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Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
★★★
The Mets have had a mostly middling summer after a tremendous start to 2015, but they seem like they might be back on track -- and just in time, too, as they began the first series after the trade deadline taking on the first-place Nationals. Three games and three victories later, the Mets have a share of first place in the National League East, with both clubs sporting a .524 winning percentage, separated only by the two fewer games the Nats have played that technically put them ahead in the standings.
Yoenis Cespedes, acquired right before the deadline, didn’t do much in this series given he played in just two of the three games in the series and only had the one hit. He did play in center and left, though, and his ability to do both will help a Mets’ outfield that has had its issues this year thanks to down seasons from both Michael Cuddyer and Juan Lagares. And hey, the Mets managed to sweep their rivals without their big acquisition doing much of anything, and now they have a share of first place in August for the first time at all since 2008: when Cespedes actually gets a chance to do Cespedes things, it’ll be in games where he’s necessary.
The real standout of Sunday was Noah Syndergaard, who was added to the rotation well after the Mets’ initial surge in 2015. Sunday’s start was his 15th of 2015 and of his career, and while he allowed two homers, they were both solo shots. Thor struck out nine Nationals and allowed no other baserunners besides the two that reached with homers, going eight innings on 109 pitches. Maybe most importantly, he looked as strong at the game’s end as he did at its beginning. The Mets hope their season has a similar path, but for now, they can enjoy that they’ve caught back up to the team that was considered the MLB favorites. The Mets and Nats have six games left to play head-to-head, and each one of them could end up carrying significant weight. Given the last few years, that itself is a victory for the Mets.
SB Nation presents: Mets in first despite trade debacle
- David Price gave a new jersey to a young Blue Jays fan who showed up wearing a homemade one.
- A.J. Burnett will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the damage in his elbow. The 17-year veteran won’t undergo surgery even if he needs it and he won’t switch to the bullpen: this could be terrible news for the playoff-hopeful Pirates.
- Well, it didn’t take long for Brandon Moss’ infusion of Cardinals Devil Magic, that’s for sure.
- There were fake umpires in attendance at Sunday’s Mets-Nationals game, and they were on point.
- The Rockies are calling up top prospect Jon Gray to start against the Mariners on Tuesday.
- The Blue Jays and Royals saw their benches clear -- yes, the Royals again, who would have figured -- over pitchers throwing at hitters, and the near-battle turned into a war of words on Twitter as well following some combative post-game comments.
- New Tigers prospect JaCoby Jones hit his first three homers at Double-A in the same game, two of which have video you can watch.
- Dan Haren, picked up by the Cubs from the Marlins at the trade deadline, is likely to retire at the end of the season.
- The Red Sox placed Rick Porcello on the disabled list with a triceps strain, and in his place will start lefty pitching prospect Henry Owens on Tuesday against the Yankees.
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