ago — really, for nearly all of Lindor’s four-year stint in Queens — it was a given that we’d hear booing and heckling as responses to the shortstop’s slumps. Rather than what we’ve seen and heard most recently from New York crowds, Mets fans flipped the script, à la the 2023 Phillies with Trea Turner, and opted to encourage their struggling star. Not only has that choice been noticed within the Mets clubhouse, but players said the support has allowed them to be less tense and have more fun.

“I’m not going to lie, everybody in here is feeling it,” Mendoza said. “The support from our fan base has been incredible.”

So many factors have gone into the Mets’ gripping 10-3 run after their 0-5 start. But it’s only April, and their embattled fan base has seen it all go downhill too often, and too fast. The Mets will need to keep this energy up through the long season to earn their flowers. They can prove their consistency as soon as this weekend, against yet another formidable opponent. A date with the superteam Dodgers awaits.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

<!–>

The New York Mets released their “City Connect” jersey on Friday morning. It’s a base gray uniform with “NYC” stitched on the front and the Queensboro Bridge on the hat. The jersey also has a black patch on the arm with the Mets logo in pink lettering.

Infielders Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, closer Edwin Diaz, outfielder Brandon Nimmo and catcher Francisco Alvarez displayed the “City Connect” uniforms on the Mets website. 

The Mets will wear the uniform 10 times this season, the first time coming on April 27, when they host the St. Louis Cardinals. Outside of the “City Connect” uniforms, the Mets will still wear their home white, road gray and alternative blue and black jerseys.

As for those who exhibited the new look, Alonso has been cranking in the batter’s box this season, blasting six home runs and boasting a .551 slugging percentage. While he’s batting just .217, Nimmo has driven in a team-high 15 runs. Meanwhile, Diaz has returned to elite form after missing the 2023 MLB season due to a torn ACL, sporting a 1.29 ERA and being 4-for-4 in save situations. 

[Exclusive: Inside the Mets’ stunning turnaround from an 0-5 start]

On the other hand, Lindor is slumping, hitting just .151. Alvarez has held his own behind the plate in his second season as New York’s primary catcher.

After a rough start, the Mets are on a tear of late, winning 10 of their last 13 games. New York’s hot streak has improved it to 10-8, good for third in the NL East. 

Next up for the Mets is a three-game series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 2 of that series can be viewed on FS1 and the FOX Sports app at 4:05 p.m. ET.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

–>

---

---

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports