3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Snap Series Skid In Arizona

For the first time in two weeks, the New York Mets won a series.

The Mets showed once again their ability to flush previous disappointment and bounce right back. After dropping the middle game of the series against the Diamondbacks, New York produced a big-time performance in the finale to take the series and end the road trip on a high.

It was the first series win for the Mets since they swept the Phillies in late April. After what has been a tough stretch, taking two out of three in Arizona against a good D-Backs team was just what the doctor ordered.

And, on that note, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

HERO BALL

The Mets are paying Juan Soto the big bucks because of his otherworldly hitting ability, not to mention his ability to take over games. And they are also paying him the richest contract in sports to deliver games like we witnessed on Wednesday. Needing a win to take the series, Soto put his team on his back and authored a monster day at the plate. The outfielder went 2-for-4, hitting two home runs and finishing with three RBIs and two runs scored. Soto’s first home run of the day got the Mets on the board in the top of the sixth. His second, which came in the eighth, effectively iced the game. Soto is now hitting .346/.455/.885 over his last seven games, with four home runs. He’s starting to really heat up and that’s only good news for the Mets.

Soto also etched his name in the history books in a pretty significant way in Arizona. By drawing two walks on Tuesday night, Soto passed Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle for the most walks (798) by a hitter before turning 27. That is quite some achievement. It also highlights just how big of an on-base machine Soto is.

GOING LONG

While the starting pitching was far from stellar in this series, the Mets did get some much-needed length from the rotation. Kodai Senga didn’t have his best stuff in the finale, but managed to survive a full six innings without giving up a run. As a result, Senga lowered his ERA to 1.16 on the year. David Peterson also gave his team six innings, although he ran out of gas and departed after giving up four earned runs on five hits. Then, in the opener, Griffin Canning allowed just one over five innings after navigating a tough start. All three starters in this series were far from their best, but they were able to make a somewhat lighter workload for the bullpen.

DOING IT ALL

Francisco Lindor‘s fingerprints can be found all over this series victory. The shortstop made a slew of contributions, both at the plate and out in the field. In the opener, Lindor blasted a massive three-run home run that added on some crucial insurance runs. He also executed an incredibly perfect tag to record an important out in the ninth inning. The four-time All-Star was part of a clutch defensive play that kept Arizona off the board in the finale, before going 2-for-5 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs at the plate. Lindor can change games with his bat and with his glove, and that was on full display throughout the series in Arizona.

3 DOWN

MINOR CONCERNS

The Mets had to endure a couple of injury scares against the Diamondbacks. Having already lost Jesse Winker to the IL days before, both Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil flirted with danger over the three-game series. Nimmo hyperextended his knee during the middle game and was forced to DH on Wednesday after looking compromised in the field. Then, in the finale, McNeil looked to have hurt his hamstring and was pulled from the game in the seventh inning. Thankfully, it seems that both Nimmo and McNeil avoided major injury. The off-day on Thursday should help when it comes to recovery and extra rest. However, the Mets will now hope to avoid any more close calls. They certainly don’t need to lose anyone else to the IL.

TIME TO MOVE ON?

Starling Marte has been a net negative so far in 2025. The veteran endured another quiet series, finishing 1-for-7 with no extra-base hits and two strikeouts. Furthermore, he is now just 3-for-20 hitting cleanup this year. Marte had a chance to play hero during Tuesday’s loss, coming up to the plate with the bases loaded in the third inning. However, the part-time DH struck out in an at-bat that accentuated his overall struggles this year. Now, granted, more playing time with Winker on the IL may lead to a turnaround for Marte, but if he continues to struggle, then a breakup between player and team could be on the cards sooner rather than later.

MIXED BAG

David Peterson gave the Mets length in his start on Tuesday, but he couldn’t give them the quality required. He started out red-hot, not allowing a hit through the first three innings of the game. However, the wheels quickly fell off, and Peterson ended up allowing four earned runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts. He also gave up a two-run shot to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the sixth, a blast that effectively sealed the loss for New York. Peterson threw a season-high 104 pitches, but he just couldn’t execute in the biggest spots, and it cost his team.

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