Three takeaways from Mets' series vs. Milwaukee Brewers
The Mets' Pete Alonso hits a solo home run during the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in Milwaukee. Credit: AP/Aaron Gash
MILWAUKEE — The Mets were swept in Milwaukee this weekend and have lost seven in a row and 11 of 12. Here are three takeaways as they return home to face Atlanta.
1. Pete Alonso’s franchise-tying homer is worth celebrating
Trust us, Alonso is the last person to talk about personal accomplishments when the Mets are struggling.
But tying Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record with his 252nd home run on Saturday night is quite the milestone. Francisco Lindor and Carlos Mendoza said they were “proud” of Alonso, who did not discuss it until Sunday morning because of a family situation that caused him to sprint out of the ballpark soon after the last out on Saturday.
Alonso, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in Sunday’s 7-6 loss to the Brewers, has his next chance to set the record on Tuesday night when the Mets resume play at Citi Field against Atlanta.
“To say you are a franchise leader, it’s special,” Alonso said. “Not many people get to see that. I have been here seven years and with my game and skill set, if you were to tell me that, it would be like, ‘OK, yeah, sweet, checks out.’ ”
2. Frank-ly, it’s not working
David Stearns had a rare misstep when he signed Frankie Montas to a head-scratching two-year, $34 million contract in the offseason.
Since 2022 when he was with Oakland, Montas has either been injured or ineffective. The Mets thought they could fix the righthander because of his raw stuff, but Montas started the season on the injured list and has a 6.38 ERA in eight appearances.
Montas’ last outing on Saturday in Milwaukee came after the Mets used an opener. He was allowed to pitch only three innings, which took 72 pitches, and he was charged with three runs (one earned).
If the Mets don’t trust Montas to start anymore, then it’s time to put him in the bullpen for real and insert hot prospect Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat into the rotation.
Paul Blackburn should be available soon off a rehab assignment, but it’s time for the Mets to stop doodling around with midlevel starters and call up one of the young guns to provide a jolt. Goodness knows they need it.
3. A not fine Ryne
Mendoza theoretically has a stacked bullpen, especially after Stearns’ deadline acquisitions, but he continues to use Ryne Stanek in high-leverage spots.
The Mets are being seduced by Stanek’s triple-digit fastball, but the righthander is 2-6 with a 5.31 ERA and has more blown saves (five) than saves (three) in 47 games. Those numbers speak for themselves more than the tantalizing radar-gun readings.
Stanek was the losing pitcher in Saturday’s 7-4 defeat when he was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning after being called on to protect a 4-3 lead in the seventh.
Not that any of the Mets’ relievers are lights-out right now. That’s what happens when your starters have trouble cracking the fifth inning.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
