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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns held media availabilities before Friday's 7:10 p.m. game against the Colorado Rockies on SNY. In addition to injury updates, there were comments on catcher Francisco Alvarez's 2025 season struggles, infielder Ronny Mauricio's hot Triple-A start and the MLB trade deadline.

Francisco Alvarez will 'continue to get opportunities'

After Luis Torrens started Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox, Alvarez returns to the lineup in the eighth spot and enters Friday slashing .243/.341/.311 with one home run and seven RBI through 22 games.

"We saw he was having a hard time against velo, but I'm going to continue to say we need him and I'm going to continue to give him chances," Mendoza said. "Yeah, Luis is playing well. But Alvy is a really good player, too.

"So, whether it's lefties, righties, he's going to continue to get opportunities and he's in there today."

The Mets activated Alvarez on April 25 from the 10-day injured list, where he was placed on March 27 due to his hamate fracture. Alvarez returned to the Mets after a rehab assignment that started April 9 with Low-A St. Lucie before progressing to Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse.

"A player who made a very significant swing change in the offseason, lost all of spring training -- or almost all of spring training -- got off to a late start and has probably been fighting himself to this point," Stearns said. "I think he hasn't produced at the level he's accustomed to producing.

"He's working really hard to continue to refine his swing, to get it to a place that he feels really comfortable with, and I think we all would expect that we're going to see better production going forward than what we've seen in his relatively brief stint since he's come off the IL."

Ronny Mauricio 'hitting lasers'

Through seven games with Triple-A Syracuse, Mauricio is slashing .560/.586/.960 with three home runs and seven RBI.

What does Mauricio, who missed the 2024 season with a torn right ACL before starting this year with St. Lucie and Syracuse, have to do for a look?

"He's doing a great job," Stearns said. "No. 1 is health and getting him back and building up the volume, and we're continuing to do that. But any time you see players consistently hitting lasers all over the field, which is what he's doing right now in Triple-A, you pay attention. We're paying attention and we'll continue to monitor that and see where it goes."

"I think we're most focused on him getting the reps under him, getting the volume, hopefully continuing to swing a really hot bat," Stearns added. "Once we get to that point, he gives us something to think about."

2025 MLB trade deadline

July 31 at 6 p.m. is still two months away, but moves are already being made. This week, the Cincinnati Reds traded 2023 All-Star reliever Alexis Diaz, Edwin Diaz's brother, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With a good chunk of the big leagues appearing to be unlikely for postseason contention, Stearns was asked about his thoughts on whether the trade deadline could move earlier than normal.

"I haven't seen anything yet or heard anything yet that makes me suggest that's going to be an unusually early period, but that can certainly change if one club decides that they want to engage early and could spur action," he said. "But to this point, it certainly seems that that's going to be a little bit more of a traditional, later-in-the-process-type deadline."

SNY's Andy Martino is responding to and breaking down answers to Mets questions from readers. Here's the latest...

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Is there anything under the hood about the Mets' approach with runners in scoring position this season that you observed/have found out from your reporting that has led to their poor numbers? What, if any, changes do you expect to see to remedy this? - @John_Uhen

Because you asked this fine question, I relayed it to David Stearns during his media availability. Better to hear from him than me, right? Here’s the exchange:

Little ol’ me: Do you have a personal belief on the runners in scoring position issue generally -- that it's statistical randomness, or if there's something about an approach? When you have a team that's struggling with that for a period, is there anything that can be done, or is it just one of those things that resolves itself?

Stearns: I think there is a skill in slowing down the moment, and I think there is a skill in handling pressure. And in putting yourself in the best frame of mind to succeed in those moments when the intensity is a little higher. Once you do all of that, I think the result is still somewhat random, and there are still smaller sample sizes by nature with runners in scoring position.

With that said, we clearly have not been good in that spot over the course of the year, and more recently, over the last 10 days, two weeks. And so I do think we have to start from the position of, is there something we can control? Is there something we can look at to get better? We're certainly doing that work, that investigation. Our players are extremely aware of this. And sometimes you wonder, is that actually a good thing or a bad thing to be as aware of this as they all are?

So yes, I think performing in high-pressure situations is a skill that can be learned and improved over time and with experience.

Juan Soto should lead off. Thoughts? - @GF1134755

It’s a logical thought, but Lindor might have something to say about it. He does awfully well in that spot, too.

Which team smells better the Mets or the Yankees - @sotoobsessedNYY

The smells of the locker room are typically sweat, cologne and sometimes Icy Hot. Neither the Yankees nor the Mets hold a clear advantage in this space.

RONNY MAURICIO!!!!

We got a ton of Ronny Mauricio questions. Like, where will he fit? This will resolve itself. Not every prospect pans out, and if Mauricio turns out to be among those who does stick, someone else won't. The Mets have depth on their side here. He’s not yet physically ready to play in the big leagues, the Mets say.

SNY's Andy Martino is responding to and breaking down answers to Yankees questions from readers. Here's the latest...

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You think the Yanks are getting Jazz Chisholm Jr. reps at 3B because they think the 2B market at the deadline might have more options than 3B does? - @MaxMannis

Yes. That is exactly the reason. And an under-discussed aspect of this story is how admirably team-first Chisholm is acting in this situation. It stretches back to last summer, when he learned the nuances of a difficult position during a pennant race and postseason. Even into October, Chisholm was still working to master the cuts, relays and other aspects of a job that he had never before done.

Asked again this year by the manager -- who knows firsthand how difficult it is to play third base at a high level -- to leave a more comfortable spot at second base, Chisholm is doing it. As a result, the Yankees have the option to trade for a middle infielder.

It’s hard to imagine how on earth this guy left Miami with anything other than a sterling reputation.

Will the Yankees' concerns about the luxury tax cause them to move salary in order to take back significant salary at the trade deadline? - @FrankLo9

It’s true that the Yankees' post-Juan Soto spree left them at the limits of their willingness to spend. In fact, it was no sure thing that they would stretch for Paul Goldschmidt until folks in baseball operations made a strong case for doing so.

But that was the offseason budget. Teams almost always leave payroll in reserve for the trade deadline, and the Yankees are always aggressive when they feel they have the chance to win. I would not expect that to change in a year in which a championship is a reachable goal.

I know you have reported on this before, but any updates on Cashman’s future with the Yankees? Contract is up after next season - @Rick12_85

That’s true, I reported in my book last year that many of Brian Cashman’s colleagues expect this contract to be his last as GM. I asked Cashman directly about it before writing that, and he would not confirm or deny.

Admittedly, I have not followed up with him recently. But I can tell you that the general expectation among many of those around him remains the same. It does not mean that anything is settled, but Cashman believes that he has plenty of “pretty f---ing good” people in the office group who could serve as heirs.

As previously reported, VP of player development Kevin Reese is seen internally as a leading candidate. Cashman also holds a high opinion of assistant GM Michael Fishman and director of baseball operations Matt Ferry. He’ll almost certainly have a strong voice in naming a successor, whenever that day comes.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and president of baseball operations David Stearns held media availabilities before Friday's 7:10 p.m. game against the Colorado Rockies on SNY. Injury updates from them on right-handers Paul Blackburn and Frankie Montas, left-hander Sean Manaea and outfielder Jose Siri are below.

Paul Blackburn joining six-man rotation

Blackburn, whom the Mets placed on the injured list in late March due to right knee inflammation, is entering New York's starting rotation as the sixth man and will do so during next week's four-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"We're going to insert the six-man rotation and he's pretty much in play there for the L.A. series," Mendoza said.

The Mets go west for a seven-game road trip that begins with Monday's 10:10 p.m. opener in Los Angeles.

"No, not yet," Mendoza said of if he knew when Blackburn would start. "But it'll be one of those games there."

When asked if right-hander Kodai Senga (scheduled to pitch on Saturday) would start next Friday's 7:10 p.m. opener at the Colorado Rockies, Mendoza said that he had "to check with" pitching coachJeremy Hefner.

"We're working through some of those things," Mendoza said.

Stearns later added context on whether the Mets would keep a six-man rotation.

"I don't think we're going to commit to exclusively a six-man rotation the rest of the way," Stearns said. "I think we'll do what makes sense within the constructs of our schedule. We'll do it when we have these stretches of 15, 16, 18 games in a row that pop up throughout the course of a season.

"But I would imagine, as we have done so far this year, we're going to continue to swing back and forth for a little while between six and five depending on what our schedule looks like, how our guys are feeling -- do they need the extra rest, do they not need the extra rest. It's an ongoing conversation. We're probably going to take it turn by turn."

The Mets are set to play 10 games in a row from Friday through next Sunday, June 10.

Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas 'progressing well'

Manaea (right oblique strain), who has been on the injured list since late March, was scheduled to throw a live batting practice Thursday with Siri set to be among the opposing hitters.

"I think both are progressing well," Stearns said of Manaea and Montas. "Obviously, Frankie [is] out on his rehab assignment. We still have a ways to go to get his volume up and built up, but that middle segment of June, I think, is still realistic. I think Sean's behind that. In terms of how that fits into our team and rotation, we'll tackle that when we get there."

Montas (right lat strain), who has also been on the injured list since late March, began his rehab assignment this past Saturday with High-A Brooklyn.

Jose Siri's return unclear

Siri, who played 10 games before the Mets placed him on the 10-day injured list April 17 due to a left tibia fracture, has a "very difficult" return time frame at this point.

"He's still in his running progression volume buildup, so very difficult for me at this point for me to really even estimate when he's going to be back," Stearns said. "We need to make sure that the running form and the volume are in a place where he's not going to reinjure himself by going out to the outfield and playing baseball, and where just not at that point yet.

"I'm not certain we're all that close to that, so we've got a little bit of time. Once he gets on a rehab assignment, gets some volume back under his belt, we can begin to have a discussion about what that looks like from a role perspective and how it fits on a team. But we're not at that point yet, so we're not even having those discussions yet."

Juan Soto was the talk of the offseason and spring training after signing with the Mets on a massive deal last winter. And the slugger has been the talk of this season after he has gotten off to a slow start and is in a slump for the first time in some time.

“I honestly don’t have a like ‘this is the issue’ that he needs to fix to get better,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said during a news conference Friday ahead of the Mets opening a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

“I think he’s taking pretty good at-bats, he’s controlling the strike zone pretty well," Stearns continued. "He’s hitting the ball on the ground a little bit more than he has in the past. I think that’s something that he’s aware of. But telling yourself, ‘Hey, I need to hit the ball in the air more,’ doesn’t immediately translate to hitting the ball in the air more.

“Do I think he’s trying to do a little too much right now? Yeah, I think he’s probably trying to do a little bit too much right now. And that is natural for a player who cares about improving.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza sees it as just a matter of time before Soto gets going.

“We’ve seen it pretty much every day he’s hitting a couple balls hard. The results haven’t been there, but he’s gonna get going,” Mendoza said Friday. “Every day I sit here, you look at the numbers, he’s gonna get going here pretty soon.

The skipper added he hasn’t felt the need recently to have a conversation with Soto about his hitting: “He knows he’s in a good place. Treat him the same way I treat the other guys, too.”

Stearns doesn’t believe Soto is struggling with confidence, saying, “I think there’s frustration, sure, but I have not sensed a confidence issue.”

Stearns called it a “very unique position” for Soto, but there is a track record of players changing organizations and making big changes in their careers, taking a bit of time to adjust before turning it on, and is “very confident” Soto will soon come good.

“Maybe it will take a bloop or a couple bloops,” he said. “Or maybe it takes him connecting on one or two to exhale a little bit, but I would imagine it is difficult when the results don’t come.”

When it comes to possibly easing some of the pressure on Soto, the Mets' top baseball man said the only thing he can do is to "continue to support him." But even he admitted that could have a limit in its effectiveness.

"I don’t know how much pressure that eases," Stearns said. "He’s gonna put the pressure on himself. He's not feeling the pressure because of the things around him, I don't think. He's a highly competitive person who expects a lot of himself, who wants to win. And so when he’s not performing up to a level he's accustomed to, he's gonna put pressure on himself to do that."

While the slumping Soto still has posted a .745 OPS, good for an above-average 121 OPS+ and 113 wRC+, those numbers are well below his averages and what was expected after he signed a 15-year, $765 million deal in December.

The connection between his play and the pressure of expectation after signing a big contract isn’t far from the Mets’ minds. 

“I also understand it is natural when a player signs a big contract – and this was a really big contract – if the results aren’t immediate, there are going to be questions and there are going to be reactions,” Stearns said. “And I completely get that, Juan does too.”

Despite Soto’s rotten run at the plate, the Mets have posted a .607 winning percentage through 56 games and are 2.0 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in the NL and the division lead. And Soto has done his part to lift the team.

“He’s still helping us win games,” Stearns said of Soto. “I’m aware that the OPS isn’t where he would want it, it’s not where we would want it, it’s not where our fans would want it. I get that.  But I can say it’s not for lack of work behind the scenes, he’s working, he’s trying. He certainly wants results at a higher level than what we’ve seen so far. I’m pretty confident we’re going to get those.”

Mendoza said the one thing you can control as a hitter is “getting a good pitch, putting a good swing, and hitting the ball hard.”

“After that, you can’t control where they’re playing, how they’re positioned,” the manager said, adding, “you control the strike zone, which [Soto] is elite at doing that, and hitting the ball hard, which he’s elite at doing that, too.

“He’s just gotta stay the course, ‘cause if he keeps doing that, the numbers are gonna be there at the end of the year.”

A concern with Soto’s elite batting eye is the double-edged sword of patience: Is he too often taking a good pitch to hit?

“Part of elite plate discipline is swinging at pitches that you can do damage on… Are there at-bats where he’s let some pitches go where he could probably do some damage? Yeah, I think there probably are,” Stearns said. “I think as he gets more comfortable at the plate, he’ll be able to pull the trigger on those.”

Related to the issue of Soto’s increased ground-ball rate – up 8.9 percent to 52.5 percent for the 2025 season – has been double-plays as he has matched his total of 10 from last year in just y games.

Stearns sees it as a combination of the elevated number of ground balls, having a lot of players on base ahead of him (a 4.8 percent increase in at-bats with runners on compared to last year), and some well-documented “batted-ball misfortune.” But don’t expect that trend to last forever:  “We’re a third of the way through the season, he has 10 double plays, I would hammer the under on 30 double-plays over the course of the season.”

With the Mets entering a stretch of 16 games over 17 days beginning with games over the next 10 straight days, is there value in giving Soto a day off or could that be counterproductive? Those conversations have been had internally, Sterans said, and “we don’t know.”

“What we do know is that we have a player who is really competitive who wants to play,” Stearns said, noting Soto did get a day out of the lineup before on an off-day two weeks back. “But Juan wants to play. He wants to be out there, he wants to compete, he’s not shying away from this. And so I think sending him out there more often than not is probably the right thing to do.”

Report sheds light on Red Sox' awkward approach with Devers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Rafael Devers has thrived this season as the Boston Red Sox’ designated hitter, but moving him off third base has caused an unexpected headache for the organization.

Devers initially scoffed at the idea of switching from third to DH after the Alex Bregman signing. He later reluctantly accepted the change, but not before sitting out most of spring training and struggling mightily (0-for-19, 15 strikeouts) to begin the 2025 campaign.

Since then, Devers has grown comfortable with the role and regained his reputation as one of the game’s best hitters. But following first baseman Triston Casas’ season-ending injury on May 3, he was given another reason to voice his displeasure with the front office.

Devers called out chief baseball officer Craig Breslow for asking him to replace Casas at first base. His shocking candidness prompted Breslow, team owner John Henry, and president/CEO Sam Kennedy to meet with him in Kansas City to sort out their issues.

The meeting didn’t convince Devers to move to first base. Instead, with backup Romy Gonzalez also injured, the club has primarily used a combination of Abraham Toro and Nick Sogard at the position.

A new report from MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam sheds more light on how those conversations with Devers went. According to Cotillo and McAdam, the Red Sox’ strategy of having Breslow — not manager Alex Cora — approach the veteran slugger about the potential position change was “deliberate” to protect Devers and Cora’s relationship.

“One industry source recently offered that the strategy was deliberate with the Red Sox purposefully having Breslow — and not Cora — approach Devers about trying first base,” Cotillo and McAdam wrote.

“The idea, the source said, was that if Devers responded unfavorably to the request — as he quickly did — the long-standing, strong relationship between player and manager wouldn’t be negatively impacted and the team could still have Cora preserve an open line of communication with the club’s highest-paid and longest-tenured member.”

Ironically, the Red Sox were left looking for help at third base when Bregman went down with a quad injury on May 23. Cora noticeably didn’t mention Devers while naming potential third base reinforcements.

Top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer was called up to the big-league club the next day and has since played six games at third. Devers is unlikely to return to his natural position, as Breslow told MassLive he hasn’t asked him to move back.

“Trying to be sensitive and respectful of the conversations that went into moving him off of third base initially,” Breslow told MassLive.com. “We recognize that there’s a balance here between needing to do what we need to do that’s best for the team and also, trying to provide some stability. All of these are conversations with no finality, but at this point, we’re feeling like it makes more sense to have somebody like Marcelo there.”

It sounds like Devers will be staying put at DH, and if he continues to hit the way he has through 58 games, it’s hard to argue against the status quo. The three-time All-Star has a .287/.409/.523 slash line with 12 homers and an American League-leading 50 RBI.

Although Devers won’t be playing first any time soon, a change is coming soon. Rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell has taken practice reps at first base and is expected to make his first career start there on Sunday in Atlanta.

Phillies prospect updates: Andrew Painter's timeline, Mick Abel keeping it up originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies have used the term “July-ish” as the target for top prospect Andrew Painter’s MLB debut and integration into the rotation but it is unlikely to come before the second half begins on July 18.

The All-Star break is from July 14-18 this year and that will be the period when the Phillies back off Painter and give him a bit more time to recuperate.

“I don’t think so,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday when asked if Painter’s arrival could come before the break.

Painter threw a career-high 81 pitches on Thursday in Norfolk, allowing two runs and striking out five over five innings. The Tides’ lineup included last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner up, Colton Cowser, and 2024 All-Star Jordan Westburg. Cowser doubled off Painter all three times he faced him while the rest of the team had two hits.

“Very good, velocity at 98, 99, they said he threw the ball really well,” Thomson said. “Breaking ball was good, got his pitch count up.

“He’s right at where we want him.”

Painter’s next start will be Wednesday at Charlotte, the Triple A affiliate of the White Sox. The plan is a pitch count around 85, and if Painter’s efficient they’d feel comfortable letting him complete six innings.

“Health, that’s it,” Thomson said when asked what more Painter needs to show in the minors.

The 22-year-old right-hander already looks like a major-league pitcher with a build similar to Justin Verlander. The No. 5-ranked prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com, Painter has a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings at Triple A and owns a 1.83 ERA with 199 K’s in 138 innings overall in the minors. Silly numbers.

When the Phillies add Painter to the 40-man roster and call him up in July, he’ll start, he won’t relieve. It’s too soon for anyone with the Phillies to discuss how the rotation will be adjusted because it’s still more than six weeks away. Going to a six-man staff would be one obvious solution but only if it can be formatted in a way to not give the starters, notably Zack Wheeler, too much rest.

Abel still dialed in

Mick Abel made another strong start at Triple A on Friday night, allowing an unearned run over 4⅔ innings with eight strikeouts.

Abel has a 1.08 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 41⅔ innings across his last seven starts, one of which was a scoreless win in his MLB debut over the Pirates.

The 23-year-old continues to push for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation, which didn’t seem realistic just a few months ago. He was coming off of years of control problems and though he was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster in December, Abel was behind the five members of the big-league rotation plus Taijuan Walker.

But he’s put together the strongest run of his life. Abel hasn’t solved the walks issue but he’s pitching around them better than ever and allowing weaker contact than ever.

“It really helps because you know you’ve got Painter coming and now you’ve got this other guy who showed it on a pretty big stage (in his debut),” Thomson said last week.

“He (went) right back to Triple A and a lot of times you’ll see that guys who go back, they have an adrenaline dump and they don’t pitch well or stay focused, but he did. That’s a good sign.”

Walker and Nola

Walker did not pitch well on Friday against the Brewers, allowing four runs in four innings on 89 pitches. He will move to the bullpen once Aaron Nola returns from a right ankle sprain. Nola won’t be returning this week, but the Phillies could still, if they deem it worthwhile, move Walker to the bullpen sooner and call Abel up mid-week when he’s ready to make his next start. They could also just keep things status quo with Walker in the rotation until Nola is ready and hope that Abel continues to build confidence and trade value at Triple A.

Nola has been sidelined since May 15 with the ankle sprain. He will throw his first full bullpen session on Sunday, 45 to 50 pitches. The Phillies will still want to see him go through fielding drills and potentially live batting practice before he begins a rehab assignment, which could be short.

Phillies prospect updates: Andrew Painter's timeline, Mick Abel keeping it up originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies have used the term “July-ish” as the target for top prospect Andrew Painter’s MLB debut and integration into the rotation but it is unlikely to come before the second half begins on July 18.

The All-Star break is from July 14-17 this year and that will be the period when the Phillies back off Painter and give him a bit more time to recuperate.

“I don’t think so,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday when asked if Painter’s arrival could come before the break.

Painter threw a career-high 81 pitches on Thursday in Norfolk, allowing two runs and striking out five over five innings. The Tides’ lineup included last year’s AL Rookie of the Year runner-up, Colton Cowser, and 2024 All-Star Jordan Westburg. Cowser doubled off Painter all three times he faced him while the rest of the team had two hits.

“Very good, velocity at 98, 99, they said he threw the ball really well,” Thomson said. “Breaking ball was good, got his pitch count up.

“He’s right where we want him.”

Painter’s next start will be Wednesday at Charlotte, the Triple A affiliate of the White Sox. The plan is a pitch count around 85, and if Painter’s efficient the Phillies would feel comfortable letting him complete six innings.

“Health, that’s it,” Thomson said when asked what more Painter needs to show in the minors.

The 22-year-old right-hander already looks like a major-league pitcher with a build similar to Justin Verlander. The No. 5-ranked prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com, Painter has a 2.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings at Triple A and owns a 1.83 ERA with 199 K’s in 138 innings overall in the minors. Silly numbers.

When the Phillies add Painter to the 40-man roster and call him up in July, he’ll start, he won’t relieve. It’s too soon for anyone with the Phillies to discuss how the rotation will be adjusted because it’s still more than six weeks away. Going to a six-man staff would be one obvious solution but only if it can be formatted in a way to not give the starters, notably Zack Wheeler, too much rest.

Abel still dialed in

Mick Abel made another strong start at Triple A on Friday night, allowing an unearned run over 4⅔ innings with eight strikeouts.

Abel has a 1.08 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 41⅔ innings across his last seven starts, one of which was a scoreless win in his MLB debut over the Pirates.

The 23-year-old continues to push for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation, which didn’t seem realistic just a few months ago. He was coming off of years of control problems and though he was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster in December, Abel was behind the five members of the big-league rotation plus Taijuan Walker.

But he’s put together the strongest run of his life. Abel hasn’t solved the walks issue but he’s pitching around them better than ever and allowing weaker contact than ever.

“It really helps because you know you’ve got Painter coming and now you’ve got this other guy who showed it on a pretty big stage (in his debut),” Thomson said last week.

“He (went) right back to Triple A and a lot of times you’ll see that guys who go back, they have an adrenaline dump and they don’t pitch well or stay focused, but he did. That’s a good sign.”

Walker and Nola

Walker did not pitch well in Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Brewers, allowing four runs in four innings on 89 pitches. He will move to the bullpen once Aaron Nola returns from a right ankle sprain. Nola won’t be returning this week, but the Phillies could still, if they deem it worthwhile, move Walker to the bullpen sooner and call Abel up mid-week when he’s ready to make his next start. They could also just keep things status quo with Walker in the rotation until Nola is ready and hope that Abel continues to build confidence and trade value at Triple A.

Manager Rob Thomson said postgame Friday that the Phillies have a lot to discuss before the rotation spot comes up again.

Nola has been sidelined since May 15 with the ankle sprain. He will throw his first full bullpen session on Sunday, 45 to 50 pitches. The Phillies will still want to see him go through fielding drills and potentially live batting practice before he begins a rehab assignment, which could be short.

What we learned as Harrison shines in shutout win over Marlins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — The day off in Miami didn’t do much to jumpstart the offense, but the Giants did get back in the win column Friday. Kyle Harrison threw five dominant innings in his second start of the year and the Giants did just enough to pull away from the last-place Marlins, winning 2-0. 

Miami right-hander Cal Quantrill entered with an ERA north of six, but he always has pitched well against the Giants, and they came in on a lengthy cold streak. It’s been two weeks since they scored more than four runs in a game.

Wilmer Flores, who calls South Florida home in the offseason, tried to change that, singling on the 11th pitch of his first at-bat to get the Giants on the board. A solo shot from Matt Chapman made it 2-0, but as the bats went quiet, the Marlins threatened. They got the tying run to second with one out in the seventh, but didn’t score. Tyler Rogers entered and got an inning-ending strikeout. 

Ks For Kyle

The only thing that could stop Harrison on Friday was a pitch count. He’s still getting built up after spending several weeks in the bullpen, but he showed that he’s ready for another look in the rotation if Justin Verlander needs more time to recover from a pec strain, or whenever the Giants need help. 

Harrison allowed just one hit in five innings, walking three and striking out five. His velocity continues to tick up, and his average of 95.3 mph on his fastball was his highest in a big league start. His previous high came earlier on this trip in Washington D.C., which he averaged 94.7 mph. 

Harrison is now up about three full ticks from 2024, when he dealt with an ankle injury and shoulder inflammation. In two starts in Verlander’s spot, he has allowed two runs on six hits. 

Signs Of Life

Patrick Bailey was cut down at third while trying to tag up in the second inning, but the swing that put him on second was one of his best of the year. Bailey went with an outside sinker and crushed it off the wall in left-center for a double, his first since April 4. 

The ball went 388 feet and would have been a homer in 19 ballparks, including Oracle. Bailey tagged on Casey Schmitt’s liner to center and was thrown out on a 93 mph rocket from Marlins center fielder Dane Myers. 

Earlier in the game, Bailey helped Harrison out with another heads-up defensive play:

Bailey caught a fish 🎣 pic.twitter.com/2R0NUNcd5B

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 30, 2025

Bullpen Scramble

With a day off Thursday, Bob Melvin had a fresh bullpen, but it was an odd look after Harrison departed. 

Tristan Beck began the sixth, but Ryan Walker finished it and then turned the ball over to Erik Miller, who ran into trouble in the seventh. Rogers got the strikeout, but Melvin doesn’t like using him for multiple innings. 

Spencer Bivens, often the long man, got the eighth of a two-run game, but Melvin turned to Camilo Doval with two outs and two on. Doval got a fly ball to center to end the inning and then came back out for a relatively easy ninth on what was a very special day for his family.

Doval’s mom, Rosa, was watching him pitch in the big leagues for the first time. The save was his first since Melvin announced that he’s once again the team’s closer.  

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The Mets are calling up right-handed reliever Chris Devenski from Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced ahead of Friday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies.

In a corresponding move, left-hander Brandon Waddell has been optioned to Triple-A.

Devenski, 34, signed last October on a minor league deal and has appeared in one game with the big league team so far, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts over two innings in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the final day of April.

In 17 games at Syracuse, the righty has posted a 1.96 ERA and 0.764 WHIP, allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and four walks with 13 strikeouts over 18.1 innings. Devenski pitched to a 6.75 ERA and 1.575 WHIP in 26.2 innings over 19 outings last year with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Waddell, 30, appeared in two games over two stints at the big leagues this year with the Mets (most recently Wednesday's loss to the White Sox), surrendering four runs on 10 hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over 9.1 innings. This was his first MLB action since he appeared with three teams during the 2021 campaign.

The lefty made eight appearances (seven starts) with Syracuse this year, pitching to a 3.06 ERA and 1.392 WHIP over 32.1 innings, giving up 16 runs (11 earned) on 35 hits and 10 walks with 25 strikeouts. He played in South Korea and China before joining the Mets organization on a minor league deal last December.

As the Mets have been in an offensive rut -- they've mustered just 42 runs over their last 14 games, which is an average of exactly three runs per contest -- a possible partial solution to their woes has been hitting lasers in Triple-A Syracuse.

Since joining Syracuse following brief stints with A-ball St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton, as he continues to get his legs under him after not playing in games since late 2023 due to an ACL injury, Ronny Mauriciois putting up video game numbers.

In 29 plate appearances over seven games for Syracuse, Mauricio is slashing a cartoonish .560/.586/.960. He has three homers and a double, has driven in seven runs, and has swiped three bags.

On Thursday night, Mauricio had a pair of hits, including a mammoth homer to right field.

But there's a good reason why Mauricio isn't on his way to Citi Field just yet.

His recovery from ACL surgery, which he had in December of 2023 after suffering the injury playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, was bumpy.

Mauricio's game action a few weeks ago with St. Lucie was his first time back on the field in a competitive fashion in roughly a year and a half. So the Mets are smartly taking things slowly with him as he builds up his reps and stamina.

Since joining Syracuse, Mauricio has been given regular days off. He has played on back-to-back days three times, but has yet to play three days in a row. So the progression is ongoing.

Once Mauricio is deemed ready physically, though, the Mets will have a choice to make. The 24-year-old is an exciting, toolsy player with high upside who has already flashed impressive exit velocities in the majors and whose power potential is real. He also has the ability to play multiple positions.

Where could he fit in New York, where his natural shortstop position is taken byFrancisco Lindor?

About a month ago, the easy answer might have been third base, since Jesse Winker is out -- opening the designated hitter spot for Mark Vientos. But the version of Brett Baty who returned following a stint in Syracuse earlier this season is one who looks more confident than ever. And the results (especially power-wise) have been there, which means he'll likely get -- and is deserving of -- an extended look at third base.

Another option for Mauricio is second base, but it's already crowded. Baty is getting starts there when Vientos is at third base instead of DH, and Jeff McNeil is getting lots of playing time at second as well. Meanwhile, McNeil has been impactful offensively, getting on base at a .363 clip while posting an .809 OPS.

The presence of Luisangel Acuña also complicates things a bit, though his playing time has been shrinking recently -- something manager Carlos Mendoza said the youngster is equipped to handle.

What about DH for Mauricio?

In a world where Baty and Vientos are both getting lots of burn at third base and DH, with McNeil slotting in regularly at second base, it could make sense to use the switch-hitting Mauricio at third base or DH against tougher left-handers (with Baty sitting). But is that enough playing time for someone who needs all the reps he can get?

Another alignment could have Vientos at DH, Baty at third base, Mauricio at second base, and McNeil in center field -- a spot he's started at six times this season.

The above would be easy enough, but would mean all-world defender Tyrone Taylor being on the bench.

All of this is to say that there are a lot of things for the Mets to consider as Mauricio keeps working toward a big league return. And if the Mets continue to scuffle offensively and Mauricio stays hot, it would behoove them to find a way to get his bat in the lineup one way or another.

Hoskins reconnects with old ‘mates, visits favorite Philly spots, talks strong start originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

He’s already experienced the emotional first return to the only organization he knew before 2024, so this weekend should be a bit easier on Rhys Hoskins.

“I don’t expect anything, really,” said the former Phillie who has remained a fan favorite even after signing with Milwaukee. “Probably gonna feel a little different than last year and that’s totally OK.

“I think last year was overwhelming in the best way, a great reminder that you’ve just got to give your all to any city but specifically the people of this city. I definitely don’t expect an ovation, I’m an enemy now, that’s just the reality of it. And because of that, I hope the Brewers win.”

Hoskins unsurprisingly received standing ovations the whole series last June when the Brewers came to town. He homered off of Zack Wheeler in his first game back in Philly, which had to feel like a storybook moment for him, going deep against his old teammates to account for his new team’s only run against the best starting pitcher in baseball.

“I guess there’s something about competing against the people you know that makes you lock in a little bit,” he said that night.

The slugging first baseman has been a big part of the 29-28 Brewers’ offense, much more so than he was a year ago coming back from an ACL tear suffered in spring training 2023. Hoskins enters the weekend hitting .282/.384/.459. He’s never hit better than .247 in a full season but did say Friday that he’s adjusted his approach a bit to put the bat on the ball more often at the expense of some thump.

It’s not just a fun story, he’s also probably the bat the Phillies circled in their game-planning meeting.

“Second year coming back from a major injury I just think has been completely different,” Hoskins said. “I’ve learned that time is your best friend in that regard. I’m getting to play every day and I’ve just found a nice rhythm. So far, so good.”

Hoskins had quite a run with the Phillies. He set several home run records coming up through their minor-league system then became the fastest player in major-league history to 10 homers. He went deep 18 times in his first 34 games as a big-leaguer, also a record. He hit 34 the next year in his first full season, then followed it up by leading the National League in walks.

Hoskins and Aaron Nola were the faces of the Phillies during their transition from rebuilding club to contender. The run all the way to Game 6 of the 2022 World Series was even sweeter for them than the other 24 players in the clubhouse because they’d experienced the lows.

Hoskins went on to produce one of the most dramatic moments of that playoff run and this era of Phillies baseball, hitting a three-run home run off Spencer Strider to break open Game 3 of the NLDS and slamming his bat to the ground in celebration.

“I’m excited. I love Rhys,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He was a great Phillie, represented himself and the organization so well when he was here. Big part of that World Series team. I think the world of him.”

The Brewers were off on Thursday so Hoskins and his wife Jayme had the chance to take in the city. They started with bread and pastries in the morning at Mighty Bread and ended the night at Suraya, a highly thought-of Lebanese restaurant in Fishtown.

For one weekend at least, the Phillies hope all the pita weighs him down.

“The reality is I spent a good chunk of my life here, I lived here for three years,” he said. “Yesterday getting to spend a little bit of an off day here was amazing in that regard. Super fun for us, obviously with a seven-month old too, we get to tell her about all the things and places we used to go. Just a fun day.”

One chance Hoskins might not get this weekend is to shoot the breeze with Bryce Harper at first base, whether he’s the fielder or baserunner. Harper was out of the lineup Friday for the third straight game and hasn’t yet swung since being hit on the right elbow by a 95 mph fastball on Tuesday. Harper has not been placed on the injured list but referred to himself Friday as “super day-to-day.”

“Obviously he’s one of my favorites so it’s always fun to have him back at The Bank,” Harper said. “So many good memories with this organization and this fanbase too, I expect people to be excited that he’s back. He gets The Bank on a Friday night.”