Mets Morning News: Verrett stumbles, lineup stalls , and injuries swarm

Meet the Mets

With all the injury fill-ins, it feels like we really are just meeting these Mets. On the bright side, the All-Star break could not come at a better time. Spot starter Logan Verrett wasn’t quite good enough against the Nationals lineup, and the Mets offense was lifeless against Max Scherzer for a 6-1 loss. They’re now five games behind Washington in the division standings and holding on to the 2nd Wild Card spot by a thread.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue short, MLB.com, ESPN, New York Times, Daily News, New York Post, NJ.com, Bergen County Record, Newsday.

The injury prognoses for Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard could have been worse, but both will miss the All-Star Game, and their replacements are not hometown heroes.

With the two should-be All-Stars on the shelf, Terry Collins says he won’t enjoy managing Tuesday’s game in San Diego.

Once Cespedes gets back in the lineup, his higher walk rate will continue to be a big help.

Former Met Daniel Murphy had another sparkling performance against his old team. And in one of the least surprising media narratives ever, a lot of local writers now believe it was a huge mistake to let him go.

The Futures Game takes place Sunday, at it will be a busy one for players in the Mets farm system.

Around the NL East

Letting Daniel Murphy leave Queens might look silly to many of us, but the Nationals aren’t complaining.

This week on The Twilight Zone, the Phillies are riding a hot streak at the plate from Peter Bourjos. PETER BOURJOS!

Led by a pair of Martin Prado doubles, the Marlins found their way past the Reds.

Not even a Jeff Francoeur home run (more on him later) could help the Braves get a win on Chicago’s south side.

Around the Majors

A Pirates rookie smacked a grand slam in his 2nd career at bat, helping lead to a blowout against the Cubs.

The Red Sox traded for sidearm reliever Brad Ziegler, to cover for the long-term loss of their shutdown closer.

The Mets injury situation may be bad, but at least none of them pulled a Carlos Rodon.

This poor woman needs a reminder that 8 oz of beer is NOT a glove.

Did Buster Posey call bank on this?

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Saturday’s Daily Prospect report featured a lot of familiar faces.

This Date in Mets History

July 10 is probably best remembered for an All-Star game that was heavily influenced by Met representatives. Carlos Beltran, David Wright, and Jose Reyes were all starters on the 2007 team. And Billy Wagner’s rough inning of relief turned out to be the game’s deciding factor.

This is also the 7-year anniversary of the Mets trading for the aforementioned Jeff Francouer, proof that a positive attitude doesn’t necessarily make all things better.