Mets Morning News: Lineup squanders opportunities, Mets search for answers

Meet the Mets

Saturday night’s loss was a familiar sort for the 2016 Mets. The offense managed just six hits, none with a runner in scoring position. And despite a Logan Verrett start that kept them in the game, the bullpen fell flat and the Phillies took a 4-2 win.

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

Yoenis Cespedes sat out once again with his injured quadriceps. He reportedly could have pinch hit, but remains iffy for Sunday’s game.

Without their big power bat, the Mets’ boom or bust offensive approach has come up mostly bust.

Cespedes’s absence has given Juan Lagares a daily spot in the lineup, and he’s savoring it.

In rare good injury news, Noah Syndergaard says he feels fine.

Newsday is closely following the similar story lines between Steven Matz and a new Mets draftee.

Around the NL East

Phillies fans continue to view last night’s win (and most of the team’s wins) as opportunistic victories.

The Nationals extended their division lead even further thanks to an absolute gem from Tanner Roark.

The Braves took a loss on the field and on the active roster Saturday.

The Marlins stumbled last night in St. Louis and are reportedly focused on finding a team to trade their starting shortstop to.

Around the Majors

He was long-rumored to be a potential Mets target, but instead Yulieski Gurriel is on his way to Houston, and Astros officials are ecstatic about it.

The Padres beat the hated Giants last night, exactly the way they planned.

MLB says managers need to take a step back when it comes to arguing calls.

The Yankees are reportedly considering a contract extension offer for their superhuman closer.

The Indians have turned to a nearly 30-year-old movie to try and break their catcher out of his slump.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Aaron Yorke reported on rumors that the Mets could bring back Jon Niese.

File this under the “In Case You Missed It” section. Welcome to BLB: Bartolo League Baseball.

Today in Mets History

July 17 is not a good date on the calendar for former Met Jim McAndrew. It was on this date 45 years ago that he got hospitalized after a pregame mishap. He got a concussion and 20 stitches in the process, and was plagued by several other unfortunate incidents through his career.

The Mets Warren Spahn experiment also ended on this date in 1965.