Robinson Cano (quad) appears to be getting closer to returning from the IL. 

The second baseman, who was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse, was with the Mets on Saturday in Citi Field testing his left quad in the outfield and taking batting practice prior to the game. 

According to GM Brodie Van Wagenen and manager Mickey Callaway, Cano was going through his pregame routine and they would assess on Sunday whether or not he is ready to be activated off the injured list. 

The Mets officially introduced first-round pick Brett Baty on Saturday afternoon after the first-round pick signed his contract with the team.

"He is a player with tremendous power," said Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen. "This was a player that's important to us, this is a player that we have a lot to look forward to. We feel like he can make an impact with his bat and we feel like he can be a player that's a part of our future sooner rather than later.

"I can't say enough about our scouting staff. We saw Brett early and often this spring, and virtually every important person from a scouting standpoint saw Brett play ... A lot of people spent a lot of time in getting this selection right."

After losing a suspended game and the game that followed, the Mets entered Saturday at 33-36, three games under .500, 7.5 games behind the Braves in the National League East and five games back of the Phillies for the second wild card spot. 

With the MLB trade deadline just six weeks away, it is worth wondering if the Mets are going to be buyers or sellers. 

GM Brodie Van Wagenen believes the team can still contend for the postseason, at least for now. 

The Mets made a bit of a shake-up in their bullpen on Saturday.

Tyler Bashlor was officially sent back to Triple-A after serving as Friday's 26th man, as was Tim Peterson, while Chris Flexen was brought up to the big league roster. Additionally, the Mets acquired RHP Brooks Pounders from Cleveland in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the roster, Hector Santiago was officially designated for assignment.

Flexen, a a right-hander, has appeared in two games for the Mets this season, going 0-2 with a 11.12 ERA. Over the last three years, he's appeared in 20 games for the Mets, compiling an 8.70 ERA over 60 innings.

It's no secret that the Mets' bullpen has had its struggles this season, highlighted by Friday's pair of losses.

Between Edwin Diaz, Jeurys Familia, and others the Mets just haven't quite locked in on the best way to handle the late innings.

There's a new name on the market who could be an intriguing option for the back end of the Mets' pen. 

Cody Allen, a 30-year-old right-hander, was designated for assignment by the Angels on Saturday morning. Signed to be the team's closer this offseason, Allen struggled with the Angels, posting a 6.26 ERA in 25 appearances while losing his closing role. His poor season came to a head on Friday, when he allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning against the Rays.

On the latest episode of The Amazin' Life presented by Coca-Cola, Todd Frazier delivers all the Fatherly Advice and Dad Tips that you need!

The Mets (33-36, 7.5 GB in NL East, 5 GB of second Wild Card) fell to the Cardinals Friday night, twice, losing a suspended game, 5-4, then the regularly scheduled game, 9-5. They return to face the Cardinals on Saturday at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. 

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

After blowing the save in Thursday night's suspended game, Edwin Diaz returned for the 10th inning to pitch again only to allow another run and take the loss as well. In the regularly scheduled game, it was Jeurys Familia who cost the Mets, blowing a one-run lead in the eighth by allowing four runs, including two home runs, in a 9-5 loss. 

As if the Mets needed any more questions about their bullpen, they may have another injury to deal with after Friday's game.

Robert Gsellman pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the Mets, but was then taken out of the game as part of a double switch. When asked about that move after the game, Mickey Callaway said Gsellman told him he was experiencing tightness in his back.

Callaway didn't have much more info on Gsellman, other than that he will get treatment and the team would go from there. 

The Mets' bullpen racked up two more losses in the span of about four hours on Friday.

After Edwin Diaz took the loss in Thursday's suspended game, it was Jeurys Familia who took the 'L' in Friday's scheduled game.

The Mets battled back from a 4-2 deficit to take a 5-4 lead through seven innings. Then, Mickey Callaway turned the ball over to Familia, who allowed four earned runs on three hits, including home runs by Paul DeJong and Dexter Fowler.

After losing the end of Thursday's suspended game, which was blown by Edwin Díaz, the Mets lost their regularly scheduled game Friday to the Cardinals, 9-5, thanks to Jeurys Familia's eighth-inning implosion. >> Box score

Five things to know from Friday's game...

1) Familia entered in the eighth with a 5-4 lead gave up four runs. On his second pitch, he gave up a solo homer to Mets nemesis Paul DeJong, who drove in the game-winning run in the suspended game. DeJong has eight homers in 75 at-bats against the Mets. Familia then gave up a three-run homer to Dexter Fowler with two outs. It's the second time in his career Familia allowed two homers in a game, the first coming this season on April 6 against Washington. He's allowed five homers this season after giving up three all of last season. The four runs allowed increased Familia's ERA to 6.91 for the season as his return to the Mets continues to be disastrous. 

Anthony Kay's first start for Triple-A Syracuse didn't exactly go as planned.

The 31st-overall pick in the 2016 draft pitched a scoreless first inning against Gwinnett, but the Stripers got after the lefty in the second inning, striking for three runs on four hits in the frame.

Overall, Kay allowed five earned runs over four innings of work, striking out six hitters. Kay showed some command issues on Friday, as only 49 of his 83 pitches were strikes. He also allowed a two-run home run to Sean Kazmar in the third inning. 

Brandon Nimmo was removed from Syracuse's lineup just before Friday's game against Gwinnett with neck soreness.

The 26-year-old was slated to play center field and bat leadoff tonight for Syracuse, but he was replaced by Rajai Davis just before first pitch. Nimmo was out of the lineup on Thursday, but he played in the first two games of the Mets' series with Charlotte.

Nimmo was originally placed on the 10-day Injured List on May 22nd with neck stiffness. He will be re-evaluated on Saturday.

Having completed Thursday's suspended game, the Mets now host the Cardinals for their regularly scheduled game at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Mets notes

The Mets have homered in 17 consecutive home games, the longest streak in franchise history. They've hit 34 homers during that stretch. ... Mets starting pitchers have gone at least six innings in 14 of the last 15 games. ... Wilson Ramos was hitting .367 with five homers, 11 RBI and 10 walks over his last 19 games entering Friday. ...Pete Alonso leads all rookies in homers (22), RBI (49), extra-base hits (37), slugging (.598) and runs (40.)

After giving up two runs to blow the save Thursday night before the game was suspended, Edwin Díaz returned for the 10th inning Friday when the game was picked up and took the loss as the Mets fell to St. Louis, 5-4, in 10 innings. >> Box score

Six things to know from Friday's first game...

1) Upon the restart, the Mets went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Díaz came on for the 10th, staying in after blowing the save Thursday. He allowed a leadoff single, after which Yairo Munoz stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and was driven in by Paul DeJong. In addition to his third blown save, Díaz took his fourth loss.

There's been a lot of questions floating around about Dominic Smith this season.

Will he get any playing time at first base with the way Pete Alonso's hitting?

Can he play the outfield?

The Mets (33-34, 6.0 GB in NL East) will continue their suspended game with the Cardinals (33-33, 5.0 GB in NL Central), which is tied at 4 in the bottom of the ninth, on Friday at 6:10 p.m. at Citi Field. 

Mets notes

The Mets entered the ninth inning with a 4-2 lead but as rain began pouring down the groundscrew began to roll out the tarp. The Mets convinced them to hold off so they can try to finish the game, but that decision backfired and Edwin Diaz blew the save. He allowed a leadoff walk, got the next two batters out before allowing a two-out RBI single to Kolten Wong and a double to Harrison Bader to tie the game. ... The Mets will have Todd Frazier, Wilson Ramos, and Amed Rosario up in the ninth against Andrew Miller.

The starting rotation, healthy and being pushed to pitch deeper into games lately, still offers the possibility of carrying the Mets toward serious contention. No matter what, though, the bullpen isn't deep enough, even presuming that Edwin Diaz gets his act together.

And somehow Brodie Van Wagenen needs to reinforce it.

Making a trade is the most obvious way, but there will be a limited number of quality relievers on the market, and the Mets' farm system is thin on top prospects, in part because Van Wagenen included Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn in the Diaz/Robinson Cano trade last fall.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Yoenis Cespedes is no Donn Clendenon.

Sure, Cespedes' second-half power show in 2015 helped propel the Mets all the way to the World Series after a deadline deal brought the slugger from Detroit.

But Clendenon pushed an even more improbable Mets club -- some have called it miraculous -- to the Fall Classic 50 years ago after an in-season trade. Then he finished the job, winning the World Series MVP Award as the 1969 Mets topped the powerful Baltimore Orioles in five games.

As a steady rain turned into more of a downpour before the top of the ninth inning on Thursday night at Citi Field, the grounds crew rolled the tarp out and prepared to put it on the field. The Mets -- including Pete Alonso and Mickey Callaway -- lobbied the umpires to not have the tarp put on. That lobbying turned out to be a terrible idea.

Instead of putting the tarp on, it sat behind the infield dirt as the grounds crew put diamond dry on the field and Edwin Diaz stood around for 10 minutes after warming up. 

Prior to blowing the save as the rain continued to pelt the field, Diaz warmed up in the bullpen, then on the mound, then waited through the delay. He then warmed up on the mound again (in the rain) before facing his first batter (in the rain).

The College World Series begins this weekend in Omaha, Neb., and it will feature 60 MLB draft picks among the eight teams remaining in the tournament. 

The picks range from as high as the fourth overall pick -- Vanderbilt's JJ Bleday (Marlins) -- to 36th-rounder Shay Smiddy (Rays) of Louisville. None of these 60 picks have signed with their respective teams, though, because they cannot do so until their college season is over.

The Mets have two of their draft picks still playing in Omaha. Here is who to watch:

The Mets (33-34, 6.0 GB in NL East, 4.5 GB of second Wild Card) will complete their suspended game against the Cardinals at Citi Field on Friday at 6:10 p.m. before playing the second game of their four-game set.

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

With the Mets leading 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth inning Thursday, they helped convince the grounds crew to not call for a full rain delay. That turned out to be unwise, as Edwin Diaz blew the save while it poured. Then the game was suspended with it tied, 4-4 >> Read more

Jacob deGrom had a solid outing in Thursday's suspended game with the Cardinals, but he did show some frustration on the mound.

In the top of the third inning, with Harrison Bader on third base and two away, the Mets elected to shift their infield for Matt Carpenter. deGrom forced Carpenter to hit a slow roller to short stop, but there was no defender there for the Mets, allowing Bader to score the first run of the game.

DeGrom was visibly upset when he returned to the dugout.

Sometimes good news just can't wait.

As Wilson Ramos was about to head to the plate during Thursday's game with the Cardinals, his wife, Yely, came down the stairs and met yelled out to her husband from the the other side of the protective netting.

Once she had his attention, she held up a sign telling Ramos that the couple is expecting their third child together.

If you're looking for a feel-good way to end your night: Wilson Ramos' wife came down to tell him that she's pregnant with their third child while he was in the on-deck circle 👶

(via @JakeBrownRadio) pic.twitter.com/oSgjb7CyPD

- SNY (@SNYtv) June 14, 2019

The Mets got a strong start from Jacob deGrom, but Edwin Díaz gave up two runs in the ninth to blow the save, and rain caused the game to be suspended at 4-4 before the bottom of the ninth. The game will resume Friday at 6:10 p.m.. >> Box score

Five things to know from Thursday's game...

1) For the first time since April, Wilson Ramos caught deGrom for a second consecutive start, and the results have been positive for the Mets. DeGrom allowed two runs in seven innings on six hits, no walks and eight strikeouts. He threw a season-high 116 pitches. Matt Carpenter recorded an RBI infield single in the third when he beat the shift, and Paul DeJong tied the game 2-2 in the top of the sixth with a solo homer, but the Mets reclaimed the lead in the bottom half. DeGrom has allowed 10 homers this season, matching his total from all of last season. He was in line for the win until Díaz blew the save by giving up two runs in the ninth.

In his last start with Ramos, deGrom had 10 strikeouts and allowed two runs in six innings but took a tough-luck loss. Thursday's outing marked the 33rd time since the start of the 2018 season deGrom allowed two or fewer runs. The Mets were 16-16 over the first 32 such starts.

In the bottom of the third inning Thursday night against the Cardinals, Michael Conforto crushed a two-run homer to right-center to give the Mets a 2-1 lead at Citi Field. Conforto has 13 homers this season.

The Mets (33-34, 5.5 GB in NL East) open a four-game series against the Cardinals (33-33, 5.0 GB in NL Central) Thursday night from Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Mets notes

For the first time since April 14 and April 26, the Mets' battery will consist of Jacob deGrom and Wilson Ramos. Ramos is batting .379 with six homers, 17 RBI and a 1.023 OPS over his last 26 games. ... In his last 16 contests, Dom Smith is 16-for-39 with three jacks, four doubles and four walks. He'll start in left field and bat cleanup Thursday. ... Michael Conforto has reached base in eight consecutive contests and is batting .300 in that span. ... The Mets are 13-3 in their last 16 home games.

The Subway Series can be an intimidating backdrop for an inexperienced MLB player. However, it wasn't surprising that Jeff McNeil left his mark on one of the Mets' marquee series of the season.

McNeil played in both games of the doubleheader and went a combined 4-10 with three runs, three RBI and a home run en route to a series split. If Yankees fans in attendance or the national audience that paid attention to the series didn't know who McNeil was before, they sure know now.

McNeil succeeds by playing a different brand of baseball than the rest of the Mets. In an era where home runs are prominent and strikeouts verge on acceptable, the Mets live and die by swinging big. There's a lot of power in the lineup, but the team has also struck out the seventh-most times in the MLB.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

During the "Shea Anything" podcast taping on Wednesday, colleague Doug Williams reminded me of the most offensive thing that Chase Utley has ever done in public -- and no, it wasn't breaking Ruben Tejada's leg.

Doug noted that, during a WFAN appearance earlier this year, the former Phillies great said "See ya, sweetheart" to caller Cali from Connecticut. This was a truly icky comment, out of step with both contemporary standards and basic decency (Cali was busy telling Utley how "annoying" he was, but you still don't say "sweetheart").

Mets fans do not disparage Utley for the casual misogyny in his vocab, though. They hate him because of one late slide in the playoffs, and a history of aggressive play that they would have loved had Utley been on their side.

Mets RHP prospect Ryley Gilliam has been a fast riser through the Mets' system since being selected in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. The reliever is now pitching out of the bullpen for Triple-A Syracuse and could be a late-inning force in the majors sooner rather than later...

The Skinny

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 170 lbs

Number eight in our countdown of the 10 Greatest Home Runs at Citi Field comes courtesy of Curtis Granderson, who sealed the win versus Minnesota with an extra inning walk-off in 2016. Keep following along as we celebrate another season of Citi Community Home Runs benefitting @NoKidHungry!

The Mets (33-34, 5.5 GB in NL East, 4.5 GB of second Wild Card) open a four-game series against the Cardinals at Citi Field on Thursday night at 7:10 on SNY.

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

With the Mets nearing full strength, how will be the odd-men-out when Brandon Nimmo and Robinson Cano -- who continued their rehab assignments with Triple-A on Wednesday -- return? Read more

Does Michael Conforto prefer the DH? How does he feel about shifts? How about pancakes vs. waffles or Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj? Conforto reveals all in the latest edition of This or That.

Check out Noah Syndergaard play This or That here.

The Mets selected high school 3B Brett Baty 12th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, and according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, they expect he will sign with the team.

A 19-year-old from Spicewood, Texas, Baty is listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. He has the ability to play both corner infield positions as well as the outfield.

After passing a physical, the deal for Baty can be signed, with the $4.366 million slot value not likely to be fully fulfilled. The Mets expect to save some money when he inks the dotted line, and that works in their favor for another draft pick they are hope will sign as well.

Mets starting pitcher Jason Vargas is back to doing what he does best on the mound. And, because of it, while keeping the Mets afloat in the standings, he's also establishing trade value.

During last night's game, the Yankees managed to score three runs on seven hits against him during his six innings on the mound. The results helped even his record at 3-3 through 11 appearances, during which his 3.68 ERA ranks behind only Jacob deGrom among the team's starting pitchers.

"This is who we signed. This is who we wanted," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said after the game. "He's doing now (what he did in) the second half last year."

During Tuesday's Subway Series doubleheader, Yankees first baseman Luke Voit crushed a three-run homer off Zack Wheeler in the opener. In the nightcap, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso smoked a three-run homer off James Paxton.

Voit, the 28-year-old third-year player who came out of nowhere and is now entrenched as the Yankees' starting first baseman, is hitting .263/.380/.504 with 16 homers, eight doubles, and 44 RBI in 64 games this season (287 plate appearances). 

Alonso, the 24-year-old rookie whose 2018 minor league breakout now pales in comparison to his big league eruption, is hitting .254/.337/.596 with 22 homers, 12 doubles and 49 RBI in 66 games this season (273 plate appearances).

Andy Martino and Doug Williams discuss Mickey Callaway's criticism of the team, while making a few puzzling decisions himself.

They also look at Dom Smith and his potential, with a hint of Jacob deGrom talk sprinkled in about personal catchers and his dominance...

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

The Mets are likely about to be close to full-strength, with Brandon Nimmo and Robinson Cano both in the middle of rehab assignments with Triple-A Syracuse and nearing returns to the big league roster.

And with the return of two everyday players will come two 25-man roster moves.

Here's how things could shake out and who the odd-men-out could be...

A reliever will almost certainly be dropped

The second season of "Rain Delay Theater: The Podcast" receives a visit from Endy Chavez for Episode 3! Steve Gelbs and Wayne Randazzo catch up with the former Mets outfielder for a deep dive into Endy's famous catch in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS! Endy shares several stories about what he was thinking as the ball was in the air, if he even thought he had the ball, and the insane reactions afterwards from the fans and his teammates. They guys also talk about what happened in Game 7, and how close the 2006 team was to winning it all.

Subscribe to the show HERE or HERE

Click below to listen

Recently-retired Chase Utley removed any doubt about his feelings on the Mets -- the team he tormented throughout his career and whose fans made their feelings about him known.

Asked point blank whether he hates the Mets, Utley was succinct.

"I do," Utley said on Sportsnet Live, smirking and pausing a second before adding another "I do."

It was a tumultuous year in 1969: war, riots and strikes that divided New York City. But in one of the most improbable feats in sports history, the city rallied together once again. 

The Mets, Jets and Knicks all won their respective championships when New York needed it most, and SNY is celebrating the 50th anniversary of this amazing accomplishment with a new documentary. 

"We felt compelled to not only commemorate the 50th Anniversary of New York's championship year -- but also to share this remarkable piece of the city's history in a contemporary way that is relevant to fans of all ages," said SNY President Steve Raab.

The Mets (33-34, 5.0 GB in the NL East) are off on Wednesday before opening a four-game series against the Cardinals on Thursday night at Citi Field. 

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

After Zack Wheeler got hit hard in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader, the Mets had a strong response in the nightcap as Pete Alonso blasted a three-run homer in the first inning and Jason Vargas had another strong start >> Read more

On a night where the Mets needed their pitching to respond, Jason Vargas gave the Mets a quality outing for the third-straight time on Tuesday.

The Yankees' bats were on fire in Game 1 of the doubleheader, putting 12 runs on the board and jumping all over Zack Wheeler.
But just as he's done in his last two outings against the Dodgers and Giants, Vargas was locked in on Tuesday night, giving the Yankees six solid innings in their 10-4 win over the Yankees.

"This is who we signed. This is who we wanted," Mickey Callaway said after the game. "Obviously, he had his struggles at the beginning of last season. He settled into basically what he's doing now the second half or the last eight or nine starts during the season last year.

"This is who he is. This is who he's been. This is who we signed, and it's just good to see. You want your fifth starter out there doing what he's doing."

The Mets clobbered three home runs and came away with the 10-4 victory on Tuesday night, splitting the doubleheader with the Yankees. >> Box score

Five things to know from Tuesday's game...

1) Pete Alonso blasted the Mets into a quick 3-0 lead in the blink of an eye. After Jeff McNeil doubled to start the game, J.D. Davis blooped a single to left, setting up Alonso in a big spot. As he's done all season long, the rookie answered the call, slamming a three-run shot to left-center field. Alonso's 22nd home run of the season gave Jason Vargas three runs to work with before taking the mound. 

The Mets got things started early in Game 2 of their doubleheader with the Yankees.

After Jeff McNeil doubled and J.D. Davis looped a single, Pete Alonso cranked a high fastball from James Paxton over the fence in left-center, giving the Mets a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. ...

The Yankees love Zack Wheeler because, well, what team in need of pitching wouldn't? 

His stuff is among the best in the league, and he has finally learned how to be consistent.

The Yanks have soured a bit on Noah Syndergaard, who they pursued over the winter, and toward Wheeler. They would love to pry him from the Mets and dump Clint Frazier -- and none of that changed after Wheeler's dud in Game 1 of Tuesday's Subway doubleheader.

The Mets (32-34, 5.0 GB in NL East) take on the Yankees (41-24, T-1st in AL East) in the second game of a Tuesday's doubleheader at 7:05 p.m. on SNY.

Mets notes

Jeff McNeil had two more hits for the Mets in Tuesday's first game, including a three-run home run that gave the Mets a brief 4-1 lead. ... McNeil is now batting .337 on the season and leads the Mets with 64 hits. ... Wilmer Font bailed out the Mets' bullpen with 2.1 innings in Game 1, leaving the Mets with most of their options available out of the pen in Game 2.

Just three weeks ago, Todd Frazier was the owner of a .203 batting average and another Mets hitter who, up to that point, had seriously underperformed. He had just three multi-hit showings through 22 games. Essentially, he was the same player who finished last season with a .213 average.

In the three weeks and 19 games since then, he's gathered seven multi-hit performances. Simply, he's experienced a serious turnaround in a relatively short amount of time. More so, he's in the midst of a hot stretch that has come to define his play in recent years.

Though the Mets have scuffled their way through much of the season, they've played better of late. They took two of three on the road against the lowly San Francisco Giants, and they surprisingly swiped two of three from the Colorado Rockies. Frazier is a big reason why...

Pete Alonso may only have 64 games in the majors under his belt, but he has already established himself as one of the most feared power hitters in the league

The Mets rookie slugger is crushing major-league pitching, hitting 21 home runs -- second-best in the majors only to Christian Yelich -- with a slash line of .258/.337/.597 entering June 11. 

"I've seen some batting practice pop," teammate Todd Frazier told Leo Sepkowitz of Bleacher Report. "And he's probably top five I'ver ever seen -- just balls being crushed, easy."

A promising start turned into a nightmarish finish as the Mets lost to the Yankees, 12-5, in Game 1 of their doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium >> Box score

Five things to know from Tuesday's game...

1) In a game the Mets led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning, things got ugly fast. Done in by poor defense, bad pitching by Zack Wheeler, and some bloop hits mixed in with blasted ones, the game was 9-4 Yankees by the time the fifth inning was over. Overall, Wheeler allowed nine runs (six earned) on 10 hits while walking one and striking out six in 4.2 innings.