Mets Morning News for May 25, 2025
Meet the Mets
After Friday night's marathon debacle, David Peterson gave the Mets just what the doctor ordered in a 5-2 victory over the Dodgers, pitching 7 2⁄ 3 brilliant innings that included three strikeouts of Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers got out to an early lead, but the Mets put up a three-run fourth against Tony Gonsolin punctuated by a Juan Soto RBI double off the left-center field wall. Thanks to Peterson's strong outing, the Mets were able to give the rest of the bullpen some much needed rest and go right to Edwin Díaz in the eighth for a four-out save and he delivered a vintage Díaz performance, setting down all four batters he faced in order—three of them via the strikeout. Kodai Senga takes the mound for the Mets in tonight's rubber game on Sunday Night Baseball.
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Choose your recap: Amazin' Avenue, MLB.com, NY Post, Newsday, Daily News, The Athletic, ESPN
Having completely emptied their bullpen on Friday night, the Mets made a couple of roster moves before the game yesterday. Génesis Cabrera was designated for assignment and Brandon Waddell was brought up. The Mets also designated José Azócar for assignment and replaced him with a more offensively potent bench player in Jared Young, who had eye-popping numbers in Triple A.
Brandon Nimmo first experienced the current bout of neck stiffness he is dealing with while making breakfast on Friday, which made it difficult for him to turn his head to face Kershaw in Friday night's game. This has been a chronic issue for Nimmo ever since 2019 and he thinks he will bounce back soon.
Frankie Montas began a rehab assignment with the Brooklyn Cyclones yesterday, as he tries to make his way back from a lat strain he suffered in spring training.
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Francisco Lindor was celebrated prior to last night's game for reaching ten years of service time.
Around the National League East
The Phillies won their ninth straight game, putting up three runs in the top of the eleventh to beat the A's 9-6 in extras.
Aaron Nola did not throw a planned bullpen session yesterday because he is still experiencing soreness in his sprained right ankle.
The Nationals blanked the Giants 3-0 thanks to eight dominant scoreless innings from Jake Irvin.
Ronald Acuña Jr. homered yet again in the Braves' commanding 7-1 victory over the Padres at Truist Park.
The Braves acquired infielder Jonathan Ornelas from the Rangers for cash considerations.
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Cal Quantrill pitched just 3 1⁄ 3 innings in the Marlins' 6-2 win over the angels, but Janson Junk pitched the final five innings of the game in relief for Miami to earn the save. Junk had just been called up from Triple A.
Around Major League Baseball
Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman was placed on the 10-day injured list with a quad strain that Alex Cora called 'a significant injury' that will likely cost Bregman a lot of time. In his absence, the Red Sox called up top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer. The problem? Mayer's car keys have been missing for weeks and so he had to hitch a ride from a WooSox clubhouse attendant for his major league debut at Fenway Park.
The Guardians placed Hunter Gaddis on the bereavement list following a death in his family. To take his spot in the bullpen, the Guardians promoted righty Nic Enright, whose big league dreams were stalled by a cancer diagnosis in 2022. But now, less than three years later, he has made it to The Show.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1979, the Mets played a game against the Pirates that ended in a tie due to a thick fog descending over the ballpark that limited visibility such that continuing play was not possible and would not dissipate.
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Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Going bananas: Why Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than a Dodgers-Yankees rematch
In a region where baseball is king, the long-awaited rematch of last year's World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is unfolding. Ohtani. Judge. Two of the game's best, facing off once more. But just down the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, the home of Disney, the hottest ticket in baseball this weekend belongs to a stilted pitcher, juggling infielders and a yellow-suited, top hat-wearing carnival barker. Advertisement For back-to-back nights, more than 45,000 fans packed the Big A to see the Savannah Bananas — a team born from a small-time collegiate summer team that became a tour de force that has forever changed baseball. It was one stop during the Bananas' most audacious barnstorming effort since their baseball traveling show hit the road just a few years ago. The Savannah Bananas celebrate amid confetti after beating the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) These tickets were only available through a lottery — reserved months in advance. And when they went on sale, all were gone in an instant. The only way in was through the resale market, where just hours before first pitch on Friday, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of tickets on StubHub was $209.52. Meanwhile, two lowest price StuHub tickets for the Dodgers versus Yankees game were available for $171.72. Advertisement All for the sake of 'Banana Ball.' This baseball game is a ballyhoo. One rooted in the thrills, energy and pageantry of early 20th-century carnivals, but with a 21st-century twist — the atmosphere of a TikTok reel brought to life. It's the showmanship of Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the athletic flair of the Harlem Globetrotters. Read more: Meet the Savannah Bananas, who've captivated fans and MLB. 'We exist to make baseball fun' But above all, it's a brand built on Walt Disney's blueprint— not just to entertain, but to make the audience feel. 'When you look at all the touch points — the joy, the fun, the dancing, the celebrating — and think about all the different stages, just like Walt, we think about all the stages: from the parking lot to the plaza, to the upper deck, to the dugouts,' said Bananas owner Jesse Cole, the man in the top hat. 'How do we make someone feel something?' Advertisement Instead of lounging in a cushy, air-conditioned owner's suite, Cole is in the dugout hours before showtime — a Disney-like archetype, his energy as vibrant as his layered, all-yellow suit, braving the afternoon heat. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole leads the crowd in a cheer as his team takes on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) 'Nonstop,' Cole said, describing Banana Ball in a nutshell. Refusing to sit, not wanting to lose an ounce of edge, he added, 'It's all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o'clock until the last fan leaves at 11.' While gates opened at 2 p.m., fans began arriving as early as 11 a.m. — clamoring for a shot at Banana-themed merchandise, many leaving the team tents with bags in both hands. In the parking lot, two young boys passed the time playing catch, gloves in hand. Advertisement As the afternoon wore on and the temperature climbed to 91 degrees, crowds trudged through the heat, some seeking refuge beneath the oversized Angels helmets at the stadium entrance, all for a chance to meet their favorite Banana Ballers. At the pregame plaza party, fans collected autographs, posed for photos and presented handmade gifts to players. Savannah Bananas mascot Split marches through the crowd before the team's game against the Firefighters at Angel Stadium Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) When the gates opened, the LaCaze family pointed out their 9-year-old daughter's favorite player, David 'DR' Meadows. Decked out in her signed Meadows jersey, Carrigan LaCaze ran into his arms, with glove and oversized baseball clutched tightly and began speaking with him as if they were old friends. 'I ran to DR, and we started hugging and just started talking for a while because I missed him,' Carrigan LaCaze said. 'Tomorrow is actually one year on the dot since I met him.' Advertisement A Christmas road trip planned around the holidays, the family of four traveled across three states from their home in Alexandria, La., to Anaheim for two reasons: to visit Disneyland and see the Bananas. It was their second game — the family first saw the Bananas in the club's hometown of Savannah, Ga., when Carrigan, who is battling cystic fibrosis, was granted a Make-A-Wish experience so meaningful it was a no-brainer to relive it. 'It's great,' her father, Pierre LaCaze, said of the player interactions. 'We've gotten to keep track with some of them during the course of the year. We come back, we see them again. You know they're truly about the fans.' Rainer Easton, 11, tries to catch a yellow "Banana Ball" from the stands before the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) The Bananas don't sell tickets. They sell connections, moments and memories. Advertisement For Cole, meetings are a constant brainstorming session on how to keep fans engaged and interacting. That's how he measures success. He says when the focus shifts to transactions, the game begins to lose its meaning. 'Our success is not judged by revenue,' Cole said. 'It's not judged by sales. It's judged by the moments we create.' But the numbers don't lie. The last time the Bananas came to Southern California, they played in front of 5,000 fans at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga in 2023 — a far cry from now selling out 18 major league ballparks and three football stadiums with capacities over 70,000. Fans fill the stands as the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd Friday at Angel Stadium. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Attendance has soared year after year. Last season, the Bananas drew one million fans. This year, that number is expected to double, with more than three million people on the waitlist for their ticket lottery. Every game since February has sold out and every date in June and July is as well. Advertisement Michael and Melinda Schulteis, a husband and wife from Mission Viejo, were there the last time the Bananas came to town. When they heard the team was returning, they knew they couldn't miss it. 'The intimate atmosphere at the last event was great,' Melinda Schulteis said. 'But I'm curious, because they do such a good job putting on events, what touches are they going to add to still keep it close and intimate and give us another great experience?' Read more: What is Banana Ball? Here are the Savannah Banana rules of the game As the Bananas' success and reach have grown, spilling out from cozy minor league parks into stadiums not built for intimacy, the games still feel like family gatherings. Whether serenading players with stadium anthems like Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer' or the waving of phone lights to Coldplay's 'Yellow,' the crowd moves in sync, no matter the tune. Advertisement While they're a privately owned team and don't disclose revenue figures, they've confirmed generating millions. Much like their box office appeal, their social media reach extends into the millions as well. The Savannah Bananas perform a kick line before taking on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Their antics — choreographed dances, lip-synced walk-ups, backflip outfield catches — have attracted nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, almost double the combined total of the Dodgers and Angels. That viral mastery, and the parasocial bonds it fosters, is part of what makes every game feel tight-knit. With his glove by his side, hoping to catch a foul ball for an out — one of the many offbeat rules of Banana Ball — Michael Schulties was disappointed he missed his favorite player, RobertAnthony Cruz, whom he first discovered on social media through his baseball coaching channel, better known as 'Coach RAC.' Advertisement Cruz, who drew the longest meet-and-greet line, is a former minor leaguer in the Nationals' farm system and a local — born just an hour away in Fontana. The game was a homecoming for Cruz, who joined the Bananas in 2023. With more than 70 family members and friends in attendance — and even more social media direct messages asking for tickets — playing in big league stadiums has become a dream come true, especially for a former minor leaguer whose baseball ambitions nearly died when he never got the call to the show. Savannah Bananas pitcher Correlle Prime delivers at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Behind all the gimmicks, wackiness and absurdity, the roster is still filled with ballplayers — many of them with unrealized MLB dreams — now finding a second life through Banana Ball. And for Cruz, it's the happiest he's ever been in the sport. Advertisement 'I never would have imagined playing in this capacity,' Cruz said. 'Banana Ball didn't even exist when I was pursuing my dream of professional baseball. To be here, to see a sold-out crowd at a stadium that I went to growing up all the time, it's very special.' As the team travels the nation, sold-out crowds and newfound stardom have become the norm for Cruz. 'I'm not surprised by anything anymore,' Cruz said. 'If you told me that we're playing on the moon next year, I'd be like, 'All right, cool. Let me know when and where, and I'll be there' … I wouldn't be surprised if this thing continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.' Read more: It's time for Banana Ball! The story of the Savannah Bananas Advertisement Despite their growing success, the Bananas' brand of baseball remains polarizing — an easy target for detractors of zaniness, gatekeepers of fun and opponents of pizzazz who either don't understand it or refuse to see its appeal. 'Anybody that criticizes this, we're not for them,' Cole said. 'There's tradition in baseball, perfect. They've got Major League Baseball. … For people that want to come out and have fun, not take themselves too seriously and see something they've never seen before — and hopefully see the greatest show in sports — we built something for you.' The formula works. And again, the numbers don't lie. The Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson celebrates a Troy Glaus base hit while the Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. Comedian Bert Kreischer celebrated behind the Bananas in the dugout. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Yes, the Savannah Bananas' brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals. That's the point. It all feels like something conjured from the wildest dreams of the late Bill Veeck's imagination found a home, in a good way. Advertisement With many of the Banana Ball's 11 rules — like an automatic strike when hitters step out of the box or ejecting bunting hitters because bunting 'sucks' — are grounded in some sports-based logic, the innovations remain sacrilegious to baseball purists. But for a fleeting moment in December, Major League Baseball and Banana Ball were almost linked. In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows teams, once per game, to send their best hitter to the plate regardless of where they fall in the batting order. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred caused a stir when he floated a potential seismic rule by floating, making an offhand comment about the golden batter rule. Manfred later clarified it was merely 'a very preliminary conversation' among members of the league's competition committee and had not been formally discussed by the full ownership group. Advertisement A far-fetched idea, but Manfred has ushered in sweeping changes, from the widely praised pitch clock to the more contentious extra-inning 'ghost runner.' 'Anything that's best for the fans, I'm all in,' Cole said of its potential. 'I know Major League Baseball won't do it because of traditions, but ... we've had a lot of fun doing it.' The Firefighters run on the field before taking on the Savannah Bananas at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) But MLB would be behind the Bananas, who already introduced their version of the rule last season with a typical flair and showmanship. Their spin on it is a batter summoned from the dugout wearing a James Brown-esque cape and a gleaming golden helmet — an honor that went to Joe Lytle, who came to bat in the top of the ninth for the Bananas' Anaheim opponent, the Firefighters. Advertisement Ultimately, in a game where the score isn't the end-all, be-all — but the fun is — the Bananas beat the Firefighters 5–2. Like any other Bananas game, the festivities took center stage. It began with the 'First Peel,' a signature ceremony in which a young fan bites into a banana to declare whether it's good or bad — setting the tone for the night. Read more: How do the Savannah Bananas draw sold-out crowds? Five fun facts about the team Heisman Trophy winner and USC legend Matt Leinart threw out the ceremonial first spiral (because, of course, he did). And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter. Advertisement But what was more important was the trip to Anaheim, a fitting one for Cole and Co. The team that opened its season lip-syncing 'Be Our Guest' from the Disney classic 'Beauty and the Beast' — and its owner, cut from the same theatrical cloth as Disney — were celebrated a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole provides color commentary during the baby race between innings at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Greeted by fans in yellow gear, Cole's creation — the Bananas — marched in step down Main Street U.S.A., alongside Walt's own — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck. 'When I walked underneath the castle and over the bridge and in front of thousands of people, they were all there for us,' Cole said. 'Then I look and see Walt's statue, holding the hand of Mickey, and I see that and I'm like, 'This is special.'' Advertisement It was a full-circle moment for Cole, who became 'immersed in the magic' after his first trip to Disney World as a kid — and who now says, 'In a perfect world, I'd play catch with Walt on Main Street.' Serendipity. 'For me, that was an emotional moment — to know that we have worked so hard to create something that means something to people, that they come from all over the country just for a chance to see us,' Cole added. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Why the Yankees and Dodgers are wearing No. 4 Sunday in L.A.
LOS ANGELES – Ahead of MLB's official Lou Gehrig Day, the Yankees and Dodgers wore his No. 4 on their jerseys during Sunday's game at Dodger Stadium. The Yankees are off Monday, celebrated as Lou Gehrig Day around baseball, designed to raise awareness and funding for research ALS. Advertisement Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, later to be known as 'Lou Gehrig's Disease' took the Hall of Fame Yankee first baseman's life on June 2, 1941, at age 37. Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the start of Gehrig's famous streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive games. According to MLB, all players, managers, coaches and umpires will wear the No. 4 decal on the uniform front, and '4-ALS'' wristbands will be available to be worn in-game. Gehrig's No. 4 became the first to be retired by the Yankees, in a ceremony at the original Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, at which time the Iron Horse gave his impromptu 'Luckiest Man' speech. This article originally appeared on Why the Yankees and Dodgers are wearing No. 4 Sunday in L.A.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Mets blast 3 home runs in win over lowly Rockies, take over 1st place in NL East
Francisco Lindor once again homered in a victory and Clay Holmes threw a career-high seven innings Sunday as the New York Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 5-3 win. Pete Alonso hit a three-run shot and Juan Soto also went deep as the Mets won for the seventh time in eight games to finish a 7-2 homestand. They regained sole possession of first place in the NL East, moving a game ahead of Philadelphia. The Rockies lost their eighth straight and fell to 9-50, the worst record through 59 games of any major league team in the modern era (since 1901). They have been swept 10 times in 20 series -- tied for the most sweeps through 20 series with the 1962 Mets, the 1970 Milwaukee Brewers and the 1994 Oakland Athletics. Alonso homered in the fourth before Lindor snapped a 3-all tie an inning later. The Mets have won the last 26 games in which Lindor has homered, the second-longest streak in big league history behind the 29-game run authored by Carl Furillo and the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1951-53. Soto connected in the eighth to make it 5-3. Holmes (5-3) gave up three hits, including Orlando Arcia's first-inning solo homer and Tyler Freeman's two-run shot in the fifth. He struck out three and walked none. The right-hander, who entered this season with 300 consecutive relief appearances dating to 2019, has lasted at least six innings in six of his last eight starts. Reed Garrett and Edwin Díaz tossed a scoreless inning apiece, with Díaz earning his 13th save. Rockies rookie Carson Palmquist (0-3) gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings but struck out eight -- two more than he'd fanned in his first three starts combined. KEY MOMENT Lindor's homer came just after Freeman's tying shot in the fifth. KEY STAT The Rockies haven't held a lead at the end of consecutive innings since they led for the final four innings of their most recent win, a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on May 23. UP NEXT Rockies RHP Germán Márquez (1-7, 7.13 ERA) starts Monday in Miami against RHP Max Meyer (3-4, 4.53). Mets RHP Paul Blackburn is scheduled to make his season debut Monday night at Dodger Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. Blackburn has been rehabbing from right knee inflammation.
