Rollercoaster.

In one word, it's how the Mets night went. The lead was traded back and forth all night with the Tigers, and the road team came out on top in the end after a three-run seventh iced the win. 

It's also a word to describe Noah Syndergaard's season thus far. Before tonight's start, he had been pitching deep into games, and began show more control of his pitches. The Mets were hoping he had turned the corner...

The Mets crushed five home runs, but their pitching couldn't hold up in Friday's 9-8 loss to the Detroit Tigers. >> Box score

Seven things to know about Friday's game

1) The Tigers jumped on Noah Syndergaard early, scoring four runs in the first two innings. Nicholas Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera each drove in a run in the first, and Jacoby Jones jolted a two-run homer in the second. Syndergaard's night came to an end after 5.1 innings, as he tied his season-high with 10 hits allowed, leading to six Tiger runs. 

2) The middle infielders provided a spark for the Mets, as Amed Rosario jump-started the offense in the third inning with a solo home run. Then, in the fourth, Adeiny Hechavarria slammed an opposite-field three-run shot, giving the Mets a 5-4 lead.

Down in the Mets' minor leagues, LHP Anthony Kay has been tearing it up for the Doulbe-A Rumble Ponies this season. 

The first-round pick by the Mets in the 2016 MLB Draft has been virtually untouchable with a 1.07 ERA and 0.77 WHIP over nine starts this season. He also threw a no-hit, seven-inning shutout during a doubleheader in his last start on May 20. 

Kay is setting himself up perfectly for a promotion to Triple-A, and if he keeps it up, he could see a call-up to Queens, too. 

Kay, along with his head coach Kevin Boles, sat down with SNY for a "Prospect Profile" to talk about the Mets' pitching prospects amazing start to 2019, and how he's been so successful thus far....

Pete Alonso just keeps mashing. His solo home run off the left field foul pole put the Mets ahead 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth Friday against the Tigers and was his 17th homer of the season. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Darryl Strawberry cherishes the Mets record he set back in 1983, when he slugged 26 home runs has a rookie. It's part of an unforgettable season in his career, one in which he learned crucial lessons about what it took to thrive in the majors and how much callus-causing work was involved. 

But the man called Straw does not greedily cling to the mark, nor does he want it to stand forever. Pete Alonso is putting Strawberry's record in serious jeopardy with each mighty swing and the former Mets superstar is rooting for him.  

"Talent is going to come around and will shatter different records," Strawberry said in a telephone interview. "I'm hoping he does it. 1983 -- you know how long ago that is? 

The Mets (24-25, 4.5 GB in NL East) have won four straight games, and will take that momentum into their series opener with the Tigers (18-29, 14 GB in AL Central) at Citi Field on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Mets notes

Prior to tonight's game, Mets new OF Aaron Altherr was activated to the 25-man, while RHP Ryan O'Rourke was sent back down to Triple-A Syracuse. ...In three straight come-from-behind victories, the Mets have actually won in their last at-bat each time. It was Carlos Gomez Thursday afternoon who hit a three-run homer to retake the lead, and win the game for the Amazins.' ...Pete Alonso has set a Mets rookie record with 16 homers before the All-Star break. ...The Mets lead the NL with a .371 OBP from pinch hitters this season. They're also third with 15 RBI.

The Mets are adding even more outfield depth by signing former All-Star Matt Kemp to a minor-league deal, pending a physical. He'll initially report to Port St. Lucie.

Kemp was released by the Reds three weeks ago after Cincinnati acquired him from the Dodgers in December.

The 34-year-old, who was an All-Star just last season, was hitting .200 with one homer in 62 plate appearances with the Reds this season. Before he was released, he was placed on the injured list retroactive to April 22 with a broken rib. 

The Mets' bullpen could have a different look on Friday night.

Speaking before the opener of this weekend's three-game series with Detroit, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said that he's unsure if Edwin Diaz will be available out of the pen on Friday. The Mets' closer pitched three of the last four days, tossing three scoreless innings over the course of the Mets' four-game sweep against the Nats.

According to Callaway, Drew Gagnon may get the call to close out the game if Diaz can't go. The 28-year-old righty has strung together seven straight scoreless outings and has established himself as one of the Mets' most reliable bullpen arms.

Can you guess which Mets pitcher has the team's best ERA, and is tied for the most wins in the rotation?

It's not Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard, both hurlers you might have tabbed this preseason.

It's Steven Matz, the soon-to-be 28-year-old southpaw.

Michael Conforto is inching closer to returning to the Mets lineup. 

The outfielder was eligible to return from the 7-day concussion IL on Friday and while he was not re-activated, he did have nothing but positive news to report from Citi Field before the Mets' game against the Tigers. 

"Feel good. Feel normal. Feel happy that I'm back to doing full baseball activity," he said. "Obviously the road trip was tough and not being there was even tougher. But it's been really fun to be with these guys through the last series and starting a new series today. So I feel good, feel 100 percent and we're just kinda taking it day-by-day."

Mets OF Carlos Gomez has started in right field the past four games, during which New York never lost against the Nationals.

Gomez, 33, was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse last week. If he had been promoted four days earlier, it would have been 12 years to the day since making his big-league debut wearing a Mets uniform in 2007.

Prior to being promoted the first time, Gomez was an elite, much-hyped prospect.

Mets rookie Pete Alonso is taking the baseball world by storm this season, and that power that scouts have been drooling over all this time has been on full display. 

So, before he hits another one, here are Alonso's 16 home runs this season in 60 seconds...

The Mets claimed Aaron Altherr off waivers from the Giants on Thursday, and he's already joining the team in Flushing. 

The team announced on Friday that Altherr is being activated to the 25-man roster, while RHP Ryan O'Rourke has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

It was an expected move by the Mets, as Altherr is out of options, which means he needed to be added to the roster. Still, with their entire starting outfield on the IL and both Carlos Gomez and Rajai Davis up from Triple-A Syracuse, the Mets could use more reinforcements.

Does Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard prefer Nicki Minaj or Cardi B? Peer into Noah's personality while he plays This or That.

Detroit Tigers at New York Mets
Moneyline: DET +230/NYM -270
Over/Under: 7.5
Series: DET +260/NYM -320
First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV: SNY
Probable pitchers: Gregory Soto (0-2, 10.80 ERA) vs. Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 4.50 ERA)

Just when it seemed like the Mets' season was slipping away and their manager on the brink, all appears to be well again after claiming a four-game sweep of the rival Washington Nationals at Citi Field.

The Mets signed veteran RHP Ervin Santana to a minor-league deal pending a physical, the team announced Friday.

Santana, 36, was granted free agency when the White Sox designated him for assignment in April. He went 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts. Santana would report to Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Over the past two seasons, Santana has only made eight starts, going 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA. He has allowed 36 runs, 50 hits and 15 homers in 38 innings.

If there is one thing Steve Phillips knew to avoid doing as Mets GM, it was making any sort of bold proclamation. 

So when Brodie Van Wagenen boasted that the Mets were the favorites in the National League East before the season, Phillips knew that was a mistake. 

"It was like, 'noooo, don't say that' because I just know how this goes," the SiriusXM baseball analyst said, per The Post. 

The Mets (24-25, 4.5 GB in the NL East) rallied again on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep of the Nationals. They begin a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

Here's what went down on Thursday, in case you missed it:

Carlos Gomez hit a two-out, two-strike, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn a 4-3 deficit into s 6-3 lead as they won their season-best fourth straight game.

The Mets have needed to dip into their Triple-A Syracuse roster recently to alleviate some of the injuries plaguing their core players. And those have been called up are making an immediate impact. 

For today's comeback win, that recent call-up was Carlos Gomez. 

With two runners on and the Mets down one, Gomez found himself in a hole with a 1-2 count and two outs already on the board. But Wander Suero didn't hit his spot with a fastball, and Gomez put a quick swing on it to lift it over the fence for a three-run homer. And that was all she wrote as the Mets swept the four-game series...

Matt Harvey's introduction to the American League hasn't gone as planned.

The former Mets ace, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason, was bounced in the third inning of Thursday's start against the Twins, allowing eight earned runs on seven hits.

Mets LHP prospect David Peterson has rounded into form lately while pitching for Double-A Binghamton, and the big lefty could be an option for the Mets' rotation in 2020...

The Skinny

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 240 lbs

With exactly one half of the Mets' regular starting lineup on the IL, it makes sense for them to get a bit creative when it comes to their lineup construction between now and when Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, Robinson Cano, and Brandon Nimmo return.

While Wilson Ramos (catcher), Pete Alonso (first base), Amed Rosario (shortstop), and Juan Lagares (center field) will start most days, the Mets need to shake things up elsewhere. 

Mets manager Mickey Callaway hinted over the last two days about what some of that creativity could look like. Here are four lineup ideas the Mets should consider as they wait for their injured players to return...

After recently suffering a "violent fall" at his ranch, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes' season is officially over without it having ever begun. 

Cespedes suffered "ankle fractures" during the fall, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen.said on Monday, and underwent ankle surgery on Thursday.

Van Wagenen said Monday that Cespedes was being evaluated at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York and that they needed more information from doctors before fully understanding the severity of the injury.

The Mets won a wild one against the Nats on Thursday afternoon to complete a four-game sweep >> Box score

Five things to know about Thursday's game

1) Trailing 4-3 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Nats elected to walk Wilson Ramos intentionally to put runners on first and second for Carlos Gomez, who crushed a three-run homer to left-center field off reliever Wander Suarez to give the Mets a 6-4 lead. Dominic Smith had doubled to start the inning.

The Mets reliniquished their lead in the top of the seventh, but they took it right back that inning thanks to Carlos Gomez. 

The veteran outfielder ripped a three-run homer to left-center field, and celebrated around the base paths in typical Gomez fashion...

In the bottom of the sixth, the Mets regained their lead thanks to some situational hitting...

Jason Vargas, who has been out since May 5 due to a hamstring issue, will return to the Mets' rotation on Saturday against the Tigers at Citi Field.

Vargas, who made a rehab start earlier this week for Double-A Binghamton, will be sandwiched between Noah Syndergaard (who pitches Friday) and Zack Wheeler (who pitches Sunday). 

The 36-year-old Vargas struggled badly at the beginning of the season, with his spot in the rotation becoming tenuous. But he had rebounded before his injury.

Three days after calling a press conference where he offered tepid support of Mickey Callaway, Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen congratulated his manager on a milestone.

"Congrats Mickey Callaway on your 100th win as @Mets manager last night," Callaway tweeted. "Looking forward to many more. #LGM"

The Mets are now without exactly one half of their regular starting lineup.

A day after Jeff McNeil expressed optimism he would be able to return to the lineup Thursday after sitting on Wednesday due to hamstring tightness, McNeil -- who has not yet had an MRI -- has been placed on the 10-day IL.

McNeil said Thursday that he feels the injury is minor and that he hopes to be back as soon as the minimum 10 days are up. 

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The Mets (23-25, 4.5 GB in NL East) go for a series sweep and seek to win their fourth straight game (which would be a season high) when they take on the Nationals (19-30, 9 GB) on Thursday at 12:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

Mets notes

Pete Alonso has a .302/.375/.698 batting line with four home runs and nine RBIs in 12 games against the Nationals this season. ... Over his last six games, Todd Frazier is hitting .412 with one RBI and three extra-base hits. ... The Mets bullpen has the best ERA (2.03) in the majors in the month of May and has held opponents to a .173 batting average.

The Mets (23-25, 4.5 GB in the NL East) rallied late to beat the Nationals on Wednesday night at Citi Field as they won their third-straight game. They wrap up their series with the Nats on Thursday at 12:10 PM.

Here's what went down on Tuesday, in case you missed it:

In the Mets' win over the Nats, New York turned a 1-0 eighth-inning deficit into a 6-1 lead in the span of two batters >> Read more

Playing for seven different teams in his 14-year career, one would think Rajai Davis has seen it all in the baseball world. But debuting for his eighth team in the Mets on Wednesday night was definitely one he will never forget. 

Davis has been playing for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, and he woke up this morning in Allentown, PA like any other day. He arrived at Coca-Cola Park, and began warming up to face the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs -- the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. But while taking his BP, Davis was told that he was actually getting called up. 

The 38-year-old thought it was a joke, but it turns out Brandon Nimmo was put on the IL after an MRI revealed inflammation has been causing his neck stiffness. And the news came less than two hours before first pitch at Citi Field. So Davis had to pack his things as fast as possible, and hightail it to Flushing to join the big club...

The Mets turned to some late-inning dramatics for the second night in a row, as Juan Lagares and Rajai Davis delivered a pair of huge hits in the eighth inning of the Mets' 6-1 win over Washington. >> Box score

Five things to know about Wednesday's game

1) The Mets received some late-game clutch hitting for the second night in a row on Wednesday. The Nats' bullpen loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Juan Lagares delivered the clutch blow, raking a double into the left-center gap to give the Mets the 3-1 lead. After an intentional walk to Wilson Ramos, Rajai Davis lined a three-run shot to left in his first at-bat as a Met, extending the lead to 6-1.

The Mets turned to some late-inning dramatics for the second night in a row, as Juan Lagares and Rajai Davis delivered a pair of huge hits in the eighth inning of the Mets' 6-1 win over Washington. >> Box score

Five things to know about Wednesday's game

1) The Mets received some late-game clutch hitting for the second night in a row on Wednesday. The Nats' bullpen loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Juan Lagares delivered the clutch blow, raking a double into the left-center gap to give the Mets the 3-1 lead. After an intentional walk to Wilson Ramos, Rajai Davis lined a three-run shot to left in his first at-bat as a Met, extending the lead to 6-1.

The Mets couldn't push anything across the scoreboard against Max Scherzer, but when Sean Doolittle took the mound, it was a very different story. 

New York found the bases loaded and a chance to not only tie the game, but take the lead as well. Juan Lagares was up for the task as he hit a three-run double to clear the bases and give the Mets the lead.

But the Mets weren't done in that inning. In his first at-bat as a Met after being called up today, Rajai Davis had a pinch-hit three-run homer to put the nail in the coffin...

The Mets take another injury hit as Robinson Cano left Wednesday night's game against the Nationals.

The team announced Cano suffered left quad tightness. The injury occurred when Cano grounded out to second, and while busting it down the line, he pulled up short before touching first base.

After manager Mickey Callaway checked on Cano with a trainer, the decision was made to hit the showers early. Adeiny Hechavarria took his spot in the lineup...

With Brandon Nimmo's neck stiffness persisting, he is heading to the IL, the team announced on Wednesday.

Nimmo was set to have an MRI today to see what was wrong with his neck, and it revealed inflammation in the area. On Tuesday, Nimmo said he was "a little bit concerned" about it, while adding the stiffness from earlier this season never fully went away.

"I'm a little bit concerned about it, but we're hoping that we'll find some answers tomorrow," Nimmo said. "It's been going off and on since really Philadelphia...

Since Spring Training, the Mets have made it a point to say Dominic Smith is being viewed by the team as primarily a first baseman. That meant no outfield reps for the 23-year-old, even though he told the team he wanted to do so. 

Fast forward a few months and the Mets have been left no choice but to consider Smith for outfield time considering the recent injuries to players like Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil. 

Manager Mickey Callaway admitted to the media before Wednesday night's game against the Nationals that Smith could be featured in the outfield if need be.

Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell was in the house at Citi Field on Wednesday night, and if his NBA career doesn't end up working out, he could potentially pick up a career in baseball.

Mitchell, who averaged 23.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game last season, took some confident swings inside the cage, met with Mets' players, and even took some infield work at first base.

Named to the 2017-18 All-Rookie team, Mitchell has family ties to the Mets, as his father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., serves as the team's Director of Player Relations and Community Engagement. 

Steve Gelbs and Anthony DiComo were live from the Citi Pavilion today providing the latest updates on the Mets and answering questions from fans!

The Mets (22-25, 5.5 GB in NL East) have bounced back from a five-game skid to capture back-to-back victories against the Nats. Jacob deGrom toes the rubber tonight attempting to push the streak to three games.

Mets notes

After Tuesday night's walkoff 6-5 win over Washington (the team's second walkoff win of the year), the Mets can clinch their fifth series win of the season with a victory tonight. ... The Mets have posted a 16-13 record against NL East foes, the most wins by any team against its own division this season. ... deGrom is 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA in his three career duels against Max Scherzer. ... Pete Alonso's 16 home runs are the most ever by a Mets rookie before the All-Star break.

Doug Williams and Andy Martino return for a special second helping of Shea Anything this week! Since the last show, the Mets committed to Mickey Callaway for the "foreseeable future" - and the guys explain how it went down and what it all means.

They also try to figure out what happened to Yoenis Cespedes on his ranch, and what could happen to his future with the Mets...

Click below to listen...

Roughly five weeks after Mets manager Mickey Callaway suggested the team would wait until the playoffs to use Edwin Diaz for more than three outs, the Edwin Diaz rules are no longer in effect.

As part of that adjustment, Diaz -- with Callaway saying they're now treating these games like the "playoffs" -- will be available for more than three outs.

That's a big change from what Callaway said on April 16, shortly before GM Brodie Van Wagenen sang a similar tune regarding Diaz.

A day after GM Brodie Van Wagenen said the Mets were waiting to see what baseball activities he could participate in, Michael Conforto was seen on Citi Field looking like his normal self. 

Conforto was deemed symptom-free of his concussion over the weekend, and the Mets were awaiting his test results to see how to proceed. Well, the veteran outfielder was playing catch and "delivering throws with some zip," per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. He even said Conforto came out of the clubhouse "smiley," which is always a good sign.

Conforto was placed on the 7-day concussion DL on Friday after leaving Thursday's game against the Nationals in the bottom of the fifth inning after getting hit in the face by Robinson Cano's shoulder while both of them were trying to field a fly ball...

Jeff McNeil is out of the Mets' lineup on Wednesday night due to a hamstring issue he first felt in the ninth inning of Tuesday's win.

"Felt it last night, got some treatment," McNeil said before the game. "It's tight."

In the ninth inning on Tuesday, McNeil reached on a fielder's choice before taking second base on defensive indifference, where he said he first felt the hamstring bothering him -- "kind of tigthened up on me there and I was feeling it."

Pete Alonso fell behind in the count, 0-2, in the eighth inning Tuesday night, fouling off and then swinging through high fastballs at 98 mph, so the power vs. power showdown seemed to favor Tanner Rainey, a 26-year old rookie called up from the minors a few days ago.

As a National League scout said Wednesday, "I wouldn't have bet on Alonso at that point. Lately he's been getting pitched tougher and he's been chasing up in the zone a little more, which is normal for a young guy when he goes through his first rough patch.

"But I'll tell you, the more I see of him, the more impressed I am -- especially in a big spot. He's hit a lot of big home runs in the late innings, and after a while you start to think it's not an accident."

On this date in 1998, while working the service desk at Home Depot, I answered an urgent phone call from my mother, who, as a Mets fan herself, was eager to tell me the Mets traded for "that pizza guy," as she called him.

I laughed, knowing full well she meant Mike Piazza, who never would have become the legend he is in Queens had the Dodgers never turned their backs on his contract request.

Piazza wanted at least $91 million during his Spring Training negotiations with the Dodgers in early 1998. They never offered more than $84 million, Piazza rejected it, and Los Angeles began floating his name in trade talks with interested teams. The Mets were among several teams to show interest...

The Mets have gotten something back for Keon Broxton after designating him for assignment on May 17.

New York had seven days to either trade Broxton or place him on waivers, and swung a trade on Wednesday to send Broxton to the Orioles for $500,000 in international bonus pool money.

Getting that amount of international bonus pool money for a player they would've otherwise placed on waivers -- and couldn't force to accept a minor league assignment if he cleared waivers -- is a solid get for the Mets. But it doesn't erase the fact that the initial Broxton trade was a massive failure for GM Brodie Van Wagenen.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Following an embarrassing weekend in Miami, when the historically bad Marlins swept a Mets team that lacked any signs of life, the Mets front office knew it had only two choices: Fire manager Mickey Callaway immediately or say publicly that his job was safe.

GM Brodie Van Wagenen chose to do that latter, of course, even though it's very clear that the Mets do not view Callaway as their manager of the future, or particularly effective at his job. In a year-plus, Callaway has improved somewhat as a tactician and communicator, but clearly lacks the necessary presence or expertise.

Washington Nationals at New York Mets
Moneyline: WAS -105/NYM -105
Over/Under: 6.5
First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
Probable pitchers: Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.72 ERA)

There's an Opening Day rematch set for the third game of this series, as the National League's last two Cy Young Award winners square off tonight at Citi Field.