Category: Sports News

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (12-10)

Worcester 7, Syracuse 6 (BOX)

Starter Brandon Waddell had a slow start to the game, allowing three first inning runs. He would settle down in his next two frames, handing off a 3-0 deficit to the bullpen. The score stayed 3-0 until the fifth, when Ji Hwan Bae doubled home two to make it 3-2. Jackson Cluff hit a three run home run in the sixth to make it 5-3 Mets. Both clubs traded runs in the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eight, giving Syracuse a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.

The eighth inning saw the bullpen start to fall apart, as they surrendered a run in the eighth. Eventually, they would blow the game completely, getting walked off in the bottom of the ninth.

• RF Nick Morabito: 0-2, R, 3 BB, K, 2 SB
• DH Ji Hwan Bae: 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI
• 3B Ronny Mauricio: 0-4, BB, K
• LF Ryan Clifford: 0-3, 2 BB, 2 K
• SS Vidal Bruján: 1-4, R, BB, K, E (4)
• CF Cristian Pache: 2-4, R, 2B, BB, SB (5)
• 2B Jackson Cluff: 2-4, 2 R, HR (3), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (2)
• 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-3, R, 2B, BB, K
• C Onix Vega: 1-4
• LHP Brandon Waddell: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
• RHP Jonathan Pintaro: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• REHAB ALERT: LHP A.J. Minter: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, H (1)
• RHP Ryan Lambert: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, H (4)
• RHP Alex Carrillo: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, L (1-1), H (1)
• RHP Daniel Duarte: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, BS (2)

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (6-10)

Erie 8, Binghamton 1 (BOX)

Will Watson, the 2024 seventh round pick who burst onto the scene with a 2.60 ERA across three levels last year, continued his slow start to the 2026 campaign. He surrendered a three run home run in the second, another run in the third, and it was academic from there for Erie.

The two bright spots on the day for the Rumble Ponies are Eli Serrano, who pushed his season OPS to .942 and drove in their only run with a double, and Jacob Reimer, who has struggled mightily this year, but went 4-4 on the day.

• CF A.J. Ewing: 0-4, K
• SS Marco Vargas: 0-4, 2 K
• 3B Jacob Reimer: 4-4, R, 2B
• C Chris Suero: 1-4, K
• LF Eli Serrano III: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
• RF Jose Ramos: 0-4, K
• DH Kevin Parada: 1-3, BB
• 1B Nick Lorusso: 0-4, 3 K
• 2B Wyatt Young: 0-3, 2 K
• RHP Will Watson: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, L (0-3)
• LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
• RHP Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP
• RHP Saul Garcia: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (4-12)

Hudson Valley 4, Brooklyn 3 (BOX)

Brooklyn continued to struggle in 2026, dropping their 12 game over their first 16. They actually led this game 2-0 after one, with Corey Collins and Ronald Hernandez driving in the runs with a sacrifice fly and double respectively. Hudson Valley slowly but surely chipped away at the small lead, and eventually led the game themselves by a score of 3-2 after four. A John Bay single would tie it in the sixth, and that score would hold until the ninth inning, when Bryce Jenkins would surrender a walk off home run.

• 2B Mitch Voit: 0-3, R, BB, 2 SB (3, 4)
• SS Antonio Jimenez: 0-4, K
• DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 1-3, 2 R, 2 K
• 1B Corey Collins: 0-3, RBI, K
• C Ronald Hernandez: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K, E (3)
• CF John Bay: 1-4, RBI, K
• 3B Colin Houck: 1-3, BB, K
• RF Yohairo Cuevas: 1-3, BB, K
• LF Kevin Villavicencio: 0-3, K, E (2)
• RHP Noah Hall: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP
• RHP Parker Carlson: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• RHP Cristofer Gomez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, L (0-1)

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (9-8)

St. Lucie 5, Palm Beach 2 (BOX)

A win! The only win in the organization besides THE METS WHO SNAPPED THEIR 12 GAME LOSING STREAK(!!!).

St. Lucie actually trailed 2-0 after a two run home run in the second inning, but starter Frank Camarillo settled down from there to deliver five innings of two run ball. The Mets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with RBI singles by JT Benson and Branny De Oleo. Julio Zayas gave tgem the lead with a double in the seventh, AJ Salgado added a run with a sacrifice fly, and Sam Biller added another insurance run with a double of his own. The St. Lucie pen was nearly perfect surrendering just two hits and a walk.

• SS Elian Peña: 1-3, R, 2 BB, K
• 2B Sam Robertson: 0-4, R, 2 K
• 1B Randy Guzman: 0-3, BB, 2 K
• DH Julio Zayas: 2-4, 2B, RBI, K
• RF AJ Salgado: 0-3, R, RBI, 2 K, SB (2)
• CF JT Benson: 1-4, R, RBI, SB (3)
• C Chase Meggers: 0-1, R, 3 BB, K
• LF Sam Biller: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, K, SB (5)
• 3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, RBI, 2 K, E (2)
• RHP Frank Camarillo: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
• LHP Nate Lavender: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• RHP Elwis Mijares: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, W (2-0)
• RHP Tyler McLoughlin: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, WP (1), S (1)

Rookie: FCL Mets (0-0)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Jacob Reimer

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Nick Lorusso

Hello, friends.

The Orioles have escaped Kansas City with a series win after pulling off a comeback to get an 8-6 victory in yesterday’s game, bringing themselves back within a game of .500. The Royals broke a long losing streak with their win on Tuesday but remain in the basement of the American League. You could maybe say that it would have been better if the O’s really embarrassed the worst team, which they didn’t do. Still, they won two of three, and they showed some resilience in doing it, so that’s something. Check out Paul Folkemer’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.

One thing I think that we can hope for coming out of that series is that the signs of life from Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo at the plate continue. Mayo, in particular, had a pair of three-run homers over the course of the series. Struggling outfielders Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser had two hits apiece in Wednesday’s game as well. The problems that the team has had so far will seem a lot easier to overcome if these guys are able to start hitting at least decently.

Less positive is the continuing struggle of this year’s edition of the veteran starting pitcher signing, Chris Bassitt. The team spotted him a five-run lead yesterday after scoring six runs in the top of the sixth inning and Bassitt still couldn’t get through the bottom of the inning without making things way more interesting. He gave up a home run to the first batter he saw after the big O’s offensive outburst. In all, Bassitt gave up five runs in 5.1 innings to raise his season ERA to 6.75 after five starts.

It’s not quite Charlie Morton territory. Morton had a 10.89 ERA after the same number of games, after which he got dumped from the rotation. With each of Cade Povich and Brandon Young starting off well for Triple-A Norfolk, I understand the impulse to do the same for Bassitt. I doubt that the Orioles will, at least not unless this drags out for a longer at this level of bad results. Maybe another five starts. At least we don’t have to worry about him for a few more days.

There’s a little Orioles injury news that will probably hang in limbo over the off day today. Jackson Holliday was sent back to Baltimore yesterday for an MRI on his hand after his latest rehab stint was shut down following an uncomfortable swing in Norfolk. There was no news about it after yesterday’s game and there probably won’t be in the off day either. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if there are any updates to be had there – or with any of the other injured O’s who might be back any day now or might just keep on lingering.

The Orioles will next be in action on Friday night at home against the Red Sox starting at 7:05. As of this writing, there is not a scheduled starter for the Orioles. If they don’t use the off day to skip Dean Kremer’s turn, then it will be Kremer who would be on turn to make the start. The Red Sox will send out Brayan Bello, who’s struggled to begin the 2026 season. This does not necessarily mean anything where the enigmatic Orioles offense is concerned.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Orioles place Helsley on family leave/bereavement list, recall Espada (Baltimore Baseball)
There was a roster move ahead of yesterday’s game, with the closer leaving for a few days for the family medical or bereavement leave list. The team did not announce the specific circumstances. If it is a medical situation, I wish the best for it turning out well. If it’s bereavement, condolences to the family.

Jeremiah Jackson is getting his hacks in (FanGraphs)
The folks at FanGraphs have taken notice of the strong start by an unlikely Oriole. Now that Jackson’s BABIP luck has reached a more stable place, what might he do the rest of the way?

How Tyler Wells’s new mental approach is helping with life in the bullpen (The Baltimore Banner)
Wells had a great outing yesterday, with 1.2 innings scoreless. That’s heading in the right direction.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1994, future Hall of Famer Lee Smith picked up his ninth save of the season in the 16th game played by the Orioles. This was a new MLB record for fastest to nine saves. The Orioles beat the Mariners, 4-3, as Smith got his save. He did not allow a run over 12 April appearances that year.

In their 25th game one year ago, the Orioles lost to the Tigers, 4-3, in the first game of a doubleheader, to fall to 10-15 on the season. Jordan Westburg, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramón Urías all had three hits in the losing effort for the O’s. For the time being, the 2026 edition of the team is doing two games better than those guys.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2022 pitcher Louis Head, 2009 pitcher Sean Henn, and 1957 infielder Buddy Peterson.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: playwright William Shakespeare (1564), 15th president James Buchanan (1791), physicist Max Planck (1858), baseball Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1921), actress Shirley Temple (1928), musician Roy Orbison (1936), wrestler/actor John Cena (1977), comedian/host John Oliver (1977), baseball Hall of Famer Andruw Jones (1977), and gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim (2000).

On this day in history…

In 1014, the Irish, led by High King Brian Boru, repelled a Viking invasion in the Battle of Clontarf, though Brian Boru himself was killed in the battle.

In 1635, the Boston Latin School was founded. Still in operation continuously on through today, this school is recognized as the first public school in what is now the United States.

In 1985, Coca-Cola released New Coke, a change to its formula. Within three months, they brought back the previous Coca-Cola formula. New Coke survived as Coke II through 2002.

In 2005, the first YouTube video was posted. One of its co-founders released a video titled “Me at the zoo”.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 23. Have a safe Thursday.

The Phillies have been bad and unlucky to start the season. Now they can officially add “injured” to that list of grievances, as J.T. Realmuto was placed on the injured list with back spasms, joining the likes of Jhoan Duran, Jonathan Bowlan, and Zach Pop who were already on the IL. Get ready for a whole lot more Rafael Marchán and some Garrett Stubbs.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• More on the fallout of Realmuto’s injury from Matt Gelb, who was first to report that the catcher was heading to the IL. ($)
• The Phillies secured $85M in public funding to conduct renovations to their spring training ballpark and facility in Clearwater, Florida. ($)

MLB news:

• Lingering free agent Lucas Giolito has found a home, agreeing with the San Diego Padres on a one year-deal with a mutual option for 2027.
• Juan Soto returned from the injured list for the Mets last night as the team looks to its star player to help save them from their own putrid start to the season.
• Yankees players have apparently lobbied the team to allow them to wear alternate jerseys on the road for the first time in their history. ($)
• Mariners pitcher Logan gilbert inadvertently did something very weird yesterday when he accidentally caught a line drive with his shirt.

The Yankees have stormed Fenway and taken their first series meeting with the Red Sox, and now they stand on the precipice of opening the season series up with a sweep. Their pitching has kept the Sox shut down thus far, tossing a shutout in the first game and allowing a single run in the ninth inning of game two. While the two teams have been on different trajectories to start the year, this matchup has only furthered the gap with a chance to punt them further down into the cellar of the AL East.

Now the baton passes over to Cam Schlittler to get the job done, and while it’s nowhere near the same scenario as the last time he lined up against them there’s a familiar vibe to this start. Schlittler was the man most responsible for ending Boston’s season last year, pitching eight shutout innings in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series and striking out a dozen batters in the process. This time around the Sox aren’t dead in the water if they lose, but a poor April can doom a team in this division especially when you tip the season series heavily in the favor of a team that you know you’ll be chasing all year. They certainly can’t be thrilled that they’re facing the young phenom here in this moment, even if the thought of revenge is on most of their batters’ minds.

That outing was by far the highlight of Schlittler’s 2025 season, as he delivered a generational postseason performance for the Yankees’ staff. He was excellent in his regular season starts, earning his way into the circle of trust for an October outing in the first place despite debuting midway through the year, but no one could have expected him to go out and carve up Boston. Now the expectations have heightened considerably for him in his sophomore season, and he’s somehow managing to deliver. He’s the owner of a sparkling 1.95 ERA thus far, but his FIP is even more outstanding at 0.87 — that’s the kind of potential that the Yankees haven’t seen out of a pitching prospect in ages, and it’s coming closer to fruition with each successful start. Add onto that how down-trodden the Sox currently look offensively, and there’s a perfect storm building for the brooms to kick up a lot of dust as they get brought out.

Baseball rarely plays to expectations, though. The better a team plays, the more surprising the random pitfalls that they go through become. And even the best teams are going to drop dozens of games that make you scratch your head and wonder “how did they lose that?” So with the stage set for Schlittler to take it to his hometown team once more, will he live up to that hype? Can he manage to beat it even? Or will the Sox protect their pride and answer back, adding another page into this chapter of the rivalry?

Today on the site, we’ve got a full schedule leading up to the series finale. Peter starts us off by looking at Luis Gil’s recent stellar outing against the Sox for the Sequence of the Week, and then I’ll handle the Rivalry Roundup. Jeff wishes newly-minted Hall of Famer Andruw Jones a happy birthday and reminisces on his playing career, John muses on the modern bullpen building methods that the Yankees have deployed, Kento considers the recent wave of early extensions that teams have been handing out and how it tempers the ability to rely on free agent retooling, and Peter returns to examine the resurgence of the sinker in the Yankee organization.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

Time: 6:10 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, NESN+, FS1

Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA

Will Stein and Nick Mingione have been working in tandem to map out just how 4-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski can play baseball and football at Kentucky.

There is just one massive, unavoidable hurdle standing in the way of getting Ponatoski, who has already signed, to campus: the MLB Draft.

The generational profile of Matt Ponatoski

Ponatoski’s resume is the stuff of legend. He was named Mr. Football in Ohio for the 2024 season and was a finalist again in 2025. He also swept the Gatorade Player of the Year awards in both baseball and football for the 2025 season.

He signed early with Kentucky once Will Stein replaced Mark Stoops, locking him in as a possible QB of the future. But when you possess the kind of raw talent Ponatoski does, the lure of turning professional straight out of high school is incredibly strong.

Just how elite is his baseball profile? When he stepped onto the diamond for a recent Perfect Game showcase, scouts tested his arm strength across the infield. Ponatoski unleashed an absolute heater that was clocked at 101 MPH. For context, that is the type of arm strength usually reserved for elite MLB superstars like the Reds’ Elly De La Cruz, except Elly is 24 years old, and Matt is just 18.

The mindset and the money

Currently, MLB scouts are weighing the risk of Ponatoski’s football commitment against his undeniable baseball ceiling. In a recent ESPN mini-mock draft from April 17, Ponatoski was projected to go at No. 69 overall. Factoring in compensation and competitive balance additions, that projection places him as a borderline second-round pick.

For Ponatoski, the decision is a win-win scenario, but it requires serious deliberation.

“I’m going to be fully prepared to go to school and go be at Kentucky and enroll and go compete for a quarterback battle when I get there,” Ponatoski recently said regarding his thought process. “But at the same time, like going and putting my best foot forward to these MLB teams and showing them like I have what it takes for you to draft me.”

“It’s one A and one B,” he continued. “I’m going to go have a great career at Kentucky, or I’m going to go be a professional baseball player. It’s like you can’t draw it up much better.”

Financially, the playing field is surprisingly level. A second-round slot value in the MLB Draft usually guarantees a signing bonus between $1 million and $2 million. In the modern NIL landscape, a 4-star SEC quarterback of his caliber will command a very similar valuation if he decides to honor his commitment to Kentucky.

The timeline

Ultimately, the decision will come down to how MLB front offices evaluate him. If a team falls in love with his 101 MPH arm and he creeps into the first round, the guaranteed money will likely pull him to the minor leagues. If he remains a second or third-round evaluation, returning to Lexington makes all the sense in the world.

The stakes are high because of MLB Draft eligibility rules. If Ponatoski enrolls at a four-year university like Kentucky, he is locked into the college ranks and cannot enter the MLB Draft again until after his junior year or until he turns 21, whichever comes first.

He is currently not on campus and plans to join the football team in the fall if he chooses the collegiate route. The MLB Draft takes place from July 11-12 in Philadelphia. After being selected, Ponatoski will have to choose to either sign or go to college. He may also let teams know ahead of time that he is going to college, so no one drafts him. Either way, we will finally know if Kentucky’s dual-sport dream will become a reality soon.

The Detroit Tigers managed to bounce back in the second game of their weekday series against the Milwaukee Brewers, earning a 5-2 win behind a strong outing by Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson’s first home run of the 2026 campaign.

Kenley Jansen made things a bit too exciting in the final frame, giving the fans some José Valverde vibes, but alas, the Motor City Kitties tied things up, setting up Thursday’s rubber match at Comerica Park.

Looking to clinch the series win, Detroit has left-handed ace Tarik Skubal taking the mound. The twice-consecutive Cy Young Award winner last faced Milwaukee on April 14, 2025, throwing seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out nine in a 9-1 win.

Opposite him is second-year hurler Brandon Sproat, a right-hander who has only thrown 37 2/3 MLB innings so far in his young career, putting up a 5.73 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and a 4.36 FIP over that stretch. Thursday night’s start will be his first-ever appearance against the Tigers.

Take a look below at how the two match up.

Detroit Tigers (13-12) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (13-10)

Time (ET): 1:10 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Brew Crew Ball
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 26: LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA)

SKUBAL

SPROAT

It has been Max Scherzer’s extraordinary talent, work ethic and health that have put him in rarified air, but it was a simple piano session that has enabled him to go where only 10 men have ever gone in baseball history.

Scherzer, scheduled to start Friday for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Cleveland Guardians, needs just one strikeout to become only the second pitcher to eclipse 3,500 strikeouts in the past 24 years. He is just 11 strikeouts shy of passing legendary Walter Johnson to crack the top-10 in baseball history.

“The cool thing is I really appreciate the history of this game, and it’s been played for over 100 years," Scherzer, 41, told USA TODAY Sports. “When you can kind of connect the eras, and have an accomplishment that only so many guys have gotten to that number, it’s humbling.’’

While Nolan Ryan is the all-time strikeout leader with 5,714, the only player to eclipse the 3,500-strikeout barrier since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2002 is Scherzer’s former Detroit Tigers and New York Mets teammate, Justin Verlander. He accomplished the feat last September with the San Francisco Giants, and has 55 more strikeouts than Scherzer while pitching 92 more innings.

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: ($) Yankees players are lobbying their organization to let them wear their batting practice jerseys as an alternate road jersey, a move which would break with the team’s tradition of utilizing only one home and one road jersey. No reason has yet been given publicly for the request, which would likely need to be approved by owner Hal Steinbrenner. The BP jerseys in question feature “New York” across the chest in gray letters and numbers with white trim alongside the ubiquitous Starr Insurance sleeve patch.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Congratulations are in order for the Weathers family, after Thayer, the wife of Ryan, gave birth to their son Paul David on Wednesday. The new father landed on the paternity list in advance of Wednesday’s game, with reliever Jake Bird called up from Triple-A to take his place on the active roster. Weathers, who announced with his wife that they were expecting a child in December, had his best outing as a Yankee his last time out, going 7.1 scoreless innings to earn his first victory with the team. Bird broke camp with the Yankees but was demoted after posting a 7.71 ERA through eight appearances.

MLB.com | Max Ralph: A couple of big names are slated to arrive in Fishkill this week. Carlos Rodón will commence his rehab assignment with the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades on Friday, a day after Gerrit Cole is scheduled to make his second rehab start. Rodón last threw batting practice on Saturday and is stretched out to 60 pitches. For his part, Cole threw 44 pitches in 4.1 innings during his last start with Double-A Somerset.

NJ.com | Randy Miller: Giancarlo Stanton was the hero Tuesday, knocking in three to snap a 1-for-21 skid. He attributed the outburst, at least in part, to playing at Fenway Park, where he’s hit .316 over his career. In other housekeeping news, Anthony Volpe played in his third rehab game Tuesday, notching two hits, including a 378-foot home run. With his return on the horizon and Jasson Domínguez hitting .333 in 19 games at Triple-A, Randal Grichuk’s roster spot could soon be imperiled.

Mark Vientos went from goat to hero in a matter of two innings in the Mets’ 3-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday night that ended a 12-game losing streak.

First, Vientos made an eye-popping baserunning mistake, running through third base coach Tim Leiper’s stop sign on a Marcus Semien double to the gap in the sixth inning of a tie game.

He was thrown out by a considerable margin to end the inning.

But in the bottom of the eighth, Vientos delivered the go-ahead single, a flare to right that scored Brett Baty.

“I’m glad he got that hit,’’ Carlos Mendoza said with a smile.

Vientos made no apologies for his gaffe on the bases.

“My instinct was once the ball was off the wall, I was gonna score,’’ Vientos said.

Vientos, part of a lineup that has floundered for much of the season, said he saw Leiper put up the stop sign but ignored it.

“We want to make the right play, but I’m always gonna be aggressive,’’ Vientos said. “I’m not gonna play passive on the field. I’d rather make a mistake aggressively than [passively].’’

After flopping as the closer for the Yankees a year ago, Devin Williams looks to be doing the same thing on the other side of town this season.

But even after a three-appearance stretch in which he allowed seven runs, four walks and six hits in just 1 ¹/₃ innings while blowing a save and taking the loss in another, Mendoza said Wednesday he is not considering pulling Williams from the role.

“I know he’s going through it right now, but as I’m sitting here, we haven’t had that discussion,’’ Mendoza said prior to the Mets win.

Williams, who had pitched twice in three days, was unavailable Wednesday, so Luke Weaver got the final four outs.

Asked why he remains confident that Williams — who was pulled from the ninth-inning job in late April with the Yankees and then again in August — can overcome his current struggles, Mendoza said, “He’s done it before.”

Still, after Williams was yanked as closer in the second half of last season and had some success in a setup role, he didn’t get it back.

But Mendoza hasn’t given up on Williams, who signed a three-year, $51 million deal in the offseason even after his rough showing in The Bronx.

“It’s the nature of the business,’’ Mendoza said of Williams’ recent poor results. “You’re gonna go through stretches when it’s hard and you find a way to get back on track. There’s gonna be adversity, [there’s] gonna be stretches you’re not at your best and he’s done that before a few times. That’s what gives me confidence he’ll get there again.”

A.J. Minter continued his rehab assignment Wednesday with his first appearance with Triple-A Syracuse, as the lefty comes back from lat surgery that cost him most of 2025.

He allowed three hits and a run in his one inning and didn’t strike out or walk any batters.

Mendoza said Tuesday that the 32-year-old would likely need two more weeks of rehab games to get accustomed to pitching on back-to-back days again.

Austin Warren was still stunned Wednesday about the odd reaction he got from the small number of fans that remained at Citi Field in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s loss, when the right-hander replaced Williams with the bases loaded and left them stranded by striking out the next three batters.

The crowd repeatedly chanted “MVP” as Warren piled up the strikeouts and kept it a two-run game.

“I was absolutely [surprised],’’ Warren said. “I’m sure everyone heard all the boos and I’m glad I could go in there and flip the switch a little bit and keep them on our side.”

The cheers began as soon as the threw a strike to Royce Lewis.

“I was like, ‘What’s going on?’’ Warren said. “I’m glad it went well and I could strand runners for Devin.”

The 30-year-old right-hander is in his second year with the Mets after being claimed off waivers from the Giants prior to last season.

“I feel I proved some people wrong with that kind of game,’’ Warren said. “I’ve always been an up-and-down [to the minors] guy since my debut. It sucks losing, but it feels good to do that.”