Keon Broxton's struggles at the plate have finally reached a breaking point as the Mets decided on Friday to designate the 29-year-old outfielder for assignment while selecting the contract of Carlos Gomez to join the team as an extra outfielder. 

The Mets also placed Michael Conforto on the 7-day IL for a concussion and recalled pitcher Paul Sewald from Triple-A Syracuse. 

GM Brodie Van Wagenen announced the moves prior to Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami, where Gomez was in the lineup playing fight field and batting sixth.

The bad news is the Mets look like the same train wreck we witnessed during manager Mickey Callaway's first season in 2018. The good news is that, despite being 16-19, they're just 3.5 games back of the first-place Phillies, who are 19-15.

We also know from 2015 and 2016 that in, MLB success is often dictated not by how a team starts but by how they finish. In 2015 they began the year 13-3, dipped to 36-37 in late-June, but after several midseason additions and winning 62 percent of their final 60 games, they reached the playoffs and got to the World Series.

The same turnaround happened in 2016, but ended with a loss to the Giants in the Wild Card game. The point is that it's early, there are still 127 games to be played, all sorts of trades, injuries and luck will play out and, though it may seem hopeless, there are still plenty of chances for the Mets to turn things around and have a successful season.

The Mets officially activated third baseman Todd Frazier on Monday and placed reliever Justin Wilson on the injured list with elbow soreness.

Frazier, who will play third "quite a bit," according to manager Mickey Callaway, has been out since spring training due to an oblique injury.

He played 13 rehab games with High-A St. Lucie and Triple-A Syracuse, going 10-for-42 with one home run and nine RBIs. Frazier also played four games at shortstop.

Noah Syndergaard is not happy with how he has pitched in 2019, during which he has been charged with giving up 19 runs in just five starts and 29 innings.

"To be quite honest, the entire beginning of this season, my performances have been unacceptable," he said later Sunday. "I have to be better. I will be better. There's no excuses for it."

In his start Sunday against the Cardinals, Syndergaard tossed five innings, allowed four earned runs, eight hits and two batters, both which were the first batter of the inning.

The Mets couldn't get things going at the plate in St. Louis on Saturday, as the Cardinals handed them a 10-2 loss. >> Box score

Five things to know about Saturday's game...

1) Chris Flexen got the spot start for the Mets in place of Jacob degrom, who was placed on the IL with a sore elbow. He didn't fare well against the Cards, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 4.1 innings. While he didn't record a strikeout, he allowed four walks in his outing as well. 

Jacob deGrom labored through five innings and the Mets' offense left 10 runners on base as they lost to the Atlanta Braves 7-3 on Sunday at SunTrust Park. >> Box score

Six things to know about Sunday's game

1) DeGrom (2-2) allowed three runs, five hits, four walks and nine strikeouts in five innings, tying a season high with 114 pitches but only in five innings. After going 2-0 with 13 shutout innings in his first two outings of the season, deGrom has allowed nine runs and 13 hits in his last nine innings across two starts.

The Triple-A Syracuse Mets have announced their Opening Day roster, and as expected, Tim Tebow is officially on it.

Tebow will continue his unlikely quest toward reaching the majors with the Mets' new Triple-A affiliate after playing 84 games with Double-A Binghamton last season. The 31-year-old former quarterback went 4-for-15 in Spring Training with one RBI and one walk.

He's among several familiar names on the squad. Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis, and Gregor Blanco are in an outfield which includes Tebow and Rymer Liriano.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

With Opening Day one week away, things are starting to come into focus for the Mets. Here's how we see things shaking out in our 25-man Roster Prediction 3.0...

Starting Rotation (5)

1. Jacob deGrom, RHP
2. Noah Syndergaard, RHP
3. Zack Wheeler, RHP
4. Steven Matz, LHP
5. Jason Vargas, LHP

The Mets (8-8-1) travel to face the Astros (8-7) on Monday at 1:05 p.m. in West Palm Beach. 

Mets Notes...

Pete Alonso gets the start at first base while Dominic Smith gets the day off. ... Jeff McNeil is at third base for the second-straight game. ... Brandon Nimmo leads off and plays center field. ... Jason Vargas is on the mound.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

With Opening Day three weeks away, the Mets are dealing with injuries to Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier, getting terrific Spring Training production from a refreshed Dominic Smith, and slowly working Travis d'Arnaud back into the swing of things. Here's how we see things shaking out in our 25-man Roster Prediction 2.0...

Starting Rotation (5)

1. Jacob deGrom, RHP
2. Noah Syndergaard, RHP
3. Steven Matz, LHP
4. Zack Wheeler, RHP
5. Jason Vargas, LHP

Devin Mesoraco hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning, but Nick Markakis answered with a solo home run in the 10th inning to propel the Braves to a 5-4 win over the Mets on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.

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

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

1) The Mets watched their 3-0 lead evaporate by the seventh inning and found themselves playing catch-up in the ninth. Atlanta scored a run in the fifth, two in the seventh, and took a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning before Mesoraco's home run saved the Mets for one more inning.  

New York was held without a baserunner through six innings and Chris Flexen was charged with five runs in three innings as the Mets were blanked for the second consecutive game with the Rays, 9-0, on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.

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

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

The Mets will call up Triple-A Las Vegas RH reliever Drew Smith and OF Kevin Kaczmarski prior to Friday's game, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

They optioned RHP Chris Flexen and RHP Paul Sewald to Triple-A Las Vegas after Thursday's game. 

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | I noted earlier that the Mets could go one of two ways here. They could call up two relievers or call up one reliever and one position player, which would restore the five-man bench. The latter is the route that made sense, and the way they went. I wrote on Wednesday about how it's time to give the 24-year-old Smith a chance. He isn't on the 40-man roster, but the Mets can clear a spot by shifting either AJ Ramos or Jamie Callahan to the 60-day DL. Smith has pitched incredibly well and has lots of upside. It's time to see what he can do.  

The Mets played incredibly undermanned in the bullpen on Friday night and paid for it, when Paul Sewald -- one of only three relievers who was legitimately available -- imploded during his 1.2 innings of work in the Mets' 7-4 loss to the Cubs.

Sewald, who has struggled mightily lately and had a 5.29 ERA in May, had allowed runs in his last two appearances before Friday night. That the Mets had to turn to him to protect a 2-0 lead -- the night after going to Hansel Robles in a scoreless game -- was less than ideal. 

Sewald allowed both of the runners he inherited from Zack Wheeler to score in the seventh inning, and allowed a run of his own as the Cubs went ahead, 3-2. Sewald then allowed three runs in the eighth inning...

Mets RHP Zack Wheeler allowed two runs on seven hits in six-plus innings against the Cubs on Friday night at Citi Field before the bullpen gave up five runs in a 7-4 loss.

Wheeler had allowed baserunners in each of the four innings without allowing a run, but the Cubs' offense finally broke through in the seventh inning when he allowed back-to-back hits. After he was pulled, Wheeler's baserunners came around to score against Paul Sewald, tying the game at 2-2. 

Wheeler finished the night with four strikeouts and two walks in a no-decision. He has now reached six innings in seven of 10 starts this season and turned in his fifth quality start of the season...

Brandon Nimmo provided the Mets with an early lead and Zack Wheeler allowed two runs in six-plus innings, but the Cubs scored five runs against New York's bullpen and went on to win, 7-4.

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

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

1) Brandon Nimmo gave the Mets a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season.

The Mets bullpen blew a 6-4 lead by allowing four runs in the seventh inning in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Relievers Robert Gsellman, Jerry Blevins and Paul Sewald surrendered four runs, four hits and a walk in one inning after Zack Wheeler settled down after a three-run third inning.

Gsellman retired two of the first three batters he faced before giving up a two-out walk to Jesus Aguilar. Manager Mickey Callaway opted to bring in Blevins, who had not given up a run in his last 11 appearances entering Sunday, to face Travis Shaw. A lefty specialist, left-handed hitters were 7-for-26 off Blevins entering Sunday. (By contrast, right-handed hitters were 1-for-10.)

The Mets entered their series with the Diamondbacks having lost seven of their previous eight games. Meanwhile, the Mets are 11-7 in starts made by Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard and 17-3 when the team scores four or more runs in a game.

In other words, with deGrom and Syndergaard pitching two of three games, during which the Mets scored 12 runs, sweeping the D-backs this past weekend should be what is expected from a team that entered this season hoping to make the postseason.

"That was a huge sweep," Syndergaard said after getting Sunday's win. "We'd kind of been struggling a little bit. But just as easily as we were struggling, it's that easy to turn it around."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter 

No one in the Mets front office is kidding themselves about Mickey Callaway's week. From a batting order snafu to questionable bullpen management, the rookie manager has shown his inexperience.

Behind the scenes, at least, his work has been more encouraging: Callaway is said to be communicating well with his bosses, making adjustments to his game management based on their feedback and displaying none of the apparent defensiveness that occasionally emerges in his postgame sessions with reporters. The Mets consider Callaway thoughtful and responsive, and remain hopeful about his future.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | The Mets were leading the Phillies, 1-0, with two outs and two on in the bottom of the sixth inning in Philadelphia -- 10 outs away from a rain-shortened two-game sweep.

Right-handed reliever Paul Sewald was on the mound, hoping to clean up the small mess he created. The Phillies announced left-handed hitting Nick Williams as the pinch-hitter, and Mets manager Mickey Callaway had lefty specialist Jerry Blevins ready in the bullpen for that exact scenario. But instead of going to Blevins, he stuck with Sewald.

After being passed over, Blevins shook his head and looked exasperated in the bullpen. And of course, Sewald allowed a game-changing three-run homer to Williams...

The Mets have gone 7-16 since starting the season 11-1. And their downward spiral culminated on Wednesday, when they lost their three-game series to the National League-worst Reds in Cincinnati.

Manager Mickey Callaway, who faced questions about the lineup snafu that cost the Mets a scoring chance in the first inning on Wednesday, said "It's tough right now," but is staying even-keeled. 

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | If the Mets had won Wednesday's game, the lineup incident would've been a funny aside. Instead, it's a main topic. But in the grand scheme of things, I couldn't give less of a damn about it. What I give a damn about is how the season has spiraled out of control with no immediate fix on the horizon...

Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals was difficult to swallow, especially since the Mets are now 2-4 on this road trip -- 4-7 during their last 11 games -- and have dropped three consecutive series.

Closer Jeurys Familia has blown three of his last five save opportunities. The thing is, had Juan Lagares not lost Jose Martinez's fly ball in the sun, the Mets win the game, 3-2. Instead, Tommy Pham scored to tie the game, Paul Sewald ran out of gas in the 13th inning and the Mets eventually lose.

Michael Conforto hit a solo homer off teammate Paul Sewald during the Mets' intrasquad game on Monday in what was their final tuneup before Opening Day at Citi Field this Thursday >> CLICK HERE for the full boxscore

The game ended after 6 1/2 innings.

Conforto, who is ahead of schedule as he recovers from shoulder surgery, was a candidate to be on the team's Opening Day roster as a pinch-hitter, but will remain in extended Spring Training in Port St. Lucie.

Along with Conforto, all of the Mets' everyday players participated in Monday's game -- with half playing for the 'Mets' and the other half playing for the 'Las Vegas 51s.'

As Spring Training wears on, the pieces of the Mets roster are beginning to fall into place. The bullpen -- a long time thorn in the team's side -- has a strong foundation emerging, and there are several relievers looking to snag a spot for Opening Day.

The back-end of the bullpen is set, and has the potential to be strong. Jeurys Familia is solid so far this spring, and looks to be fully recovered from last season's surgery. A.J. Ramos has also come out strong, and should bring a much-needed consistency that the Mets have often lacked. The newest acquisition, Anthony Swarzak, has seen limited action due to an early calf strain, but should be seeing action this weekend. And Jerry Blevins is looking to continue his stretch as one of the top lefty relievers in the game.

This core quartet leaves either three or four spots for a bevy of competitors to vie for, depending on how many bench players the Mets intend to carry. Paul Sewald, who pitched better last year than his final line indicated, is at the front of the pack currently, having given up only one run this spring over four appearances. He doesn't throw hard, but his sidearm delivery offers a nice complement to the other fireballers on the staff.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter | The Mets are expected to have an eight-man bullpen for the majority of this season, and Hansel Robles should not be guaranteed a spot in the Opening Day version of it.

This isn't a reaction to the four runs Robles allowed to the Astros in one inning of work on Monday afternoon (including a first-pitch homer). Rather, it's a reaction to the 4.92 ERA (5.13 FIP) he posted in 2017 as his walks continued to tick up (a career-high 4/6 per 9) and his strikeouts continued to trend down (a career-low 9.5 per 9).

And yes, I cringed a bit when Robles began his famous "point" on the home run he allowed on Monday before stopping himself...

Mets manager Mickey Callaway announced the starting pitchers and relievers for the first three Grapefruit League games.

Zack Wheeler will start on Friday against the Braves at 1:10 p.m. on SNY, with Hansel Robles, Chris Flexen, Paul Sewald, Corey Oswalt, Jacob Rhame, Tyler Bashlor, Jamie Callahan, and Drew Smith also scheduled to pitch.

Seth Lugo will start on Saturday against the Cardinals at 1:10 p.m. on WPIX, with Kevin McGowan, Marcos Molina, P.J. Conlon, Corey Taylor, and Gerson Bautista also scheduled to pitch.

Earlier this offseason at the MLB Winter Meetings, new Mets manager Mickey Callaway explained that he doesn't intend to designate any one pitcher as the team's 'closer.'

"I think that we're going to pitch guys when it makes sense," Callaway explained in December. "I'm going to pitch guys to their strengths and they're going to face the batters they should be facing." Callaway expanded on that philosophy earlier this week.

"We wouldn't name Wilmer Flores as our Wednesday infielder and then start him even if we're playing against Corey Kluber," Callaway explained, according to NY Post columnist Ken Davidoff. "So, why name a closer and put him in a situation where he doesn't fit?"

Michelle Ioannou, MetsBlog | Twitter | 

Another Monday, another look at how the Mets spent their off time this past week. Just like the rest of you, I wish I was sitting here writing about the great signings and trades that happened at the Winter Meetings. But, we all know that didn't happen, minus the signing of catcher Jose Lobaton after the meetings concluded, and the signing of relief pitcher Anthony Swarzak.

Speaking of Swarzak, if his first tweet as a New York Met has any indication of the type of person he is, it looks like we may have another Jerry Blevins-esque personality on the team. And they're both relief pitchers! Maybe this is the start of a beautiful friendship, or at the very least, reliable bullpen guys...