New York Mets

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns says the team's sprint over the final three months of the regular season played a role in their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Speaking to reporters at his end-of-season press conference, Stearns explained that the Mets "ran out of gas" because of what they asked from their players after a slow start to the season:

"I think we probably ran out of gas a little bit. We had pushed our guys really hard from June 1 on because we needed to. Every single game in the regular season mattered and then clearly every single game in the postseason mattered. And that's part of it. We also ran into a really, really talented Dodgers team that was playing about as good a baseball as you could play."

There were long stretches of this season when the idea of the Mets making the playoffs, let alone coming within two wins of getting to the World Series, seemed laughable.

They were 11 games under .500 (24-35) after a 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 2. The only NL teams with a worse record at that point were the Colorado Rockies (21-37) and Miami Marlins (21-39).

New York went an MLB-best 65-38 from that point on and earned the No. 6 seed in the NL playoffs. The positive momentum carried into the postseason with a thrilling Game 3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card series and a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.

Just when it looked like the Mets might be a team of destiny, they ran into the buzzsaw that is the Dodgers. All six games in the NLCS were blowouts for the winning team.

6.7 runs!!!

The 2024 NLCS had the highest average margin of victory of all time for a #Postseason series. pic.twitter.com/n6JPxfkSmW

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 21, 2024

The Dodgers' 46 runs were the most by any team in a single postseason series history. The previous record of 44 runs was done by the 1996 Atlanta Braves in the NLCS and 2002 San Francisco Giants in the World Series when they both played seven games.

This year's NLCS only lasted six games. Luis Severino threw 198.2 innings between the regular season and playoffs, more than he had in the previous two years combined (191.1).

Kodai Senga only pitched one game in the regular season due to injuries. He looked rough in three playoff outings, allowing seven runs on six hits and seven walks in five innings.

There just weren't enough arms available for the Mets to have a shot at shutting down the Dodgers for an entire series. The lineup did its best to keep up, but the Dodgers never slowed down once they found their groove after a 7-3 loss in Game 2.

Despite the disappointing end to the season, the Mets still put together their best year since reaching the World Series in 2015. Since they looked like a team that might challenge for the worst record in the NL after the first two months, this was a very successful season for the franchise.

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns doesn't envision a big change coming to the team's front office this offseason.

He told reporters Wednesday he's "not eager" to specifically target a prospective general manager because he believes the current setup is working.

It's not uncommon for a franchise to operate without a dedicated GM, especially when the president of baseball ops is as highly regarded as Stearns. Based on the Mets' turnaround in the second half and run to the National League Championship Series, the status quo is just fine.

Going it alone will put more pressure on Stearns, though.

Re-signing first baseman Pete Alonso is likely at the top of his offseason to-do list.

Alonso had 34 home runs and a 123 OPS+ while appearing in all 162 games. The four-time All-Star was even better in the playoffs, slugging .568 with four homers in 58 plate appearances.

Then there are the outside targets Stearns and the front office will target to ensure New York builds on its success in 2024.

Even assuming Alonso returns on a bigger salary, the Mets have quite a bit of money coming off the books. Spotrac has their 2025 payroll at $141.8 million, which is the 10th-highest in baseball.

Stearns said all of the right things in terms of signaling the organization's ambitions without going too much into specifics.

"The entirety of the player universe is potentially accessible to us. That's an enormous opportunity. I envision us taking advantage of that opportunity and being aggressive in certain spaces."

- David Stearns on the offseason pic.twitter.com/kILVwb0rBR

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 23, 2024

"It's too early to determine exactly where we're going to take our shots"

David Stearns is asked about where the Mets could take a big swing in free agency: pic.twitter.com/yIccKrZAe5

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 23, 2024

Mets fans have built up a strong sense of fatalism over the years and for good reason. Success has historically been fleeting.

New York made the 1999 NLCS and the World Series the following year before missing the playoffs in 13 of the next 14 seasons. The 2015 World Series appearance was followed by an NL Wild Card Series exit and a five-year playoff drought.

There are no guarantees when it comes to 2025 and beyond.

Between having a savvy executive in Stearns and a free-spending owner with Steve Cohen, the fanbase will have reason this time around to believe the NLCS trip wasn't a false dawn.

Although singer John Mayer was born in Connecticut, he's a diehard New York Mets fan. After the team's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS on Sunday night, he took to Instagram to express his admiration for shortstop Francisco Lindor and the team.

Mayer, a member of the band Dead & Company, had an impressive 30-show residency at the Las Vegas Sphere. The singer said he drew inspiration from Lindor when he severely injured his finger during a performance, as TMZ Sports shared.

"My first thought was how to play with the other three fingers," Mayer wrote. "That was what Lindor would have done, and so that's what I did."

Lindor suffered a back injury against the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-September but continued to gut his way through it. He posted 14 hits and two home runs with eight RBI during the Mets postseason run.

Lindor's commitment to his team clearly struck a chord with Mayer and helped push him to power through his own injury.

"You could see the dedication in his eyes, in his plays—you could even see it in his strikeouts; it wasn't a case of 'couldn't,' only 'didn't that time,'" Mayer wrote.

The "Gravity" singer finished his post by writing, "Their monumental run was enough to unify a city, bring together families, friends, and remind us all that above all else, nothing is more powerful a force in achieving success than effort."

Mayer wrapped up his residency alongside Dead & Company on Aug. 10, which made him fully available to watch the Mets' playoff run.

The New York Mets had their season come to an end with a 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, but team owner Steve Cohen is still proud of their performance this year.

Cohen took to social media to express gratitude for the Mets' surprising run to the NLCS:

I can’t say enough about the tenacity and grit this team displayed this season. We are all disappointed that it ended yesterday, but I’m so grateful
for the incredible run the team went on. The Mets galvanized not just NY fans but baseball fans all over America.There is much to…

— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) October 21, 2024

New York started the season with a 24-35 record before turning things around and becoming the hottest team in the majors down the stretch on their way to clinching a wild-card spot with an 89-73 finish. The team endeared itself to fans thanks to its resiliency and light-hearted approach.

The Mets defeated the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers and NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies on their way to meeting the Dodgers in the NLCS. Francisco Lindor emerged as an MVP-caliber player, and Mark Vientos established himself as a rising star.

It looks like the future is bright in New York, and Cohen is right to be confident that the Mets will be able to sustain this level of excellence for years to come.

New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso has no idea how to explain the swing that generated a three-run homer out to center field in Game 5 of the NLCS to set the tone in a season-saving 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Alonso took a slider from Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty that was almost in the dirt by the time he started his swing, but it wound up going an "inexplainable" 432 feet when it landed.

"I was just looking for something over the middle of the plate," Alonso told reporters after the game. "I didn't really realize how low the pitch was. I got caught a little out front. ... Honestly, it's inexplainable. It's the magic of the postseason. And I'm just happy I squared it up."

SMASHING PUMPKINS 🎃

PETE ALONSO THREE-RUN TANK pic.twitter.com/7emNSPhEub

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

MLB.com's Sarah Langs noted the pitch was 1.12 feet off the ground when it was hit, which is the second-lowest pitch hit for a homer in the postseason in the Statcast era (since 2008).

The only one lower was Daniel Murphy's homer off Jake Arrieta for the Mets in Game 2 of the 2015 NLCS (1.06 feet).

That could be a good omen for the Mets since Murphy's blast came in a series they won to advance to the World Series, but the 2024 team still has a lot of work to do to reach that point.

The Mets were able to avoid elimination on Friday, but they still trail the Dodgers in the series 3-2 as they go back to Los Angeles. It was an encouraging sign to see the offense breakout after scoring a total of two runs in the first two games at Citi Field.

Flaherty only made it through three innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits. He pitched seven shutout innings in the Dodgers' 9-0 win in Game 1.

After falling behind 10-2 going into the fifth, the Dodgers did chip away at the lead with four runs in the next two innings. The Mets were able to shut them out over the final three innings to get the win.

Alonso, in what might have been his final home game with the Mets as he prepares to hit free agency this offseason, had a stellar showing. He finished 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored in five plate appearances.

The Mets and Dodgers will play Game 6 of the NLCS on Sunday at 8:08 p.m. ET. Sean Manaea will get the ball for New York looking to force a decisive Game 7. He allowed two earned runs with seven strikeouts in the Mets' Game 2 victory.

Los Angeles has yet to announce a starting pitcher. A win on Sunday will send the Dodgers to the World Series for the fourth time since 2017.

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso praised his "resilient" team for staving off NLCS elimination with a 12-6 Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Citi Field.

"It's really special, and I'm just happy to do it with—I can't say it enough, this group is so special. We've faced adversity, we've bounced back time and time again over the course of the year. Even if you look at it, even the Wild Card, this group has been so resilient," Alonso said.

"I can't say enough, this group is so special. We've faced adversity, we've bounced back time and time again over the course of the year."

Pete Alonso talks about getting to play for at least one more game: pic.twitter.com/78DqqpFHLv

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 19, 2024

Alonso continued: "You look at the path of everything, it's completely unexplainable, but we're all just happy to have another opportunity to fight another day. We'll be ready. We love opportunities. This is what we want to continue to play for."

The Mets have another must-win contest on the schedule as they head to Los Angeles for Game 6 on Sunday."

"Today was all about, 'Figure it out, get to Game 6,'" Alonso said. "And we have that opportunity, and it's gonna be the same mentality. 'Figure it out, get to 7.' Survive the day.

"And we did, and we're really, really excited for the opportunity coming up."

Alonso started off the high-scoring victory with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.

SMASHING PUMPKINS 🎃

PETE ALONSO THREE-RUN TANK pic.twitter.com/7emNSPhEub

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

He ended the night with two hits, a walk and four runs as the Mets maintained the lead throughout the entire game despite a late push from the Dodgers in the fifth and sixth frames.

This is not the first time Alonso has played a key role in helping the Mets win an elimination game this postseason.

With the Mets trailing by two runs with one out on the board in the ninth inning of their Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Alonso hit a go-ahead three-run homer to power New York into the NLDS.

If the Mets can get another clutch performance out of Alonso on Sunday, they could push the Dodgers into a winner-takes-all Game 7 in Los Angeles with a trip to the World Series on the line Monday.

New York Mets designated hitter Jesse Winker was impressed to learn his team recorded no strikeouts in 44 plate appearances during Friday night's 12-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLCS.

Winker credited hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez as well as Mets batters Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso for the feat.

"I just heard that, that's incredible," Winker said in a postgame interview at Citi Field. "We had a great game plan going into it, so shout out Barnesy and Chavey. Francisco and Nimmo and Pete really set the tone in the first inning."

Jesse Winker reacts to the Mets not striking out tonight: pic.twitter.com/MfFDtW0VsJ

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 19, 2024

The Mets recorded 14 hits, five walk and three hit batters with no strikeouts in the must-win victory. They are the first team to finish a postseason game with no strikeouts in 22 years, per Mike Axisa of CBS Sports.

The last team to manage the feat was the Los Angeles Angels, who recorded no strikeouts in 40 plate appearances during an 11-10 win over the San Francisco Giants in Game 2 of the 2002 World Series, per Axisa.

The only other team to record no strikeouts in a postseason game since the MLB expanded in 1961 is the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs achieved the feat in 37 plate appearances during a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers in the 1974 NLCS, Axisa reported.

The Mets struck out in 22.4 percent of their at-bats during the regular season, but the top of the batting order set a different tone in the first inning as Lindor singled and Nimmo walked off pitches from Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty.

After Mark Vientos hit a fly out, Alonso stepped up to the plate to send both runners home with 432-foot homer that gave the Mets a lead they would maintain for the rest of the game.

Flaherty recorded the Dodgers loss with eight hits and eight earned runs in three innings. Brent Honeywell, who took the mound in the fourth, helped extend the Mets' no-strikeout streak by hitting Alonso, Winker and Tyrone Taylor with pitches before Anthony Banda was called in to finish out the game with two outs in the eighth.

Winker and his team will now look to ride Friday's momentum into another must-win game on Sunday as the series swings back to Los Angeles. The Mets need one more victory to push the Dodgers into a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Monday with a trip to the World Series on the line.

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Game 5 of the NLCS with all the momentum in the world.

The NL West champions steamrolled the New York Mets in Game 3 (8-0) and Game 4 (10-2) to move one win from advancing to the World Series, but the Mets came out swinging on Friday night to extend the series and their season.

However, the Dodgers didn't simply roll over after falling behind 10-2 after four innings. They fought back to make things interesting en route to a 12-6 final score.

The 3-2 series now shifts back to Dodger Stadium on Sunday night, and while the Mets still face a significant uphill battle needing to win two games on the road, they have at least swung the momentum enough to make things interesting.

Let's dig into a few notable takeaways from Game 5.

---

Pete Alonso's Case to Be Re-Signed Grows Stronger

The Mets face a big decision regarding slugger Pete Alonso this offseason. The homegrown star is set to reach free agency for the first time in his career.

The 29-year-old reportedly turned down a seven-year, $158 million extension offer in June 2023 and could have a tough time exceeding that offer on the open market, considering the going rate for an offensive-minded first baseman.

However, the Mets could make bringing him back their top priority this winter at whatever price is required, and he got the scoring started on Friday night with a three-run home run in the first inning.

ALONSO FOR THREE... BANG!!! pic.twitter.com/r8LHdcNGyk

— New York Mets (@Mets) October 18, 2024

Since bursting onto the scene with a rookie record 53 home runs season in 2019, his 226 home runs trail only Aaron Judge (232), and there is little question he's one of the game's most prolific sluggers.

Between his tone-setting blast on Friday night and his season-saving home run off Devin Williams in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, Alonso has proven he can come up with the biggest hit on the biggest stage.

His market value is certainly up for debate, but losing him would create a glaring void in the middle of the Mets lineup.

The Mets would be wise to move quickly to complete a new deal this winter, assuring their homegrown star wants to stay for the foreseeable future.

---

Andy Pages Could Be the Answer to Replacing Teoscar Hernández

Assuming they make an outside addition to upgrade the shortstop position, the Dodgers have Tommy Edman penciled into the starting center field job and Mookie Betts manning right field for 2025.

Left field is up in the air.

Slugger Teoscar Hernández has been a great addition to the offense on a one-year, $23.5 million, posting a 137 OPS+ with 32 doubles, 33 home runs, 99 RBI and 4.3 WAR in 154 games.

Given all the money they already have on the books and other potential areas of need, the Dodgers will likely let him walk in free agency, and he could be headed for a nine-figure payday as one of the top bats available this winter.

While they could explore outside alternatives, rookie Andy Pages submitted his application to be the guy on Friday night when he became the youngest player in Dodgers history with a two-homer game in the playoffs.

Andy Pages goes yard AGAIN 😳 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/7VWubsrGpx

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

The 23-year-old got off to a hot start after making his MLB debut on April 16, and while he quickly leveled off, Pages still finished with a 102 OPS+ and 13 home runs in 443 plate appearances.

With a 31-homer season at High-A in 2021 and a 26-homer encore at Double-A the following season, he has a strong track record of production, and his performance in Game 5 serves as a great reminder he has the potential to be an impact offensive player.

---

The Mets Offense Can Make Some Serious Noise

After plating just two runs in 18 innings across Game 3 and Game 4, the Mets offense came to life on Friday night as they piled up 14 hits and 12 runs, and there were standouts up and down the lineup.

• Pete Alonso: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R
• Starling Marte: 4-for-5, 3 2B, 3 RBI, R
• Jesse Winker: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, 3 R
• Francisco Alvarez: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI, 
• Francisco Lindor: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI, 2 R
• Brandon Nimmo: 1-for-4, RBI, R
• Jeff McNeil: 2 RBI

They also pulled off a rare feat by not striking out the entire game:

the Mets are the first team to not strike out in a postseason game since the Angels in Game 2 of the 2002 World Series

11th such postseason instance overall and the 3rd in the expansion era (1961)

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 19, 2024

If the Mets are going to pull off the unlikely comeback in this series, it will be up to that offense to continue shouldering the load, especially when the Dodgers can put up a crooked number of their own at any point.

---

Will the Postseason Impact Jack Flaherty's Free Agency?

Few players did more to boost their free agency stock during the regular season than Jack Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Detroit Tigers last offseason following a lackluster 2023 campaign.

He went 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 162 innings, moving from the Tigers to the Dodgers at the trade deadline and continuing to pitch at a high level.

Amid a wave of injuries, he entered the playoffs as the Dodgers' de facto ace, and his playoff performance to date has been a mixed bag:

• NLDS Game 2: L, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• NLCS Game 1: W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
• NLCS Game 5: L, 3.0 IP, 8 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 0 K

Will his shaky performance in Game 5 impact his market this offseason while he tries to chase down a massive payday?

He sits in a gray area between elite options like Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell and mid-level options likely to settle for short-term deals, so it's not out of the question to think this could move the needle in the wrong way on his earning power.

Barring a collapse, he should have at least one more opportunity to toe the rubber, but he was far from his best on Friday night.

---

Looking Ahead to Game 6

The Mets will hand the ball to Sean Manaea with the season on the line on Sunday, and he has been the team's best pitcher for much of the year.

The veteran left-hander had a stretch of 11 starts during the second half of the season where he went 6-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 82 strikeouts in 72 innings, limiting opposing hitters to a .155 average during that stretch.

The 32-year-old has been fantastic so far this postseason as well, going 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 17 innings over three starts.

He will be opposed by a bullpen game for the Dodges, with rookie Landon Knack as a potential bulk reliever in an all-hands-on-deck approach. A gutsy performance from Brent Honeywell soaking up 4.2 innings of relief work helped keep everyone else fresh.

The Mets won 7-3 in Game 2 when the Dodgers also went with a game-by-committee, so they will be hoping for a better outcome on Sunday while facing elimination.

In all best-of-7 postseason series, teams that have won Game 5 when facing a 3-1 deficit have come all the way back to win the series 14 of 47 times (30%)

under the current 2-3-2 format, teams heading home for Games 6-7 with a 3-2 edge have won the series 38 of 52 times (73%)

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 19, 2024

Will we see another lopsided result after a series of blowouts?

Can the Mets keep their season alive?

Are the Dodgers inevitable at this point?

See you all on Sunday night!

The New York Mets' lineup thrived during a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series on Friday night, winning by the final score of 12-6.

METS BEAT THE DODGERS TO FORCE A GAME 6 IN THE NLCS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/STM3hdcAtf

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 19, 2024

Facing a 3-1 series deficit entering the game, the Mets were able to keep their season alive.

Pete Alonso set the tone early, launching a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Alonso finished 2-for-3 with a walk.

SMASHING PUMPKINS 🎃

PETE ALONSO THREE-RUN TANK pic.twitter.com/7emNSPhEub

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

Alonso was far from the only contributor for New York, as the team finished the game with 14 hits. Starling Marte went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in, while Francisco Lindor and Jesse Winker also recorded multiple hits.

MEET THE @METS 😤

FRANCISCO LINDOR GETS IN ON THE ACTION 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lJuW9wILHA

— MLB (@MLB) October 18, 2024

In fact, Dodgers pitchers weren't able to record a strikeout throughout the entire game.

Los Angeles attempted to respond after the Mets took a 10-2 lead in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to cut the advantage to just 10-6 through six frames. New York's offensive output was too much for the Dodgers to overcome, though.

Fans and pundits were amazed by the performance.

Not done yet.@Mets | #LGM pic.twitter.com/OMku85Bgu0

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 19, 2024

FINAL: Mets 12, Dodgers 6

New York keeps its season alive in emphatic fashion — and does so without striking out a single time. An incredible feat. Pete Alonso started things off with a three-run homer, Edwin Díaz closed with two scoreless innings.

Back to LA for Game 6.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 19, 2024

Mets win 12-6 in an impressive bounce-back with plenty of offense to force a Game 6

NLCS will be heading back to LA

— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) October 19, 2024

me @ the mets lineup today #LGM 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/BykyTP3Yz5

— emsss ✨ (@HEYYemggg) October 18, 2024

Mets offense in game 5! #MetsWin #LGM pic.twitter.com/qLZaYh7LQi

— Walter (@Walter_in_SA) October 18, 2024

Starling Marte is 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored tonight. The Mets lineup looks completely different when he's locked in like this.

— Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) October 19, 2024

No disputing this: the Mets are resilient.

— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 19, 2024

Despite the loss, Shohei Ohtani kept up his recent hot stretch against the Mets. Ohtani finished with two hits and a walk, striking out twice.

The series now heads back to Dodger Stadium, with New York attempting to force Game 7 and Los Angeles looking to close out the series. Game 6 is on Sunday at 8:08 p.m. ET.

The twilight sky above Citi Field was adorned with the New York Mets' blue and orange colors prior to Game 4 of the hosts' National League Championship Series matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

The New York sky is lit up in blue and orange above Citi Field 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/88e7TJIlo8

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2024

The Mets trail the best-of-seven NLCS two games to one against L.A., which took the series lead Wednesday after an 8-0 victory.

New York has enjoyed an incredible run since early June, when the team sat 11 games under .500. The Mets rallied from that point forward, clinching a playoff berth on the regular season's last day.

New York's backs were against the wall in the National League Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers when they were down 2-0 in the ninth inning of Game 3, but a clutch Pete Alonso three-run homer put the team ahead.

A Starling Marte RBI single led to an insurance run en route to a 4-2 victory, sending the Mets to the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

New York rolled over Philadelphia in the NLDS, winning the series in four games. But the team's toughest test is in the NLCS, where the 98-win Dodgers have enjoyed dominant wins in Game 1 (9-0) and Game 3 (8-0).

New York is still in this series, though, thanks largely to a Mark Vientos grand slam in Game 2 en route to a 7-3 victory.

The Mets are ultimately looking for their first pennant since 2015 and first World Series title since 1986.