3 Up, 3 Down: Grimace-Inspired Mets Sweep Padres

Hands up if you had Grimace as the savior of the New York Mets on your 2024 bingo card.

No, me neither. But, if things continue the way they are, maybe we’ll see a Grimace statue erected outside of Citi Field in the not-too-distant future.

Ever since the milkshake-loving, fast-food mascot threw out the first pitch last Wednesday, the Mets are 5-0. That includes a sweep of the Padres at Citi Field this past weekend.

Not only is New York winning, but everything seems to be clicking for this team. The offense is hitting at an impressive clip. The pitching has stopped the bleeding. And there is hope swirling around Queens once again.

Of course, it says a lot about the state of the Mets’ season that we’re now pinning our hopes on a big, purple blob. And Luis Torrens. Let’s see where this team is in July before we give Grimace the keys to New York City.

But, for now, there’s very little to moan about, and we shall continue to bask in the glory of Grimace and this current winning streak. It is time for a very positive-laden 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

SUMMER FUN

With the start of summer officially arriving, the Mets are holding up their end of the bargain by being good again. For weeks, there was a real tangible fear that the season would end by July. While that could still happen, we at least have some hope to cling to. As winners of five straight – and nine of their last 11 – the Mets have breathed new life into their season. After impressively sweeping the previously red-hot Padres, this team has guaranteed the next few weeks will be interesting at the very least. It is up to them if the hope and excitement can stretch past the trade deadline.

ON A HEATER

There was a reason the collective Mets fanbase fell all over themselves for the team to sign J.D. Martinez. We’re seeing why now. The veteran slugger has been a godsend for this lineup, and that was on full display throughout the series against the Padres. Martinez was unstoppable against San Diego, powering an irresistibly fun-to-watch offense all weekend. The six-time All-Star reached base ten straight times, hitting two home runs and one double with six RBIs and three runs scored while drawing five walks. Furthermore, Martinez came up with some big-time hits, including the game-winning two-run double on Friday night. He has been the main driver behind this recent turnaround.

Martinez is hitting .450/.593/.1.050/.1.643 over the last seven days while putting on an absolute clinic at the plate. It is special to watch the veteran do what he does best. Of course, Martinez is also driving up his value ahead of the trade deadline. But, whether he stays or goes, he’s certainly made it fun to be a Mets fan again as of late.

PITCHING PROWESS

Pitching was a collective strength for the Mets in this series. Outside of a mini collapse on Sunday, in which Jake Diekman allowed three runs in a third of an inning, the rotation and the bullpen delivered. Edwin Díaz got the save on Friday, recording his second consecutive electric ninth inning. Dedniel Núñez was impressive on Saturday, pitching two perfect innings with two strikeouts. And Sean Reid-Foley was able to come in and get the job done in the ninth inning on Sunday, erasing the damage done by Diekman. As for the starting pitching, Sean Manaea, José Quintana and Tylor Megill all enjoyed solid starts and pitched at least five innings. Quintana pitched six and enjoyed a bounce-back start with six strikeouts and one run on two hits. Overall, the rotation and the bullpen came through for the Mets all weekend.

3 DOWN

LATE SCARE

The Mets were coasting on Sunday until they weren’t. Jake Diekman entered the game in the eighth and proceeded to make things very, very interesting almost immediately. A routine throw that went wrong started the panic, and three runs given up in less than an inning set the stage for an embarrassing collapse. In truth, the Mets recovered after Diekman left the game, thanks mainly to a Luis Torrens homer. Some blame can be attributed to manager Carlos Mendoza, who arguably took out Adrian Houser too early. That was a case of over-managing. But Diekman’s error and the implosion that followed made Sunday’s game more interesting than what was necessary.

TOUGH STRETCH

You can tell I’m starting to clutch at straws given how good this weekend was. The Mets will have a tough task ahead if they want to keep this current resurgence going. They hit the road to take on the Rangers and the Cubs before returning home for a two-game set against the Yankees. Now, Texas got swept by the Mariners over the weekend but could benefit from the pitching matchups on Monday. Wrigley Field is always tough, and the Yankees are the best team in baseball. You just hope this next stretch doesn’t bring a return back to reality.

MIXED WEEKEND

Jeff McNeil made a game-saving defensive play on Friday night for the big second out. It was crucial in the overall context of the game. It was also a reminder of the second baseman’s elite glove. He made a nice play with the glove on Sunday, too. However, McNeil continues to struggle offensively. He went a combined 2-for-10 against the Padres, with just one walk and one extra-base hit. Sure, McNeil did score three runs, but his at-bats are tough to watch for the most part. Now hitting .222/.289/.311/.600 on the year, the narrative around McNeil and his future with the team will only get more interesting the longer his offensive struggles continue.

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