mets all star tour

Here's how the Mets did at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game

By john flynn | jul 20, 2022.

The New York Mets were out in full display at the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game last night at Dodger Stadium. Three Mets participated in the game last night (Starling Marte was inactive still reeling from a groin injury, while Edwin Diaz was not used in the game by National League manager Brian Snitker). All of them have been named to All-Star teams in the past, so this experience was nothing new for any of them, but nonetheless, surreal. It was a game the American League won, 3-2.

So here’s how Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso fared in last night’s Midsummer Classic. 

Mets 2B Jeff McNeil All-Star Game performance 

Jeff McNeil got the start at second base at the All-Star Game in place of the injured Jazz Chisholm, Jr., becoming the first Met to start at second base in the Midsummer Classic since Ron Hunt 58 years ago, and batted ninth in the NL starting lineup. 

McNeil’s first plate appearance came in the bottom of the second against Alek Manoah of the Blue Jays, in which he got hit by a slider on his foot. Talk about something on brand with the 2022 Mets (who lead the majors in hit by pitches). 

McNeil then grounded out to second in his next turn up in the fifth inning against Martin Perez of the Rangers before being replaced after the inning by San Diego’s Jake Cronenworth. 

On the field, he caught a liner hit by Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk in the top of the third, fielded two force outs, and nearly made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch in the fifth inning. 

Mets 1B Pete Alonso All-Star Game performance 

Pete Alonso entered the game in the fourth inning as a defensive replacement for Freddie Freeman.  

Defensively, he assisted on three groundouts, receiving a throw in the fifth from Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner, and two in the sixth from San Diego second baseman Jake Cronenworth. 

He had one turn up at the plate. Facing Yankees starter Nestor Cortes in the sixth, he drew a walk on a seven-pitch plate appearance, and was stranded at second base.

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The first-place Mets have landed four players on the National League All-Star team, their most representatives since they also sent that many players in 2016.

MLB RBI leader Pete Alonso, closer Edwin Diaz, second baseman Jeff McNeil and outfielder Starling Marte were named Sunday as reserves to the NL squad for the July 19 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, with the possibility one or two others could be added later as injury replacements.

“It means a lot. It’s something that I really take pride in,” Alonso said after the Mets’ 2-0 loss to the Marlins . “I’m really happy that I was able to play my way into the game. Hard work pays off and I’m really happy I get to represent my team and the city of New York in LA.”

Alonso, the two-time defending champion in the Home Run Derby, still hasn’t confirmed whether he plans to participate again in the event the night before the Midsummer Classic.

“I never said I was gonna do the derby yet, but I’m excited for the All-Star Game. I’m really stoked,” Alonso said. “We have one of the best records in baseball and our team is super-talented. So we should have that many guys.”

McNeil, who didn’t accompany the Mets to Atlanta to start his paternity leave for the birth of his first child, began the day ranked third in the league in batting average (now .311) with four homers and 35 RBIs. He previously was named an All-Star in 2019 — when he finished with a .318 batting average and a .916 OPS — but McNeil slumped to a slash line of .251/.319/.360 (.679 OPS) in an injury-plagued 2021 campaign.

“Last year was a tough year for me, so just being able to go out and work hard in the offseason and to kind of have a bounce-back season and to be recognized for that is pretty special to me,” said McNeil, who hails from Nipomo, Calif. “It gives me a lot of confidence. It shows that I can be one of the best players in the big leagues and take that going forward and prepare every single day and doing well. It does give me a lot of confidence that I can play with the best.

“This is gonna be a pretty special week and a half. We’re having our first child in the next few days, and the baby’s first game might be the All-Star Game at the stadium I always went to growing up.”

Marte, who sat out Sunday’s game with a groin issue, also has posted a consistent first season with the Mets, batting .292 with nine homers and 40 RBIs for his second career All-Star nod (also in 2016 with the Pirates).

“It was an emotional moment, something me and my family had been speaking of for a couple of days,” Marte said through a translator. “I immediately changed my plans for the break.”

Diaz also was named an All-Star for the second time in his career, but his first in four seasons with the Mets following a 2018 trade from Seattle. He posted a 5.59 ERA with seven blown saves for the Mets in 2019, but he’s recorded 18 saves with a 1.78 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 35 ¹/₃ innings in 36 appearances this season.

“It means a lot because my Mets career didn’t start the way I wanted. But I’ve been able to get back on track and this year I made the All-Star team. I’m really happy,” Diaz said. “I think with this team, when I get into the game and get the big outs I prove to them that’s the guy the Mets traded for.

“I hope to face the three best hitters in the American League. Maybe I can face [Aaron] Judge. Who else made it? [Yordan]Alvarez, [Shohei] Ohtani? That would be awesome.”

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These four NY Mets players were named to the National League All-Star team

NEW YORK — While the Mets were shut out of the National League's starting lineup for next week's All-Star game, they will still be well-represented in Los Angeles.

Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil were announced as members of the National League All-Star team on Sunday after being voted through on the "Player's Ballot."

For all four players, it will be their second time that they garnered All-Star selections. With the second-best record in the National League, the Mets (53-33) will have four All-Stars competing for the first time since 2016.

"It’s really special. We should (have four)," Alonso said. "We have one of the best records in baseball and our team is super talented. We should have that many guys. We have an excellent team."

Here is what each of the Mets have done to receive the nod to compete for the National League in the All-Star Game on July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles:

Pete Alonso

The Mets first baseman would not confirm on Sunday that he would be defending his back-to-back Home Run Derby titles which he won in each of the last two events in 2021 in Colorado and 2019 in Cleveland.

Stay tuned.

But one thing is certain: Alonso will be representing the National League for the first time since his rookie season in 2019.

"It’s such a high honor," Alonso said. "I’m really appreciative of the opportunity. It’s hard work paying off and I’m really happy I get to represent my team and the city of New York in L.A. I’m really stoked. It’s going to be a fun time."

Had it not been for NL Most Valuable Player candidate Paul Goldschmidt, Alonso would've likely gotten the start at first base.

Pete Alonso leads Major League Baseball with 70 RBI, to go along with 23 home runs, 47 runs and a slash line of .273/.348/.533.

A year ago, Diaz was in the doghouse with Mets fans after three straight blown saves in the month of July ballooned his ERA above 4.

Now, with his start in 2022, he has become one of the most beloved players on this season's team. He has earned that respect through the opening three months of the season.

With two more strikeouts on Sunday, Diaz has now struck out 70 of the 139 batters he has faced this season. The Mets closer has racked up saves in 18 of his 21 opportunities while posting a 2-1 record with a 1.78 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

"It means a lot because my Mets career didn't start the way I wanted to, but being able to get back on track and this year, I made the All-Star, I'm really happy.

"With this team when I get into the game and get the big outs, I prove that that's the guy the Mets traded for. Getting this invite to the All-Star Game proved too they traded for an All-Star."

Buck Showalter said he has been most impressed with how Diaz has bounced back after trying times in 2021.

"I’ve learned that he’s got a lot of competitive juices," Showalter said. "We pitched him in a lot of very meaningful situations. Make no mistake about it, we’re not where we are without the job that he’s done. He’s been pretty consistent in a very hard role."

Starling Marte

One of the only things that Marte asked when he signed a four-year, $78 million deal with the Mets was consistency.

Marte was fine to shift to right field if he played there every day. And he would like to get regular at-bats in the same spot in the Mets' batting order.

With Showalter leading the charge, he got his wish.

"I think sometimes, I wouldn’t say we take it for granted, but sometimes what’s flashy for me is his consistency," Showalter said. "There’s not a whole lot of ebb and flow to him. You get the same guy every day. You can see why he’s been so coveted on so many clubs."

Marte has been as advertised for the Mets, slashing .291/.342/.462 with nine home runs, 40 RBI and leading the team in runs (50, tied with Francisco Lindor) and stolen bases (10) while finding a fixed spot as the team's No. 2 hitter.

It will be Marte's first appearance in the All-Star Game since 2016 as a member of the Pirates. He said receiving the good news on Sunday was emotional.

"Once I was able to share the news, it was just one of those like you see all the hard work paid off, all the getting people to go vote paid off," Marte said. "God’s timing is perfect for that."

Jeff McNeil

McNeil's second nod as an All-Star shows a return to the norm.

When he was selected in 2019, he finished the season with 23 home runs. This season, McNeil is doing the little things, putting the ball in play and leading the team with a .315 batting average and .376 on-base percentage.

He has ripped 18 doubles, scored 38 runs and driven in another 35.

"It gives me a lot of confidence," McNeil said. "It shows that I can be one of the best players in the big leagues and take that going forward and prepare every single day doing well."

But one of McNeil's biggest strengths has been his versatility. This season, McNeil has played 46 games at second base and 31 in the outfield.

"Jeff’s been one of our most consistent players and it’s nice for baseball to recognize it," Showalter said. "He’s a guy that wasn’t looking for the four days. He has a lot of respect for the All-Star game and the player picking pool, so to speak, he came out as one of them at second base."

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4 Mets selected to 2022 MLB All-Star Game: Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Edwin Diaz, Starling Marte heading to LA

Four members of the New York Mets — Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Edwin Diaz, and Starling Marte — were named to the National League’s squad for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19.

Alonso, who finished second in the fan voting for starting first-base duties behind St. Louis Cardinals star Paul Goldschmidt, will head to his second career All-Star Game — the first coming in his record-breaking 2019 campaign in which he launched a rookie record 53 home runs.

McNeil also gets his second nod to the All-Star Game in his career with his other appearance also coming in 2019. The versatile defender who has played four different positions this season is also one of the top natural hitters in the game, ranking third in the NL with a .315 average.

“I was thinking ‘Thank God,'” Showalter said when he found out that the fiery McNeil was in. “I saw his face when he walked in… and I said — what’s the line [from Field of Dreams]? — ease his pain.

Marte is an All-Star in his first season with the Mets, batting .291 with an .803 OPS, nine home runs, and 40 RBI. He used an especially strong push over his previous 24 games, batting .326 with a .914 OPS. 

“It’s one of those things, we’re almost too close to it,” Showalter said “The consistency you get every day from him… I wouldn’t say we take it for granted… But we get the same guy every day and he’s been so coveted on so many clubs.”

For New York’s closer, Diaz continues to reach the heights that were originally expected of him when he was acquired from the Seattle Mariners in 2019. The fireballing right-hander has saved 18 games this season with a 1.83 ERA along with 68 strikeouts in just 34.1 innings of work. That’s a staggering 17.9 K/9 ratio.

“There were times [in New York] where he got his moxie tested a little bit,” Showalter said. “The way he responded to that… he’s got a lot of competitive juices.”

For more Mets coverage, visit AMNY.com

About the author.

Joe Pantorno

Pantorno is the executive sports editor of amNewYork — a position he has held since January 2020. He covers the New York Mets and New York Islanders while overseeing day-to-day operations of the department. His previous stops include Bleacher Report and Metro New York while his work has been featured in the New York Post, Newsday, and Yahoo! Sports.

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Which Mets should make the All-Star team? Which Mets will?

The unusually late 2022 All-Star break is less than a month away, and Major League Baseball released the first look at fan balloting for the midsummer classic earlier this week. While no Mets are currently in line to start the game, a contingent of Mets regulars is in the top six in balloting at positions, with five challenging to be finalists.

Mets ranks at their positions in All-Star balloting: 2nd: Pete Alonso * 3rd: Jeff McNeil , Francisco Lindor 4th: Starling Marte* 5th. Eduardo Escobar , JD Davis 6th: James McCann 7th: Mark Canha 11th: Brandon Nimmo *Top 2 at each IF position and top 6 in the OF advance to finals. — Tim Britton (@TimBritton) June 21, 2022

This was not the case last year, when no Mets position player had a legitimate shot to make the team at this point in the season. (And none did.) New York’s All-Star representatives in Denver were an injured Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker. Given that they presently carry the National League’s best record, the Mets should have more company in Los Angeles next month.

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So who has the best shot at being there? This list is in order of likelihood, as guessed at by the author.

Pete Alonso, 1B

In most seasons, leading the league in home runs and RBIs would make you the slam-dunk starter at your position. But Alonso has to contend with St. Louis’ Paul Goldschmidt at first base, and Goldschmidt is having a sublime first half that might be in line to (finally) merit him a first-place MVP finish, and he’s justifiably ahead of Alonso in the balloting.

If Alonso doesn’t get the starting nod, though, he should still book himself a trip to Los Angeles. I mean, he leads the league in home runs and RBIs. His batting average and on-base percentage are significantly better than they were a season ago. Even in a crowded field at first base that includes Freddie Freeman , Matt Olson and C.J. Cron (far and away the likeliest Rockie to merit inclusion in the game), Alonso is as much a lock as you can be in the final week of June.

Jeff McNeil, 2B

If St. Louis’ Tommy Edman can’t start the game at second — because the ballot has him listed as a shortstop — the battle should come down to McNeil and Miami ’s Jazz Chisholm Jr. They’re two different offensive players, with McNeil providing average and on-base percentage and Chisholm blasting 14 home runs for the Marlins.

Even if McNeil loses out to Chisholm in fan voting, as he is currently, he’s still a good bet to make the roster. McNeil certainly deserves it, as he’s had an outstanding bounce-back season, serving as the second most consistent hitter for the Mets right behind Alonso (and more often of late, actually hitting right behind Alonso). Plus, his versatility could be especially helpful for an NL squad light on deserving outfielders.

Beyond Chisholm and Edman, San Diego’s Jake Cronenworth — a Jake of all trades positionally — represents McNeil’s stiffest competition for a roster spot.

Edwin Díaz , RP

Speaking of bounce-backs, Díaz has gradually turned it all the way around from his nightmarish 2019 to now serve as a reliable and often dominant closing option for the Mets. He’s striking out an absurd 48.6 percent of opposing hitters, and he’s converted 14 of 16 save chances.

There are a few other relievers — though some of them are not closers — having outstanding seasons right alongside Díaz. But even if he’s further down the reliever hierarchy than it feels like he should be, he’d still be an obvious choice as an injury replacement, of which there are always plenty on a pitching staff.

Francisco Lindor, SS

Lindor is pretty clearly third in the NL’s shortstop pecking order, behind a pair of walk-year guys in Dansby Swanson and Trea Turner and well ahead of the rest of the field in the senior circuit. That’s where he sits in the balloting at the moment as well. His chances rest on whether Atlanta skipper Brian Snitker wants a third shortstop on the roster, and that seems like a good enough bet.

Lindor’s overall numbers this season are pretty much in line with what he did in his first season as a Met: The on-base percentage is three points lower and the slugging is the same, although the run-scoring environment makes 2022’s numbers a little better than that. He’s been a chief beneficiary of an improved offense around him: Lindor came to the plate with 296 runners on base all last season; he’s more than 70 percent of the way to that total this year in less than half the season. He’s made it count, upping his RBI total from 24 on this date last year to 52 so far this season.

Brandon Nimmo, OF Starling Marte, OF Mark Canha, OF

New York’s regular outfielders have OPSs within five points of one another, and how you feel about their All-Star chances probably relies on how you grade their defense.

This hasn’t quite been a vintage season for Nimmo. His on-base percentage is a pedestrian .361, just about 30 points from his career norm, and he hasn’t hit for extra bases the way he usually does. However, he ranks among the league’s very best outfielders because of his still solid production at the plate and his now excellent defense in center field — an area where he’s shown incredible growth over the last two years.

Marte has converted to a new position in right field relatively well, with the occasional adventurous route still ending with the ball in his glove. His speed and arm make a difference there, and while ultimate zone rating is down on his defense (that’s why his FanGraphs’ WAR is a little light), he ranks well according to defensive runs saved and outs above average.

Canha has been pretty much what the Mets expected when they signed him: a guy who consistently gives professional at-bats and gets on base, with a little less home-run power than your traditional corner outfielder. It would feel ironic, in an East Coast Bias way, if he made the All-Star team for the first time this year after some years with better numbers in Oakland.

The chances of any of these New York outfielders may depend on how Snitker formats his roster. There are not a ton of appealing outfield options, which gives all three of these players a shouting chance. However, Snitker could opt to prioritize some better players at deeper infield positions, especially if it crosses each team off the list of representatives; think Colorado ’s Cron or Arizona ’s Daulton Varsho.

Max Scherzer , SP Carlos Carrasco , SP Taijuan Walker, SP

Scherzer has been terrific when on the mound, but at the moment it’s tough to choose someone with just eight starts to his name. If Scherzer is able to return as soon as this Sunday and make a handful of starts before the rosters are finalized, he should improve his chances significantly. (He’s just off this list, in a tie for 21st in FanGraphs’ WAR.)

Carrasco’s rough start in Houston and subsequent injury may have ruined his chances of making his first All-Star team, as it pushed his ERA on the season above the league average. (Carrasco has a good case as the most accomplished starter in baseball who has yet to make a midsummer classic. It’s probably between him and Anibal Sánchez.)

That said, Carrasco’s ERA isn’t exactly honest, given the bullpen’s struggles with his inherited runners. He has routinely pitched better than his final line; he’s been more valuable than the ERA on its own suggests. (His FIP is nearly a full run lower.)

Walker’s numbers aren’t far off where they were this time last year, when he made the All-Star team for the first time. He’s missed some time, too, but not as much as Scherzer, and he now has as many wins above replacement as Carrasco.

Right now, none of this trio is in line to crack the roster. However, no area of an All-Star team gathers up injury and schedule replacements — remember, guys who start the Sunday before the game can opt not to pitch — like its collection of starters. In fact, seven additional pitchers made the two All-Star teams last season as replacements, including three current Mets in Scherzer, Walker and Chris Bassitt .

(Top photo of Pete Alonso: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

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Tim Britton is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the New York Mets. He has covered Major League Baseball since 2009 and the Mets since 2018. Prior to joining The Athletic, he spent seven seasons on the Red Sox beat for the Providence Journal. He has also contributed to Baseball Prospectus, NBC Sports Boston, MLB.com and Yahoo Sports. Follow Tim on Twitter @ TimBritton

Mets All-Star Reportedly Is 'Open' To Re-Signing With Team In Free Agency

It sounds like one Mets All-Star is interested in sticking around with the club

• Author: Patrick McAvoy

In this story:

The New York Mets have surprised some people already this season but will have some tough decisions to make.

New York has an extremely high payroll, but things should get a little better at the end of the season. The club should have a little more payroll flexibility and could even contend for a World Series title next season if they can have a strong offseason .

One player the Mets will have to think about, though, is starting pitcher José Quintana. He has been great for the Mets over the last two seasons but will be a free agent at the end of the season. It's unclear what will happen, but he reportedly is "open" to signing a new deal with the Mets, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"José Quintana, who’s filled in ably as Mets ace and is beloved by Mets personnel, is said happy in New York and open to a return as a free agent," Heyman said.

He has been an important piece of the Mets' rotation but they could end up losing him if they don't decide to pay up next offseason. Quintana has made six starts so far this season and has a 3.48 ERA and 23-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 33 2/3 innings pitched.

New York certainly will be able to afford Quintana if it sees fit and it would make a lot of sense to hang on to him. Strong pitching is difficult to come by and Quintana already has shown that he can have success in New York.

Don't be too surprised if a deal gets done next offseason.

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Meet the Mets' 2021 Organization All-Stars

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Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each system and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in their organization. Click here to locate your favorite club. The strength of the Mets farm system is clear. Bats, bats and more

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each system and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in their organization. Click here to locate your favorite club .

The strength of the Mets farm system is clear. Bats, bats and more bats.

Francisco Álvarez, Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty constitute the organization's Top 100 contingent with Mark Vientos knocking on the door, based on his thunderous 2021 season at the upper levels. All four are currently 22 or younger with experience at High-A or above, and their considerable ceilings give Mets fans reasons to dream about future success that extends beyond the massive signings of Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha.

On the mound, even after top pitching prospect Matt Allan's season was lost to Tommy John surgery in the spring, there were notable gains in that department. Tylor Megill started the season at Double-A and ended it as a rotation regular in Flushing. Adam Oller and Josh Walker (both featured below) enjoyed late-stage prospect jumps and find themselves one step away from Citi Field. J.T. Ginn remained healthy with 92 innings after his elbow surgery had put him on the shelf for much of 2020.

Until Allan can show his stuff has held up post-procedure or someone makes a Megill-like breakout, the ceiling on this pitching group remains in question -- the non-signing of 2021 pick Kumar Rocker didn't help -- and even considering the bats, overall depth is still an issue. But the upper position-player talent is enviable and gives the organization a solid foundation on which to build.

Mets Organization All-Stars

Catcher -- Francisco Álvarez , St. Lucie (15 games), Brooklyn (84 games): Álvarez’s successes are well-known to those who followed the system even casually in 2021.

The 19-year-old backstop started the season with a .417/.567/.646 line with seven extra-base hits and 15 walks over 15 games with St. Lucie. That prompted an early and challenging promotion to Brooklyn. It also helped his defensive framing skills to move on from the automated strike zone of the Low-A Southeast. Álvarez thrived in Coney Island, hitting .247/.351/.538 with a 132 wRC+ over 84 games with the Cyclones. His 22 homers tied for sixth among all High-A batters, and his 24 total dingers placed second among Mets Minor Leaguers. Only Khalil Lee (.951) had a higher OPS among full-season qualifiers than Álvarez’s .941.

That bat fueled his move to the No. 10 spot in MLB Pipeline’s overall prospect rankings, and he might only need to be an average defensive catcher to meet his considerable ceiling.

"We want to have a little brother syndrome here in the organization, making sure that we're challenging people as opposed to just letting them sit and dominate a level," said Mets director of player development initiatives Jeremy Barnes in a phone interview last month. "It was time for him to move up and focus on catching. Getting exposed to that higher level was really important for him. ... I think he really showed this year that he's going to be an elite hitter. Obviously, there's room to develop there as well, but I'm really excited to see how he comes back as a pure catcher next season."

First baseman -- David Thompson , St. Lucie (three games), Syracuse (67 games): Playing in his age-27 season, Thompson proved to be a powerful force in the Syracuse lineup during his most successful Triple-A campaign to this point. His 13 homers ranked third among Syracuse sluggers, while his .493 slugging percentage -- which included a rehab stint in St. Lucie -- placed fourth among Mets Minor Leaguers with at least 200 plate appearances, regardless of level. More than half of his hits (28 of 54) went for extra bases, thus the gulf between his slugging percentage and .238 average.

Thompson, who also saw time at third base, elected free agency in November and has played in the Dominican Winter League over the last month.

Second baseman -- Drew Jackson , Syracuse (85 games): Claimed off waivers from the Dodgers last December, Jackson was another veteran infielder who put up solid Triple-A numbers but didn't break through to the Majors in 2021.

The 28-year-old right-handed hitter sported a .251/.397/.424 line with nine homers in 85 games with Syracuse. His 24 steals placed second in the organization and tied for 11th among all Triple-A players. He was one of only three players at the Minors’ top level to post an OBP above .390, steal 20 or more bases and collect 250 or more plate appearances. Like Thompson, he elected free agency at the start of the offseason. He signed a Minor League deal with the A's on Dec. 4.

Third baseman -- Mark Vientos , Binghamton (72 games), Syracuse (11 games): The Mets had multiple quality third-base Organization All-Star options, but on the numbers, Vientos claims this spot after a powerful season at the upper levels.

His 25 homers were the most in the system and more than doubled his previous career high of 12. His .581 slugging percentage led Mets full-season qualifiers, and by way of comparison, was a touch above Bobby Witt Jr.’s .575 mark at the same levels. Riley Greene (148) was the only Minor Leaguer to post a wRC+ higher than Vientos’ 146 at Triple-A and Double-A in his age-21 season or younger.

Evaluators have noted Vientos’ power potential from the right since he was a second-round pick in 2017, but the 2021 campaign was the first in which potential turned into true performance. He did strike out in 28.7 percent of his plate appearances, and his defensive home remains in question with the Mets getting him some limited looks in left field. But the growth with the bat has been exciting enough to give the 21-year-old a real chance at being an impact player at the top level.

"I think it was just a matter of him learning how pitchers are going to pitch him at Double-A and really honing in on his approach," Barnes said. "He started off pretty slow there. He was chasing quite a bit and he was getting exposed with his approach. But he really started to hone in and his natural ability started to take over. He started loading better and controlling his head moment a little bit.

"But I think the biggest thing was just him really figuring out what his approach was and sticking with it. There was always power potential. There were always the tools. They just weren't manifesting because he was expanding the zone and swinging at less-than-ideal pitches."

Honorable mention: This group would be incomplete if it didn’t include Brett Baty , MLB Pipeline’s No. 45 overall prospect . The 2019 12th overall pick hit .292/.382/.473 with 12 homers in 91 games between Brooklyn and Binghamton. His 132 wRC+ was third-best among New York full-season qualifiers. Baty also saw some time in left to cope with the third-base logjam, but 18 starts on the grass (compared to 65 on the dirt) weren’t quite enough to move to him another spot on the list.

Shortstop -- Ronny Mauricio , Brooklyn (100 games), Binghamton (eight games): Having spent the vast majority of his season by the boardwalk, Mauricio was named a High-A East postseason All-Star at shortstop and took the circuit’s Top MLB Prospect award for his spin with the Cyclones.

He hit .242/.290/.449 with 19 homers and nine steals in 100 games there. If those numbers look a little deflated, just note that the switch-hitter produced a more palatable .261/.307/.533 line with 13 long balls in 48 games played away from the potential pitchers' haven of Maimonides Park. He also led Mets Minor Leaguers with 105 hits and placed third with 20 total homers, including those from his brief spell in Binghamton.

The No. 53 overall prospect has plenty of more power projection in him following his age-20 season and earns better defensive grades than you might expect from a 6-foot-3 shortstop. Even as he closes in on Francisco Lindor, Mauricio continues to only get game looks at short, including during his current run in the Dominican Winter League.

"He's a shortstop right now," Barnes said. "There are so many skills that he needs to hone at shortstop that, if he ended up moving to a different position later on, he's still going to get that that skill set at shortstop. Shortstop is such an elite, difficult position to play. He has the ability to play it right now. Let's let him continue to develop there. We hope this never happens, but you never know if there's an injury or some other reason why we need him to play shortstop [in the Majors in the future]. So getting him to play there as long as possible now is our mind-set."

Outfielders

Khalil Lee , Syracuse (102 games), New York (11 games): No one reached base at a better clip than Lee in 2021. His .451 OBP was tops among all full-season qualifiers, and he was the only Mets qualifier with a mark above .400 in the category. An organization-best 18.3 percent walk rate was the biggest driver in his success, but his .274 average and .500 slugging percentage were solid as well.

"The biggest thing is not letting his passiveness at the plate turn into being too passive," Barnes said. "He has power. He has the ability to do damage, and if he can do damage, he should do that, as opposed to taking a walk every single time. With that said, a near-20 percent walk rate is fantastic, and I don't want that to drop. But if he gets a fastball in his hot zone, he should take a hack at it."

Lee belted 14 homers and stole eight bases while batting in every spot in the Syracuse order except eighth. He played primarily right field but also saw ample time in the other two outfield spots, picking up seven assists on the strength of his plus arm. He appeared in 11 games for the big club (all of which came in May), and the 23-year-old should remain a piece of the Mets’ outfield depth heading into 2022.

Carlos Cortes , Binghamton (79 games): Known for his ambidextrous throwing -- righty at second base, lefty in the outfield -- Cortes’ positionality was settled this season when the Mets played him exclusively in the outfield corners with Binghamton.

The 2018 third-rounder’s bat was always his best feature anyway, and he performed solidly in his first taste of the Minors with a .257/.332/.487 line and 14 homers in 79 games. That resulted in a career-best 120 wRC+, making him a solidly above-average hitter for Double-A. Cortes, who turns 25 next June, was not added to the Mets’ 40-man roster this offseason and will be eligible for the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Jake Mangum , Brooklyn (nine games), Binghamton (75 games): The Mets grabbed Mangum in the fourth round of the 2019 Draft as a senior out of Mississippi State, where he’d batted .357 but hit only five homers in 262 games. Finally able to make his full-season debut this season, the left-handed hitter displayed a little more pop, while still making a good amount of contact.

Mangum hit .294/.342/.459 with seven homers and 14 steals over 75 games with the Rumble Ponies. His .294 average ranked sixth in the Double-A Northeast, and he was one of only three league qualifiers to bat at least .290 while sporting a strikeout rate below 20 percent (17.6, in this case). The 25-year-old’s speed also made him a solid option in center, and that package of tools and performance helped earn him a spot on the Double-A Northeast postseason All-Star list.

"He has an insane bat-to-ball skill," Barnes said. "It's something that actually can hurt him at times because he feels like he can get to just about anything. Once we were able to talk with him and he was able to limit his chase and really start to zone up pitches to do some damage, his numbers went through the roof. ... A lot of that just came down to a shift in mind-set and approach and him trying to make sure that the pitcher had to earn his swing as opposed to him just giving it freely."

Right-handed starting pitcher -- Adam Oller , Binghamton (15 games, 15 starts), Syracuse (eight games, eight starts): Nothing illustrates Oller’s rise more than the fact that he was a Minor League Rule 5 pick in December 2019 and is now on the Mets’ 40-man roster to protect him from the Major League Rule 5 Draft this time around.

The 27-year-old right-hander led Mets full-season pitchers with a 3.45 ERA and a 3.51 FIP and was tops among all hurlers in the organization with 138 strikeouts in his 120 innings. What’s more, he appeared to get better deeper into the season. Four of his eight Triple-A starts were scoreless, and his 2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with Syracuse were improvements over his numbers at Binghamton (4.03, 1.25 respectively).

Oller’s ability to hit his spots with his fastball-slider-changeup mix helped get him to the doorstep of the Majors, and he should have a chance to be more than just Minor League depth in the spring.

"I think that's just a matter of him getting comfortable in the system and also gaining confidence," Barnes said. "Coming off a year where we didn't play in 2020, I think it was a matter of him getting more confident in who he is and what he's trying to do and letting the information that we were giving him really drive home that confidence. We wanted to let him really learn and know who he is and how he could go out and attack the game every day."

Left-handed starting pitcher -- Josh Walker , Brooklyn (four games, four starts), Binghamton (eight games, seven starts), Syracuse (nine games, nine starts): The 2017 37th-rounder's basis for success is in his plus control and never was that more evident than during his 2021 ascent through three levels, despite having never played full-season ball.

Walker led all qualified Mets pitchers with a 1.02 WHIP over 115 2/3 frames. In fact, that ranked 14th among the 155 pitchers to toss at least 100 frames during the regular season. That came on the strength of a 6.4 percent walk rate, which sat as low as 4.4 percent prior to his jump to Triple-A. The 6-foot-6 southpaw finished with a 3.73 ERA, 98 strikeouts and a .211 average-against in 21 appearances. His Syracuse numbers (5.19 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 33 K's in 50 1/3 innings) were rougher, and the Mets are hopeful Walker can use that as a learning experience to become more than just a control artist in his attempt to break through to the Majors in 2022.

Relief pitcher -- Allan Winans , Brooklyn (12 games), Binghamton (14 games): Winans isn't your typical K-heavy reliever, especially in this age. Instead, he took the ground route to his Organization All-Stars spot.

The 26-year-old right-hander finished with the best ERA (1.72), WHIP (0.81) and average-against (.143) among Mets domestic pitchers with at least 40 innings, and those numbers weren't tilted toward either one of his two levels with sub-2.00 ERAs and sub-1.00 WHIPs at both stops. His 57.8 percent ground-ball rate was second-best in the system behind J.T. Ginn's 61.6 percent, and that weak contact most directly led to the lower numbers elsewhere. He'll need to elicit more swings-and-misses (45 strikeouts in 47 innings) once he reaches the upper levels, but this ground-ball-heavy approach at least put the 2018 17th-rounder on the map a bit this summer. He was left eligible for the Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft and was subsequently selected by the Braves.

Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB .

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Pete Alonso contract: Mets president says free agency is 'most likely outcome' for All-Star first baseman

David stearns suggested that it's likely alonso will hit free agency after the 2024 season.

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is set to hit free agency after this season unless he and the Mets agree to a contract extension. Many have assumed an extension would get done, given the deep pockets of Mets owner Steve Cohen and how Alonso himself has publicly seemed pretty open to signing an extension. 

New Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, however, didn't appear to be optimistic about a possible extension on Monday. 

David Stearns says that Pete Alonso hitting free agency after the season is the "most likely outcome" pic.twitter.com/g9OGaNdWbJ — SNY (@SNYtv) February 12, 2024

"I think that's probably the most likely outcome," said Stearns of Alonso hitting free agency before getting a contract extension done. 

Now, it's entirely possible this is partially a negotiating tactic, but it's also possible there have been conversations on a possible extension that were far enough apart that Stearns is content to just let Alonso play his final contract year with the Mets before reassessing the situation. 

Alonso, 29, is a three-time All-Star with two top-10 MVP finishes. He holds the Mets single-season home run record with 53 (2019) and actually has three of the top five home run seasons in Mets history despite having only played in four full seasons. He's already tied for fourth in franchise history in home runs with 192, trailing only Darryl Strawberry (252), David Wright (242) and Mike Piazza (220). 

A large-volume run producer, too, Alonso has driven home 120, 94, 131 and 118 runs in his four full seasons. The 131 is also a Mets single-season record and he currently sits 10th in Mets history with 498 RBI. 

Along with those 46 homers and 118 RBI last season, Alonso hit .217/.318/.504 (122 OPS+). The batting average dip is concerning, but he hit .271 in 2022 and he still isn't even 30 years old, so it could be a blip. Given his power, he only really needs to hit .240-.250 to be incredibly productive. Hell, he drove home 118 runs last season while only hitting .217. 

The Mets are doing a bit of a rebuild-on-the-fly with Stearns at the helm, but Alonso is a thunderous bat in the middle of a lineup and surely if they want to contend in the upcoming seasons, there will be every effort to keep him around. 

The closest thing the Mets have to a first base prospect is Ryan Clifford , who was acquired from the Astros last summer in the Justin Verlander trade. In 115 games between Class A and High-A, the 20-year-old Clifford hit .262/.374/.480 with 24 homers and 81 RBI. 

Alonso, though, is one of baseball's premier middle-order power bats. It would be surprising if the Mets ended up just letting him walk. We'll see. As noted, Stearns could just be negotiating. 

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Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

Watch CBS News

New York Mets rally to beat Chicago Cubs 7-6 in 11 innings

By The Associated Press

May 2, 2024 / 4:12 PM CDT / AP

Francisco Lindor delivered a pair of two-run doubles off the bench, rallying the New York Mets past the Chicago Cubs 7-6 in 11 innings Thursday for a split of their four-game series.

Right fielder Starling Marte made two rocket throws in extra innings, cutting down Cubs runners at the plate to end the 10th and 11th. Brandon Nimmo had two RBIs for the Mets, who overcame a 4-0 deficit to salvage a 3-4 homestand.

Daniel Palencia (0-1) drilled Harrison Bader with a pitch to begin the bottom of the 11th. Lindor, who didn't start after leaving Wednesday night's game early with flu-like symptoms, lashed a sharp grounder inside third base and down the left-field line to score automatic runner Brett Baty and Bader.

Nick Madrigal gave Chicago a 6-5 lead in the top of the 11th with a run-scoring double on the first pitch from Danny Young (1-0) in his Mets debut.

Mets closer Edwin Díaz pitched two hitless innings, retiring all five batters he faced in his first outing of more than one inning since missing last season following knee surgery.

Christopher Morel hit a three-run homer for the Cubs, who stole six bases. Pete Crow-Armstrong, traded by the Mets in July 2021 a year after they drafted him in the first round, had two RBIs.

New York catchers have thrown out only one runner attempting to steal this season.

A sloppy fielding error by reliever Keegan Thompson helped New York score three times in the sixth. Lindor came through with a pinch-hit double off Thompson that scored two runs, and Nimmo's two-out RBI double against left-hander Richard Lovelady tied it 5-all.

Morel's fifth-inning drive off struggling Mets starter Adrian Houser gave Cubs rookie Ben Brown a 4-0 lead in his fourth major league start.

Pitching close to home, Brown held New York hitless through four innings. But he issued a leadoff walk in the fifth and yielded consecutive RBI singles to Nimmo and Marte.

A walk to DJ Stewart loaded the bases, and Brown was pulled with a multi-run lead one out short of qualifying for his first career win for the second time in 24 days. Thompson struck out slugger Pete Alonso to end the inning.

The 24-year-old Brown was raised on Long Island about 50 miles from Citi Field and attended Ward Melville High School, which also produced big league pitchers Steven Matz and Anthony Kay — both of whom were drafted by the Mets.

Brown was selected by Philadelphia in the 33rd round of the 2017 amateur draft and dealt to the Cubs for reliever David Robertson at the August 2022 trade deadline.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (left hamstring strain) will meet the team in Chicago this weekend and see the medical staff before it's determined whether he's ready to rejoin the rotation without another minor league rehab outing. Steele, on the injured list since getting hurt opening day, threw 63 pitches Wednesday for Triple-A Iowa. He allowed three runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings. ... RHP Kyle Hendricks (lower back strain) was scheduled to throw about 75-80 pitches in a rehab start for Double-A Tennessee.

Mets: LHP Brooks Raley (left elbow inflammation) is expected to undergo another MRI. He won't be ready to come off the injured list Monday when first eligible, as previously hoped. "That's probably going to be longer than what we anticipated," manager Carlos Mendoza said. ... DH J.D. Martinez was rested. He singled as a pinch hitter leading off the seventh and stayed in the game until getting replaced by a pinch runner in the 10th.

Cubs: RHP Hayden Wesneski (2-0, 0.87 ERA) makes his second start and fourth appearance of the year Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field against Milwaukee RHP Joe Ross (1-3, 5.40). It will be Chicago's first game this season within the NL Central.

Mets: LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 3.48 ERA) starts Friday night at Tampa Bay against RHP Aaron Civale (2-2, 5.06). Quintana pitched eight innings of three-hit ball Sunday against St. Louis, his longest outing since September 2022 with St. Louis.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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