3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Best in Baseball After Phillies Sweep

It is official – the New York Mets are the best team in Major League Baseball.

At 18-7, the Mets own the best record in baseball and are red-hot right now. They swept the Phillies to go a perfect 7-0 on the homestand. The last time (and only other) New York was perfect at home? April 2015, when that year’s team went 10-0.

Furthermore, the Mets are 12-1 at Citi Field in 2025, marking the best 13-game home start in franchise history. And the team’s 18-7 start is also tied for the second-best start the Mets have had through 25 games, behind only the 1986 team. And we all know how that year ended.

All in all, there is plenty to love about this team right now. The vibes are high, and a special feeling is hovering over the Mets. Granted, it’s only April, but this ball club looks formidable, and the best is still to come.

To that end, let’s bask in a statement-sending sweep over the Phillies by diving into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

NEVER-SAY-DIE

The Mets advanced to the 2024 NLCS due to their refusal to quit. That same mental fortitude and never-say-die attitude have been evident in 2025. It was also on full display in the series finale on Wednesday. The Mets were tied late in the game and got several clutch contributions to go on and win. There was the Juan Soto throw and Hayden Senger tag out at home with two runners on in the eighth. Max Kranick replaced a hurt Edwin Díaz and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th. Then, Pete Alonso continued his all-time April with a double in the bottom of the 10th, before Starling Marte walked it off on an RBI single. The Mets were dealt plenty of adversity in the finale, but found a way to overcome it to win a seventh straight and secure the sweep.

Additionally, what makes this current run of success even more impressive is that the Mets aren’t yet operating at the peak of their powers. Juan Soto is hitting .233 and is yet to really look like Juan Soto. Brandon Nimmo is struggling offensively. There has been no production from center field. Francisco Alvarez has been hurt. The starting pitching has been stellar, even with Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the IL. And the bullpen has also been money, despite some inconsistency from Edwin Díaz.

All told, the Mets are finding new ways to win daily without being at full strength. Regardless of the situation, they refuse to give up. As a result, the best is probably still to come, and that’s a scary proposition for the rest of baseball.

UPWARDS TRAJECTORY

It is still early, but Tylor Megill is certainly making positive steps in the right direction. The righty was stellar in the series opener, striking out 10 while allowing just one hit and four walks over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Megill looks like a different pitcher, and he’s been a massive part of the rotation’s early success. More importantly, his command has been impressive, and he has been significantly more efficient so far in 2025. He’s currently pitching to a 1.09 ERA and his start against the Phillies was his best of the year.

INFIELD DELIGHTS

The first two weeks of the season sure seem like a lifetime ago for Francisco Lindor. Since those early struggles, the shortstop has been unstoppable. He was red-hot against the Phillies, too, reaching base safely at least three times in all three games. As a result, he became the first player in baseball this year to reach base safely at least three times in four consecutive games. Lindor also played a huge role in the Mets winning this series. He led off the opener with a home run – becoming just the third player in franchise history to hit a lead-off homer in consecutive games – before later blasting a three-run bomb that clinched the game. He went 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored in the second game, before going 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in the finale. Lindor is showing once again why he’s the heart and soul of this team.

Also impressing in the infield was Luisangel Acuña. The infielder extended his hitting streak to nine games, and once again demonstrated his value to the team. His speed is an essential weapon, and he can cause absolute mayhem on the basepaths. He has also demonstrated impressive range and athleticism defensively. All in all, Acuña showed flashes of his high ceiling in this series and why he deserves to stick around.

3 DOWN 

CRAMPING UP

The Mets flirted with losing the series finale, and had to rely on Max Kranick to prevent the game from getting out of hand in the 10th. Part of those struggles can be attributed to the fact that Edwin Díaz was forced to leave the game. Díaz left with left hip cramp and many wondered how bad the injury would be. Thankfully, Díaz felt fine after undergoing some strength tests, and he should be good to go on Friday. However, hips can be tricky, so only time will tell if the closer is truly okay.

UNFORTUNATE BYPRODUCT 

Brett Baty hit a no-doubter of a home run in the finale. The missile left his bat at 113.9mph – the hardest-hit batted ball of Baty’s MLB career. It was another step in the right direction for the second baseman, who has shown tangible signs of life as of late. Meanwhile, Hayden Senger came up with a clutch play at the plate on Wednesday, grabbing Juan Soto’s dart of a throw before tagging out Nick Castellanos at home plate with two runners on. Senger’s instincts ensured that the game remained tied.

However, despite Baty showing some promise, and despite Senger performing admirably as the team’s backup catcher, both players could find themselves back in the minors this week. With Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez set to be activated from the IL, Senger and Baty look to be the odd men out. Senger’s demotion is simply a matter of mathematics, as a team doesn’t need to carry three catchers. As for Baty, he’s hitting .296/.367/.556/.922 over his last nine games. But, unquestionably, Acuña brings more to the table at second base when it comes to his all-round game. Neither Senger nor Baty deserve a demotion right now but, sadly, that’s just how life goes sometimes.

OUTFIELD BLACK HOLE

The Mets haven’t gotten a whole lot of production from the outfield in 2025, and that continued in this series. Tyrone Taylor went just 1-for-10 with six strikeouts against the Phillies. Brandon Nimmo finished the series 1-for-8 and hitting just .196 on the year. Juan Soto also went 1-for-12, although he did draw two walks in the series. However, between those three, the outfield didn’t produce an extra-bases hit or a single RBI against the Phillies. Yes, Soto will eventually become the best hitter in the game that we know he is. But the Mets need a lot more production from their outfield, and they need it sooner rather than later.

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