The New York Mets entered Friday’s opening game against the St. Louis Cardinals off two agonizing losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Poor clutch hitting, laboring starting pitching, and erratic relief corps played critical roles in the defeats. The Mets embarked on a six-game road trip that will see them rematch with the Diamondbacks. First, could they find success in St. Louis?
New York answered with a resounding “YES!” Pete Alonso has delivered an MVP season right from the opening bell, bouncing back from a down 2024. Anytime the Mets need a response, he delivers it. He was named the National League Player of the Month for April and looked like he would be adding May against the Cardinals.
New York started the 5th inning down 3-2, Clay Holmes fought through four hard innings. Francisco Lindor flied out, and then Juan Soto doubled. Last year, Alonso chased pitches in run-scoring opportunities. This season, he has become a patient hitter and has consistently contributed in these spots.
Friday night proved no different. Alonso smashed a 417-foot home run over center, scoring Soto and giving the Mets the lead, and they would not relinquish it. Producing in RISP occasions gives teams a spark; failure dims a squad’s momentum. Alonso has picked New York up repeatedly, becoming a key factor in their 22-11 start.
Alonso went two for five on Friday, scoring a run, hitting a HR, and driving in two. He improved his batting average to a sparkling .345 while taking over the NL on-base percentage lead at .473. His on-base plus slugging percentage is an eye-popping 1.137, and he has eight HR’s and 30 runs batted in.
Alonso was far from the only hitter to produce against St. Louis. Brandon Nimmo started the week with a monster effort against the Washington Nationals. He hit two HR’s and knocked in nine runs, tying a Mets’ record for most RBI in a single game.
Nimmo got ill in the middle of the week, leading him to miss a game and sapping his energy. Friday, he looked fully recovered as he went three for three, scoring three runs, hitting a HR, and knocking in a run. He hit a power blast over left-center in the 7th inning, helping to turn a close game into a comfortable New York lead.
The Mets’ big three of Lindor, Soto, and Alonso stack up well with anyone. For New York to have an exceptional lineup and potentially MLB’s best, they need the likes of Nimmo to step up. This week, he has done that emphatically. If he can continue to build off this, the hitting will carry the team, taking pressure off the injury-ravaged bullpen.
Francisco Alvarez has the potential to be an elite hitting catcher. Injuries have continued to plague him, including this season. He suffered a fractured hamate bone in his left hand during spring training and missed nearly a month. Since coming back, he has shown how he can elevate this lineup.
Alvarez excelled in the Nationals’ series, hitting the game-winning HR to help the Mets take the second contest. He followed that up by going two for five with an RBI in New York’s 19-5 beatdown Monday afternoon.
Alvarez saved his season-best performance for the Cardinals, excelling in clutch spots. He singled in the 5th inning, driving in Mark Vientos. He followed up in the 7th inning, bringing home Tyrone Taylor. His RBIs helped the Mets grab firm control of the game. He went three for five, with three RBIs, and indicated he is comfortable at the plate.
Many questioned how effective Holmes would be in his move to the starting rotation. He struggled with command in his first few starts and then turned a corner. In his last three starts before Friday, he went 2-0, pitching 16 innings, giving up 10 hits, 2 runs, and striking out 16.
St. Louis made Holmes work hard early. They scored a first-inning run with multiple hits and followed up in the 3rd by scoring two runs on four hits. He was clearly on the ropes and responded with fortitude.
Holmes shut the Cardinals down in order in both the 4th and 5th. They got a hit in the 6th, but he quickly shut that down with a fielder’s choice and a lineout. His tenacity gave the bats time to take command.
Holmes is now 4-1, winning his last four decisions. He is averaging more than a strikeout per inning, has an ERA of 2.95, and has lowered his walks and hits allowed per inning to 1.28. New York is gaining confidence that it will win each time he takes the mound.
The Mets began the road trip in style, responding well to the Arizona defeats. Once again, they displayed the mettle that has helped them rise continuously. Mendoza’s managerial style helps them focus on what is ahead of them and believe they will overcome.
Nimmo and Alvarez showed what New York can be when the lineup is clicking. There are no easy outs, and power resides throughout. Consistency must be found in RISP spots, they were on point in the clutch against St. Louis.
The rotation entered the season full of question marks, instead, it has been one of MLB’s best. Length must be found, but there is ample reason to believe in the arms. Holmes has been a revelation while Tylor Megill has emerged.
General Manager David Stearns must be creative in reworking the bullpen, especially in finding the lefty specialist. He has proven his ingenuity throughout his career, and fans can trust he will do so again.
This road trip will test the Mets, who have encountered many recent body blows. Adversity inspires this team, though, and they figure to respond with some of their best baseball.
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