Mets Morning News: Zack Wheeler, Mets set to begin big series in Atlanta

Meet the Mets

This Mets season has gotten interesting over the past few weeks, but the team’s 2020 schedule has already been announced. It features three road games against the Marlins in Puerto Rico and some stretches of the schedule that make close to zero travel sense.

Awful Announcing posted its annual crowd-sourced TV announcer rankings, and the Mets’ beloved trio of Gary, Keith, and Ron came in third. That’s two spots too low, but it is good to see GKR getting recognition on a national level as one of the best local booths in baseball.

Mickey Callaway isn’t looking for credit for the Mets’ hot streak.

Brad Brach made his debut in the Mets’ loss on Sunday, but it came in a big spot and went well, giving the local product a boost.

If you missed it, Greg Prince’s recap of the Mets’ loss on Sunday is worth your time.

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming of what the Mets might do the rest of the way, especially because of Pete Alonso, writes Mike Vaccaro.

Although the Mets’ bullpen has pitched better lately, Joel Sherman says even their bad bullpen isn’t the end of the world because the teams the Mets are competing with have awful bullpens, too.

Jeurys Familia looked sharp in his outing on Sunday, and the Mets need that version of Familia the rest of the way.

The New York Times finally wrote something original about the Mets: a piece covering the crazy ride that the team has been on over the past month.

These Mets are magic.

Around the National League East

The Nationals held on to beat the Reds last night, 7-6, despite taking a 7-2 lead into the eighth inning. Washington reliever Tanner Rainey gave up two runs in the eighth before Sean Doolittle gave up two runs in the ninth before getting out of the inning—and the game—with a line drive caught by third baseman Anthony Rendon.

Juan Soto got relatively good injury news after turning his ankle against the Mets on Sunday, as x-rays came back negative. He’s day-to-day but did not start in the Nationals’ game last night.

As the Mets try to beat out the Phillies for a wild card spot, the Phillies may have to go without Jake Arrieta, who is not sure he will actually pitch throw his elbow injury. The Phillies were off last night.

Around Major League Baseball

Gleyber Torres hit an astounding three more home runs against the Orioles in the Yankees’ doubleheader with them in the Bronx yesterday. That brings his season total to 13 home runs against them in just 16 games, one of which he didn’t start—an absurd pace of 131.6 home runs over 162 games.

Evan Drellich takes a look back at the 1994 strike. Tim Kurkjian has an oral history of the strike. And Craig Calcaterra provides his perspective on that strike. Bill Baer wrote about the players who crossed the picket line in 1995.

Fernando Tatis Jr. made another spectacular play, but Pete Alonso still leads polling among MLB.com writers for the NL’s Rookie of the Year award.

The Reds picked up Fredddy Galvis from the Blue Jays on waivers, a noteworthy move as this is the first August that has not allowed for waiver trades.

Ted Berg wrote about Mike Trout again, which is always recommended reading.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Linda Surovich wrote about her experience at the Mets’ memorable Friday night victory over the Nationals.

When the Mets are hot, the t-shirts are aplenty. There’s one of Dominic Smith on his scooter now.

Allison McCague gave us this week’s pitcher meter, which was very strongly positive, and this week’s position player meter, which was also pretty good.

Kenneth Lavin checked in on how our top 25 Mets prospects did over the past week. And speaking of the minors, this week’s episode of From Complex to Queens dropped.

This date in Mets history

R.A. Dickey threw a one-hitter on this date.