The Magic of .500

🎧 Mets Fix Podcast: Episode 29

☀️ Good Morning:

A new Mets Fix Podcast just dropped! In our latest episode, Blake, Peter and JB celebrate the Mets’ 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 Álvarez to it all? What about the bullpen without a suspended Edwin Díaz? And much more!

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🎶 OMG: The Mets are back at .500 and enjoying life. While Grimace has become a rallying call to the fan base, Jose Iglesias’ summer jam has become one for the players.

“This is all about energy. This is all about winning,” Iglesias told SNY's Steve Gelbs in an interview ahead of the release. “The 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.”

Under the stage name Candelita, Jose Iglesias will release OMG at 4:00 pm ET today.

⭐️ 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.

🗓️ 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 40–40.

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, it’s becoming less and less likely he will trigger it. He currently sits at 57 innings.

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◾️ Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber were both injured in the ninth inning of a 7–4 loss to the Marlins on Thursday.

◾️ Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper were the top vote getters for the 2024 All-Star Game.

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🔗 Carlos Mendoza, Joe Espada to experience full-circle moment during Astros-Mets series, by Will Sammon and Chandler Rome, The Athletic ($): “Long 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 Pelicans’ 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.”

🔗 Josh Hader reminder of dangerous trade deadline for promising Mets, by Dan Martin, NY Post: “Josh 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 1 ¹/₂ games out of a wild-card spot. Another option, as The Post’s 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.”

🔗 Mets' Luis Severino has successfully reinvented himself, by Tim Healey, Newsday ($): “Heading into his start Sunday against the Astros, which will mark the halfway point of the Mets’ 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 Mets’ All-Star representative next month.”

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