Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

With the Mets 100 games into the 2025 season and with just over a week to go until the trade deadline, there are two things that are in focus.

First, the Mets -- whether it's by winning the NL East or securing one of the three Wild Card spots -- have a very good chance to return to the postseason, which would mark the first time in the history of the franchise that they've made the playoffs three times in four years.

Second, the Mets -- while having serious upside with their current personnel -- have real issues they must address via trade over the next 10 days if they want to cement their status as legitimate World Series contenders.

We've seen the best of the Mets (their 45-24 start) and the worst of the Mets (their 3-14 stretch), and their swoon over the last month was due in large part to rotation issues that led them to have a whole bunch of bullpen games.

While the rotation has stabilized, there are a handful of reasons why it will be one of four areas of need ranked on this list.

Here it goes...

4. Third base

With Eugenio Suarez possibly out there for the taking, the Mets have to at least explore what it would take to acquire a guy who's been one of the best power hitters in baseball this season.

Adding Suarez would transform and lengthen the lineup, giving New York another imposing bat to add to the "Fab Four" of Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso.

But the competition for him could be fierce, with the Yankees among the teams with a much bigger need at the hot corner than the Mets.

While the Mets don't have any perfect options at third base right now, they have three players who have a chance to get hot and run with the starting job -- Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, and Ronny Mauricio.

Vientos, though his defense at third base isn't great, showed last season that he can help carry a team with his bat.

Baty, a slick fielder, is starting to look more comfortable at the plate. In 69 plate appearances over his last 22 games dating back to June 23, he is slashing .311/.377/.475.

Then there's Mauricio, who has tantalizing power and tools. But he still has a ton of chase in his game.

Odds are the Mets will stand pat here, and hope one of their young players steps up.

3. The starting rotation

On the surface, things look stabilized.

After treading water for a while due to injuries, the rotation is whole again with Kodai Senga, Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Clay Holmes, and Frankie Montas forming a strong staff.

But there are some real concerns, including Manaea's elbow (he's pitching with a loose body in it), Senga's ability to stay on the field, and -- most importantly -- Holmes' potential innings limit.

In his first year since transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation, Holmes has already thrown 108.2 innings. That is by far the highest innings total of his career, and nearly twice as many as he tossed last season (63.0).

Holmes said shortly after signing with the Mets that his goal was to throw "at least" 160.0 innings this season. If that is somewhat of a cap, it means he perhaps has just over 50.0 innings left in his arm this year. Assuming he goes around 5.0 innings per start, that could mean he has nine or 10 starts left.

But even if Holmes makes it that far, the Mets should be concerned about the lack of length they're getting. Holmes hasn't gone more than 5.1 innings since June 7, after going 6.0 innings or more in seven of his first 13 starts.

If the Mets don't address the rotation, they would be playing with fire a bit.

Perhaps they're ready to turn to Brandon Sproat and/or Nolan McLean, and would promote one of them if a need arises. But they should be proactive, which could mean targeting a pending free agent via trade like Merrill Kelly, Seth Lugo, or Zac Gallen, and sliding Holmes to the bullpen for the remainder of the season.

2. Center field

This is a glaring need, and it will be surprising if it isn't addressed via trade.

The nearly season-long injury to Jose Siri has led to New York using mainly Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil in center.

In the case of McNeil, while he hasn't hurt the Mets defensively in center, he belongs at second base.

In the case of Taylor, who was very good for New York last season in a more limited role, his struggles at the plate have become too deep to ignore. He is hitting just .211/.264/.309 with two home runs in 280 plate appearances over 88 games.

While Taylor is elite defensively, his bat is one of the main reasons why New York's bottom of the lineup has struggled so much.

As the Mets look for an upgrade, the two most sensible targets are Cedric Mullins of the Orioles and Luis Robert, Jr. of the White Sox.

Mullins, a pending free agent, has slowed down since a hot start. But he has 13 homers, 14 doubles, and 14 stolen bases, and is coming off four straight seasons where his offensive performance was above average. He is also a really good defender.

Robert would bring a much higher upside, but also comes with serious risk.

He had a .657 OPS last season and it's down to .631 this season. But the aforementioned upside is enormous -- Robert had an .857 OPS over 145 games in 2023. And he's been heating up lately, with a 1.057 OPS over his last 11 games.

Robert isn't a free agent after the year, since he has club options for the next two seasons ($20 million in both 2026 and 2027). But an acquiring team could simply buy him out after the year for $2 million.

1. The bullpen

If center field is a glaring need, the bullpen is a flashing red siren making an ear-splitting noise.

Edwin Diaz is having a phenomenal season, but there is no true bridge to him.

The return of Brooks Raley will help in the late innings, and Jose Butto being back soon should help stabilize things in the middle innings. But the ups and downs of Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek have made acquiring a late-inning reliever a necessity.

As far as who the targets should be, it's fair to argue that Pirates closer David Bednar should be the top one.

After a down season in 2024 and trip to the minors earlier this year, Bednar is back in top form. He has a 2.45 ERA (2.06 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 45 strikeouts in 33.0 innings -- a career-best 12.3 K's per nine.

Bednar is also under team control through 2026, which would give the Mets a potential replacement for Diaz if he opts out after the season and leaves via free agency, but could also make the cost to acquire him very high.

If not Bednar, one of the Orioles' pending free agents such as Gregory Soto or Seranthony Dominguez could make sense.

The day off was unanticipated.

The change to the lineup was even more of a surprise.

In what has become a season-long struggle by Mookie Betts and Dodgers coaches to get the slumping superstar back on track, this weekend brought the most glaring examples of experimentation yet.

First, on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts gave Betts an unexpected off day and providing what he felt was a needed mental reset after sensing Betts — who missed the All-Star Game for the first time in a decade this year — was still off despite his week-long break.

Read more:Freddie Freeman injured as Dodgers are swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, again

Then, on Sunday, Roberts gave the veteran slugger an unexpected challenge: Bumping him up from the two-hole to the leadoff spot in the batting order in hopes it would trigger something amid a career-worst season at the plate.

“Looking at how things are going, where Mookie is at emotionally, mechanics-wise, all in totality,” Roberts said, “I felt that giving him a different look in the lineup, hitting him at the top, something he's obviously been accustomed to throughout his career, will put him in a mindset of just [trying] to get on base and just trying to take good at-bats.”

“There's a lot of internal kind of searching that goes on with the mechanics and things like that,” Roberts added. “But I personally do feel that the external part of it — hitting at the top of the order, having a mindset to get on base — I think will help move this along better.”

It all served as the latest confounding chapter in what has been a trying season for Betts and his once-potent swing, the newest effort by the club to ease the frustration that has weighed on his mind amid a summer-long slump — while waiting for his mechanics to finally get back in sync.

“This is a process I've never been through,” said a clearly-dejected Betts, who entered Monday sporting a .240 batting average (ranking 120th out of 158 qualified MLB hitters), .684 OPS (132nd) and 11 home runs (tied for 89th), to go along with well-below-league-average marks in underlying metrics like average exit velocity (29th percentile among MLB hitters), hard-hit rate (20th percentile) and bat speed (12th percentile).

“I don't have any answers,” he continued. “I don't know how to get through this. I don't know. I'm working every day. Hopefully it turns.”

The leadoff exercise started with mixed results Sunday. Betts singled in the third inning, one at-bat before new No. 2 man Shohei Ohtani hit a home run. But, in a failed ninth-inning rally that sent the Dodgers to a series sweep against the Milwaukee Brewers, he finished a one-for-five day by lining out sharply to center field, ending the game with Ohtani stuck in the on-deck circle.

Betts will continue to lead off for the foreseeable future, with Roberts committing to keeping him at the top of the order — and Ohtani, the team’s previous leadoff hitter, in the two spot — at least until Max Muncy makes his expected return from a knee injury sometime next month.

Read more:New mural at Dodger Stadium honors Fernando Valenzuela

“The only way we'll know, we'll find out, is once we do that for an extended period of time,” Roberts said. “I do think that there will be some fallout from that kind of external mindset of, 'Hey, I'm hitting at the top of the order. My job is to get on base, set the table for Shohei and the guys behind him.' I think that will lead to better performance.”

Until such a turnaround actually materializes, however, the search for answers to Betts’ struggles will go on, with the Dodgers continuing to try to unravel the mystery behind a sudden, unsettling slump no one saw coming.

“I just got to play better,” Betts said. “I got to figure it out.”

Indeed, while his superstar teammates were at All-Star festivities in Atlanta last week, Betts spent the break back home in Nashville, working on his swing at a private training facility.

In one clip that emerged on social media, Betts was seen doing one of the many drills that have helped him maintain offensive excellence over his 12 big-league seasons: Taking hacks with a yellow ball pressed snuggly between his elbows, trying to promote the fluid and connected motion that has eluded him this year.

“With Mookie, a lot of it has to do with how his arms and hands work, and getting his arm structure properly lined up,” hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc said. “It sets up how the bat slots, and how his body sequences.”

For Betts, a 5-foot-10 talent who has long exceeded expectations as one of the sport’s most undersized sluggers, such mechanical efficiency has always been paramount.

As he noted early this season, when his slump first came into focus in early May, he has never had the same margin for error as some of the sport’s more physically gifted star hitters. He can’t muscle doubles or hit home runs off the end of his bat. He can’t afford to have a bad bat path or disjointed swing sequence and be the same hitter who, just two years ago, batted .307 with 39 home runs.

“I can’t, unfortunately, not have my A-swing that day but still run into something and [have it] go over the fence or whatever,” Betts said back then. “Even when I have my A-swing, if I don’t get it, it’s not gonna be a homer. If I don’t flush that ball in that gap, they’re gonna catch it.”

And this season, much to his chagrin, flushing line drives and cranking big flies has become a frustrating rarity.

Identifying the reason why has led to countless potential theories.

At the start of the year, Betts believed he created bad swing habits while recovering from a March stomach bug that saw him lose 20 pounds and some of his already underwhelming bat speed.

But as he tried reverting to mental cues and mechanical feels that had recalibrated him in the past, nothing seemed to click in the same way they once did.

“The cues and feels that I've used my whole life, in Boston and L.A., just don't work anymore,” he said this weekend. “So I'm just trying to find out who I am now, what works now.”

Read more:Dodgers pitchers can't hold back Brewers, who beat L.A. for fifth time this month

Some of that, of course, could be attributed to age. Betts will be 33 by the end of this season. He is coming up on 1,500 career games. Inevitably, even players of his caliber eventually start to decline physically.

Roberts, however, framed it more through the lens of evolution. On the one hand, he said of Betts, “I know he's still in his prime. I know he's as strong as he's been in quite some time.” However, the manager added, “his body has changed and will continue to change,” requiring Betts to find new ways to maximize the power the team still believes he possesses.

“That’s the nature of hitting,” Van Scoyoc said. “He has to find something for him that works organically, that gets him lined up again.”

This dynamic is why, to both Betts and the Dodgers, his full-time move to shortstop this season hasn’t been to blame.

Betts has repeatedly pushed back against that narrative, pointing to the MVP-caliber numbers he posted while playing the position during the first half of last year (before a broken hand cost him two months and forced him to return to right field for the Dodgers’ World Series run) and the two-week tear with which he started this season (when he batted .304 with four home runs over his first 15 games).

And though his new defensive role has come with some added challenges — Betts said on his Bleacher Report podcast last month that his daily pregame workload has increased while playing shortstop, to the point “it probably does weigh on you a little bit hitting” — he has also emphasized the confidence he has gained from his defensive improvements; his shortstop play serving as the one thing that has gone right in a season of offensive misery.

"I just can't see that you go out there and stick him in right field tonight and he's going to throw out two hits or three hits, or he goes to second base and he's going to go on a heater,” Roberts echoed earlier this month, before reiterating Sunday that the team has not considered changing Betts’ position. “That's hard for me to kind of imagine. It's a fair ask. But I just don't see that as the case."

Instead, the focus has remained not only on Betts’ flawed swing mechanics, but the resulting side effects it has had on his approach at the plate.

One stat that jumped out to Roberts recently: In Betts’ last 99 plate appearances, he has walked only one time — a shockingly low number for a hitter with a walk rate of nearly 11% over his career.

To Roberts, it’s a sign that Betts, in his ongoing search to get his swing synced up, is failing to accomplish the even more fundamental task of working good counts and waiting out mistakes.

“If you're ‘in-between’ on spin versus velocity, and [getting in bad] counts, you're not as convicted [with your swing],” Roberts said, tying all of Betts’ problems into one self-fulfilling cycle that has only further perpetuated his lack of results. “So my eyes tell me he's been ‘in-between’ a lot.”

Which is why, in recent weeks, Roberts had started to mull the idea of moving Betts into the leadoff spot.

After all, the manager hypothesized, if Betts can’t find his swing by grinding in the batting cage and analyzing his mechanics — as he did during his off day on Saturday — then maybe reframing his mindset in games can better help him get there.

“It speaks to how much faith I have in him as a ballplayer,” Roberts said. “To, where he's scuffling, not move him down but ironically move him higher in the order. “I think that kind of support, and the different way that he'll see the lineup as it's presented each day, will kind of lead into a different mindset and I think that'll be a good thing for all of us."

For now, the Dodgers can only hope.

With Muncy still out, Freddie Freeman having his own recent slump compounded by a ball that hit him in the left wrist on Sunday, and the Dodgers stuck in a current 2-10 spiral that has seen their once-comfortable division lead dwindle leading up to the trade deadline, they need the old Betts more than ever right now.

Thus far, the search for answers has met no end.

“It's hard,” Betts said, “but I got to figure it out at some point."

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz named AL Player of the Week after golden three games originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The rookie’s résumé continues to impress.

Athletics star first baseman Nick Kurtz was awarded his first career AL Player of the Week award on Monday after hitting .583 with seven hits, including four doubles and a triple, and four RBI with a home run over three games against the Cleveland Guardians between July 18-20.

Nick came knockin’ 😤

Congratulations to Nick Kurtz on being named AL Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/LQ1tH8eCBz

— Athletics (@Athletics) July 21, 2025

Kurtz is the first A’s player to take home the honor since outfielder Lawrence Butler did on Sept. 3, 2024, and the first A’s rookie to do so since Yoenis Céspedes on July 16, 2012. The 22-year-old also became the first rookie to win Player of the Week this season and the first since Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero and Chicago Cubs infielder Michael Busch did on Sept. 15, 2024.

Selected No. 4 overall by the A’s in the 2024 MLB Draft, Kurtz has wasted no time dominating the big leagues. He’s slashing .348/.601/.949 with 60 hits, 48 RBI and 18 homers through his first 61 games with the Green and Gold and is on pace to be a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year alongside A’s teammate and star shortstop Jacob Wilson.

Not only is Kurtz one of the best rookies in baseball, but he simply is one of the game’s top first basemen. And he’s doing it with a mere 33 minor-league games under his belt.

Nick Kurtz since May 20th among first baseman:

HR: 17 (1st)
RBI: 42 (1st)
ISO: .454 (1st in MLB)
AVG: .312 (4th)
OBP: .395 (1st)
SLG: .766 (1st in MLB)
wOBA: .477 (1st in MLB)
wRC+: 209 (1st in MLB)
fWAR: 2.2 (1st)

Should be the ROY favorite#Athleticspic.twitter.com/mF3Si5GZHq

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) July 21, 2025

The sky appears to be the limit for Kurtz. And, despite the A’s — with a 42-59 record — being last in the AL West, Kurtz, along with Wilson, are headlining what has been a fun, young core building by the day in West Sacramento.

Kurtz’s first Player of the Week nod surely won’t be his last.

Red Sox among ‘best fits' for these trade candidates, MLB insiders say originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are expected to be active ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has clearly stated his desire to add “impact starting pitching” before 6 p.m. ET on July 31.

While pitching is undoubtedly the priority, the Red Sox could also look to upgrade at first base and catcher. Breslow should be aggressive in his efforts to improve the roster, with Boston currently in postseason contention and aiming to clinch its first playoff berth since 2021.

So, which players should be on Breslow’s radar? ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel listed the Red Sox as one of the “best fits” for these eight potential trade candidates:

• Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara
• Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera
• Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly
• Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman/designated hitter Josh Naylor
• Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic
• Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller
• Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Taj Bradley
• Baltimore Orioles first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn

Cabrera, Kelly, Bubic, and Keller were also featured in our list of 10 starting pitchers Boston should target in trades. Naylor and O’Hearn were among our five potential position player targets.

As for Alcantara and Bradley, both are in the midst of down seasons to varying degrees. Alcantara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, has a 7.14 ERA and 1.495 WHIP across 19 starts. Bradley has a 4.35 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 20 starts.

Alcantara is the more realistic — albeit less enticing — option of the two. The 29-year-old is under team control through 2026 while the 24-year-old Bradley is under contract through 2029.

Breslow has used the phrase “impact starting pitching” multiple times when asked about Boston’s trade deadline priority. That would suggest he is eyeing a true No. 2 starter to slot behind ace Garrett Crochet, in which case Kelly, Bubic, and Keller appear to be the most sensible options on the list.

This upcoming trade deadline will be critical for the Red Sox, and it could ultimately seal Breslow’s fate as Boston’s front-office leader. Last season, his first as Chaim Bloom’s replacement, Breslow traded for catcher Danny Jansen, right-hander Quinn Priester, and relievers Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia. The Red Sox missed the postseason, and none of those four players are still with the team.

As the trade deadline looms, the Marlins could have a serious impact on the league market, especially with attractive pitchers such as right-hander Edward Cabrera potentially available.

Cabrera, a "stuff" monster who has enchanted prospect hypers for years, offers a tantalizing five-pitch mix, including a dazzling, hard changeup.

If talent were the only quality involved, it’d be an easy call to urge the Mets to pursue a deal. But, of course, Cabrera is more complicated -- aren’t we all? -- and the idea of trading for him requires a deeper dive.

We’ll start with the givens: Cabrera has massive ability. The Mets have massive pitching needs, even though the early body of work they’ve banked left them with a 3.41 starters ERA entering Sunday, fifth-best in MLB. Only four teams were getting fewer innings per start than the Mets, which is increasing bullpen stress in Queens.

Even with their rotation seemingly whole now, the Mets need arms to navigate the rest of the regular season schedule and, they hope, well beyond. Is Cabrera an answer?

Let’s look at the pros and cons...

Pros

Despite his enormous promise, Cabrera, 27, has struggled to find consistency or even pitch consistently. This year, however, he might be blossoming. Entering play Sunday, Cabrera had a 3.61 ERA in 16 starts.

His overall ERA would be much more attractive (2.78) if you drop two April duds, in which he gave up a total of 10 earned runs in eight innings in starts against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. In an 11-start span from May 4 to July 6, Cabrera had a 2.11 ERA.

His walk rate of 3.3 per nine innings would be the lowest of his career over a full season, and he’s already delivered 82.1 innings. He has never reached 100 innings in the majors before, but he will this year -- assuming he does not miss time because of an injury.

His changeup, which he throws the most, averages 93.8 mph. It’s the fourth-hardest changeup in MLB. He’s also increased the use of his 83 mph curve ball and that’s helped him -- opponents have a batting average of .129 on at-bats that end on the curve.

Cabrera also has a fastball that averages nearly 97 mph -- though, at times, he has trouble commanding it. That may explain why he throws it the least of any of his five pitches, including a sinker and slider.

Another pro: Cabrera, who's making $1.95 million this season, comes with club control for three seasons beyond this one. This means he isn't a free agent until after the 2028 season. He’s no rental.

Cons

What do you believe about his season? Breakout or mirage? And what about his injury history, which is part of the reason he hasn’t reached triple digits in innings pitched in any big league season?

A shoulder injury limited him in both 2023 and 2024, and he left his last start before the All-Star break this season with discomfort in his right elbow. He went for an MRI and it came back clean. He is scheduled to start Tuesday when the Marlins play the Padres.

Because he has so much club control remaining through arbitration, he’s much more valuable than a free-agent-to-be. But that also makes him more expensive in terms of trade chips, especially in a market that could be thin in available starting pitchers. Cabrera appears to have a lofty ceiling, too.

Yes, the club control is both a pro and a con. Weird, right? It is what it is.

And there’s also this: the Marlins entered play on Sunday only five games out of a playoff spot, sitting at 46-51 and in third place in the NL East.

They perhaps don’t profile as everybody’s most likely playoff team this season, but their lot in baseball life doesn’t exactly demand that they trade a pitcher like Cabrera right now, either. He’s not a pending free agent.

If the Marlins trade away controllable young studs, who’s going to fuel their ongoing rebuild? Then again, if they do trade a player with this much control -- who they presumably know better than anyone else -- what, exactly, does that mean?

Verdict

The Mets could use Cabrera -- who couldn’t, really? -- but this feels like a price tag that will soar quickly, unless the Diamondbacks and Twins flood the market with starters, too. Teams might be reluctant to part with top prospects because of his injury history, but the talent is there.

If Cabrera costs one premium prospect, it’s worth thinking about because of his age, the remaining control -- four pennant races total! -- and because he’s shown ability against big league beasts. Cabrera isn’t just a hopeful on a prospect list thriving in a league made up of generally-lesser players.

The Diamondbacks found themselves out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break, and while that could change, it's looking more and more likely that Arizona will be sellers at the trade deadline.

Arizona has some talented players on expiring contracts that teams like the Yankees could use for their own World Series pursuits.Eugenio Suarez and Zac Gallen are two such names, and so is Merrill Kelly.

The veteran right-hander revitalized his career a few years back and has become one of the more reliable arms in the Diamondbacks' rotation.

With the Yankees in need of a starter to help their injury-riddled rotation, should they look to bring in Kelly?

Pros

Kelly may have begun his big league career late, but time has been kind to the 36-year-old. Since making his debut in 2019, Kelly has made at least 27 starts in four of those seasons, with the two outliers being the 2020 shortened year and in 2024 when he dealt with numerous injuries. He's also already made 20 starts this year and is on pace to reach 30 starts barring an injury. That shows how reliable Kelly has been for Arizona, which is a great ability to have -- especially for the Yankees, who have seen starters drop all year.

Not only has Kelly been durable, but he's been effective. He's never finished a season with an ERA above 4.44, and his WHIP has never reached 1.30 since his rookie year.

Kelly's numbers aren't flashy, as he doesn't strike out a lot of batters and his average fastball sits in the low 90s, but he doesn't get into too much trouble. This season, batters are hitting .207 against him -- a career-best -- and his 1.05 WHIP is the lowest since 2020. Batters are also chasing at a 31.3 percent clip, which is in the 82nd percentile in MLB, and whiff at a 25.6 percent rate -- which is in the 56th percentile.

Kelly is also in the final year of his deal, which, while making him a rental, allows the Yankees to fill the holes left by missing starters like Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt, who are lost for the season.

Cons

There's very little risk to acquiring Kelly considering his contract, but it depends on what Arizona will ask for. The Diamondbacks can't possibly ask for top prospects, but who knows how the market can play out.

And then there's Kelly's age. Yes, he's been durable for the majority of his career but he's coming off a season where he had a shoulder injury that cost him three months. The potential for any pitcher to go down with an injury is there, but Kelly could be at risk because of his age.

As for Kelly's stuff, he's very good but this season has seen hitters square him up regularly. Batters have an average exit velocity of 90.8. Last season, they had an average of 90.5, which ranked in the bottom nine percent of MLB. So while he's getting plenty of whiffs and chases, if he misses with his location, he's at risk of getting hit hard.

Verdict

Between Zac Gallen and Kelly, the Yankees should go for Kelly. Gallen's ceiling is higher, but Kelly's floor is. And for a rental the Yanks could use Kelly as a stop-gap instead of a potential long-term answer in the rotation.

He can slide behind Max Fried and Carlos Rodon as the team's No. 3 starter to give New York a potent rotation for any postseason series.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Angels play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Monday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

---

5 things to watch

Francisco Alvarez's return

After spending a month with Triple-A Syracuse, Alvarez is returning to the Mets ahead of Monday's series-opener.

When David Stearns discussed Alvarez's demotion, he said the things they wanted to see from him were "not statistical." Reading between the lines, that meant one of the things they wanted him to improve was his defense -- something that was giving him serious trouble before he was sent down.

Meanwhile, Alvarez -- who homered in his final game with New York before being sent to Syracuse -- carried that with him to the minors, going on an eye-popping power tear.

While in Triple-A, Alvarez smashed 11 home runs, including one he cracked over the batter's eye in center field on Sunday.

As was the case when Alvarez was sent down, the Mets' bottom of the order has been struggling to produce. But if the 23-year-old catcher can start putting together consistent at-bats and be a serious power threat, it can change the dynamic of the lineup.

The center field situation

The Mets continue to patch center field together by using Tyrone Taylor and Jeff McNeil. But the case can be made that McNeil should be getting nearly every start.

While center isn't McNeil's natural spot, he's done an admirable job there. He also has an .813 OPS.

As far as Taylor, he's been mired in a deep slump and is hitting just .211/.264/.309 with a .572 OPS and 66 OPS+. He provides elite defense, but his bat is hurting the Mets badly.

It's expected that New York will trade for a center fielder ahead of the July 31 deadline. But until then, it should be McNeil who's out there.

Can the starting rotation provide length?

The only Mets starter who has been providing serious length is David Peterson, who tossed 6.0 strong innings during Sunday's win over the Reds.

Sean Manaea just came back from the IL and is being eased back in, while Clay Holmes is having his innings managed in what is his first season since transitioning from the bullpen.

The inability of the starters to go deep has put undue stress on the bullpen, which started to wilt late in the first half.

Against the Angels, New York will be sending Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, and Manaea to the mound.

Senga, like Manaea, is still getting fully stretched out after returning from the IL. He went 4.0 innings in his first start back while tossing 67 pitches, so he should conceivably be good throw around 80 pitches this time around.

The same pitch number could be a target for Manaea, who was limited to 69 pitches over 4.0 innings during his start this past Friday.

The Angels have serious punch

Los Angeles is 49-50 and likely headed for another finish that has them missing the postseason. But their offense can be dangerous.

With Mike Trout (17 homers, .834 OPS), Jo Adell (21 homers, .805 OPS), Taylor Ward (23 homers, .795 OPS), Zach Neto (15 homers, .816 OPS), and Logan O'Hoppe (17 homers, .703 OPS), the Angels' lineup is formidable.

That potential hasn't always translated, with the Angels in the middle of the pack in the AL as far as runs scored.

But Los Angeles has been hot lately, scoring 36 runs over the last six games, which included them talking two of three from the Phillies over the weekend.

Los Angeles' pitching leaves a lot to be desired

The Mets won't be facing the Angels' two best starters during this series, with Yusei Kikuchi (3.13 ERA) and Jose Soriano (3.83 ERA) not lined up to pitch.

Los Angeles will be sending out Tyler Anderson (4.34 ERA) and Kyle Hendricks (4.88 ERA) in the first two games in New York, and haven't yet named a starter for Wednesday's series finale.

Overall this season, the Angels have surrendered 496 runs -- the third-most in the AL and fifth-most in baseball.

The only teams that have allowed more runs than the Angels are the Rockies, Athletics, Nationals, and Orioles.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Juan Soto

Despite his homer on Friday, Soto has been relatively cold to start the second half. That ends here.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Sean Manaea

Manaea has allowed just two runs in 7.1 innings while striking out 13 in his first two appearances of the season.

Which Angels player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Jo Adell

Adell launched two homers over the weekend in Philadelphia.

Athletics' ‘untouchable' Mason Miller trade stance reportedly subject to change originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Mason Miller, who long has been considered off-limits in Athletics trade discussions, actually could be on the trade block.

The Green and Gold might be inclined to move on from the MLB All-Star closer if they receive a compelling offer from one of the league’s top contenders, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Monday.

“A year ago, Athletics closer Mason Miller was untouchable,” Rosenthal wrote. “To this point, the A’s messaging this season – we’re not talking about him – is pretty much the same. But according to sources briefed on the team’s plans, that stance is subject to change.

“The way the A’s see it, only a few teams are bold enough to propose an offer for Miller worthy of consideration. General manager David Forst might engage those teams as the deadline nears. But for now, he appears willing to let them grow more desperate.”

Miller, 26, would be a grand addition to any club. 

The righty has collected 47 saves since becoming the Athletics’ closer to start the 2024 campaign and holds a 3.22 ERA for his career. Known for his dynamite fastball, Miller has earned 57 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings during the 2025 MLB season and 199 strikeouts over 100 career appearances.

Rosenthal expects some top teams to be in play for Miller.

“The Philadelphia Phillies, who reached agreement Sunday with free-agent reliever David Robertson, probably would be No. 1 on the list,” Rosenthal wrote. “The Los Angeles Dodgers, with free agents Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates performing below expectations, almost certainly would be in the mix. So would the New York Yankees, who face the losses of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to free agency.

“The San Diego Padres just sent three relievers to the All-Star Game, but general manager A.J. Preller can never be ruled out on top talent. Nor, for that matter, can Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.”

Miller would cost a pretty penny, as his contract is one of the biggest bargains in baseball. Under team control through 2029 through salary arbitration, Miller is making $765,000 in 2025.

Rosenthal doesn’t consider Miller to be a shoo-in to be traded, as many analysts do with A’s ace Luis Severino. Though, if a team makes an enticing deal that meets the A’s “exorbitant” price tag, then serious conversations likely will proceed regarding Miller.

Justin Verlander seemingly roasted by umpire in odd Giants-Blue Jays ejection originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It wasn’t a great weekend for Justin Verlander and the Giants.

San Francisco was swept by the Toronto Blue Jays in three games at Rogers Centre, one of which the veteran pitcher toed the rubber for and surrendered four earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings on Friday.

The 42-year-old then was ejected in the top of the sixth inning of Sunday’s 8-6 loss after he had choice words for home plate umpire Chad Whitson from the dugout.

Whitson, after ejecting Verlander from the game, appeared to fire a jab back at the Giants starting pitcher.

"How about you worry about getting out of the third inning, huh?"

Umpire Chad Whitson with a wayyyyy out of bounds shot at Justin Verlander when he ejected the future Hall of Famer on Sunday🥴 pic.twitter.com/ebenZX5CB0

— KNBR (@KNBR) July 21, 2025

“How ’bout you worry about getting out of the third inning, huh?” Whitson appeared to tell Verlander, referencing his short outing on Friday.

It appears Verlander and the Giants’ frustrations might have been valid, given Whitson’s missed calls in the game:

Umpire: Chad Whitson
Final: Giants 6, Blue Jays 8#SFGiants // #LightsUpLetsGo#SFvsTOR // #TORvsSF

More stats for this ump 👇https://t.co/pWyMlcP6V2pic.twitter.com/C1VbnqF1Te

— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) July 21, 2025

The Giants ultimately have nobody but themselves to blame for their current five-game losing streak, and will turn to rookie Hayden Birdsong on Monday as they begin a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.

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