David Putridson

Happy Monday, I suppose. Consider a paid subscription to The Mets Newsletter. That way you get full recaps, news, analysis, and occasional whimsy every single day.

Look: the Mets weren’t confident in David Peterson starting last night’s game. This was obvious when their reasoning for starting him was that the Mets bullpen was too taxed to sacrifice an opener among its coterie. So even though Petey has been much, much better this year coming out of the bullpen, having someone else pitch in front of the tall drink of water was apparently not an option. (Whether that was truly the case or not is a different conversation.)

The Mets were right to be hesitant. The Phillies pounced on Peterson and beat up on the Mets for the second night in a row, this time by the score of 6-2.

Philadelphia got on Petey right away. Peterson began his night by walking Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, which is never a good idea. Bryce Harper worked a full count and inexplicably swung and missed at a curveball in the dirt. But then, Alec Bohm hit a grounder that was barely fair down the third base line. Brett Baty tried to make a play on it and threw the ball wildly in the general vicinity of first base. The infield hit and throwing error plated Turner. Edmundo Sosa then hit a tapper to the shortstop Bo Bichette, who couldn’t throw him out. That scored Schwarber. Peterson got the next two outs, and the Phillies technically didn’t hit the ball out of the infield, but it was already predictably 2-0. 

The Mets began to answer back against old chum Zack Wheeler. Jared Young and A.J. Ewing both worked the counts full and both hit singles. Marcus Semien lined out to Alec Bohm at third. Baty on the first pitch popped it up to Bohm in foul territory. Also on the first pitch, Francisco Alvarez grounded out to, yes, Bohm. Oh well. 

With one out in the bottom of the second, Bryson Stott muscled a single up the middle. Trea Turner on a 3-2 pitch recorded a base knock to center. On a 1-0 offering, Kyle Schwarber did that thing where he hit a baseball real far. I swear, if he always faced the Mets he’d have 1000 career dingers by now. 5-0 Phillies. Harper doubled on the next pitch, but Petey got the next two outs, which was good because nobody was warming up in the bullpen. Talk about desperate.

With one out in the top of the third, Carson Benge, who struck out the first time he faced Wheeler, proved to be a quick study in his second at-bat against the former Met - he slugged an opposite field four-bagger to put the Mets on the board. The good feelings went away when Bichette grounded out and Soto foolishly tried to stretch an obvious single into an unlikely double.

Peterson retired the last eight batters he faced. Austin Warren came in to pitch in the bottom of the fifth. Harper greeted him with a line drive home run. 

The Mets had Wheeler on the ropes in the top of the sixth. He walked Benge, struck Bichette out looking, walked Soto, and walked Jared Young for good measure. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly went to the mound, talked to Wheeler…and left him in, even though he had thrown 101 pitches. A.J. Ewing was ahead in the count 2-0. He hit into a 3-6 fielder’s choice. That scored Benge, but we were kind of hoping for more there. Jonathan Bowlan came in and took care of Semien, striking him out on a 98 mph fastball at the eyes. I’m old enough to remember when Semien was good with runners in scoring position.

Warren, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter ate up the remaining innings for New York (NL). The Mets didn’t have a runner in scoring position until one out in the ninth, when Ewing, who singled off of Jhoan Duran, reached second due to defensive indifference. He would not score. 

The Mets lose the series to the Phillies after winning the first game. It’s all very frustrating and sad. I am referring to both the Mets as a whole and specifically David Peterson, who was an All-Star and rightfully so as recently as last summer. His struggles down the stretch of 2025 could be explained away by pointing out he was throwing a career-high number of innings. But what’s the excuse now?

Carlos Mendoza indicated that Francisco Lindor (calf) will need at least one sim game before he is activated. We’ll see about that. Lindor looked ready playing the entirety of the Triple-A Syracuse Mets game yesterday, and he can be rather convincing. And the Mets really, really need him. All the same, both Anthony DiComo and Keith Raad estimated his return to be Wednesday. 

Bo Bichette, who was scorching hot going into Philly, went 1 for 13 in the series against the Phillies. I think the crowd and their rude reception got to him a little bit.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets handled the Norfolk Tides (Orioles affiliate) 5-3. SS Francisco Lindor played all nine innings, going 0 for 4 with a run scored, a stolen base, and a walk. 3B Ronny Mauricio (fractured left thumb) also played the entire game. He went 1 for 3 with a walk. CF Tyrone Taylor (right hip flexor strain) played six innings, going 1 for 3 with two RBI. LF Nick Morabito hit his eighth homer of the year. RHP Xzavion Curry got the dub after he allowed two earned runs on four hits in five innings. He walked three and fanned one. 

The Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies lost a wild one to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) 5-4 in 11 innings. SS Wyatt Young was forced to pitch the 11th. He only allowed one unearned run, but became the losing pitcher when Young himself flew out to left as the final out of the game. RHP R.J. Gordon got the start. He hurled four and two thirds scoreless frames, permitting just two hits while walking two and striking out four. 

The High-A Brooklyn Cyclones fell to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) 5-1. The Cyclones were held to just four singles. SS Mitch Voit went 1 for 3 with a run scored and swiped his 24th bag of the season. RHP Dakota Hawkins got a no-decision. He threw three and two third shutout innings on two hits. He walked one and struck out two.

The Low-A St. Lucie Mets had their clock cleaned by the Daytona Tortugas (Reds) 14-5. DH Simon Juan went 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored. SS Elian Peña went 1 for 2 with two runs scored and two walks. LHP Conner Ware got a no-decision. He tossed three shutout innings, permitting just one hit, while walking and punching out four. 

39 years ago today, Tom Seaver announced his retirement.

On this day in 1994, John Franco recorded his 253rd career save to pass Dave Righetti for the most saves by a left-handed pitcher.

Tonight the Mets start a series against the Chicago Cubs. LHP Shota Imanaga (4-6 4.26 ERA 3.88 xFIP) will chuck the apple for the Cubbies, while RHP Kodai Senga (0-5 9.00 ERA 5.14 xFIP) is slated to toss the pearl for New York (NL). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm eastern. The game will air on SNY and Audacy Radio 880 AM.