Mets Morning News: Mets shut out in DC

Meet the Mets

The Mets managed just one hit against Austin Voth and were shut out by the Nationals 6-0 in Washington. Corey Oswalt delivered a solid performance, but a three-run homer by Matt Wieters off of Jerry Blevins in the sixth inning broke the game open for the Nats.

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

Just because there wasn’t much for Mets fans to be excited about on the field yesterday doesn’t mean that there was no fun to be had. Highlights included two guys in Mets onesies and a 10-year-old want-to-be umpire.

Jose Reyes reflects on his career and reunion with the Mets, including the development of Amed Rosario, but emphasizes, “It’s not about me, it’s about [David] Wright.”

“It still weighs on me every day,” Mickey Callaway said of his lineup snafu earlier in the season. He says he has grown as a manager this season and perhaps the Mets’ second-half play reflects that.

Jay Bruce’s 2018 season is playing out a lot like his 2014 season, where injuries robbed him of his productivity. The other thing those two seasons have in common is that Bruce admits that he perhaps didn’t handle his injuries the way he should have and attempted to play through them. But the way he has looked at the plate at the tail end of this season gives the Mets hope that he is healthy going into 2019.

SB Nation Minor League Ball takes a dive into five organizations whose minor league systems have greatly improved. Wayne Cavadi opines that the Mets “missed the boat” on a chance to improve their farm as much as the other four organizations by not trading Jacob deGrom.

Around the National League East

With a 5-3 win over the Phillies in Atlanta, the Braves clinched the National League East—their first division title since 2013.

Speaking of the Phillies, their rapid fall from grace makes for an interesting offseason for them. In addition to previous rumblings that the Phillies may be in the market for the big ticket free agents in Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, Ken Rosenthal reports that the Phillies are open to “trading anyone” on their roster outside of ace Aaron Nola and young bopper Rhys Hoskins.

Newly anointed Marlins Minor League Player of the Year, Austin Dean had a big night for the Fish, as they defeated the Reds 5-1 in Miami.

Around Major League Baseball

The Yankees clinched a Wild Card spot with a walk-off win against the Orioles in the 11th inning.

Speaking of walk-offs, the Athletics won on a wild one, reducing their magic number to one to clinch the other AL Wild Card berth.

Given the newly solidified playoff picture, MLB.com takes a look at where things stand for the postseason.

Fangraphs legal expert Sheryl Ring takes a look at what potential legal consequences await Cubs infielder Addison Russell, who has been placed on administrative leave after his ex-wife Melisa came forward with details of years of abuse on the part of Russell.

Many of the MVP candidates in both leagues are currently in their age 25 season. Craig Edwards argues that we may be witnessing the best group of 25-year-old position players in baseball history.

This Date in Mets History

Bud Harrelson and the Mets bested Bob Gibson on this day in 1969 to reduce the Mets’ magic number to one.