Mets Morning News: Another Wilmer Walk-Off!

Meet the Mets

Steven Matz had a rough start on Saturday night, giving up four runs in four innings, but the Mets’ bullpen combined for five scoreless innings, and Devin Mesoraco came through with a two-run home run to tie the game. Wilmer Flores won it in the ninth with a walk-off sacrifice fly, the eighth walk-off RBI of his career.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, NY Post, Daily News, Newsday, MLB.com, Bergen Record

Robert Gsellman is on pace to pitch 109 innings in relief this season, as the Mets are counting on him to take on a big role in the bullpen, pitching both in a setup role and going multiple innings at a time.

The Mets called up Tomas Nido and Chris Flexen on Saturday, while optioning relief pitcher Buddy Baumann to Las Vegas, and designating Jose Lobaton for assignment.

Before Saturday’s game, Mickey Callaway suggested that the Mets would like Nido to learn from new catcher Devin Mesoraco at the major league level.

With Juan Lagares and Yoenis Cespedes both on the disabled list and Peter Alonso looking ready for a promotion to Triple-A, the Mets are giving Dominic Smith a shot in the outfield.

Tim Healy breaks down Alonso’s red-hot start to the season.

According to Callaway, Steven Matz is working on controlling his emotions on the mound after a negative outcome.

Todd Frazier is taking a slow approach to his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Michael Conforto has broken out at the plate this week, and his home run last night was the Mets’ first of the season in a lefty-on-lefty situation.

Matt Cerrone does not think the Mets should trade Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard before the end of this season. John Carroll Jr. of Fansided also cautions against a full-scale rebuild.

Joel Sherman also breaks down the potential pitfalls for teams looking to move pitchers at the trade deadline, including the Mets.

John Harper, meanwhile, urges the Mets to go after Manny Machado or Bryce Harper in the off-season if they are reluctant to trade away their ace pitchers.

Despite Juan Lagares’ nagging injury woes, Jose Rivera of Rising Apple still believes the Mets are benefitting from a team-friendly contract extension signed in 2015.

Around the National League East

Paul Boyé at The Good Phight broke down Rhys Hoskins’ recent struggle to hit the changeup, while Jim Salisbury is excited to watch young pitcher Seranthony Dominguez. On the field, the Phillies won a back-and-forth contest with the Cardinals, 7-6, and Odubel Herrera increased his on-base streak to 45 games with a home run.

The Nationals dropped both games of a doubleheader against the Dodgers, with Ross Stripling shutting down their bats in Game 1, and a late rally making the difference in Game 2. Washington is expected to call up nineteen year old prospect Juan Soto for Sunday’s game.

Howie Kendrick is expected to miss the rest of the season after tearing his right Achilles tendon.

The Braves took down the Marlins 8-1 last night, fueled by a solid pitching performance from Sean Newcomb, and home runs from Kurt Suzuki and Freddie Freeman.

Lawyers from Miami-Dade County may be turning to an unlikely source for help in their ongoing lawsuit against the Marlins’ previous ownership group.

Around Major League Baseball

The Rays plan to start reliever Sergio Romo for a second straight game on Sunday, in an effort to play the percentages against the Angels’ explosive bats in the first inning.

The Diamondbacks reached an agreement with Maricopa County that would allow them to leave Chase Field, but without any clear sources of government funding, the team may look to build the ballpark on tribal land.

The benches and bullpens cleared on Saturday at Great American Ballpark, after Amir Garrett and Javier Baez exchanged words in the seventh inning between the Cubs and Reds.

Rich Hill left after just two pitches against the Nationals, as he continues to struggle with blisters.

The Twins placed Joe Mauer on the 10-Day disabled list with a cervical strain and concussion-like symptoms.

SB Nation’s Grant Brisbee is not a fan of baseball fights.

Francisco Lindor and the Houston Astros’ mascot, Orbit, battled it out in a lightsaber fight.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Kory Powell delivered your daily report from the farm.

Marshall Field provided a brief summary of Jacob deGrom’s dominant start on Friday night.

On this date in Mets History:

In a doubleheader against the Brewers, Robin Ventura became the first MLB player to hit grand slams in both ends of a twin bill. He took Jim Abbott deep in Game 1, and then teed off against Horacio Estrada in the second game.