Mets continue to need more from their offensive stars

New York Times

3 days ago

NEW YORK — The complementary pieces the Mets added at the trade deadline, to justifiably solid reviews around the industry, won't much matter if the team doesn't ultimately receive better and more consistent production from the star-studded top half of its order.
In that regard, Friday's 4-3 10-inning loss to the Giants — the Mets' fourth in a row — contained contrasting arrows. The top four of Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso went just 3-for-15, and it couldn't bring home the free runner it inherited to tie the game in the 10th inning against San Francisco's new closer, Randy Rodriguez. In the club's last four games, that quartet has combined for a total of seven hits.
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However, it was that part of the order that brought the Mets back from a 3-0 deficit, and Alonso in particular put together three consecutive excellent plate appearances from the seventh inning on. He homered for the only run New York plated against a terrific Robbie Ray, he hit a deep sacrifice fly off erstwhile teammate José Buttó to tie the score in the eighth, and he drew a walk from Rodriguez to load the bases with two outs in the 10th. Rodriguez exacted revenge on Ronny Mauricio, who took him to the bay Sunday, with a game-ending strikeout.
'There were some good signs for Pete today,' manager Carlos Mendoza said.
'I felt great the last three at-bats,' Alonso said. 'For me, when I get out of my game plan, I'm chasing offspeed. I chased a couple heaters up, but I'd rather that be my miss right now. I'm really happy I was able to lay off a couple of those tough breaking balls down.'
Pete raises the apple! 🍎 pic.twitter.com/OVgiU5oBGR
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 2, 2025
Four months into the season, the Mets are still waiting for their offense to round into form. New York's individual stars have had strong months: Alonso was the National League's Player of the Month in April, Soto in June. Lindor was a deserving All-Star, and Nimmo had a hot streak that bridged June and July.
However, it's been rare that all four of New York's stars have been hitting at the same time. And for the last little bit, it's felt like none of them have been connecting.
Indeed, in July, the Mets' first through fourth hitters — usually but not always Nimmo, Lindor, Soto and Alonso — combined for a .680 OPS. That's lower than the .690 crafted by the fifth through ninth hitters for the month.
Lindor (.629) and Alonso (.548) were the chief culprits in July, and that month exacerbated slumps that had commenced earlier. From the end of April to the end of July, Lindor's on-base percentage was under .300, his OPS under .700. In the same span, Alonso's OBP was .300 even and his OPS .731.
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That will have to change for the Mets to position themselves properly for a run in October, let alone to make one once there. Because a bullpen that locks down leads naturally operates best when handed one. And the Mets offense hasn't done that all week. In their four losses this week, the Mets have led at the conclusion of one single inning (out of 37). That was the second inning Monday; it's been 35 frames since one ended with New York in front.
It is August 1, and even on a night when the Phillies' comeback reclaimed first place in the National League East, the Mets still have the luxury of taking the longer view, of saying, as Alonso did late Friday, that 'hopefully we can carry that momentum into (Saturday).' Lindor broke his 0-for-13 with an eighth-inning single, part of the two-run rally to tie the score.
But this week's trade deadline only highlighted the competitiveness of the NL East and the senior circuit as a whole. While the NL's playoff field may feel largely set, its arrangement is anything but. Entering Friday, just 4 1/2 games separated the team with the best record, Milwaukee, from the team in sixth, San Diego.
'This is what you play for,' Alonso said about these next two months. 'This is what it's all about here.'
(Photo of Pete Alonso: Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)