The New York Mets will look to continue their torrid stretch when they open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday at Arlington, Texas.
The Mets have won five straight games and 11 of their past 15 to move within four games of .500. New York swept a three-game weekend set from the San Diego Padres by a cumulative 18-8 score.
“We are playing well,” New York shortstop Francisco Lindor said after Sunday’s 11-6 victory. “This is a good wave that we are riding right now. We just have to make sure we stay on it as long as we can.”
The Mets own the third-worst record in the National League but are just 1 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot.
Slugger Pete Alonso, who was 2-for-23 over the previous six games, went 2-for-5 with a homer and season-high five RBIs in Sunday’s victory. It was his first long ball since June 4.
“I was happy I was able to capitalize on some pitches,” Alonso said. “I was happy to come through for the boys there.”
New York will look to stay hot during a six-game road trip that concludes with three games against the Chicago Cubs.
“We are winning games, but even when it was hard for us, the guys never gave up,” New York manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They continue to show up every day. They continue to work. Our preparation continues to get better and they are having fun.
“A lot of people forget that this game is hard and you are going to go through struggles, and you have to find a way to stay positive, even when it’s hard.”
The defending World Series champion Rangers are struggling with eight losses in their past 12 games. Texas was swept in a three-game weekend set in Seattle and trails the first-place Mariners by 8 1/2 games in the American League West.
The Rangers were blanked 5-0 in Sunday’s finale and had just two hits and only one at-bat with runners in scoring position.
The star trio atop the order of Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia were hitless in 11 at-bats with four strikeouts.
The Rangers were outscored 15-7 in the series.
“We’re a better offense than this,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “We have some guys struggling, that’s fair to say. We’re banged up a little bit, not to make any excuses. You’ve still got to find a way to put some runs on the board and we just couldn’t do it.”
Garcia is just 8-for-52 (.154) in June with 15 strikeouts. His lone blast of the month came on June 2.
Texas will send right-hander Jon Gray (2-2, 2.17 ERA) to the mound in the opener against New York left-hander David Peterson.
Gray, 32, was faring well until experiencing groin soreness during a start against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 21. Gray served a stint on the 15-day injured list and has pitched 5 1/3 innings in two appearances (one start) since being activated.
Gray is 1-3 with a 7.41 ERA in seven career starts against the Mets.
Peterson (2-0, 4.32) is making his fourth start since recovering from November surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.
Peterson, 28, gave up two earned runs in each of his first two starts before allowing four runs and eight hits over five innings while beating the Miami Marlins in a 10-4 game on Wednesday.
Peterson won his lone career start against Texas on July 1, 2022, when he matched his career best of 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk in six innings in the 4-3 game.
–Field Level Media
