The Mets’ return from the All-Star break provided plenty of hoopla among the fan base with David Wright’s number retirement on Saturday.
But their three-game set against the Reds at Citi Field was not as celebratory, although they did avoid a three-game sweep with a 3-2 win on Sunday.
Here are three takeaways from the series:
1. Francisco Lindor was blanked
The entire Mets offense was not in a good state against the Reds, scoring only eight runs in three games. But those struggles often start and end with Lindor.
The shortstop is in an 0-for-21 funk after going 0-for-14 with four strikeouts and failing to reach base in the series.
Entering Sunday, in the 54 wins he has been a part of, Lindor was slashing .336/.389/.641 with 18 homers and 45 RBIs.
In 43 losses, Lindor has a .146/.238/.193 slash line with one homer and nine RBIs.
“A good hitter that is going through it right now,” Carlos Mendoza said. “I said it [Saturday], maybe from the left side, chasing a little long. But he’s too smart. He knows his mechanics. He knows the adjustments . . . He’ll get through it. He’s too good of a hitter, too good of a player.”
2. Bullpen giveth and taketh
Injuries have taken a toll on the Mets’ bullpen, with Jose Butto, Tylor Megill, Max Kranick, Dedniel Nunez and A.J. Minter among those on the IL.
The Mets (56-44) did get reinforcements this weekend with the return of Brooks Raley, who threw a scoreless inning in Saturday’s 5-2 loss — his first appearance since April 19, 2024, after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
But overall, the bullpen struggled to find consistency against Cincinnati.
Righthander Alex Carrillo allowed three homers and five runs in 1 1⁄3 innings in Friday’s 8-4 loss.
Reed Garrett, Raley, Ryne Stanek and Chris Devenski put forth the unit’s best effort with 4 2⁄3 scoreless innings Saturday.
Edwin Diaz, who has a 1.64 ERA this season, came on in Sunday’s eighth inning for a four-out save but suffered his second blown save of the year. Stanek ultimately shut the door in the ninth.
The bullpen’s health certainly has been a concern, but a semblance of consistency must be found with what the Mets currently have.
3. Luis Torrens had an up-and-down weekend, but Francisco Alvarez is on the way
Torrens drove in what proved to be the winning run on Sunday with an eighth-inning fielder’s choice — a 102.7-mph grounder to second baseman Matt McLain, whose throw home did not beat Juan Soto.
Torrens went 5-for-11 against the Reds, raising his average from .206 to .220.
“I’ve just tried to keep it just simple,” he said through his interpreter. “Just simple with my hands. I try to do too much with my hands, and I think when you keep everything simple is when the results come out and you’re able to have success.”
The defense was a mixed bag, though. Torrens’ throwing error on a pickoff attempt Saturday ultimately gave the Reds their first run. But with the Mets holding a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh Sunday, he caught Noelvi Marte stealing second to end the inning.
On Sunday, a source confirmed to Newsday that the Mets are recalling Alvarez, who spent the last month with Triple-A Syracuse. He hit 11 homers in 19 games after being sent down on June 22.
Though Torrens produced against the Reds, Alvarez should provide a substantial upgrade offensively.
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins’ teams.