Following a rocky end to the first half for the New York Mets, the start of the second half mirrored their earlier struggles. They lost the first two games of a six-game homestand to the Cincinnati Reds, casting a shadow of uncertainty.
Nevertheless, the Mets are heading to California on a positive note, having secured four consecutive wins to conclude a 4-2 homestand, including a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s always good to keep performing well at home, especially right after the break,” said manager Carlos Mendoza following Wednesday’s victory. “Losing the first two and then finishing with a 4-2 homestand is really good.”
New York rescued the final game against the Reds and won all three matches against the Angels during their winning streak, with solid pitching and contributions from the entire staff being a notable trend.
David Peterson delivered a strong start in the Reds’ finale, pitching six innings, allowing only one run, and recording four strikeouts. Against the Angels, Frankie Montas nearly completed six innings, helping earn a comeback win, and Sean Manaea battled through five innings to claim his first win of 2025.
Manaea is continuing his recovery from an oblique injury that sidelined him for the year. Although not at his peak, requiring 82 pitches for five innings, it’s progress for the left-hander.
“I didn’t feel great, but good enough to get the job done,” Manaea stated on Wednesday. “The fastball and slider were effective. Stamina-wise, I’m not quite there yet, but it’s about building up.”
The bullpen managed to secure crucial outs when necessary. Kodai Senga struggled in Monday’s opener, yet Kevin Herget, Chris Devinski, Huascar Brazoban, and Brooks Raley pooled their efforts to keep the Mets competitive, with Edwin Diaz closing successfully after a blown save the previous day.
In Tuesday’s game, Rico Garcia, Reed Garrett, and Ryne Stanek combined to complete Montas’ victory. After Manaea’s exit on Wednesday, Brazoban, Raley, and Diaz provided scoreless innings, compensating for Jose Butto’s shaky return from illness.
Timely hitting was also key across the lineup. Brandon Nimmo remained productive as leadoff, while Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso were initially struggling. However, the lower part of the lineup stepped up in the initial three wins, with crucial contributions from Tyrone Taylor, Brett Baty, and Francisco Alvarez, while the leading hitters ended slumps on Wednesday.
Lindor ended a career-worst 0-for-31 stretch with two run-scoring singles. Alonso, struggling with a .160 average over 15 games, responded in the series finale with a single and a powerful three-run homer, acknowledging that slumps are natural but emphasizing consistent effort and improvement.
“I’m human,” Lindor said. “I don’t want to experience slumps, but I know they happen. It’s tough, but I focus on working hard to improve.”
“The homer is great, but I feel best hitting to the big part of the field,” Alonso added. “I aim to give my all every at-bat.”
“We’ll need those guys,” Mendoza expressed. “They might be struggling, but they’re excellent hitters and players. I’m pleased they came through for us today.”
The Mets will visit Oracle Park to face the San Francisco Giants this weekend, then the San Diego Padres to conclude the trip. Mets right-hander Clay Holmes will face Logan Webb at 10:15 p.m. EST on Friday.
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