Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin
.TUESDAY
Zac Thornton became the first Mets pitcher with at least six quality starts in their first 10 career games since Steven Matz. The only
other Mets debuting since 2000 to accomplish that feat were Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard.
Carson Benge notched his 11th three-hit game of the season, overtaking the record for a Mets rookie set by Pete Alonso (10) in 2019.
Christopher Morel’s eighth-inning ground out registered a 114.6 mph exit velocity, marking the second-hardest-hit ball by a Met this season.
WEDNESDAY
Dustin May’s one-pitch start marked the shortest outing for an opposing starting pitcher in Mets franchise history. The record was previously held by Cubs right-hander Frank Castillo, who retired leadoff hitter Vince Coleman on three pitches before being relieved due to a right shoulder strain at Wrigley Field on August 10, 1991. The previous record for the shortest start in Citi Field history was held by Bartolo Colon, who threw just four pitches before exiting against the Royals on June 21, 2016, after leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield lined a ball off Colon’s right hand.
THURSDAY
Brett Baty’s 106.8 mph line out off Jacob Misiorowski was the fifth-hardest-hit batted ball anyone has mustered off Miz’s four-seam fastball over his two-year career.
Jackson Chourio became the fifth player to record four or more hits, two or more homers, and at least one stolen base in a game against the Mets, joining George Altman (May 15, 1962), Maury Wills (May 30, 1962), Steve Finley (May 30, 1999), and Ozzie Albies (June 30, 2021). Chourio also became the first home or visiting player to do it at Citi Field.
Jackson Chourio is batting .353 with 3 homers and a 1.036 OPS in eight career games at Citi Field, where he made his debut on Opening Day in 2024. That OPS ranks 12th-best among players with at least 35 plate appearances at the ballpark (Troy Tulowitzki leads the pack with a 1.368 OPS in 58 career plate appearances at Citi Field, with Brandon Lowe and Miguel Cabrera next on the list).
The Brewers are now 20-6 against the Mets in their last 26 regular-season meetings, dating back to September 21, 2022.
The Mets suffered their 12th loss of the season in which they recorded three or fewer hits, tied for the second-most such games in MLB this season behind only the Guardians (13).
FRIDAY
Nate Lavender recorded a 10th straight scoreless appearance to begin his career, tying left-hander Jack Leathersich (debuted in 2015) for the most scoreless appearances to begin a career in franchise history. Joe Smith (debuted in 2007) holds the franchise record with 17 straight.
SATURDAY
Nolan McLean’s 2.83 ERA through 35 career games is the ninth-best among Mets pitchers with a minimum of five innings per outing, behind: Jerry Koosman (2.30), Matt Harvey (2.38), Dwight Gooden (2.47), Jacob deGrom (2.56), Jon Matlack (2.64), Kodai Senga (2.74), Tom Seaver (2.76), and Noah Syndergaard (2.82).
Over his last 11 starts, McLean has tallied 66.1 innings pitched while posting a 1.76 ERA. McLean is the ninth Met since 2000 to record an 11-game single-season span with an ERA below 2.00 while averaging six or more innings per outing, joining: Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, and Max Scherzer.
McLean recorded his 18th start of six or more innings pitched this season, tied for sixth-most in the majors. That total is already tied for third-most by a Met in a season since 2020, trailing Chris Bassitt (23 in 2022) and Max Scherzer (19 in 2022).
SUNDAY
Francisco Lindor hit his 155th home run as a Met, moving past Dave Kingman and into sixth place on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard.
A.J. Ewing racked up his 22nd stolen base of the season, tying Lee Mazzilli in 1977 for second-most by a Mets rookie behind only Mookie Wilson (24 in 1981).
Zac Thornton’s 2.93 ERA through 11 career games is the 12th-best among Mets pitchers with a minimum of five innings per outing, behind: Nolan McLean (2.23), Jim McAndrew (2.26), Tom Seaver (2.43), Matt Harvey (2.44), Steven Matz (2.52), Rob Gardner (2.59), Anthony Young (2.62), Rick Aguilera (2.74), Masato Yoshii (2.77), Nolan Ryan (2.85), and Jason Isringhausen (2.92).
Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
The Mets have gone 11 seasons without a Gold Glove Award winner, with their last one being Juan Lagares in 2014. That marks the second-longest drought in the majors, behind only the Nationals (Adam LaRoche in 2012).
