Mets Morning News: The return of GMan and the Polar Bear

Meet the Mets

The Mets snapped the Marlins’ winning streak with an 8-4 victory over Miami at Citi Field. The Mets’ offense finally broke out with home runs from Michael Conforto, Pete Alonso, and J.D. Davis. David Peterson had some issues with wildness, but still put together another solid performance, surrendering just two runs over five innings. Jeurys Familia got into trouble in the seventh and Drew Smith was unable to bail him out, allowing the Marlins to inch within a run. But J.D. Davis gave the Mets insurance with his big three-run shot and the reactivated Robert Gsellman, along with Seth Lugo and Justin Wilson each delivered a scoreless inning to secure the victory for the Mets.

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

Prior to last night’s game, Chili Davis said Pete Alonso had been “pressing,” but that the last couple of games were “more Pete.” Alonso’s home run last night indicates that the Mets’ hitting coach may have been right and that would be huge boon for the Mets.

With his 116.9 mph home run in last night’s game, it looks like Alonso might be returning to Polar Bear self from 2019, writes Steve Serby of the New York Post.

“It’s a pleasure to play alongside him,” Amed Rosario said of Andres Gimenez yesterday. “He’s a talent that you can’t hide. It’s super-obvious how talented he is.” Roger Rubin of Newsday covers the infield chemistry, J.D. Davis’ newfound comfort at third base, and David Peterson settling into being a big league starter.

Marcus Stroman threw around 80 pitches in his simulated game on Thursday. Luis Rojas says he’s moving “better,” but still needs to throw another simulated game this week before being activated.

Robert Gsellman struck out two of three batters he faced last night in his return from the injured list and played a pivotal role in the Mets’ win. “His stuff was sharp and you could see the movement from the side, it was just nasty,” manager Luis Rojas said of Gsellman’s performance. “Some weird swings against him, whether it was the slider or the sinker. The sinker looked [nasty], like it was sinking at the very last moment at a high velocity.”

The passing of Horace Clarke inspired Mike Vaccaro to name every New York team’s Horace Clarke equivalent. For the Mets, that was Ron Hodges, who was a stalwart on the awful Mets teams of the mid-to-late 1970s through the early 1980s.

Around the National League East

Daniel Castano’s start against the Mets last night represented the Marlins’ eighth straight game featuring an MLB debut. Castano was one of the prospects Miami acquired in the Marcell Ozuna trade.

Prior to last night’s game, the Marlins made a series of roster moves, including placing reliever Richard Bleier (recently acquired from Baltimore) on the 10-day IL with a triceps strain and calling up switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, who pitched a scoreless inning for Miami last night.

The Phillies blanked the Braves 5-0 behind J.T. Realmuto and Jake Arrieta.

The Orioles came from behind against Sean Doolittle to defeat the Nationals 5-3.

Around Major League Baseball

The lasting effects COVID-19 may have on the heart has health experts worried about athletes. “We have very strong, serious concerns about the potential for covid to affect athletes cardiovascularly,” said Michael Emery, co-director of the sports cardiology department at the Cleveland Clinic, to the Washington Post. “When you look at covid in general, there seems to be a higher predilection for involvement with the heart than about any other virus we’ve seen.”

Joel Sherman of the New York Post outline’s the biggest factors standing in the way of keeping the MLB season on track.

The Cardinals will not be cleared to gather for team workouts for at least 3-5 days. Their series against the Pirates will likely be canceled.

Chris Iannetta accepted a spot on the Yankees’ taxi squad, but made it clear to the team that he would retire if they asked him to go to the minor leagues. The Yankees designated Iannetta for assignment on August 1 and so the veteran catcher has said goodbye to baseball after a 16-year career.

The Giants have placed Jeff Samardzija on the 10-day IL with a shoulder impingement.

In a scary moment in last night’s Pirates game, former Met Phillip Evans was taken off the field on a stretcher following a collision in foul territory.

Giancarlo Stanton, who is dealing with a tight hamstring, is likely heading to the injured list, according to Aaron Boone.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Steve Sypa took a look at the Mets’ upcoming options at first base in their farm system. Spoiler alert: it isn’t great, which is why the Mets hope Pete Alonso will be the team’s first baseman for a long time.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1988, the Mets participated in the first night game at Wrigley Field.