Though they forced extra innings, the Mets' bullpen broke down in the bottom of the 10th with AJ Ramos issuing back-to-back walks to send home the winning run for the Brewers in a tough 4-3 loss.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) The bottom of the 10th fell apart for the Mets. After a single from Eric Sogard in the ninth, Robert Gsellman got Lorenzo Cain to fly out to center field. But Mickey Callaway brought in Jerry Blevins to close the door on the inning with a lefty-lefty matchup against Christian Yelich. Yelich won the battle with a single to right, which brought in Ramos. He could not find the strike zone, and would deliver two straight walks to bring in the winning run.

The Brewers were looking to close the door in the top of the ninth, but the Mets weren't having it. It was Jose Bautista who came through with his first clutch moment as a Met -- a two-out RBI single to drive in Michael Conforto and tie the game at three apiece.

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEO AND MORE

Mets starter Noah Syndergaard had just 78 pitches thrown through six innings in his outing against the Brewers Friday night. But manager Mickey Callaway thought it the right move to end his night before the seventh. 

Syndergaard began his start with a 1-2-3 first inning, but Travis Shaw put Milwaukee on the board first with a solo homer to lead off the second. 

"Thor" saw more trouble in the third as Christian Yelich hit an RBI single to score Lorenzo Cain, and Shaw collected another RBI with a single to center to bring Yelich home. 

According to Triple-A Las Vegas manager Tony DeFrancesco, Mets RHP Corey Oswalt was placed on DL, per Las Vegas Review Journal's Betsy Helfand.

Oswalt has been dealing with lat tightness recently, and it appears to be too much to pitch through. The righty made one appearances for the Mets this season, tossing 4.2 innings where he allowed two earned runs on two hits while striking out four. 

With Las Vegas this season, Oswalt owns a 6.18 ERA over six starts. 

The Mets (25-21) continue their four-game series against the Brewers (31-20) on Friday night at Miller Park in Milwaukee at 8:10 on SNY. 

As the Mets get ready to face the Brewers tonight in Milwaukee, the Double-A Rumble Ponies are home in Binghamton getting ready for their matchup with the Bowie Baysox.

The story in Double-A this year has been first-base prospect Peter Alonso, who has been on a tear to start his 2018 campaign. He owns a .342/.469/.632 slash line while belting 12 homers and driving in 37 runs in 45 games this season. 

Check out Alonso taking some hacks in the batting cage prior to tonight's game...

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Word this afternoon is that the Mets are unlikely to pursue Hanley Ramirez, once the Boston Red Sox release him. The Sox designated Ramirez for assignment earlier today, and are not expected to find a trade partner, meaning that Ramirez will be a free agent after seven days.

Why not the Mets, you ask?

Well, a few hours ago I was preparing to write a column arguing for this configuration: Yoenis Cespedes in left field, Michael Conforto in center, Jay Bruce and Brandon Nimmo in right, and Bruce and Ramirez platooning at first.

Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard are givens. Steven Matz has a 3.80 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, and has allowed just six runs over his last four starts (21.0 innings).

Jason Vargas (one great start after three nightmare ones since joining the rotation) and Zack Wheeler (5.32 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) have been a different story. And the Mets need them to start providing consistency to the back end of the rotation.

On the latest Shea Anything podcast, Doug Williams and Andy Martino discuss below...

Long considered a questionable pick at best, Brandon Nimmo, the very first draftee of the Sandy Alderson era, is in the midst of a legitimate breakout. He's getting on base more than Joey Votto and slugging higher than Bryce Harper. He has been the team's best position player despite spotty playing time, and leads the league in Smiles Above Replacement. Can he keep it going?

Nimmo's best tool is without question his eye at the plate. He makes selectivity an art form, and his 17.4 percent walk rate would rank sixth in baseball if he qualified. He swings at only 20 percent of the pitches he sees out of the zone, and rarely whiffs. These are skills he has consistently displayed not only since his 2016 debut, but throughout his professional career. They are real and they are sustainable.

One number that might or might not be so sustainable is his .393 batting average on balls in play -- a full 100 points above league average and a top 10 mark in baseball among players with at least 100 at bats. A BABIP this high is often seen as a sign of imminent regression to the mean, but there's good reason to think Nimmo's mean is significantly higher than average...

SNY's Ron Darling discusses Manny Pina's style behind the plate in Science of Baseball presented by Memorial Sloan Kettering.

On the latest episode of Shea Anything, Doug Williams and Andy Martino discuss the sad state of affairs surrounding Jose Reyes, the Jose Bautista signing, and the importance of getting quality starts from the likes of Zack Wheeler and Jason Vargas.

Plus, Doug and Andy want to hear from you! Go to SNY.tv/SheaAnything and upload a video or audio clip of your take on the Mets. Keep it to 30 seconds or less, make it good, and you may be on the show!

Click below to listen!

Kevin Plawecki started at catcher and went 1-for-3 while catching seven innings Thursday night during his second rehab game with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Plawecki hit a two-run homer Wednesday night as he began his rehab assignment. 

He has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand. Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this month, and he began a hitting progression shortly after.

Brandon Nimmo's .450 OBP would lead the National League, but he doesn't yet have enough at-bats to qualify. But with Nimmo becoming a staple at the top of the Mets' lineup, him not qualifying should change soon.

Nimmo's 4-for-4 night on Thursday against the Brewers lifted his batting average to .294. He has reached base in his last eight plate appearances, is slugging .541, has three HR and four triples, and has been cutting down his strikeouts -- with just two over his last four games. 

"That's my job, that's what I'm supposed to do," Nimmo said after Thursday night's game. "I'm just glad I've been able to create some traffic for (Asdrubal Cabrera) behind me. He's really been carrying this offense for a while now and to be able to give him some more opportunities than just one in the game is really beneficial for him and for our team."

Brandon Nimmo collected the first four-hit game of his career and reached base five times while Steven Matz tossed six innings as the Mets blanked the Brewers, 5-0, on Thursday night at Miller Park.

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) After tallying four runs in three games against the Marlins, the Mets equaled that output in the fifth inning alone. Asdrubal Cabrera plated two with a double, Wilmer Flores had and Devin Mesoraco doubled, singled and drove in a run for New York, which had 13 hits, including five for extra bases. Amed Rosario had two singles and Nimmo doubled twice, tripled, singled and walked while scoring two runs.

It was Steven Matz' 50th career start on Thursday night in Milwaukee, and it was certainly one to remember. 

The lefty came into the game looking to reverse his previous outing of four earned runs over four innings against the Diamondbacks. He had a good start to his outing, finishing the bottom of the first in four batters. 

The second and third innings saw some trouble, though. In the second, Matz had runners on first and second with two outs, and managed to come away with a big strikeout to strand the runners. 

Yoenis Cespedes (hip) and Todd Frazier (hamstring) are both eligible to return from their respective 10-day DL stints, and made a bit more progress prior to Thursday's game against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Frazier, who took batting practice Monday for the first time since his injury and was hitting outside again on Wednesday, was running on the field on Thursday -- which manager Mickey Callaway said would be the final step before beginning a rehab assignment.

Cespedes, who will also likely need a rehab assignment before returning, took batting practice on the field Thursday for the frst time since being placed on the DL...

The Mets (24-21) open a four-game series against the Brewers (31-19) on Thursday night at Miller Park in Milwaukee at 8:10 on SNY. 

MLB commiossioner Rob Manfred will be taking five immediate actions after a study revealed that the baseballs have gotten more aerodynamic during the current home run surge.

There were an all-time high 6,105 home runs hit during the 2017 season, up from 5,610 in 2016 and 4,909 in 2015. 

The study, which was conducted by a committee of scientists on the increases of the home run rate since 2015, was assembled by Manfred in August of 2017 and included chairman Alan Nathan, the Professor of Physics Emeritus at the University of Illinois, and nine other experts...

Jeurys Familia entered the ninth inning Wednesday night with 1-0 lead. However, four hits and one intentional walk later put Mets behind and on their way to a 2-1 loss to the Marlins.

"Everything went good in the bullpen," Familia said after the game. "It's just one of those days." 

Jeurys Familia could not protect a 1-0 lead in the ninth as the Mets dropped their second straight to the Marlins, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Citi Field.

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) Familia (2-2) allowed four hits and two runs in the ninth inning to blow his fourth save in 17 opportunities. JT Realmuto tied the game with a single, but Michael Conforto temporarily kept it that way by throwing out Derek Dietrich at the plate for the second out. Following an intentional walk to Justin Bour, Starlin Castro singled to bring in Realmuto with the tie-breaking run.

Mets RHP Jacob deGrom had yet another brilliant performance in his start against the Marlins on Wednesday night. 

Just days after tossing a 13-strikeout game against the Diamondbacks, deGrom cruised through the Marlins lineup. It wasn't the start deGrom wanted when he plunked Derek Dietrich to lead off the game. But he would get three straight outs to complete the first. 

The second innings saw more of the same, with a walk to Miguel Rojas being the only baserunner. The Marlins finally struck for their first hit in the fourth when Justin Bour placed a bunt into the hole left by third base on a shift...

Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland said before the season that he wanted his guys to pitch inside more, and Jacob deGrom is one pitcher who has taken pitching inside to a whole new level.

From 2017 to 2018, deGrom's fastball usage against left-handed batters has changed dramatically, as the graphic below shows:

The Mets (24-20) wrap up their three-game series against the Marlins (18-30) on Wednesday night at Citi Field at 7:10. 

Mets notes...

The Mets are 5-2 on their current homestand, which concludes tonight. ... The Mets are 4-1 against the Marlins this season, posting a 2.20 ERA in 45.0 innings against them. ... Mets pitching has struck out nine or more batters in seven straight games -- tied for the longest streak in franchise history. ... The Mets have 14 come-from-behind wins this season -- the third most in the majors. 

The Mets may have young pitching to gamble on, but it's become painfully obvious that they're significantly lacking in young hitters. What's worse, the young hitters they do have in Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Amed Rosario are not yet consistently living up to their potential.

As a result, and because the team is without Yoenis Cespedes, Todd Frazier, and Juan Lagares -- the Mets signed free-agent OF-3B Jose Bautista on Tuesday.

To the tune of no more than $545,000, the Mets can simply release Bautista if he is unproductive. Thankfully, they pay the same price if he exceeds expectations and discovers the Fountain of Youth. Therefore, the decision to sign Bautista, start him in left field and have him bat fifth was a no brainer given their available internal options....

SNY's Steve Gelbs and David Lennon of Newsday were live from the Citi Pavilion today providing the latest updates on the Mets and answering questions from fans.

Click below to watch.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter | Word this afternoon is that Jose Reyes' roster spot remains safe, at least over the next several days. The Mets do not plan to cut him as a reaction to last night's two error performance.

That equation could change before long, though -- especially when Todd Frazier returns from the disabled list. At that point, the team could buy time on a Reyes decision by optioning Luis Guillorme or a reliever. Or they could decide that Reyes' long Mets career is over.

Reading between the lines, if Reyes doesn't show value soon, the end could be drawing near. It just won't come today.

During a lunch break when working customer service at Home Depot on May 22, 1998, I answered a persistent phone call from my mother.

"Did you hear," she started, sounding overly excited. "The Mets traded for that pizza guy!"

I laughed, because I knew exactly who she was referring to…

Tuesday was an important night for Zack Wheeler, who I hope understands how and why he was so effective after a difficult first inning. Instead of just pounding the bottom of the strike zone, Wheeler was wild, but effective.

It all changed for Wheeler in the second inning, down three runs with two outs and runners on second and third base. If Marlins 1B Justin Bour gets the fifth hit of the inning, the game is blown wide open, Wheeler is demoralized and out of the game sooner than later, the Mets easily lose and the bullpen gets taxed again.

However, after a quick mound visit from Tomas Nido and Dave Eiland, and with a 2-2 count, Wheeler set up Bour with an unhittable 97-mph fastball inside. Then, with what was his most important pitch of the night, Wheeler dropped a perfectly-placed 91-mph splitter down and inside for a swing-and-miss strikeout to end the inning.

In the latest installment of Gameday, Keith Hernandez discusses how he prepares his scorecard for each night's game.

Click here to watch Episode 1, with Keith and his cat, Hadji.

Click here to watch Episode 2, as Keith drives from his home in Sag Harbor to Citi Field.

Click here to watch Episode 3, as Keith talks about his Twitter experience.

Mets RHP Zack Wheeler allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings against the Marlins on Tuesday night, and was done in by an inexcusable error by Jose Reyes in the second inning. 

With runners on first and second and one out in the second, pitcher Caleb Smith bunted toward Reyes at third base while attempting to move the runners over. Reyes fielded the ball and would have had the runner out by 20 feet at second base, but didn't throw there. Instead, he hesitated before throwing wild to first base -- allowing Smith to reach.

After Wheeler got Martin Prado to pop out for the second out of the inning, J.T. Realmuto's two-run single made it 3-0, Marlins, with both runs unearned due to Reyes' gaffe...

Porsche, Coca-Cola®, and the Mets have teamed up to provide fans the opportunity to win an experience to catch the Mets take on the Braves in Atlanta.

Enter for the chance for you and a guest to win this once in a lifetime trip, including the following:

• Roundtrip airfare for two
• Hotel accommodations for two for one night
• Two tickets to the Mets vs. Braves game on Tuesday, June 12th
• Access to pre-game batting practice on the field at SunTrust park
• Gift card for the food and beverage at the game

The newest member of the Mets arrived just in time for Tuesday night's game against the Marlins and made an immediate impact.

Jose Bautista, recently released by the Braves, doubled in his first at-bat and scored the Mets' only run of the night. He batted fifth and started in left field.

Bautista flew from Tampa to New York in the afternoon to join the Mets, who were searching for a right-handed hitter to add depth in their depleted outfield.

Caleb Smith allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings to help the Marlins end the Mets' winning streak at four games with a 5-1 win on Tuesday night at Citi Field.

For a full box score of the game, click here.

Things you should know about tonight's game...

1) Zack Wheeler overcame a shaky second inning to turn in a solid start for New York, scattering seven hits and allowing three runs -- one earned -- on 106 pitches in six innings. He retired 13-of-his-last-15 batters and matched his season high with nine strikeouts while issuing no walks for the first time in eight starts.

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Jose Bautista signing is not a big enough deal to get worked up about, but that's the best thing I can think to say about it.

Okay, that's not totally fair. The move makes logical sense, in that Bautista is a righthanded hitter, and the Mets need outfielders.

The only problem is that, in the eyes of multiple talent evaluators, Bautista does not seem to have much left. He was 5 for 35 in a brief stint with Atlanta this year, and posted a .674 OPS in 157 games in 2017. There is little indication that, at 37, he can still be productive.

Moments after the Mets signed Jose Bautista on Tuesday, general manager Sandy Alderson touted the veteran outfielder's ability to hit left-handed pitchers.

"We had been looking at the possibility of a right-handed bat in the outfield that could spell our other outfielders and give us some offensive potential against a left-handed pitcher," Alderson said. "Given the way that we expect he will be used initially, that fit pretty well with what we need."

Bautista has three hits -- including two home runs -- in 16 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season. In his career, Bautista has hit .257 with 82 home runs and 203 RBI against left-handers.

The Mets have agreed to a one-year major league deal with INF/OF Jose Bautista, who was released by the Atlanta Braves this past weekend, the Mets announced Tuesday. Bautista will be available for Tuesday night's game, with Phillip Evans optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room on the roster.  

SNY's Andy Martino had reported a deal was close. 

Bautista, who was just 5-for-35 (.143) with two home runs after joining Atlanta's big-league roster on May 5, had agreed to a minor league deal in April.

The Mets (24-19) continue their three-game series against the Marlins (17-30) on Tuesday night at Citi Field at 7:10. 

Michelle Ioannou, MetsBlog | Twitter | When the Mets opened their series in Philadelphia on May 11, Ron Darling and Gary Cohen spoke on SNY about how if Michael Conforto is hot, the Mets will be hot. In case you don't remember, this was the game where the Mets were losing to the Phillies, 1-0, going into the ninth. Conforto hit a bomb that just missed and landed foul. He then compensated for this by hitting a two-run home run, putting the Mets in front. He sparked a rally, with Devin Mesoraco knocking it out of the park right after him for his first homer after becoming a Met. The Mets, who were reeling at the time, desperately needed that come-from-behind win.

And Conforto needed that big hit, too, as he had hit a slump towards the end of April and beginning of May, to the point where he was kept out of the lineup twice in order to have mental health days off. That is not the Conforto any of us know, or ever want to see. Shortly before the Phillies series -- upon returning from being benched for two days, Conforto led off a Monday game against the Reds, going 2-for-5 with a solo home run, helping his team finally win a game. Not a bad way to break a slump, right?

Since then, Conforto has continued to heat up. Over his last 10 games, Conforto is hitting .333/.366/.590 with 13 hits -- including three home runs -- and seven RBI. To put things into perspective, from April 13 - May 6, Conforto was just 8-for-58, hitting .138. He's improved in a drastic, much-needed way.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | 20 years ago today, the Mets made one of the biggest moves in franchise history, acquiring Mike Piazza from the Marlins for Preston Wilson, Ed Yarnall, and Geoff Goetz.

I was a 14-year-old listening to Mike and the Mad Dog on WFAN when I heard the news, and ran back and forth in my house in excitement. It was the biggest moment I had experienced up to that point as a Mets fan, and I -- along with thousands of others -- rushed out to Shea Stadium the next day to see Piazza make his Mets debut against the Brewers. 

Piazza -- a 29-year-old superstar in his prime -- instantly turned the Mets from a nice little team into a legitimate contender. And for the first time since Darryl Strawberry departed following the 1990 season, the Mets had a hitter whose every at-bat was a must-see event. Piazza shined in his Mets debut, but his first huge Mets moment arguably came at the Astrodome on Sept. 16, when his laser of a three-run homer off Billy Wagner in the top of the ninth inning erased a 2-0 deficit. Watch his debut and the huge homer in Houston below...

Mets C Kevin Plawecki will join Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday and begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday. Plawecki has been out since April 11 due to a hairline fracture in his left hand.

Grip strength in Plawecki's left hand doubled earlier this month, and he began a hitting progression shortly after.

Without Plawecki and Travis d'Arnaud (who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery), the Mets have been using a combination of Devin Mesoraco and Tomas Nido behind the plate recently. ..

Devin Mesoraco (elbow) is not in the Mets' lineup against the Marlins on Tuesday night, but is available off the bench.

X-rays on Mets Mesoraco's left elbow came back negative Monday night after he suffered a contusion on a backswing in the Mets' 2-0 win Marlins.

Mesoraco suffered the injury midway through the game, but stayed in. He said after the game that he felt no pain and that he would be fine.

Mets RH reliever Anthony Swarzak (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie as he continues to work his way back.

The earliest he can return is May 31. 

"He's progressing nicely," manager Mickey Callaway said last week. "We're hoping to get him in games and get him going so he can get back here and help us."

Robert Gsellman has been one of the Mets' most valuable weapons in the bullpen this season, and manager Mickey Callaway believes a lot of that has to do with Gsellman's attitude and desire to learn.

"When I told him and we relayed the message to him that he was gonna be going to the pen, he embraced it from day one," Callaway told SNY's Steve Gelbs prior to Monday night's win over the Marlins at Citi Field. "And you have to do that to have success. And I think that's why he's having success." 

The 24-year-old Gsellman -- like Seth Lugo -- is adjusting to his full-time bullpen role on the fly. And while he is excelling -- with a 2.76 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to go along with 28 strikeouts in 29.1 innings (21 appearances), Gsellman is still learning...

Mets LHP Jason Vargas struck out seven batters in five scoreless innings to earn his first victory of the year in Monday's 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.

Vargas (1-3) lowered his season ERA by nearly four runs. He entered the game 0-3 with a 13.86 ERA and a 2.68 WHIP, having allowed 19 runs, 26 hits and seven walks in 12 1/3 innings. He hadn't pitched since May 8, the Mets skipping his last turn in the rotation.

But Monday, he threw five complete innings for the first time this year, lowering his ERA down to 9.87.

"The biggest difference wasn't giving up multiple runs each inning," Vargas said, "just making quality pitches and getting some swings and misses ... It was a good night, definitely had a good rhythm going, had good control with the hitters."

X-rays on Mets catcher Devin Mesoraco's left elbow came back negative after he suffered a contusion on a backswing in Monday's 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins.

Mesoraco suffered the injury midway through the game on a backswing, however he stayed in the game. He said he felt no pain.