The Mets came into this game having lost the first two games of the series and, after taking two of three from the first place Braves, the vibes were once again in the tank. Thankfully, However, the Mets’ young ace and eight members of the starting lineup all contributed to a big win this afternoon, taking the series finale 9-1.
Nolan McLean came out strong early in the game, shutting down the Reds without too much tourlbe and, for the first time in this series, gave the Mets a fair chance to compete.
Of course, the Mets didn’t help themselves early on, grounding into double plays in each of the first two innings. However, they took their first lead of the series in the top of the third inning against Nick Lodolo. Luis Torrens led off with an infield single, was moved to second on a Zack Short sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a Carson Benge ground out and, after a walk to Bo Bichette, scored on a bloop single by Juan Soto to put the Mets up 1-0.
Marcus Semien kept the line moving, lining a single over third base, scoring Bichette and advancing Soto to third. Mark Vientos then continued his two-game hot streak, singling to the left side of the infield and scoring Soto, and the Mets had a three-run lead.
Of course, this being the 2026 Mets, the bottom of the inning saw things go sideways. With one out, Jose Trevino reached base on an error by Vientos at first. A Matt McLain single double could not sore Trevino, but put runners on second and third. McLean then plunked Edwin Arroyo to load the bases. A line drive to the right center field gap was chased down by a diving A.J. Ewing, but Trevino scored from third tagging up, cutting the Mets’ lead to two. Ewing covered a ton of ground to get to the ball, and fully laid out to make the very impressive catch. Sal Stewart grounded out to third to end the threat and the frame.
Back to back to back singles by Bichette, Soto, and Semien put three on with one out in the top of the fifth. An opposite field sac fly by Vientos scored Bichette and restored the Mets’ three-run lead. Alvarez then hit a slow single through the five hole, allowing Soto to race home from second, just barely beating a tag from catcher Trevino.
A double off the outfield wall from Ewing cleared the bases and put the Mets up 7-1, and that would do it for Lodolo. Seven runs on 11 hits, two walks, and two strikeouts would be the end of Lodolo’s day, although he was still responsible for the runner at second. Chris Paddack relieved Lodolo, inducing a lineout off the bat of Torrens and mercifully ending the inning. Paddack would take the Reds through the end of the game in relief.
In the sixth, McLean ran into his second trouble spot of the afternoon, allowing a walk, a fielder’s choice, and a two-out double by Nathaniel Lowe to put runners at second and third with Eugenio Suárez coming to the plate. However, McLean induced a fly ball to right for Carson Benge to handle to end the frame.
McLean continued his climb back to his 2025 performance, focusing far more on his four-seam fastball, and seeing excellent results. Not only was McLean successful in limiting runs, he was also efficient with his pitches, throwing 101 pitches over seven innings. He allowed just one unearned run on one walk and three hits, striking out nine in an overall excellent start.
In the McLain versus McLean battle of the homophones, in three plate appearances, McLain struck out twice against one double. It was close, but McLean edged out McLain.
The Mets added on in the eighth, with Benge hitting a one-out triple and scoring on a Bichette single. I know this is a risky thing to say, but the Bichette resurgence appears to be real. A Soto double would score Bichette from first to put the Mets up 9-1.
Brooks Raley came in to pitch the eighth, working around an error at short by Short and a double by Stewart to keep the Mets’ lead to eight runs. Austin Warren gave up a one-out double down the right-field line to Noelvi Marte and a walk to McLain, but buckled down and closed out the game without allowing a run.
While it is always nice to see the Mets avoid a sweep, the inconsistency of this team is something that doesn’t provide a lot of hope for the rest of the season. Yes, they are 3-3 over their last six games, but it is truly bizarre to see how they can hold their own against the powerhouse Braves and then wilt against the sub-.500 Reds? It’s truly bizarre.
The Mets travel to the City of Brotherly Love tomorrow for a three game series against the second place Phillies, interrupted by a World Cup off-day on Friday. Sean Manaea will face off against Aaron Nola in game one.
Side note: Steve Gelbs had his worst hot dog of the season thus far, furthering the feud between Mets’ broadcasters and the cuisine of Western Ohio. This seemed like the natural response to the Reds’ broadcast’s distaste for the Skyline Chili egg roll.
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Big Mets winner: Nolan McLean, +19.0% WPA
Big Mets loser: Carson Benge, -7.0% WPA
Mets pitchers: +31.0% WPA
Mets hitters: +19.0% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Marcus Semien’s RBI single, +10.4% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Matt McLean’s doube, -8.6% WPA
