Category: Sports News

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Rockies play a three-game series in Colorado starting on Friday at 8:40 p.m. on SNY.

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5 things to watch

Juan Soto is back

Toward the end of the Mets' homestand, Soto started to look truly comfortable at the plate for the first time this season.

And he carried that with him for the first leg of their road trip as the Mets faced the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Over the last week of games, Soto is hitting .273/.484/.773 with three home runs, two doubles, six RBI, six runs scored, eight walks, and two strikeouts.

With Soto hitting his stride offensively, his patented Soto Shuffle returned -- as has his penchant for staring out at pitchers and nodding during his at-bats.

How is Francisco Lindor feeling?

Lindor suffered a fractured pinky toe when he was hit in the foot by a pitch on Wednesday night against the Dodgers -- a diagnosis that was learned after Lindor toughed it out while playing the remainder of the game in Los Angeles.

He was out of the lineup on Thursday (after arguing to play), and said he considered himself "day-by-day" -- with the plan being to play through the injury.

"It’s not a surgical thing," Lindor said. "It’s just a matter of tolerating the pain, so hopefully I’m strong enough to play sooner rather than later."

Meanwhile, manager Carlos Mendoza said an IL stint is not on the table at the moment.

Lindor is in the midst of another MVP-level season, slashing .279/.353/.490 with a career-best 141 OPS+ while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop.

Pete Alonso is on an absolute tear

Since breaking his long home run drought, Alonso has been hitting dingers at a rapid clip. And he's been on fire overall.

In 39 plate appearances over his last 10 games, he's hitting .333 with five home runs, three doubles, and 15 RBI.

Alonso's barrage included two homers and five RBI during Wednesday's win in Los Angeles, and he added another homer in the series finale on Thursday.

He is now 11 home runs shy of tying the Mets' all-time record of 252, which is held by Darryl Strawberry.

The Rockies are hot (really)

The Rockies are still on a historically awful pace, but they're also on a winning streak.

After starting the season 9-50, Colorado swept a three-game series from the very bad (23-37) Marlins.

During that series, the Rockies won the three games by a combined four runs, so there was some randomness and luck involved. But a winning streak is a winning streak.

Still, Colorado remains quite bad. And their starting pitching is a total mess.

During this series, the Mets will face Antonio Senzatela (7.14 ERA, 1.98 WHIP), Carson Palmquist (8.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP), and German Marquez (6.98 ERA, 1.69 WHIP).

A mile high

Games at Coors Field are known mostly for the thin air that causes the baseball to fly much farther than it does at other ballparks.

The thin air can turn extra-base hits into home runs, and also causes lots of would-be fly balls to drop in the shallow outfield because outfielders play deeper to counteract how far the ball carries.

But the air also causes the ball to break/travel differently out of the pitchers' hands, which is one of the reasons why the Rockies' offensive home/road splits are often so drastic.

It's difficult for Colorado's hitters to constantly adjust to pitches moving differently every time they're on the road.

As far as the Mets, they'll be dealing with the conditions for the first and only time this season.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Pete Alonso

His hot streak plus the Rockies' pitching plus the thin air, should mean damage.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Kodai Senga

Senga's Ghost Fork (if it moves like he wants it to) should help combat the thin air.

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

Ryan McMahon

McMahon hasn't had a great season, but his track record of success is solid.

The lasting images from the Mets' vexing 6-5 road loss to the Dodgers on Thursday afternoon were snapped during an eighth inning that unraveled. Moments before the reigning champions scored the go-ahead run on a two-out single from who but Michael Conforto, the tying run crossed the plate on an ill-timed double-clutch grab and errant throw home from Brett Baty.

But the Dodgers' three-run rally wouldn't have been possible if the Mets had made the most of some prime scoring opportunities before the late-inning meltdown. Despite smacking three home runs, which helped them climb to an early 4-0 lead that briefly seemed comfortable, New York once again struggled to break a game open. They finished 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and left 13 runners on base.

Of the 13 baserunners, 10 were stranded through the first six innings. Perhaps the Mets' frustrations boiled over in the sixth, when a one-out rally with two in scoring position was squandered by a Jeff McNeil strikeout that stunningly turned into a double play with Starling Marte tagged out at third, leaning too far off the bag.

The Mets looked poised to take three of four games at Chavez Ravine and send a clear message to the Dodgers. They were just five outs away from making another statement. Instead, they were forced to settle for an unsatisfying split due to mental miscues and recurring RISP woes.

"We felt like we gave that one away. We were sloppy today. We didn't play well, and it cost us there," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the loss. "Those two games that we lost, we could've won. They did some good things, too, but they made some mistakes. That's a good team. And when you're giving extra bases, extra outs, they're going to make you pay."

While the Mets haven't lacked offense this season -- they entered Thursday ranked 11th in MLB in total runs and seventh in on-base percentage -- their inability to capitalize with traffic on the basepaths has been a hindrance. The four-game set in Los Angeles didn't show the big picture, as they overall hit a solid 11-for-36 (.305) with RISP, but their season average now sits at .220. The mark ranks bottom five in the league.

"We had a couple of chances to add on, and we couldn't cash in," Mendoza said. "When you continue to give those guys a chance and give them an opportunity to come back, they're going to make you pay... Early on, we had two chances -- bases loaded, one out and second and third, one out -- and we didn't get any runs there... I just felt like it was a game that got away from us."

Of course, the Mets can find solace in how they stacked up with the Dodgers in seven games this season, and pose a legitimate threat in a competitive National League. Perhaps there's no better time to solve the RISP problem than this weekend, as the Mets are slated to face the lowly Rockies at a very hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The Mets were five outs away from taking the series against the Dodgers on Thursday afternoon, but a misplay by Brett Baty allowed Los Angeles to tie the game in the eighth inning and eventually take the lead in New York's 6-5 loss.

Reliever Reed Garrett was called upon in the eighth and was in a bind with Will Smith on third base with just one out but the right-hander got exactly what he needed. Garrett got Andy Pages to hit a grounder to Baty as Smith bolted for home. The young third baseman had plenty of time to toss to Francisco Alvarez to get Smith in a rundown, at least. However, Baty double-pumped before throwing the ball into the dirt, allowing Smith to score.

"We didn’t make the play," manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "I don’t know if [Baty] got confused if Will Smith stopped halfway to get him in a rundown there. He double-pumped. Didn’t make a routine play there."

Baty, who is usually soft-spoken when speaking with the media, was especially so after Thursday's loss. To his credit, the young infielder owned the misplay as he walked reporters through what happened. 

"He’s up front on a sweeper. Pages dribbled one to me," Baty explained. "Made a good read coming in and was running at Will Smith because he didn’t get a good jump on it, and he kinda stuttered. I was pump faking and I thought he was going to come back, but he ended up going [home]. A very, very dumb mistake and it can’t happen in that situation. Have to give it up early and get him running back to third base. Terrible, terrible play." 

The @Dodgers tie it in the 8th! pic.twitter.com/hZhlqxoeae

— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2025

"The play there is to give it up," Mendoza said when asked what the right play in that situation is. "Especially how far he is down the line. If he wants to stop, then we’ll get him on the rundown. Didn’t complete the play there."

Although the Mets won the season series against the Dodgers after last night's victory, they were so close to winning this four-game set. If not for a few misplays in the two losses in LA this week, the Mets could have swept this series.

Mendoza said he felt like they gave Thursday's game away, but they don't have time to dwell on it as they head to Colorado to take on the Rockies this weekend. But the sting of Thursday's loss will be felt by Baty for a bit.

"It's brutal for sure," Baty said about leaving with a split. "We were up going into the eighth there. That play right there tied it up. Brutal for sure."

The Mets had to settle for a disappointing four-game split with the reigning champions, as they once again fell late to the Dodgers, 6-5, on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Pete Alonso flaunted his power with a pair of home runs on Wednesday night, and the pop in his bat appeared again on Thursday afternoon. He put the Mets ahead 1-0 in the second with a solo shot off Dodgers starter Landon Knack that traveled 408 feet to the bleachers in right-center. The opposite-field blast bumped Alonso's RBI total to an NL-leading 54, and he's now one homer shy of tying David Wright for the second-most (241) in franchise history.

-- The Mets inflicted further damage on Knack with a three-run rally in the third. Hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, Brandon Nimmo ripped a solo homer to center that narrowly avoided the glove of Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages. Then, three pitches later, Starling Marte made the score 3-0 with a liner to left that landed in the Dodgers' bullpen. Knack's control issues persisted and placed him in a bases-loaded jam, and a sac fly to left from Brett Baty scored Alonso to push the lead to 4-0.

-- The early four-run cushion didn't provide enough comfort for David Peterson, as he allowed the Dodgers to score three runs in the bottom of the third with a rally sparked by a one-out walk and single. With runners on the corners, Mookie Betts doubled deep to center that brought home Miguel Rojas, and then a single to left from Will Smith and a fielder's choice groundout from Teoscar Hernández cut the Mets' lead to 4-3.

-- Knacks' lack of command created more traffic on the bases in the fourth. After walking his fourth and fifth batters with one out, he was pulled from the game at a whopping 86 pitches and replaced by Jack Dreyer. The Mets threatened to score, as Juan Soto forced another walk to load the bases, but Dreyer ultimately escaped the jam by getting Alonso to strike out and Jeff McNeil to fly out. The Mets entered Thursday with a lowly .219 average with RISP (fourth worst in MLB).

-- As if the Mets' overall hitting woes with runners in scoring position weren't glaring enough, they left a staggering 10 runners on base through six innings. Another prime opportunity to tack on runs was wasted in the sixth, when Marte got tagged out leaning too far off third base after a McNeil strikeout. It was an inning-ending double play that kept the score 4-3.

-- Peterson didn't have his best stuff, but he delivered yet another lengthy and gutsy performance the Mets needed. After a messy third inning, the left-hander hunkered down and pitched four scoreless frames, and his outing ended with a huge strikeout of Ohtani that demanded eight dramatic pitches. Peterson completed seven innings for the second time in 2025 (both against the Dodgers), allowing seven hits and two walks with six punchouts across 91 pitches. His season ERA now sits at 2.80.

-- The Mets finally broke through with an insurance run in the eighth, as Alonso delivered an RBI single to right that scored Marte and bumped their lead to 5-3. But it didn't take long for the Dodgers to erase their deficit and wreak havoc against reliever Reed Garrett. After a leadoff walk to Betts, Smith smacked an RBI double to left to make the score 5-4, and then a double-clutch and errant throw home from Baty on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Pages tied the game.

-- Garrett intentionally walked pinch-hitter Freddie Freeman to put runners on first and second with two outs, and the move brought on a matchup with Michael Conforto, who stepped up to the plate 0-for-11 in the series. The veteran outfielder ultimately got the last laugh against his former team, driving in the go-ahead run with a single to left. It was a blown save for Garrett, who entered Thursday with a pristine 0.68 ERA.

-- Another barn burner brought Dodgers closer Tanner Scott out for the ninth, and while the Mets managed to breathe down his neck, he locked down the save by striking out Tyrone Taylor and Baty and getting Luisangel Acuña to fly out. A game that simply slipped away for the Mets -- they went 2-for-10 with RISP and left 13 runners on base.

Game MVP: Michael Conforto

Yes, him. The Mets dared their former outfielder to beat them in the eighth, and he did just that by driving in the Dodgers' go-ahead run. The consolation prize belongs to Alonso, however, who's logged 12 RBI across the last five games and boosted his average to .298.

Highlights

David Peterson strikes out Shohei Ohtani for the fourth time in four at-bats! pic.twitter.com/bpyX6ZhG2J

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

ANOTHER HOME RUN FOR PETE ALONSO! pic.twitter.com/UBu2uA7EHR

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

Brandon Nimmo launches a solo home run just over the right-center field wall! 💣 pic.twitter.com/V53doOh7tW

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

FROM SANTOOOO DOMINGOOOOOO!

STARLING MARTE AND BRANDON NIMMO GO BACK-TO-BACK! pic.twitter.com/NSsoysd1qV

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

It's a sacrifice fly for Brett Baty as Pete Alonso beats Michael Conforto's throw home! pic.twitter.com/Tr5iVftHke

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

Acuña ➡️ McNeil ➡️ Alonso for the double play! pic.twitter.com/XnqODV9Dj1

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

David Peterson strikes out Shohei Ohtani to complete a 1-2-3 7th inning! 💪 pic.twitter.com/kreNwA2Yqf

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

PETE ALONSO DELIVERS!

He brings home Starling Marte with his 55th RBI of the year! pic.twitter.com/9oY1xWeyzc

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 5, 2025

What's next

The Mets (39-24) will continue their week-long road trip on Friday night, with the first of three games against the Colorado Rockies. First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. on SNY.

Kodai Senga (6-3, 1.60 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound, opposite veteran right-hander Antonio Senzatela (1-10, 7.14 ERA).

It was supposed to be a day off for Freddie Freeman.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quipped before the game that the 35-year-old veteran first baseman had begun to understand the value of an off day as he’s dealt with discomfort in his ankle this season.

But with the go-ahead run on second base in the eighth inning, Roberts summoned Freeman off the bench. Was it time for another magical, Freddie Freeman moment at Chavez Ravine?

Not so fast. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called for an intentional walk, and up walked Michael Conforto. The 46,364 fans at Dodger Stadium already booed the struggling outfielder after his third-inning strikeout. Hitting .165 entering the game, he was one of the unlikeliest to lead the Dodgers to a comeback victory. He'd yet to come through.

But all Conforto needed was one hit, one chance. And he delivered.

Against Mets setup man Reed Garrett, Conforto ripped a go-ahead RBI single into left field, helping the Dodgers complete a three-run comeback to defeat the Mets 6-5 and salvage a series split against a potential NL playoff opponent.

“It's been a grind up to this point,” Conforto said. “All I want to do is go up there and help us win. A lot of those situations I’ve come up short, so to come through today was everything.”

Closer Tanner Scott earned his first save since May 21 with a shutdown ninth inning, his second scoreless outing in a row.

Conforto's first hit with runners in scoring position since March 31 — and his first hit this season with runners in scoring position with two outs — put the Dodgers (38-25) two games ahead of the Padres in the NL West after their 3-2 loss to the Giants on Thursday.

In recent weeks, the Dodgers clubhouse showed support to Conforto during his slump. Mookie Betts said that Conforto’s struggles were also the team’s.

Read more:Will Dodgers' pitchers ever get healthy? How the team is tackling its biggest problem

“These guys have been awesome,” Conforto said of his teammates. “You spend more time with these guys than your actual family, so they’ve been part of my family. Just trying to keep me smiling, keep me laughing, so it’s been great to have their support.”

Before Conforto's go-ahead single, Will Smith doubled home Betts, who reached on a walk. Andy Pages scraped a ball off the ground — causing havoc in the Mets' infield and a throwing error from Brett Baty — allowing Smith to score.

For manager Dave Roberts, rallies such as Thursday's show the might of his ballclub, he said.

“Reed Garrett's obviously had a great year up to this point,” Roberts said. "They got a good pen. They pitch well. But the free passes, like you guys saw today, when you give teams free passes, innings are built and runs are created."

Mets left-hander David Peterson had made things difficult before the eighth. He struck out six and gave up three runs across seven innings.

The longevity the Mets (39-24) got from Peterson, however, was the opposite of what the Dodgers received from right-hander Landon Knack.

Knack had turned a corner across his last two outings. Against both New York teams, he twirled a career-high-tying six innings and gave up just one earned run in each start. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior paid close attention to Knack’s adjustments, praising his rise from early-season appearances in which he was bounced from games, giving up five runs against the Nationals and Athletics.

“His ability is to be able to throw multiple pitches in any count, in any situation, and that was a little bit off early on,” Prior said, “but now I think he's starting to finally get into the groove and kind of get back to where he was throwing the ball last year.”

Prior noted what Knack could do when he’s on — mixing pitches and speeds, making for off-balance at-bats. But he also explained what happens when Knack is off — leaving pitches in the middle zone, while falling behind in counts.

Knack was at his least effective Thursday. He gave up four runs — including three home runs — leaving fastballs over the plate to Pete Alonso and Starling Marte in the first and third innings. He also walked five across 3 ⅓ innings.

“Today [my mechanics] just got a little bit out of whack there for a minute, but I think I have made too much talk on just kind of like trying — we're getting close, we're feeling this, feeling that — and I think it's time to just do it,” Knack said. “To stop talking about it and just go out there and do it."

Roberts had to lean on his bullpen. Jack Dreyer took the ball through the middle of the fifth and José Ureña — who signed with the Dodgers on Tuesday — pitched 2 ⅓ innings to help save bullpen arms ahead of a six-game trip starting Friday in St. Louis.

Left-hander Justin Wrobleski will start for the Dodgers on Friday after being recalled from triple-A Oklahoma City, Roberts said. Wrobleski gave up five runs in four innings during his last triple-A appearance.

Etc.

Roberts said right-handed relief pitchers Kirby Yates (right hamstring strain) and Michael Kopech (right shoulder impingement) have a “good possibility” of being activated off the injured list during the weekend series in St. Louis.

Likely candidates to be removed from the 26-man roster over the next few days are Ryan Loutos (five earned runs in three innings with the Dodgers) — who gave up a three-run home run in Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the Mets — and Ureña.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani thought he was 'in trouble' before Dave Roberts gifted him a toy Porsche

Outfielders James Outman and Esteury Ruiz both had lockers in the Dodgers clubhouse Thursday. Roberts said the duo were on the taxi squad — as insurance for Hyeseong Kim and Tommy Edman — and would likely be headed back to triple-A later in the day.

Roberts gave clean bills of health to Edman (right ankle) and Kim (fouled a ball off his foot). Edman returned to the Dodgers’ lineup after two days off and hit sixth at second base.

“Looks like we're out of the clear with those two active guys,” Roberts said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.