3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Show Heart In Subway Series

Talk about an impressive weekend for the New York Mets.

Sure, they couldn’t finish the sweep against the Yankees after effectively punting Sunday’s finale. But, even so, the Mets were able to take two out of three for their second consecutive series win.

Furthermore, despite dealing with a pitching crisis, the Mets went a combined 4-2 against the Brewers and the Yankees at Citi Field. This team also showed a hell of a lot of fight and moxie against the Yanks in particular.

With the All-Star break a week away, the Mets have begun to turn a real corner following the recent 3-14 stretch. And how the first two games against the Yankees were won was especially impressive.

On that note, let’s jump right into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down …

3 UP

DO-IT ALL JEFF

Jeff McNeil continues to prove that he’s a valuable member of this team. He also continues to show that he can help the Mets win in a variety of ways. We saw that in the series opener on Friday. McNeil delivered the go-ahead runs with a two-run shot in the seventh inning. He then made a stellar and clutch defensive play in the ninth to keep the tying run from reaching base. In other words, McNeil had his fingerprints all over the win on July 4. He also went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the finale. As the Mets have begun to turn the page following a tough stretch, McNeil has been at the heart of the resurgence.

BIG BOYS GO OFF

Key to the Mets taking two out of three over the holiday weekend was the top of the lineup going off. It all began on Friday, when Juan Soto finished a triple shy of the cycle. He went 3-for-4 with a two-run bomb, a double, two runs scored and two RBIs against his former team. Then, on Saturday, this lineup delivered arguably its best offensive performance of the entire year so far. The offense exploded for 12 runs, led by the red-hot Brandon Nimmo‘s grand slam in the first inning.

Pete Alonso went yard twice and drove in five runs, with Nimmo and Alonso combining for three homers and nine RBIs. Francisco Lindor was also good in this series, going 3-for-11 with a double, four runs scored, three RBIs and two walks in the three games. If the Mets are to be successful, they need the top of the lineup to be this explosive on a more consistent basis.

REDEMPTION TIME

All eyes were on Reed Garrett when he entered Friday’s game. After all, the reliever was still dealing with the ghosts of his last outing – a four-run implosion against the Brewers. In what was a close game, Garrett couldn’t afford to melt down for the second straight outing. That never happened, thankfully. Instead, the veteran locked it down and produced a real gutsy six-out save, allowing just one hit with no walks and one strikeout. It was the perfect redemption arc for Garrett, who helped set the tone for the rest of the weekend with his heroics.

3 DOWN

FLAT FINISH

You can’t blame the Mets for the direction they took on Sunday. With the starting rotation in pieces and the bullpen taxed to the max, punting on the finale with a mishmash of relievers was the only way to go. And, still, the outcome could have been different were it not for Cody Bellinger‘s defensive masterclass in the seventh inning. But, yet, there is a feeling that the Mets let an opportunity pass them by by not going for the kill on Sunday. Yes, a series win is a series win. However, completing the sweep against their cross-town rivals would have served as a real high point following the recent dark slump.

GROWING CONCERN

How do you solve a problem like Mark Vientos? That’s the No. 1 burning question for the Mets right now, and one they don’t seem to have an answer for. The struggling third baseman went a combined 0-for-6 against the Yankees. He was pinch-hit for during the sixth inning of Sunday’s game, further proof that his bat just hasn’t been reliable this year. Vientos is hitting just .080/.080/.080/.160 over his last seven games. He’s hitting .212/.275/.344/.619 on the year. If the Mets are to live up to their potential this year, they need production from the middle of the lineup. Vientos is key to that. If he can’t figure this out – and soon – then that could spell real trouble.

ANOTHER PUNCH IN THE MOUTH

You will be forgiven for wondering if the Mets have been struck with an injury curse in 2025. After all, they can’t seem to get through a series healthy right now. That continued this weekend with Starling Marte set to undergo testing on his right knee, which flared up during his final at-bat of the series finale. Given that it is the same knee Marte has had issues with before, there is probably reason to be a little worried right now. Losing Marte would be a blow, considering that the veteran has now settled nicely into a part-time role for the ballclub. He went 3-for-5 on Sunday. Marte is also hitting .327/.368/.385/.753 over his last 14 games.

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