3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Ride Clutch Wave To Win Cubs Series

The New York Mets sent a real statement by taking two out of three from a very good Chicago Cubs team.

Coming up with the big hit in key spots was the driving force behind an impressive series win at Citi Field. Some stellar pitching from both the rotation and bullpen also helped.

There were also some negatives too. For instance, the runners in scoring position issue reared its ugly head once again in the second game of the series. And there was a concerning pitching performance on Saturday, too.

To that end, let’s unpack everything from a big weekend for the Mets in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

CAPTAIN CLUTCH

Francisco Lindor is the leader and the very heartbeat of this team. That’s undisputed. He can put the entire franchise on his back and carry them to new heights. He can also be counted on to deliver when it matters most. That was the case on Sunday. With the finale tied in the eighth inning, Lindor stepped to the plate and delivered a bomb of a two-run shot to give the Mets the lead. It proved to be the game-winning strike. Lindor’s heroics in a huge spot ensured that his team took the rubber game and the series from Chicago. It was also a big weekend overall for the shortstop, who hit a leadoff home run and came up with a stellar defensive play in the series opener. The Mets are one of the best teams in baseball right now, and Lindor is a massive part of that.

HEATING UP

Mark Vientos and Brett Baty showed promising signs of breaking out over the weekend. Vientos, who has struggled offensively through the first month, posted two multi-hit games against the Cubs. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored on Saturday, before really exploding offensively in the finale. He again finished 2-for-4 but, this time, had a home run and an RBI single to show for his efforts. Vientos, who has now hit four home runs on Mother’s Day in his career, homered in the sixth to give the Mets the lead again. It was a big-time strike at an important juncture of the game. Overall, he’s now hitting .313/.370/.500/.870 with three homers and seven RBIs over his last 13 games.

As for Baty, the infielder isn’t wasting any time trying to make the most of his latest opportunity in the big leagues. He hit three home runs against the Cubs, finishing the three-game series 4-for-8 with three runs scored and six RBIs. The highlight? Baty hit two home runs and finished with five RBIs on Saturday. As a result, there is now some hope once again that maybe, just maybe, Baty can stick in the majors and be a productive part of this roster.

PITCHING IN

For the most part, the Mets got a lot of good pitching in this series. Clay Holmes allowed his first home run of the year in the opener but was otherwise solid across six innings. His ability to go a full six innings also spared the bullpen somewhat. The relief pitching also did its job for the most part on Friday. Griffin Canning was terrific again in his start on Sunday, allowing just one run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts. He was supported by a stellar bullpen, with Reed Garrett, Ryne Stanek and Edwin Díaz all firing scoreless innings of relief. In the two wins, the pitching did a nice job of shutting down a dangerous and potent Chicago lineup.

3 DOWN 

TWO STEPS FOWARD, FIVE STEPS BACKWARDS

Juan Soto continued what looked to be a true breakout with a big night at the plate on Friday. He finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, two RBIs and a walk. He also blasted a mammoth 434ft home run to continue his hot streak in style. However, the rest of the series wasn’t nearly as good. Soto went a combined 0-for-9 with four strikeouts in the final two games, killing any momentum. Of course, it isn’t the end of the world, given that it is just two games. However, with that said, anytime Soto appears to be getting hot, he then gets mired in a mini skid. Hopefully, that’s not the case this time around, and it was just two bad days at the plate. Soto has hardly been known as a streaky hitter throughout his career, but that’s what he’s been with the Mets so far.

SAME OLD STORY

Tylor Megill enjoyed an encouraging start to 2025, posting a 1.74 ERA over his first six starts. However, his last two starts have been an ugly reminder of the inconsistency that has plagued Megill’s career to this point. The righty was shelled on Saturday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two walks and a home run. He lasted just 4.2 innings, and he gave his team too big of a mountain to climb. Overall, Megill has now allowed eight earned runs in his last two outings and 11 in his last three. He has historically always struggled in May (he owns a career 5.97 ERA in May). Therefore, it is only right to be concerned that the same old Tylor Megill is here to stay.

BACK TO EARTH

Max Kranick was one of the success stories of spring training. He then translated that into a terrific start to the 2025 season. It appeared the Mets had unearthed a multi-innings weapon out of nowhere. That could still be the case, obviously. But, as of now, Kranick finds himself mired in somewhat of a slump. He gave up a pair of runs in a huge spot on Saturday, ultimately sealing the Mets’ fate in a close game. As a result, Kranick has now allowed five earned runs over his last four outings with two home runs. His ERA over that span stands at a bloated 7.50. Again, this is baseball andstruggles are just part of the game for every player. Hopefully, this is just a minor blip for Kranick, one he can bounce back from in the upcoming series against the Pirates.

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