Morning Briefing: Mets Are Postseason-Bound

Good morning, Mets fans!

Monday was an absolute roller coaster for the Mets and Braves, with the first game of the doubleheader turning into an instant classic. After getting shut down by Spencer Schwellenbach for seven innings, the Mets busted through for six runs against the Braves’ bullpen in the eighth inning, capped by a Brandon Nimmo two-run homer. Atlanta responded, however, scoring four two-out runs against Edwin Díaz in the bottom half of the inning, punctuated by a bases-clearing double from Ozzie Albies. In the top of the ninth though, Francisco Lindor clubbed a two-run homer off Pierce Johnson to put the Mets back in front. Díaz went back out for the bottom of the inning, throwing 40 pitches in his outing and slamming the door to clinch the Mets a postseason berth.

According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, the Mets are the second team to clinch a postseason berth in a game where they trailed entering the eighth inning, surrendered the lead, then retook the lead in the ninth inning, joining the 1903 Pirates, who did so against Boston Beaneaters. The Braves went on to win the second game of the twin bill, 3-0, to also secure a Wild Card spot. The Mets will head back to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers, while Atlanta will head to San Diego to take on the Padres.

Latest Mets News

Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) will take the hill for the Mets in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against right-hander Freddy Peralta (11-9, 3.68 ERA). Severino was originally slated to start the second game on Monday’s doubleheader before the Mets clinched in the first game. Peralta held the Mets to just one run on one hit over six innings at Citi Field on Opening Day. First pitch is scheduled for 5:32 PM and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Mets have hired James Kang to be their new Director of International Scouting. Kang previously worked for the Padres, Red Sox, Dodgers, and most recently the Guardians, where he was the Senior Player Acquisitions Scount.

Francisco Lindor ranked fifth in MLB in jersey sales this season, while Pete Alonso ranked 18th according to data released on Monday. Only Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Mookie Betts ranked ahead of Lindor.

Latest MLB News

NL Cy Young front-runner Chris Sale was scratched from his start on Monday evening due to back spasms. The Braves had held Sale back to save him for an elimination game, but now he isn’t expected to be available for the Wild Card Series.

The Giants have parted ways with President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi and replaced him with Buster Posey. Zaidi had been with San Francisco since 2018, but the team missed the postseason in five of the six years of his tenure. Posey grabbed headlines this offseason for being the primary negotiator when the team extended Matt Chapman‘s contract.

Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt announced Monday that Chaim Bloom has signed a five-year deal to become the team’s new President of Baseball Operations, replacing John Mozeliak. Bloom was the Chief Baseball Officer for the Red Sox from 2020-23 and became an advisor to Mozeliak after the 2023 season.

The Cubs announced a few changes to their coaching staff, letting go of first base coach Mike Napoli, hitting coach Jim Adduci, bullpen Darren Holmes, and a couple of their strength coaches. The Cubs entered the season with lofty expectations under new skipper Craig Counsell, but the team failed to make the postseason for the fourth straight season.

Major League Baseball announced that it will go back to allowing players to wear their own team’s jerseys during the All-Star Game, the way it was through the 2019 season. Additionally, the league will return to using the uniforms that were worn through the 2023 season.

MLB’s all-time hit king Pete Rose passed away Monday at the age of 83. Rose was a 17-time All-Star, a three-time World Series Champion, the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, and the 1973 NL MVP before he was infamously banned from baseball for gambling in 1989.

Latest on MMO

David Melendi recaps the Mets’ wild win in Monday’s clincher against the Braves.

Tyler Antonelle breaks down Joey Lucchesi‘s solid outing in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader.

To celebrate the Mets clinching a playoff spot, MMO is giving away an MMO T-shirt and hat on Twitter. To enter the giveaway, just follow @Metsmerized on Twitter and retweet the tweet below.

To celebrate the Mets clinching a playoff spot, we’re giving away this MMO shirt and hat.

Retweet and follow to enter. pic.twitter.com/GYtyfBiANc

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) October 1, 2024

On This Date in Mets History

1973: In the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field, Rusty Staub collects four hits, Cleon Jones goes deep, and Jerry Grote drives in a pair of runs as the Mets complete their improbable run to the postseason by clinching the NL East title with a 6-4 win over the Cubs. Tom Seaver battles through six innings, allowing four runs and 11 hits to earn his 19th victory of the season, and Tug McGraw records the final nine outs for his 25th save of the year. The Mets, who ended play on August 5 12 games under .500 and 11.5 games out of first place, went 34-19 to soar past the rest of the division. Their 82 wins are the fewest ever for a division winner.

Born On This Date: Chuck Hiller (1934), Buzz Capra (1947), Bob Myrick (1952), Pete Falcone (1953), Jeff Reardon (1955), John Thomson (1973), Brandon Knight (1975).

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