Mets beat Cubs thanks to DJ Stewart's three-run home run
DJ Stewart #29 of the Mets celebrates his three-run home run against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
In a more perfect version of the Mets’ start to the season, one in which they didn’t need a short-term DH and Starling Marte didn’t have to miss the past several days, they may well not have had room for DJ Stewart on the roster, never mind in the daily lineup.
And yet.
Stewart came through big again Tuesday night at Citi Field, crushing a go-ahead, three-run home run in the sixth inning of a 4-2 win over the Cubs, an upper-deck shot that underscored an unexpected truth: He has been one of their most important hitters through a first month-plus.
“He’s always ready to go,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s one pitch away from changing the outcome of a game.”
The Mets were sleepwalking through another chilly night at Citi Field when the Cubs did them a minor favor, lifting righthander Javier Assad after five innings (one run) and 78 pitches. In came Adbert Alzolay from the bullpen. After Dansby Swanson’s throwing error helped bring Stewart to the plate with two out and two on, Alzolay left a cutter over the heart of the plate.
Stewart loitered at the plate for a moment to watch it fly, then looked into the Mets’ dugout as he trotted to first. His blast was enough for the Mets (15-14) to overcome another effective but inefficient outing by Sean Manaea (five innings, one run, four walks).
“Mendy tells me every single day to smile,” he said. “So I was really just smiling at him when I hit that.”
That beaming-related banter began in the second week of the season, when Stewart was stressed out over his role on the team and job security after the first couple of weeks. He didn’t have a hit for the first 10 days. J.D. Martinez, signed to be the full-time DH, loomed. Stewart’s future was uncertain, and he let that impact his play.
Mendoza told him to take it easy.
“He told me to smile then and it’s just kind of our thing now,” Stewart said.
Mendoza said: “There was a cloud on top of him . . . After that, every time he sees me, he just smiles. And he’s been the same. Even though he’s been [through] a little bit of up and down here, we make sure that yeah, you’re getting ready, you’re preparing, you’re not in the lineup but you are [getting into the game]. Make sure you control the things you can control, but just keep having fun.”
About to be relegated to a minimized role, Stewart leads the Mets in OPS (.849). His 14 RBIs rank third (behind Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso) and his four home runs are tied for third (behind Alonso and Francisco Lindor).
All that from a guy who was a surprise choice for the Opening Day roster, selected as a fill-in DH/bench bat while the Mets waited on Martinez. When Martinez arrived late last week, Marte went on the bereavement list, briefly making room for Stewart in rightfield.
The Mets carried Stewart at the outset because they couldn’t find anyone better. But now they’re keeping him because he has earned it.
“Very proud, but I know I can do better,” he said. “I hold myself to a high standard, higher than a lot of people.”
Mendoza made little promises regarding Stewart’s playing time moving forward. He can spot Martinez and Marte and pinch hit for, say, that day’s starting catcher or centerfield Harrison Bader.
“We will continue to find ways to get him in the lineup,” Mendoza said. “He’s always going to be ready for that crucial at-bat at some point in the game. So if he’s always going to be ready, we’re going to make sure that we’ll find a spot for him.”
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
