âď¸ Good Morning:
A new Mets Fix Podcast just dropped! In our latest episode, Blake, Peter and JB celebrate the Metsâ return to relevancy by discussing the reasons (beyond Grimace) for their success. Is this the start of a magical summer? Or a return to what we expected from this team at the beginning of the year? How important is Francisco Ălvarez to it all? What about the bullpen without a suspended Edwin DĂaz? And much more!
Make sure youâre subscribed to the Mets Fix Podcast on your favorite platform (Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud).
đś OMG: The Mets are back at .500 and enjoying life. While Grimace has become a rallying call to the fan base, Jose Iglesiasâ summer jam has become one for the players.
âThis is all about energy. This is all about winning,â Iglesias told SNY's Steve Gelbs in an interview ahead of the release. âThe guys loved it and I'm very humble to make this song. The fans were clicking with it. We're on a roll, everything is right where it needs to be, and oh my god I'm so happy.â
Under the stage name Candelita, Jose Iglesias will release OMG at 4:00 pm ET today.
âď¸ NO ALL-STARS: There were no Mets among the starter finalists released by Major League Baseball for the 2024 All-Star Game. That leaves the likes of Francisco Lindor or Luis Severino to make the team as reserves.
đď¸ UP NEXT: As we discussed yesterday, the Mets face a reflection of themselves over the next three days. Just like the Mets, Houston stumbled out of the gate, sitting eight games below .500 at the end of May. And just like the Mets, they have caught fire, winners of seven straight to reach .500 again at 40â40.
Justin Verlander, who is eligible to come off the injured list, will not be with the Astros this weekend as he is progressing slower than expected from a neck injury. He is still not throwing. For Mets fans tracking his innings count for his 140-inning vesting option next season, itâs becoming less and less likely he will trigger it. He currently sits at 57 innings.
âžď¸ Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber were both injured in the ninth inning of a 7â4 loss to the Marlins on Thursday.
âžď¸ Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper were the top vote getters for the 2024 All-Star Game.
đ Carlos Mendoza, Joe Espada to experience full-circle moment during Astros-Mets series, by Will Sammon and Chandler Rome, The Athletic ($): âLong before they became major-league managers for the New York Mets and Houston Astros, Carlos Mendoza and Joe Espada exchanged baseball ideas between mouthfuls of ice cream. The Pensacola Pelicansâ double-play partners doubled as roommates inside a home neither of them owned. Both men neared a career crossroads playing in an independent league, but took solace in talking shop.â
đ Josh Hader reminder of dangerous trade deadline for promising Mets, by Dan Martin, NY Post: âJosh Hader arrives at Citi Field on Friday not just as the closer for the suddenly red-hot Astros, but also as a reminder of the dangers of the trade deadline. The Mets, by virtue of their stunning reversal over the past few weeks, have gone from likely deadline sellers to perhaps buyers, just 1âš/â games out of a wild-card spot. Another option, as The Postâs Mike Puma noted recently, is doing both, potentially moving some starting pitchers with the possible return of Kodai Senga next month, as well as Christian Scott and Jose Butto pitching well at Triple-A.â
đ Mets' Luis Severino has successfully reinvented himself, by Tim Healey, Newsday ($): âHeading into his start Sunday against the Astros, which will mark the halfway point of the Metsâ season, game No. 81 of 162, Severino leads the rotation in ERA (3.29), WHIP (1.13) and innings (90 1/3). And his health has been practically perfect, the righthander taking each of his 15 turns without issue. In a relatively weak field, Severino may well be the Metsâ All-Star representative next month.â
Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until our next newsletter.
And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Isles, too.
Love the newsletter and the podcast but if I have to hear Peter defend McNeil one more time Iâm out. Show me a stat/metric from the last 2 seasons that says McNeil is about to turn it around. The dude is toast since the shift was banned. Acuna isnât tearing it up in AAA but if he only hits .250 heâs better than McNeil because he brings better speed and defense.
Podcasts are the best !